Experience the “Soundsuits” of Chicago-based artist and former Alvin Ailey dancer Nick Cave—multi-layered mixed-media, wearable sculptures named for the sounds made when worn. Reminiscent of African and religious ceremonial costumes as well as high fashion, they are made using scavenged ordinary materials—fabrics, beads, sequins, old bottle caps, rusted iron sticks, twigs, leaves and hair—that Cave re-contextualizes into visionary masterpieces.

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Scottsdale’s Fashion Week will take place November 5 – 7 in the super chic setting of downtown Scottsdale. This year brings the return of the famed Wearable ArtWalk, where models will showcase notable one-of-a-kind pieces of  ‘art-to-wear’ clothing and jewelry.  This part of the event is completely free and takes place in various galleries throughout the Scottsdale Arts District.

The main event will be the runway shows taking place Friday and Saturday evenings on two different runways in the Southbridge/Waterfront area of downtown. Banana Republic, kate spade, Barneys New York, Chinese designer Zhao Bandi and Eva Franco will take center stage on these runways.  And be sure to check out iuk, iuk on the Southbridge Runway Friday evening.  This designer was hand selected from a design competition in partnership with the nearby Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.

In total Scottsdale Fashion Week will host over two-dozen runway shows. The Main Runway will showcase leading fashion designers and will be located at the Scottsdale Waterfront on Marshall Way south of Camelback Road. The outdoor SouthBridge Runway will feature up-and-coming designers and will be located across the Arizona Canal.

Tickets for these events range from $25 for general admission and $200 to be treated like VIP. For further information on tickets, shows, locations and times visit www.scottsdalefashionweek.com

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1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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

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The [almost] week-long celebration of glass art kicks off with a lecture on world-renowned glass artist Lino Tagliapietra at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) on Wednesday, March 18 at 7:00pm.  Art historian and independent curator Susanne K. Frantz will give a comprehensive overview of Tagliapietra’s life and career and will showcase his evolution as artist, designer, craftsperson and educator, as well as his influence on international studio glass.  Tickets are $7 for SMoCA and Arizona Glass Alliance Members and $10 for non-members.  Click here for more information or call 480-994-ARTS to purchase tickets.

After you are armed with information on one of best-known glass artists of all time, continue to indulge your love of glass with Glass Act: A Festival ArtWalk and Tour on Thursday, March 19.  The Glass Act event begins with a private behind-the-scenes tour of the jaw-dropping Dale Chihuly exhibit at Desert Botanical Garden.  Total tour time is 1:00 – 7:00pm and tickets are priced at $65 each.  The tour will be conducted by Ultimate Art & Cultural Tours and includes transportation to and from the garden, admittance into the garden, and private glass-art receptions at three prominent Scottsdale galleries. 

After the private tour, the Glass Act event will continue with a Festival ArtWalk in the Downtown Scottsdale Arts District.  This special ArtWalk features exhibits by more than 30 renowned glass artists at participating galleries. There will also be live entertainment and flame working demonstrations along the streets that will add to the festival atmosphere.  This part of the Glass Act event is free and runs from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.  Click here for a list of participating galleries, artists and demonstrations.

You do not have to attend one part of the Glass Act event to participate in the other but, if you are a true glass lover (or aspire to be one), my recommendation is that you simply cannot miss either.

Segway into the weekend with the 39th Annual Scottsdale Arts Festival, which is consistently ranked as one of the top arts festivals in the country.  The festival takes place Friday, March 20 – Sunday, March 22 at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall and showcases 200 artists selected by jury from a pool of nearly 1,000 applicants. Participating artists come from throughout the United States and Canada and work in all media, from ceramic, glass (your new favorite, right???), jewelry, metals and textiles to painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and drawing. Visitors have the opportunity to meet and talk to each artist and buy works of art directly from them.  Click here for more information about the Scottsdale Arts Festival.

With all of the great glass and art events taking place in Scottsdale in the next week (never mind the fantastic weather we should be experiencing!), there’s no reason to not get out and experience the thriving Scottsdale Arts District.  Enjoy!

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Crossroads of American Photography at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) will showcase 150 images examining the interrelationship of three photographers who helped define the course of American photography – Harry Callahan, Aaron Siskind and Frederick Sommer. Visit the museum Jan. 31 – May 13 for the first full comparison of their work and exploration of their robust exchange of ideas about photography, abstraction and experimentation. Self-taught as photographers, they helped shape the evolution of photography as an art form. This exhibit will serve as the centerpiece of the museum’s 10th anniversary celebration. For more information, visit www.smoca.org.

