One of Arizona’s oldest performing arts organizations is about to receive a long-overdue honor. And if that was not enough, the prestige arrives in the midst of the group’s best season yet—a season that builds upon its storied history and provides audiences with the symphonious sounds of the Valley’s most talented male singers.
Strolling through the Orientation Gallery of Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum, there is one instrument in particular that is almost impossible to miss. One could even say that it is the elephant in the room: it is nearly as enormous and very rarely discussed.
These are the first words that came to mind after meeting Jace Williams, a somewhat reserved Cave Creek 14-year-old who attends Cactus Shadows High School. Jace is not your typical Arizona teenager; he’s part of the USA Trampoline and Tumbling Gymnastics Team and is headed for St. Petersburgh, Russia this November to compete in the prestigious World Age Group Competition (WAGC) in trampoline.
Not everyone knows what they want to be when they grow up at three years old. However, 14-year-old North Scottsdale resident Avery Gay knew from the second she stepped out on stage for her first ballet recital that dancing was not only her journey, but also her destination.
When Michael Phelps’ mother first enrolled him in swim classes at a local aquatics center in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland, he didn’t take to it like a fish to water. In fact, he was so afraid to get his face wet that his teacher started him on his back to foster a better sense of comfort in the water. From that shaky beginning, the rest is Olympic history.
On the corner of a well-worn jeweler’s bench is a black and white photograph of a handsome young man in a military uniform. His hair is neatly groomed into a single wave and polished with pomade, and even without color, the sun gleams brightly from the gold buttons on his jacket. In the corner, handwritten in once-black Bic pen ink is the notation, “1943.”
Hall of Flame Fire Museum and National Firefighting Hall of Heroes succeeds in preserving and exhibiting the amazing and awe-inspiring artifacts relating to the history of firefighting. Along with their commitment to recognize and honor firefighters, this local museum that straddles the cities of Phoenix, Tempe and Scottsdale is great for anyone with a fascination with all things firefighting.
A massive, illuminated lace ribbon, hand-crocheted by over 100 volunteers will twist, dip, soar and envelop visitors at Scottsdale Public Art’s annual Canal Convergence Nov. 9–18 on the Arizona Canal.
When Michael McKee is painting, he is in the moment. Much like a jazz musician who improvises while playing a song, McKee relies on his intuition to guide him with every stroke of pigment as he creates colorful, bold, contemporary pastel abstract and landscape paintings.
Seth Fairweather is comfortable in silence. Slow with a smile, he is frugal with his words, relinquishing them quietly and without hyperbole. His black shirt and faded black jeans underscore his reticence, and a brow deep in thought hoods his blue eyes.