Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Artwalk

It’s Gonna be an Art-Filled Weekend!

Kelly Tope — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:42:34 +0000

Starting tonight, you can take in art all weekend long with the Glass Act ArtWalk and the Scottsdale Arts Festival. After all the rain we’ve been having (which has made the desert gloriously green), its going to be a sun-filled weekend so you can be sure to soak up some rays while soaking up great art.

Tonight marks the 2nd Annual Glass Act ArtWalk, which is the kick-off event to this festival weekend. Art will take center stage along Main Street and Marshall Way, and glass will be in the spotlight at this unique event featuring more than 20 exhibitors. There will also be live music and artist demonstrations (which are really fun because they use fire) staged throughout the Arts District. The event takes place from 7-9 pm on Thursday, March 11 and is compeletely free. Be sure to come early and grab a bite to eat (and do some great people watching as well) before browsing through the galleris. Not familiar with the Arts District? Click here for a map.

After you’ve become an expert in glass, expand your horizons by checking out the 40th Annual Scottsdale Arts Fesival, which takes place this weekend at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. Gates will be open Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am – 5 pm. Consistently recognized as one of the top in the country, The Scottsdale Arts Festival features more than 200 jury-selected artists from throughout North America to display and sell their work at this three-day event. In addition to an assortment of the finest arts and crafts, attendees can enjoy live entertainment and music, tasty food and beverages, interactive public art, fun art activities for children and families, an online art auction and much more. A $7 admission fee also gets visitors free admission to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), free parking and shuttle service. For more Festival information visit www.scottsdaleartsfestival.org or call 480-994-ARTS.

Best of Scottsdale ArtWalk Soiree

Josh Kenzer — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:19:04 +0000

Join us on Thursday, February 25th from 7:00 to 10:00 pm for the Best of Scottsdale ArtWalk Soiree. Enjoy food and wine throughout the evening. Guests are encouraged to walk ArtWalk throughout the evening and experience the Best of Scottsdale. A “special” performance at 9 pm for all guests. Participate in the $500 restaurant raffle by having your “Best of Scottsdale” Passport stamped at a minimum of 12 Galleries to enter and win.

This is an evening of support, art, performance, food and drink!

We hope you’ll join us.

Flyer for the Best of Scottsdale ArtWalk Soiree

You’ve Gotta Walk – ArtWalk – Before You Can Run!

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:15:21 +0000

The 6th annual Rockin’ ArtWalk is returning to the Scottsdale Arts District on Thursday, Jan. 14, from 7-9pm, hosted by the Scottsdale Gallery Association and the City of Scottsdale.

Scottsdale’s galleries will have some bands of their own rocking out at this special ArtWalk, held in conjunction with P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, which “runs” right through the Scottsdale Arts District the following weekend (on Sunday, Jan. 17).

Many of the famed galleries in the Scottsdale Arts District will be welcoming both serious and casual ArtWalkers along Main Street, Marshall Way, Sixth Avenue and Stetson, all of them showing great work by top artists. And theyíll be doing it to a live soundtrack of sounds from several cool bands, including: Grant Ferguson’s Fusion; Graham Brimhall; Raymond Gomez; Wildfire; Elijah Bossenbroek; and Soliloquies, singer-songwriter showcase. Up at the Waterfront it’s the Sarah Vanell Band at Stetson Plaza.

The Scottsdale Arts Districtis located just west of Scottsdale Road and north and south of Indian School Road along Main Street, Marshall Way, Stetson & 6th Avenue. There are plenty of nearby free parking areas, and easy access to local hotels or famed Scottsdale eateries via free Scottsdale Trolleys or horse-drawn carriages.

Green Street Scottsdale is Just Around the Corner!

Kelly Tope — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 22:55:11 +0000

Part celebration, part art exhibit, part music festival, and all environmentally friendly, Green Street Scottsdale will celebrate the city’s sustainability efforts on Nov. 12. The free event will kick off with a special ArtWalk in the Scottsdale Arts District at 7 p.m. along Main Street and Marshall Way in downtown Scottsdale. The event continues at the SouthBridge and Scottsdale Waterfront districts with a live Latin Jazz concert, organic beer tastings, eco-friendly public art installations and interactive exhibits that highlight Scottsdale’s green projects.

