TechShop Chandler is an engineeringand technology-based education and research center in the city.
Nowadays, it also doubles as an art gallery.
Amid the computer paraphernalia, cutting-edge tools and the 3-D printing, it may be hard to spot the creative piece. But suspended high above the hub, on the ceiling’s steel framework, is Mary Shindell’s “Digital Desert, Agave Unfurling,” a three-part work of the IN FLUX Cycle 6 art project.
And it’s no less innovative.
Shindell, whose work is often themed by plants and desert landscapes, used Plexiglas discs and steel to depict the rapidly growing agave tree, whose stalk grows inches every day and contains a powerful energy within.
“As agave plants grow, they spiral up,” she said. “Their geometry unfurls as they grow and then they gradually fall.”
Hummingbirds are incorporated in the piece “because they are always around when the plant is growing,” she said.
Shindell used a CNC router to cut the discs, which is one of the reasons that TechShop chose her to do the artwork.
For IN FLUX, “We don’t pick venue,” she said. “I was selected for this spot because my work is computer generated and a lot of people here do computer generated work.”
This year, the IN FLUX initiative brings together six Valley municipalities— Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Phoenix—plus Valley
Sun Lakes Community Theatre performing fall production again
Metro that contract with area artists to create temporary art installations to provide a positive impact on local communities and artists.
It was begun by Scottsdale Public Art in 2010, to call attention to the vacant storefronts that were a result of the recession, and to inspire property owners to rent them for art displays.
“Since then, it’s expanded to other cities and organizations and seen other venues for temporary art and what can be activated through temporary art, whether it’s vacant lot or a space in a library,” said Kevin Vaughan-Brubaker of Scottsdale Public Art. “It’s really grown beyond just
the storefront project.”
In its sixth year, the focus is to build bridges across the Valley with communities using temporary art.
It took three days and an electric power ladder to hoist Shindell and her assistants to install the art. Come October, the ladder will once again hoist her up to bring the work down.
“The whole idea is to get arts going into an unexpected place,” she said. “This is a very, very unexpected place.”
TechShop Chandler is located at 249 E. Chicago St. in downtown Chandler.
Sun Lakes Community Theatre is bringing back its fall production, “Murder on the Oriental Rug,” which spoofs old-fashioned whodunits, the medical profession, theater folks and those with hot flashes.
It’s a play within a play. When half of the cast of “Murder on the Oriental Rug” bails out, the remaining performers are stuck playing all the roles. Clues will be given throughout the show and there will be a prize for someone who correctly guesses the murderer and the motives.
The shows will be held at the Cottonwood Country Club on Friday, April 8, and Saturday, April 9. Tickets are $36 for dinner and show and can be purchased at www.slctinfo.com. Info: (480) 382-6290.
Artist Mary Shiller used an electric power ladder to hoist herself and her assistants to install her artwork for the IN FLUX Cycle 6 project, entitled “Digital Desert, Agave Unfurling” (pictured behind her). STSN photo by Srianthi Perera
Artist Diana Madaras to introduce new painting Dr. Jeremy Peterman giving organ recital
Award-winning Southwest artist Diana Madaras will unveil her new painting titled “Superstitions” from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Sibley’s West Gift Shop in downtown Chandler.
Madaras, whose work has been featured on NBC, CBS, and NPR affiliates and in dozens of magazine and newspapers, has been painting since the 1990s and is inspired by the folklore and mystery of the desert southwest.
“Each year I choose one Valley landmark to paint— Pinnacle Peak, Piestewa Peak, the Boulders in Carefree, and this year the Superstition Mountains,” she said.
She is inspired by the Sonoran Desert, which has been her home for almost 40 years.
“To me, the Superstitions rise up from the desert floor like a magical city of rocks and spirals,” she said. “They seem to separate the busy urban life of Phoenix from the vast stretches of desert wilderness beyond, while seemingly holding the secrets of the past.”
The acrylic painting is 30 inches by 40 inches and retails for $9,500. Print and canvas reproductions will be available.
