If you’re curious about what’s going on in the local arts community, we curate a monthly list of what’s new and noteworthy, from new exhibits to upcoming shows.
Scottsdale Exhibition Highlights History of Spanish Dance in Arizona
The art of Spanish dance is a staple of annual programming at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. This year, an exhibition that traces the history of the art form in Arizona will be on display through January 9, 2022. Spanish Legacies: 75 Years of Spanish Dance in Arizona was curated by Julia Chacón of Flamenco Theatre and Brittany Arnold of Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation. “This exhibition means a great deal to me personally because it traces my artistic lineage,” Chacón says. “Artists devote their lives to their craft, adding to the aesthetic and personality of place.” She hopes Spanish Legacies conveys how Spanish dance contributes to Arizona’s aesthetic. It is a historical exhibition of living tradition that incorporates photos, videos and artifacts that showcase how Spanish dance came to exist in the Grand Canyon State.
The Nash Celebrates Ninth Anniversary
Phoenix’s preeminent purveyor of jazz performances celebrated nine years in the biz in November. This month, The Nash is continuing to commemorate this musical milestone with dynamic programming, including performances by Mary Petrich, Chloe Rowlands and Francine Reed.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West Honors Native American Lives Through the Lens of Prolific Photographer
“The greatest photographic odyssey in American history, arguably the world.” That’s how acclaimed writer Timothy Egan described the work of Edward S. Curtis, a visionary photographer who made it his life’s work to visually document the culture and customs of Indigenous peoples. Over the course of three decades, Curtis created thousands of images, audio recordings and the earliest videos of Native Americans, all while making meaningful contributions to the art and science of photography at the close of the 19th century. Light and Legacy: The Art and Techniques of Edward S. Curtis will run through April 30, 2023 at Scottsdale’s Museum of the West.
The Gallery at Mountain Shadows Debuts New Exhibition by Husband and Wife
Eric Sall and Rachel Hayes are two talented, nationally recognized artists. They also happen to be married. While their pieces and practices are decidedly different, their use of scale and color works well together. Their bold, colorful works will be displayed at The Gallery at Mountain Shadows through January 25, 2022. Aptly titled Color Stories, the exhibition features Sall’s paintings, which he says are influenced by both New York street culture and the sweeping prairies of South Dakota. Meanwhile, Hayes’ textile-based sculptures explore the interaction of color, light and transparency through sewing and fabric construction techniques.
Photographic Art Exhibit Celebrates Women Over 40
Entrepreneur, motivational speaker and photographer Karianne Munstedt recently debuted the first installment of her latest labor of love – the Embrace Your Beauty: Fierce and Fabulous Over Forty project. The photographer invited women ages 40 and over to participate in a special session where they spent the day in her studio, received full hair and makeup and worked with a wardrobe stylist. Munstedt aimed to provide these women with the opportunity to express themselves and give each mother, wife, friend and business owner a day to themselves. She also created a custom magazine featuring a photograph and story about each woman. She hopes the project, which will be displayed at her Downtown Phoenix studio, will inspire women to embrace who they are at any age.
New Installation Marks Historic Partnership Between Iconic Artist and Architect
Dave Chihuly is revered for revolutionizing glass art with immersive, large-scale installations across the globe. Now, he’s partnering with Taliesin West, former winter home of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright, to combine art, architecture and the remarkable landscape of the Sonoran Desert. Chihuly in the Desert showcases six art installations inside Taliesin West, on the lawn, in that water and emerging from the desert itself. Wright was known for designing structures that blended with their natural surroundings, and Chihuly hopes to do the same in “beautiful and unexpected ways.” In The New Light: Wright & Chihuly is a 90-minute guided tour where guests can explore the property and Chihuly’s pieces, on display through June 19, 2022. Beginning in January 2022, Taliesin West will introduce Chihuly Nights, a self-guided evening tour during which each of Chihuly’s works will be illuminated.
Scottsdale Winery and Art Gallery Pair Up to Present Monthly Events
LDV Winery and Anticus Fine Art, Books, Jewelry and Design have partnered to offer fine wine and art events each month. These special happenings focus on the inspiration behind the curation of art and the creation of wine. Attendees can enjoy light bites and sip five LDV Winery wines “paired” with five gallery art pieces during each event, held on the second Tuesday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. LDV owners and winemakers along with Anticus owner and artists-in-residence will be available to discuss their respective passions.