Duley-Jones Gallery, one of 100 plus art galleries in downtown Scottsdale, is featuring two new exhibits this spring – Dick Phillips – Embracing Color and Merrill Mahaffey Icons. The former will present the vibrant work of Scottsdale artist Dick Phillips Feb. 1-28. His acrylic abstract landscapes have been exhibited in galleries across the country, and Phillips’ most recent work are abstract floral paintings featuring two different styles fused together for an explosion of vivid color and fluidity. Merrill Mahaffey Icons will be on display March 1-31 and capture the magnificence of the Colorado River. Mahaffey has traveled the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon 29 times and depicts the sensuous beauty and magical light of the river in his paintings. For more information visit, www.duleyjones.com.

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Designed by famed local architect Will Bruder, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) is a stylish space devoted to the art, architecture and design of our time. The minimalist building (an ingenious renovation of a former movie theater) includes a rare public “skyspace” by the acclaimed artist James Turrell, where groups can experience the ever-changing light of the desert sky. Attendees can see all of this and more every Thursday absolutely free. For more information, visit www.smoca.org.

A tradition that has taken place for more than 30 years, Scottsdale ArtWalk is the perfect opportunity for attendees to explore downtown Scottsdale and a diverse collection of art galleries. Every Thursday from 7-9 p.m., galleries open their doors and show off the works of some of the Southwest’s most extraordinary artists. Groups can view special exhibits with artists’ receptions and demonstrations, and a number of the galleries can even accommodate groups for private events. For more information, visit www.scottsdalegalleries.com.

Attendees seeking a glimpse into Arizona’s Native American history will want to check out Native Trails, produced by the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts and presented by us, the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. Beginning Jan. 15, 2009, representatives from various Native American tribes take the stage most Thursdays and Saturdays through April 11 and inspire attendees with their memorable musical performances and traditional dances. The series of free festivals celebrate Native American society while focusing on the individual cultures of tribes who reside throughout the Southwest. Performers present their tribal history, pottery, textiles and more while musical performances incorporate traditional instruments such as flutes, gourds and drums and dances range from Navajo dancing to the new three artist hoop dance, a high energy performance with synchronized movements and cameo routines. For more information, visit www.ScottsdaleNativeTrails.com.

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Pueblo Grande Museum

Get a glimpse of the past at Pueblo Grande Museum and Archaeological Park’s Dig It gallery. The exhibit‘s excavated trench wall and photo mural depict various aspects of archaeological field work and children are taught how archaeologists identify artifacts. They also can create their own clues using magnetic slates or build a miniature Hohokam village. For more information, visit www.pueblogrande.com.

Phoenix Art Museum

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Teens can explore the works of their peers at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s youth @ art gallery. The gallery, which recently underwent renovation, will open again on Jan. 24, 2009, with the Computer Generation: High School Art in the Digital Age exhibit. The newest exhibit displays the work of Valley teens who used computer-based applications to create prints, films and package designs. For more information, visit www.smoca.org.

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Meetings & Conventions awarded the 2008 Gold Key Award to three Scottsdale resorts:

• The Scottsdale Plaza Resort
• Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch
• Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center

The Scottsdale Plaza Resort was awarded the 2008 Corporate Meetings & Incentives’ Paragon Award and the Gold Tee Award from Meetings & Conventions.

Elite Traveler recognized two Scottsdale resorts in its July/August issue featuring the “101 Top Hotel and Resort Suites of the Year.”

• The Pinnacle Suite at Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
• The Alvadora Villa at the Royal Palms Resort and Spa

Elite Meetings International named the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch one of the top five resort makeovers.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar was recognized by Wine Spectator magazine’s “Awards of Excellence.”

Successful Meetings’ 2008 Pinnacle Award was given to several Scottsdale resorts:

• The Scottsdale Plaza Resort
• Camelback Inn, A JW Marriott Resort & Spa
• Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North
• Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch
• Royal Palms Resort and Spa
• Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center
• The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa
• The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

The 15th Annual World Travel Awards honored two Scottsdale resorts:

• The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa was recognized as “North America’s Leading Spa Resort” and “Arizona’s Leading Spa Resort.”
• The Phoenician was named “Arizona’s Leading Hotel” and “Arizona’s Leading Resort.”