The owner of two galleries in Tucson,
Madaras has been voted Tucson’s Best Visual Artist six times. She also is the author of the coffee table memoir book, “Private Spaces,” which describes her unconventional journey to becoming a painter and features 152 exquisitely reproduced paintings.
Equally known for her charitable giving, Madaras is president of the nonprofit Art for Animals Foundation, a charity she founded in 1999 to help abused, injured and orphaned animals.
Sibley’s West is located at 72 S. San Marcos Pl., Chandler. For more information about the March 18 event, call (480) 899-4480.
Dr. Jeremy Peterman is giving an organ concert, “Music of the Seasons,”
7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, March 11, at King of Glory Lutheran Church, 2085 E. Southern Ave., Tempe. He will perform works by Durable, Langlois, Bish, Bach and Brahms on the King of Glory organ. Other performances scheduled are:
• Louis Colaiannia on piano and the Finzer Mahoney Duo on flute and guitar, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3. Both worked with the founder of Windham Hill records, Will Ackerman, at Imaginary Roads studios in Vermont. Tickets are $10 in advance at www.brownpapertickets.com/ event/1691128 or at the door for $15.
• The Phoenix Youth Symphony Chamber Winds and Percussion Ensemble, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17. Founded more than 60 years ago, its members are students in grades five to twelve.
A free will offering will be taken at concerts that don’t require tickets. Info: Cyndee Chaffee at (480) 838-0477 or cyndeec@kogaz.org.
Spring returns to the big screen at Harkins Theatres
Harkins Theatres is presenting Tuesday Night Classics, with special presentations of classic films, 7 p.m. every Tuesday in March for only $5. Films include “The Sandlot,” “The Great Escape,” “True Romance” and “Boyz n the Hood.”
The theaters are located at Harkins Arrowhead Fountains 18, Chandler Fashion 20, Gateway Pavilions 18, Queen Creek 14, Scottsdale 101 14, Superstition Springs 25, and Tempe Marketplace 16. Info: www.harkinstheatres.com/TNC.
This painting by Diana Madaras will be available for $9,500, while print and canvas reproductions will be for sale as well as Sibley’s West Gift Shop. Submitted photo
Dr. Jeremy Peterman will perform works by Durable, Langlois, Bish, Bach and Brahms on the King of Glory organ, Friday, March 11. Submitted photo
Will Clipman will lead participants in a workshop Saturday, March 12, at the Downtown Library. Submitted photo
What does a music conductor actually do?
Teaching artist Will Clipman will lead participants in a workshop that demonstrates a polyrhythmic Planetary Players Percussion Ensemble piece, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12, at the Downtown Library, 22 S. Delaware St.
Each piece will be performed in multiple rounds to show proficiency with all the instruments.
Info: (480) 782-2800, infodesk@ chandlerlibrary.org or www. chandlerlibrary.org.
Sun Lakes Chorale hosting its spring concert
The Sun Lakes Chorale is performing its spring concert 7 p.m. Friday, March 18, at the Sun Lakes United Methodist Church, 9248 E. Riggs Rd., Sun Lakes. Director Cris Evans and husband, Bart, who is the chorale’s performance coordinator, have prepared a program that ranges from the nostalgic and familiar to the rollicking spiritual.
Selections include a piece from the soundtrack of the movie “Willie Wonka
and the Chocolate Factory,” the ballad “Fly Me to the Moon,” “I Got a Key, “Route 66,” “Hymn for Our Time,” “And There is Music,” and Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of “Thou Gracious God, Whose Mercy Lends.”
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. through March 15 at the Sun Lakes ACE Hardware Store, by calling Carolyn Ellis at (480) 883-6997 or from a chorale member. Info: www. sunlakeschorale.com.
Ostrich Fest boasts world-class entertainment
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI
The Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival isn’t all about our feathered friends.
Music has become a big part of the three-day event, held this year from Friday, March 11, through Sunday, March 13, at Tumbleweed Park. Providing entertainment that weekend is the country band Parmalee on Friday, March 11; San Francisco pop stars Kalin and Myles and the ska act The English Beat on Saturday, March 12, and Ozokids and its “grownup” version Ozomatli on Sunday, March 13. Disney star Skai Jackson will meet and greet fans on Sunday, March 13, as well.