The Green Street Scottsdale ArtWalk will feature artist demonstrations with recycled and reusable materials and live music from local bands. Meanwhile, the SouthBridge and Scottsdale Waterfront areas are set to feature interactive exhibits highlighting the city’s most dynamic sustainability initiatives.

Green Street Scottsdale also will throw some Latin flavor into the eco-friendly mix. The Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts’ free Latin Jazz concert will be at Southbridge and all event participants can “live la vida Locavore” while they enjoy specialty cuisine made with local and organic ingredients from a Scottsdale vendor. An outdoor beer garden on the Marshall Way Bridge will provide samples of some of the world’s tastiest organic brews, courtesy of DRAFT Magazine.

Transportation options will be available to those who take the Valley Metro Light Rail to the Priest and Washington station in Phoenix. From there, the free and eco-friendly Scottsdale Trolley (they run on biodiesel) will pick up attendees to take them to downtown Scottsdale. The trolley will run from 5 to 11 p.m., and there also will be plenty of hybrid taxis from Discount Cab for guests wishing to extend the festivities later into the night.

For more information, maps, featured artists, demonstrators and participating galleries, visit www.greenstreetscottsdale.com. With all this good, clean, green fun, who could resist?

Wearable ArtWalk and Wearable Runway Fashion Show

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:26:43 +0000

Scottsdale Fashion Week has confirmed a Wearable ArtWalk gallery line up that spotlights live body painted models, botanical fashions, fashion hounds, couture jewelry collections, and wearable fiber art.

The celebration kicks off on SouthBridge with the Wearable ArtWalk Opening Presentation and Preview Runway Fashion Show from 6-7p.m. where models will showcase exclusive designs on an outdoor runway.

The show will open with Calvin Charles Gallery’s ‘Living Sculpture’ by Deborah Paswaters who will start the runway action with her live body painted models. Ambiance Fleur Eclectics, exhibiting at Occasions! By Design, will close the show with its collection of live botanicals presented as wearable art on fashion models.

Participating Wearable ArtWalk Galleries

Babette | 7051 E 5th Ave
Wilde Meyer Gallery | 4142 N Marshall Way
Cornelis Hollander Designs | 4151 N Marshall Way
Galina Couture | 4151 N Marshall Way
Naked Horse | 4151 N Marshall Way
Calvin Charles | 4201 N Marshall Way
Jewelry by Gauthier | 4211 N Marshall Way
Palavela Home | 4222 N Marshall Way
Gallery Andrea | 7019 E Main St
Xanadu | 7039 E Main St
Occasions! By Design | 7077 E Main Street
Colores | 7100 N. Main Street

Little Black Dress Wines has created a Wearable ArtWalk Passport that will be available at the SouthBridge presentation and the Wearable ArtWalk galleries. Guests are encouraged to wear their own ‘little black dress’ to the event and collect stamps from Wearable galleries for the chance to win two VIP tickets to Scottsdale Fashion Week on November 6 and 7.

The Wearable ArtWalk is free and takes place from 7-9 p.m. in various galleries on Main Street, Marshall Way and Stetson Avenue in downtown Scottsdale. Full details about gallery shows are at www.scottsdalefashionweek.com/artwalk.asp.

Wearable ArtWalk’s musical entertainment begins at 7 pm and includes pop-rock faves Jay & Ash at the Party Before ArtWalk (near the Stetson fashion stage), plus neoclassical pianist Elijah Bossenbroek, the flute sounds of Flavio, and solo singer-songwriter showcase Soliloquies featuring Jeordie and Teneia Sanders.

Throughout the night ArtWalkers will enjoy complimentary samples from the Little Black Dress Wines, Bacon Restaurant, Crudo Café, and Icelandic Glacial Water.

