‘Amazing Ink’ Comic Cover Show Seeking Entries

Wikimedia Commons​Paul Golfen sees comic book art in everyday life. When a young woman walks by, he points out how her glasses might be turned into goggles when drawn in certain comics. Now, he’s calling on local artists to share their comic book visions too. The “Amazing Ink” Comic Cover…

Pop-Up Parks Take Over Parking Spots on PARK(ing) Day

Yep, that used to be a parking spot … and it probably will be again tomorrow. But today, on Mill Avenue and in other public parking spaces in Phoenix, small PARK(ing) spots have taken over. The guerrilla campaign, PARK(ing) Day, is a worldwide event that aims to raise awareness about…

Phoenix Design Week Posters Are Up for Vote

phxdw.com​The creative brains behind Phoenix Design week called for poster submissions last month. And boy did they hit the jackpot. More than 70 posters were submitted by artists, graphic designers and design week geeks (yes, we love them all) and now it’s up to you to decide. Voting starts today…

James Barnett, Video Games Turned Fine Art

http://jamesbarnett.net/Favela by James Barnett.​James Barnett is a funny guy. The Scottsdale resident’s bio reads: “I get pretty excited by degradation. Of images, that is.”With that kind of temperament, it’s no wonder he turns to unusual subject matter for his fine art paintings. For his exhibition at spec10 Gallery in Scottsdale,…

Herberger Theater Center Re-Opening and Looking for Artists

Herberger Theater Center will indeed reopen on October 1 — the complex at 222 East Monroe Street has been closed since May 17 while undergoing its final phase of renovations. And that means it’ll need some rad art for its new and improved space. Now through October 4, the contemporary…

$25 And Under Art Show At The Firehouse

Supporting the arts isn’t easy. It can be quite a costly pursuit. Even if our hearts and souls are tugged by some magnificent piece of art hanging on a gallery wall, often times prices can be so exorbinant that the only thing that art doesn’t tug out of us is…

A Closer Look at The Vault

The all-female cast in the new exhibit titled “A Closer Look” isn’t looking to throw feminism in the face of gallery wanderers. Instead, the seven artists are aiming to open up a dialogue about personal identity and social issues through their paintings, photographs and drawings. The show, curated by Annie Waters,…

Joerael Elliott on The Caravan

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, “Woah, when did that go up?”, we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town — their…

Rose Johnson Artwork Wanted for Retrospective

Last year, the Arizona arts community was shocked by the tragic news of Rose Johnson’s death (click here for the New Times feature story). Johnson, who was a pioneer in the Phoenix Arts scene of the 1980s and 1990s died in Bali after she drank a contaminated batch of arak,…

Jacki Orr: A Conversation With The Artist

Jacki Orr likes stuff. And junk. And trash. And you can usually find these elements in her mixed-media sculptures, one of which recently posted up beautifully in a corner of Mesa Contemporary Arts.For her latest project “The Goal is Interactive Acculturation” installation, Orr will feature found-object shrines and alters as…

Calle 16: A Mural Project

Silvana Salcido Esparza’s on a wall hunt. You may have heard her name; she’s the badass chef behind the Barrio Cafe. She says she told herself growing up that when she turned 50, she’d start speaking up — positively and negatively — about what she really believed in. Just a…

Five Calls for Phoenix Artists

If you’re a local artist, you’ve got plenty to keep your hands busy these days.Just check out our recent post that describes some application opportunities. Now it’s time to add five more to that list. We’re talking Petersen House Art Festival, Streetscape Public Art Project, Scottsdale Arts Festival, Phoenix Sister…

Thinking Inside the Mod Box

On the corner of Second and Hadley streets in Phoenix, just south of the Warehouse District’s Bentley Projects, Vine Saccento is silently building something — without any tools. Saccento’s may be familiar; he opened (and recently closed) Phoenix breakfast/coffee spots Drip and Toast. Now, he’s back without the brew, and…

Grand Avenue Festival Expands Call For Entries

Add trashy fashion and “guerrilla gardens” to the existing call for artsy rubbish.Along with the second annual “Trashy Sculpture Show” at Bragg’s Pie Factory, the Grand Avenue Festival has expanded its call for entries.One is the “Recycled Rubbish Fashion Show,” also scheduled to hang at Bragg’s Pie, 1301 Grand Avenue,…