“Our [sound] guy is from there, so he’s told us all about the Ostrich Festival,” said Parmalee’s Matt Thomas, a veteran of Country Thunder in Florence.
known for its songs “Musta Had a Good Time,” “Carolina” and “Already Callin’ You Mine.” The band has traveled the world and back—including gigs performing for troops overseas—pushing its music.
“It’s amazing to think about everything that’s happened,” he said. “You just sit back and take it in.”
From the TV shows “Jessie” and “Bunk’d,” Skai began her acting career in 2007 with a role in the film, “Liberty Kid.” She also guest-starred on TV’s “Boardwalk Empire” and “Royal Pains.”
“We always look forward to coming to Phoenix, though. It’s always fun. We like to have a good time so our shows are wild. We bring a lot of singing, harmonies, guitars and a lot of lights to make sure everybody has a good time.”
North Carolina-bred Parmalee is
“I’m very excited about going to the Ostrich Festival,” the 13-year-old said “I do a lot of personal appearances and travel a lot to meet fans. It’s my favorite part of the job.”
Skai is making guest appearances while she’s on break from “Bunk’d.”
When she’s not acting, she’s learning ballet, hanging out with friends, having sleepovers and shopping.
Being on the Disney Channel does have its bonuses.
“If you want free passes to Disneyland, you can get them—especially if you have family who is coming in from out of town,” she said with a giggle.
“Usually when my family from New York or North Carolina comes in, I’ll take them to Disneyland because they haven’t been there before. I’ve been there so many times that I know all of the words to all the rides. It’s funny.”
Chandler Chamber of Commerce CEO Terri Kimble said the musical acts are just some of this year’s highlights.
“We have acts for a younger crowd like pop sensations, Kalin and Myles and Disney star Skai Jackson,” she said.
“Parmalee, is our country act on Friday night. On Saturday night we are changing
it up again with three great headliners, Kalin and Myles, Johnny Anonymous and The English Beat.
“Ozomotli performs on Sunday and has a wonderful interactive kid’s show and an energetic Latin/hip-hop sound for adults later that night. Then, new this year, each night after the main acts, we are bringing in DJs to play music until closing.”
For more information about the Ostrich Festival, visit http:// ostrichfestival.com.
Skai Jackson. Photo by Alex Kruk
Parmalee. Submitted photo
LOTS OF PRIZES
US ON PHACEBOOK
The salt printing process, also known as calotypes or photogenic drawings, was discovered and perfected by William Henry Fox Talbot, who published a manual on the process in 1839. Submitted photo
Juried exhibition celebrates images from the darkroom
Art Intersection is presenting its fifth annual Light Sensitive exhibition celebrating handmade images using traditional photographic printmaking processes. Juried by photographer Susan Burnstine, the exhibition opens with a reception 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, March 5, and will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, to Saturday, April 16. Art Intersection is located at 207 N. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert.
Works this year come from national and international artists and include c-prints, platinum/palladium, cyanotype, gelatin silver, gum bichromate, wet plate collodion tintypes and other printing processes.
The Art Intersection curatorial staff will select three artists from Light Sensitive to show additional work for an exhibition running Dec. 13 to Jan. 7.
“This year’s exhibit pays tribute to 75 images created by 46 artists who used an impressive variety of traditional and handmade photographic print making processes,” said Burnstine in her juror statement. She is represented in galleries and is published around the world and has also written for several photography magazines, including a monthly column for Black and White Photography
Photogravure lecture and workshop
Tucson artist and educator Karen Hymer is giving a free lecture about the art and history of photogravure, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, March 25, at Art Intersection. She will explain her photogravure methods and artistic process and show examples of her work.
For the past three years Hymer has ventured into the world of printmaking—exploring imagery in the form of photopolymer gravures. Her work explores the effects of time on the human body and various plant life.
She will also be offering a photogravure workshop 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 26. Cost is $195; $185 for friend and student members and $175 for patron and photographer members.
Salt printing workshop
Claire A. Warden is hosting a oneday exploratory salt printing workshop 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at Art Intersection. During the workshop, students will hand-coat fine art paper with the light-sensitive solution and expose the sensitized paper through their digital negatives using ultraviolet light sources.