The 3rd annual event is open to the public and is presented by the Scottsdale Gallery Association in conjunction with the City of Scottsdale. Additional sponsors include Little Black Dress Wines, ShowUp.com, and the Scottsdale Downtowner.

Free parking and trolley or carriage rides are available at all corners of the Arts District. For information about future ArtWalk events visit www.ScottsdaleGalleries.com.

Celebrate Culinary Creations with Crave Arizona

Kelly Tope — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:06:40 +0000

Savor Scottsdale’s ‘08 smash hit foodie event, Eats3, is “back for seconds” with a fresh name and even bigger appetite to please. Renamed Crave Arizona, the culinary event treats the world’s food and wine community to an expanded statewide celebration of food, wine & spirits.

Activities at the 2009 Crave Arizona event include the “Taste of Art” ArtWalk (a special version of the normal Thursday evening Scottsdale ArtWalk), “Taste of Art” Gallery Dinners, National Bartender Competition & Crave Arizona Kick-Off Party, Library Wine Tasting Series, BBQs & Bubbles and the The Arizona Grand Tasting . The days are filled with food and wine tastings, seminars, discussions, appearances by famous chefs and more. Click here for a full event schedule.

Join us for the 2nd Annual Crave Arizona Food & Wine Festival held on the Bridge at the Scottsdale Waterfront and throughout downtown Scottsdale. Visit www.CraveArizona.com for more information and to purchase tickets to this exciting culinary event!

10 Fabulously Free Scottsdale Experiences

Josh Kenzer — Fri, 22 May 2009 12:26:25 +0000

Updated with Summer Activities

Browse Downtown
The Downtown Scottsdale Arts, Shopping & Entertainment Districts are home to hundreds of designer boutiques, souvenir shops, art galleries and Native American jewelry stores, as well as an outstanding selection of restaurants and bistros. For a free and fun way to get around downtown, hop aboard the Scottsdale Trolley, which will take you to all of downtown districts and Scottsdale Fashion Square.
Take a Hike
There’s no better way to get up-close-and-personal with the Sonoran Desert than with a hike along one of the area’s scenic trails. At the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, you can hike on your own or join one of the regular guided hikes offered by the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy. Other popular hiking spots include Camelback Mountain near downtown and Pinnacle Peak Park in North Scottsdale.
Summer Concerts in the Park
Bring a blanket or chair and enjoy a variety of outstanding local bands at McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park. Arrive a little early to enjoy train and carousel rides or to tour the museum.
- Dates: Every Sunday evening from May 3 through July 5
- Times: 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Location: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park
- Phone: 480-312-2312
Stroll the Thursday Evening ArtWalk
Every Thursday evening the galleries in the downtown Scottsdale Arts District stay open late and welcome browsers and collectors alike. Exhibit openings, artist receptions and live entertainment are all part of the ArtWalk experience.
- Dates: Thursday Evenings, year round
- Times: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Downtown Scottsdale Arts District
- Phone: 480-421-1004
Take a Tour of SMoCA
The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) offers programs and exhibits to help visitors discover the world of art. Free docent-led tours are offered at SMoCA on Sundays and Thursdays at 1:30. Meet in the museum lobby. Tours also are available by appointment. After your tour at SMoCA, stop by the Young @ Art Gallery located inside the Scottsdale Center For the Performing Arts (immediately adjacent to SMoCA), which is devoted to the creative work of children.
Brush Up on Scottsdale’s History
Learn about Scottsdale’s early days at the 1909 Little Red Schoolhouse, now home to the Scottsdale Historical Museum. The museum chronicles the city’s history with photographs, artifacts and changing displays.
Go Green at the Old Town Farmer’s Market
This fabulous market offers a wide variety of organic and pesticide-free produce. You’ll also find seasonal specialties like cider, apples, flowers, free-range beef and eggs, local cheese, fresh artisan breads, jams, and tamales. Jewelry, photography, handmade gifts, coffee and breakfast to go also are available.
- Dates: Every Saturday
- Times: 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
- Location: Brown Avenue & First Street (southwest corner) in Old Town
- Phone: 623-848-1234
Enjoy a Serenade by Arizona’s Singing Cowboy
Cowboy singer and raconteur Gary Sprague and his trusty steed Dusty entertain Old Town shoppers with Western songs and local folklore. Gary rides throughout Old Town and concludes his performance with a ride into the Rusty Spur Saloon.
- Dates: Every Saturday & Sunday
- Times: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Location: Old Town Scottsdale
Kierland Commons Summer Concert Series
Some of Arizona’s hottest bands will entertain every Saturday evening in the center plaza at the Kierland Commons. Before the concert, browse the upscale shops or enjoy dinner at one Kierland Commons’ outstanding restaurants.
- Dates: Every Saturday evening from June 6 through July 31 (no concert on July 4)
- Times: 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Location: Kierland Commons Center Plaza
- Phone: 480-348-1577
Enjoy NU at the Heard Museum
On the third Friday of each month, the Heard Museum offers a new series called NU (Native + You). Visitors can enjoy the museum, outdoor courtyards, Arcadia Farms Café, Berlin Gallery and Shop while enjoying dining, cash bars, a lounge, local bands, DJs and salons with contemporary artists.
- Dates: Third Friday of every month
- Times: 5:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Location: Heard Museum
- Phone: 602-252-8848

