The biggest pop culture convention in the country will lumber its way into San Diego next weekend. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world will pour into Southern California to celebrate their obsessions with their like-minded peers. If you are one of those lucky people who will…
If you’ve ever imagined Phoenix becoming totally submerged in water, then you and Abbey Messmer have something in common. The local artist says living in the desert didn’t prevent her from finding inspiration for her current series of aquatic artwork in “Submerged” currently on view at Eye Lounge. “There is…
In honor of what would have been Frida Kahlo’s 106th birthday, the Phoenix Fridas are preparing a celebration fit for a queen. Starting on July’s First Friday with the exhibition “Celebrating Frida” at Burton Barr Central Library, the local group of artists and artisans will pay homage to the Mexican…
¿Como se dice “hot mess” en español? It’s about the only term I can think of to describe “Turn Off the Sun,” an ongoing exhibition of selections from the mighty Jumex Collection now showing at ASU Art Museum. Initially, I was ecstatic when I heard that work from the Jumex…
Artist Kevin Bates admits he was never much of a skate trickster. He may have ridden a board around during his high school days and hung out with grinders, but didn’t pull off much in the way of epic kickflips or pole jams. Truth be told, he was more into…
¿Como se dice “hot mess” en español? It’s about the only term I can think of to describe “Turn Off the Sun,” an on-going exhibition of selections from the mighty Jumex Collection now showing at ASU Art Museum. Initially, I was ecstatic when I heard that work from the Jumex…
The weekly art walk put on by the Scottsdale Gallery Association is upping its game next month for the 24th Annual Summer Spectacular ArtWalk. The event will include dozens of exhibition openings, artist demonstrations, and street performances scattered throughout the Scottsdale Arts District…
What do you get when you cross a sweet, universally worshiped Japanese icon with a low-riding chola from East LA? According to Such Styles, well-known Phoenix graffiti artist and muralist whose real name is Noe Baez, you’ve just given birth to Chola Kitty, his latest creation. Such, as he prefers…
If you’re the creative type that gets inspired by a tall glass of cold, carbonated beer, then Four Peaks has quite the opportunity for you to show off your skills. The local brewery has put out the call for local artists to submit designs for their next order of coasters…
Rebecca Green is kind of a big deal. The artist, who is responsible for the fairytale mural outside of Grand Avenue’s The Lodge studio, is currently writing as a guest blogger for Flow Magazine while prepping for her final show in Phoenix at the end of this month. “Coyote Ghost”…
If you happen to be friends with any of the local artists competing in Friday night’s Paint & Pátron event at Macayo’s Depot Cantina in Tempe, expect to get a call from them in the next 24 hours (if you haven’t already). Or an e-mail, tweet, Facebook shout-out, or any…
It might seem strange to go on a tour in your own hometown, but that’s exactly what board members of IN FLUX had in mind when they started planning the IN FLUX Cycle 3 Multi-City Tour slated to take place on Saturday, June 22. Kirstin Van Cleef, who founded IN…
First Friday heats up June 7 with creative works going up all over the city. Here are our seven picks for shows not to miss this artful evening. What’s on your to-see list? See also: Phoenix to Launch Bike Share Program in December Five Must-See Movies in Metro Phoenix This…
Those who follow artist Hugo Medina on Facebook probably remember when he invited artists to paint 80 wooden panels for a huge project he kicked off at the Phoenix Festival of the Arts. During the three-day event last December he asked local creatives to paint 80 panels and placed blank…
Hello Kitty is approaching 40, which might be a little early for a mid-life crisis, but if cats really do have nine lives, now is as good a time as any for reinvention. Enter: Chola Kitty — a feline with spunk. This Friday, local artist Such Styles is unveiling his…
When architect and artist Paolo Soleri passed away in April, Arizona (and the world) lost a prominent visionary and innovative creative force. Soleri pioneered “arcology,” a concept that fuses ecology and architecture, and created a live-in example of his theory with the experimental town Arcosanti, located near Cordes Junction. However,…
Joshua Rhodes is a creator. The man behind Subtle Takeover went to school for graphic design, but he is making a name for himself in the Phoenix community as a man of many modes of expression. On Friday, June 7, Palabra Studios hosts Rhodes’s first solo exhibition in downtown Phoenix…
Let’s just get this out of the way: Renowned comic book creator Mike Mignola has no earthly idea if Hollywood will ever get around to making Hellboy 3, the third cinematic portrayal of his signature red-skinned character. It’s a question that the 52-year-old artist and scribe will get hit with…
Phoenix is undergoing a beautification process. That’s what Kate Saunders, Phoenix Hostel & Cultural Center’s volunteer coordinator, calls it. “There’s more commissioned art work, more bright colors and simple figures,” Saunders says regarding the current state of Phoenix’s ever-changing mural scene. That constant change inspired Saunders to plan and lead…
Heads up, letterpress lovers. If you want to attend the first-ever Phoenix Wayzgoose, hosted by the Amalgamated Printers’ Association from June 5 through 9, your registration is due today. Letterpress Central co-founder and local artist Cindy Iverson says that registrants can drop off their forms and payment ($25 to $75)…
Lulubell Toy Bodega co-owner Amy Del Castillo has an important piece of advice for anyone who’s planning to attend tomorrow night’s appearance by the Baby Tattoo Roadshow at the Mesa boutique: Come early. That’s because the four popular and highly influential artists who are participating in the tour — rockabilly…
On Wednesday night, Phoenix Art Museum’s Contemporary Forum awarded eight local artists who’ve made a mark in the contemporary scene. The annual event recognizes up to seven emerging Arizona artists with $1,500 grants to purchase materials and one mid-career artist with $5,000 plus a special exhibition of his or her…