The Starfire Golf Club was selected for the 2008 “Best of Scottsdale Award” in the Golf Courses category by the United States Local Business Association.

Meetings & Conventions awarded the Gold Key Award to several Scottsdale resorts:

• Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch
• Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center
• The Scottsdale Plaza Resort

Bourbon Steak was awarded the 2008 ”AAA Four Diamond Award.”

The International Special Events Society recognized Merestone with its Special Events Awards on the “Best Achievement in Logistics” and “Best Event Produced for A Corporation” lists.

The Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center was bestowed Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine’s “Greens of Distinction” award.

Insurance & Financial Meetings Management honored the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center with the World Class Award.

Travel + Leisure Golf recognized several Scottsdale golf resorts in its September/October issue:

• Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North ranked number 6 on the “U.S. Top 10 Golf Resorts” list, number 1 on the southwest region’s “Best For Buddy Trips” list, number 1 on the “Best Resort Course in the Southwest” list and number 1 on “Best Golf Resort in the Southwest.”
• The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa ranked number 7 on the “U.S. Top 10 Golf Resorts” list.
• The Phoenician scored number 3 on the southwest region’s “Best For Family Trips” list.

Carolyn Robbins of the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art was honored by the American Institute of Architects for the “Non-architect Award of Distinction.”

Where Phoenix + Scottsdale honored local tourism employees for excellence in customer service:

• Jim Hollister of FireSky Resort & Spa was named “General Manager of the Year.”
• Hotel Valley Ho’s Rob Sembrat was honored as the “Up-and-Coming Concierge of the Year.”
• Jessica Hemauer of the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North was designated “Concierge of the Year.”

Incentive magazine gave the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch the 2008 Platinum Partner Award.

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The evening was centered around “Flip a Strip“, an architectural design competition-turned-exhibition, organized by Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA).  This competition attracted 175 entries from 11 different countries.  Participants were asked to submit redesign concepts for pre-existing strip malls (one site each was selected by Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale).  The resulting exhibition features mock-ups and finished presentations created especially for the occasion by a total of the top ten finalists. 

The exhibit is fantastic, and gives viewers a good understanding of some very sustainable (and economically viable) proposals for redesigning strip malls.  If you’re into architecture, sustainability or are just interested in seeing new concepts for familiar strip malls, then this exhibit is a must-see for you.  An important note – the competition was theoretical, intended solely to solicit inspiring ideas and not to be built.

In addition to the “Flip a Strip” exhibit, there are two other exhibits on display at SMoCA this fall.  Both are as equally intriguing as “Flip A Strip”, but offer completely different options for viewing modern art.

The first, a photography exhibit by Pedro Meyer, focuses on human interest issues.  And, because I can’t describe it any better, here is some info from the press release:

Pedro Meyer was one of the first photographers in the world to experiment with the digital manipulation of imagery in the early 1990s. His photographs were initially considered an affront to documentary traditions and to the esteemed history of “straight” photography in Mexico. Meyer consistently tests the limits of truth, fiction and reality. He often combines photographic elements from disparate times and places to arrive at a different or higher truth. His oft-expressed contention that all photographs – digitally manipulated or not – are equally “true” and “untrue” has been labeled “heretical” by the orthodox documentary photography community, no matter how forward-thinking his activity has proven to be from the perspective of the 21st century.

The last exhibit, Radical Lace and Subversive Knitting was probably my personal favorite simply because it is so different.  This exhibit features how contemporary artists transform the age-old tradition of knitting.  There is a dress knit from dollar bills; tiny, intricate socks; a floor to ceiling ‘wall’ of lace and shoelaces; an oriental rug that has been transformed…27 artists in all.  I love the diversity of this exhibit.  It’s really fun to see what these artists can do with lace, and interpretations of knitting.

All three exhibits run through mid-January 2009.  Be sure to get over to SMoCA this fall to see the exhibits that kick off their 10th Anniversary season

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Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Experience artist James Turrell’s skyspace Knight Rise, 2001 when it was meant to be seen… at sunrise. The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art is offering two sunrise showings of Knight Rise, 2001. One on the autumn equinox and one on the winter solstice.

This sounds like a truly unique experience and one that you can only experience twice this year. Due to this season constraint, seeting is limited. Call 480-874-4612 to RSVP.

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