Photos from the Glass Act Artwalk

Josh Kenzer — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 14:01:19 +0000

The Glass Act Artwalk was held in Downtown Scottsdale on Thursday March 19th. Here is a small photo set of images I took both outside and inside various galleries.

Festival ArtWalk is “A Glass Act”

Katarina Kovacevic — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:02:01 +0000

Scottsdale is throwing a joint celebration for two of its longest-running arts events – the Scottsdale ArtWalk and the 39th Annual Scottsdale Arts Festival. Together, the events are presenting the Glass Act Festival ArtWalk on Thursday, March 19 from 7 to 9 p.m. in downtown Scottsdale. The Arts Festival kicks off the following day and runs through March 22 on the nearby grounds of the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

A Glass Act will feature more than a dozen top glass artists from the Scottsdale Arts District galleries and this year’s Arts Festival. Those featured include Lisa Chernoff at Occasions! by Design, Kathleen Doherty in the Textures Gallery at artspace, Carole Perry at Duley Jones Gallery, Tsunami glasswork at LeKae gallery and more. In addition to the special ArtWalk event, the Desert Botanical Garden will partner with Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours to offer guests a half-day glass art tour for $65 which includes a behind-the-scenes look into the stunning Chihuly: The Nature of Glass exhibit in the Garden followed by exclusive receptions with glass artists at three of downtown Scottsdale’s prominent galleries. The tour will take place on March 19 from 1 to 7 p.m. and include transportation.

A Glass Act Festival ArtWalk also will boast a diverse musical lineup including the eclectic Watershade, folk-rocker Jeordie, jazz by Actual Proof Trio, original classical pianist Elijah Bossenbroek and the Soliloquies singer-songwriter area with some of ArtWalk’s favorite street performers. Guests also can sample great tastes from culinary sponsors like Café Carumba, Icelandic Glacial Waters, Malee’s Thai on Main and more.

A Taste of Art ArtWalk

Josh Kenzer — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:57:48 +0000

“A Taste of Art ArtWalk” is coming to the Scottsdale Arts District on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m., hosted by the Scottsdale Gallery Association (SGA) in conjunction with Scottsdale Downtown and the new Eats3 culinary extravaganza.

The evening’s delicacies will include gallery shows, artists’ receptions and free sampling stations hosted by local purveyors. Dozens of the Southwest’s greatest art galleries will be open to the public with shows and receptions displaying artwork of all styles and media…some with food-related subject matter. Other galleries will be hosting private VIP gourmet dinner fundraisers that feature top chefs from the Eats3 festival.