The salt printing process, also known as calotypes or photogenic drawings, was discovered and perfected by William Henry Fox Talbot, who published a manual on the process in 1839. The salted paper process is a printing-out process, meaning it requires no development, and was the first documented positivenegative photographic process.
Cost is $170; $160 for friend and student members and $150 for patron and photographer members. Info: (480) 3611118 or info@artintersection.com.
Before the workshop, Warden will give a free lecture on how salt printing relates to her artistic process, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 29.
Members are invited
Members are also invited to show their work and view the work of other members, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19 in the Art Intersection galleries. Each member will have a tabletop space about 30 inches by 72 inches to display their work.
This event is free and open to the public for viewing. To participate, members need to email info@ artintersection.com or call (480) 361-1118.
ON STAGE
“Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” Tuesday, March 8, CCA. As two colorful and madcap Italian-American families come together as one, everyone in attendance joins in the fun as guests of the bride and groom.
Loreena McKennitt, Wednesday, March 9, MAC. A well-known composer and singer whose Celtic music has received critical acclaim worldwide, and gold, platinum and multi-platinum sales.
Juilliard String Quartet, Thursday, March 10, MAC. Widely known as the quintessential American string quartet, founded in 1946 and the first ensemble in the United States to play all six Bartok quartets.
Crystal Trio, Saturday, March 12, HCPA. Professional musicians Igor Sklyarov, Vladimir Popras and Vladimir Perminov play special instruments made from glass—glass harp, verrophone and glass panflute bass.
Spice of Life Senior Variety Show, Wednesday, March 16, CCA. More than 30 acts, ranging from dancers and singers to musicians and comedians.
Paul Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey, Thursday, March 17, MAC. The legendary folk singers of Peter, Paul and Mary are known for such classics as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” “Puff, The Magic Dragon,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.”
Rita Rudner, Friday, March 18, CCA. One of the country’s top comediennes and a New York Times best-selling author, Rita Rudner is a notable TV personality, screenwriter, playwright, Broadway dancer and actress.
Chandler Symphony Classical Series, Sunday, March 20, CCA. The Chandler Symphony Orchestra provides quality symphonic and orchestral music performed by volunteer musicians.
Igudesman and Joo: And Now Mozart, Tuesday, March 22, MAC. Two classical musicians with 40 million YouTube hits, numerous TV appearances and performances for crowds of 18,000.
Il Volo, Thursday, March 24, MAC. Composed of members Piero Barone, Ignazio Boschetto and Gianluca Ginoble, Il Volo recently won the “Big Artist” Award at the prestigious Sanremo Music Festival in Italy.
Vince Gill, Friday, March 25, MAC. A modern country musician, famous for his 1990 hit “When I Call Your Name,” which won the Country Music Association’s Single and Song of the Year award as well as a Grammy.
Flamenco Kings Starring Los Vivancos, Friday, March 25, CCA. With their roots in dance, music and martial arts, Elias, Judah, Josua, Cristo, Israel, Aaron and Josue came together in 2007 to create Los Vivancos.
Frankie Ballard, Saturday, March 26, HACC. The Michigan country star is known for his hit songs “Helluva Life,” “Sunshine & Whiskey” and “Young & Crazy.”
Chris Botti with the Phoenix Symphony, Saturday, March 26, MAC. A Grammy award-winning trumpet player makes his Phoenix Symphony debut for an evening of jazz classics.
The von Trapps, Friday, April 1, CCA. Their performances make room for melodicas and ukuleles, lyrics that can unspool in 10 languages with twinges of Appalachia and Portlandia, and some shout-outs to the Mamas and Papas, all filtered through the DNA of the most beloved musical, “The Sound of Music.”
2CELLOS, Saturday, April 9, MAC. Their version of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” went viral in 2011, and the Croatian cellists continue to win fans with dynamic music videos and covers.
ON STAGE VENUE INDEX
CCA—Chandler Center for the Arts
250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler Tickets: (480) 782-2680, www. chandlercenter.org
