Blurring the lines between fine art, poetry and naughty comics, the Tempe Zine Con featured nearly 20 entries from local artists and writers. Down at the Bayou, a house in the “Hipster Compton” section of Tempe just west of the ASU campus, a small crowd of fashionable, attractive young artists…
Maya Lin made waves in 1981 when she won a public design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at the ripe young age of 21. Since then, she has had an expansive career, winning countless awards in the art world for her work as both an artist and architect. This…
International creatives at Rapt Studio teamed up with Adobe and commissioned El Mac (who, full disclosure, we’ll always consider a local artist — no matter where he moves) to paint a large scale in Adobe’s main atrium in its Lehi, Utah campus. Adobe describes the mural, which features a young…
Clare Patey and Matthew Moore come from very different worlds, but very similar perspectives. Moore has made a name for himself in Phoenix with art projects that address the urbanization of farmland in Phoenix’s outskirts and the sustainability of urban life. Patey is an internationally renowned artist who activates vacant…
Texas-based artist Casey Cooper’s floating triangles may look like oversized floaties from a distance, but don’t be deceived — the pieces are actually made of inflated steel. Through a process of welding, heating, and compressing, Cooper creates sculptures that look like they could be made out of light rubber (though…
Graffiti writers across the country might not be thrilled to know their work ultimately ended up on popular art/flash sale site Fab.com, but fans of graffiti (and the increasing blur between graffiti and contemporary art) will likely jump at the chance to snatch up a copy of “History of American…
It’s about time Phoenix sees some serious mural love. In the interest of giving credit to their artists and because we’re losing track of the times we’ve said, “Whoa, when did that go up?”, we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town — their…
It’s been a whirlwind three years for Lara Plecas. The Phoenix artist has created and showcased a number of works throughout Phoenix, but this month, she’ll close a chapter as a member of the Downtown collective gallery eye lounge. “Being a member of eye lounge has nurtured several relationships within…
If you’re a fan of modern architecture and design and are quick to the punch, you might be able to nab a ticket or two to the 9th annual Modern Phoenix Home Tour, slated for Sunday April 21. The event sells out every year, and with this year’s route of…
Safwat Saleem and Sebastien Millon aren’t huge believers in Valentine’s Day, but both will admit to believing in Love. “My thoughts on Valentine’s day: It’s on my list of least favorite holidays and is second only to perhaps Columbus day,” says Saleem. “This kind of sentiment will be obvious at…
When Japanese video game manufacturer Taito first released Double Dragon in the U.S. around 25 years ago, the legendary urban brawling game wound up one of the signature arcade titles of the ’80s with its pimp pixilated graphics and intense “beat ’em up” action. According to Ariel Bracamonte, however, the…
What started out in Spring of 2012 as a plot of flowers in downtown Phoenix has morphed into a beautiful art show at Combine Studios. The Valley of the Sunflowers Paper Project is a testament to what happens when you give a group of artists two pieces of well-made paper…
Taz Loomans is an architect, a writer, a real estate developer, and the head honcho at Blooming Rock. She’s a first-generation immigrant (her family’s Indian), who was born in Mozambique. She says she moved to Phoenix 22 years ago, but told Jackalope Ranch last June that she hadn’t felt home…
All sorts of creatures have started to emerge from the Scottsdale canal over the past few weeks, thanks to local artists Isaac Caruso and Ashley Macias. The duo equipped themselves with rubber boots and earth-friendly spray paint to create a range of murals in the dried-up canal near the Scottsdale…
If you had planned to see The Joe and Jan Show at Willo North Gallery this Friday, you’ll need to come up with a Plan B. The exhibition, curated by Robrt Pela (who, full disclosure, also contributes to New Times), was canceled this morning by the gallery owner, Kristin Shears…
Welcome back to Explicitly Graphic, a monthly column by Cynthia Clark Harvey (who’s working on a graphic novel of her own). From time to time, Harvey will review graphic novels, talk to artists, and dive into the scene of all things explicitly graphic. Today, she talks about Lynda Barry’s university…
Somehow, I missed the whole storytelling movement. I wish I could tell you it’s because I was learning how to use my new iPhone, or that I was so distracted by my Twitter account that the entire storytelling fad passed me by. But I’m a low-tech fogey. My phone is…
Editor’s note: Amazing Arizona Comic Con has announced that because of an illness, Stan Lee will not be appearing. Remember when comic books cost a dime and you would rush the newsstand every Friday after school for some weekend reading? Batman, Superman and Spider-Man were the big ones, but there…
The 2013 Governor’s Arts Awards will celebrate 32 years in March by recognizing creatives who have achieved and contributed to the Arizona arts community. The awards, presented by Arizona Citizens for the Arts, the Arizona Commission on the Arts and the Office of the Governor of Arizona, are given annually…
Phoenix may have fallen behind in the size department in recent memory — slipping to sixth-largest city in America — but if you favor quality over quantity, you’re in luck. This place is taking shape in a tangible, meaningful way, and it’s about time we started acting like big-city folk…
Time to grab a few (empty) cans, scissors, and a pair of gloves — Tempe’s Four Peaks Brewing Company is hosting a Beer Can Masterpiece contest this month and it’s looking for entries. Prizes include gift cards, gallery space, and Four Peaks fame … But let’s be honest, we’re all…
This morning, the hardworking community members at Mesa Arts Center and International Sonoran Desert Alliance in Ajo received some very good news. ArtPlace, a national initiative that supports creative placemaking through grants and loans around the country, announced that 104 applicants in 72 communities in 33 states were named finalists…
