BY STEPHANIE LOUGH PHOTOS BY MARK MORGAN ARTFUL MUSINGS FIVE LOCAL ARTISTS BLENDING THE CREATIVE CULTURES OF PHOENIX AND SCOTTSDALE

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1 BY STEPHANIE LOUGH PHOTOS BY MARK MORGAN ARTFUL MUSINGS FIVE LOCAL ARTISTS BLENDING THE CREATIVE CULTURES OF PHOENIX AND SCOTTSDALE The Valley s art scene has long been viewed as two separate cultures: Scottsdale with its traditional Western art, conjuring images of cowboys and turquoise associated with the Southwest, versus Phoenix s contemporary, urban aesthetic focused in the downtown districts. Both are respected in their own right, with Scottsdale s longrunning Thursday ArtWalk and Phoenix s popular First Fridays, and both have an important place in the Valley s arts culture. But recently, the communities have started to overlap, with a growing sophistication in Phoenix and cultural expansion to Uptown, and a more relaxed and abstract influence percolating to Scottsdale. SEPTEMBER UPTOWN

2 John Gleason We spoke with five local artists who are embracing the everdeveloping art scene. They shared how the Valley inspires them and what they envision regarding the future of the area s culture. Self-taught sculptor John Gleason s career has spanned more than 20 years, giving him firsthand insight to how the Valley s art scene has grown over time. Arizona, like the rest of the U. S., is seeing great changes in the art world right now, from where and how we see art to how and where we buy it, Gleason says. Phoenix and Scottsdale have a thriving art community, and I see a growth of the arts throughout the Valley every year. As co-founder of Quan tum Art, Inc., a contemporary art gallery in the heart of the Scottsdale Art District, Gleason has seen the shift away from Scottsdale s more traditional Western art to include more diverse and contemporary imagery. In Arizona, collectors of Western art are changing. The population of the Valley is more national and international, and we are losing the Western art galleries, Gleason says. Younger generations are seeking more diverse and sophisticated imagery that speaks to a renewed interest in art and sculptures. It is this sophisticated, contemporary aesthetic that is reflective in Gleason s work. Primarily a manipulator of copper, his pieces incorporate other contrasting materials including glass, clay, wood and stone. I love the versatility which can be changed through the processes of heat, patina and acid, says Gleason, who has created both two- and three-dimensional pieces. My copper and glass wall sculptures have been collected by art lovers, municipalities, and are in private and corporate collections. And while he sees Western art fading in the traditional sense, he is still heavily influenced by the natural beauty of the Southwest, particularly inspired by the colorful geology and landscapes in the Four Corners region. I have spent much time creating sculptures in and around the El Morro National Monument in Ramah, New Mexico, says Gleason, adding that some of his personal favorite installations can be found at the national park as well as nearby it. I find the area inspiring, both creatively and spiritually. UPTOWN 34 SEPTEMBER 2016

3 Frank Ybarra Gleason is also adamant that he doesn t take his work too seriously and recognizes art is a luxury meant for enjoyment. The sentiment conveyed by his work resonates with the attitude of the emerging local art community: Happy. Hopefully though provoking. Contemporary. But what Gleason does take seriously is the role art plays in our culture and the legacy it leaves for posterity. Over time, history has shown us that in the end, all we leave behind is art and architecture. Artists document our existence. Even with the shift away from more traditional Western imagery, the influence the genre has on local artists is a lasting one. Such is the case for neo-cubist illustrator Frank Ybarra, whose iconic images of the Southwest have made him one of the Valley s most sought-after artists. The Phoenix native frequently pulls imagery from the desert s physical landmarks and depicts colorful scenes of American family life with Southwest influences. As a Mexican-American, his cultural heritage is apparent in his subject matter, while the familiar images invoke a pop-art quality that differentiates his work from his Western artist predecessors. I find inspiration from the images in our desert environment and my Mexican culture and family memories, Ybarra says, adding that one of his favorite pieces is a tribute to his father called Fanfare for the Common Trabajador. Because of his embodiment of Southwestern roots, five of Ybarra s images were selected to appear on the Arizona Centennial advertising campaign in 2012 and used on banners, SEPTEMBER UPTOWN

4 Christine Cassano UPTOWN 36 SEPTEMBER 2016

5 billboards, print ads and more. His work was also nominated for the Governor s Art Award this year. Active in Xico Inc., an arts organization that features Mexican and Native American artists, Ybarra believes it is crucial for the Valley to support artists who represent the foundations of our culture saying, We grew up here and have experienced our desert environment as well as the fact that Phoenix has grown tremendously in recent decades. Art enthusiasts can view Ybarra s current exhibit at Casa de Artistas in Old Town Scottsdale, which is part of Thursday ArtWalk events, however, Ybarra notes that the Valley s artistic growth is most apparent in the downtown district. It s great to see the activity on First Fridays in Downtown Phoenix. Lots of new galleries and art spaces are popping up there. With the general interest in the events that are happening downtown, I feel that it can only get better. For some creative types, the Valley is a source of inspiration that s actively sought out, rather than ingrained in their upbringing. For mixed-media sculptor and installation artist Christine Cassano, the appeal of our desert s unique and harsh beauty brought her to the Valley from the east coast a decade ago. Living in the desert, I m constantly reminded of nature s ability to adapt and our desert environment, Cassano says. The landscape, plants and animals are the most stunning examples of that. They all have this harsh beauty reflected in their patterns, textures and armors, each offering deep secrets of pure adaptation and survival. It is that harsh beauty that very much influences aspects within my work. Cassano s general style is a hybrid of industrial and organic elements, resulting in art that some may consider, like the desert itself, both harsh and beautiful. She works with a multitude of contrasting materials, including clay, wood, stone, plastic, concrete, circuitry, metal and found objects to create her large-scale installations, assemblage pieces and sculptures. A perfect example of her contrasting vision is Jawbreaker, a mixed-media sculpture composed of horse jaw bone, cast metal, concrete and moss, which was recently awarded first place in Scottsdale s Tilt Gallery s Infinite Possibility: Art of Tomorrow international juried exhibition. From her shared warehouse studio, Cassano is able to connect with like-minded individuals and keep a finger on the pulse of the local art scene. She cites the economic downturn as changing the gallery business model and the way we consume art, with many artists transforming their once traditional exhibition galleries to multi-use, shared art spaces to cover overhead. It s on the shoulders of emerging and established artists to continue to be resourceful, find places to exhibit their work, and stay on top of exhibit and marketing opportunities. Much like becoming an artist isn t neccessarily a straigtforward path, the journey into art itself isn t as straightforward for some. As is the case for Kevin Coran, an accidental artist who developed his passion by building decorative fountains from scraps leftover from house projects and then gaining the attention of friends. After half a decade of truck driving during the day and creating at night, he became a full-time artist 10 years ago. My work could be called abstract expressionism, but I usually just call it contemporary abstract, says Coran, adding that Kevin Coran SEPTEMBER UPTOWN

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7 he s not particularly fond of labels, as neither description communicates the whimsical illusions and balance his pieces create. His visions are heavily influenced from his experience working on cars and driving trucks, and he continues to repurpose mechanical parts to give his work an post-industrial feel. Also an avid science fiction reader, he is driven by imagination and his own curiosity. I often want to dig in and see how something works, how I can build it, what makes it look and feel right and, ultimately, how to give it life, Coran says. Creating art is not an intellectual pursuit for me but one of communicating in ways that words cannot. Coran s creations are highly sought after all over the country, with one of this favorite pieces, Knot Me, recently being sold to a company Washington D.C. The sculpture captured the imaginations of many, including the City of Surprise, which recently commissioned a larger version. Other pieces can be seen around the state, including Pearson & Company in the Scottsdale Art District and galleries in Chandler, Avondale and Prescott. In addition to his own artistic endeavors, Coran is passionate about supporting other local artist and strengthening the Valley s art community though his involvement in the Arizona Artists Guild, Phoenix Art Museum s Contemporary Forum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and 5 Arts Circle. As a way to give back, he also holds events for mid-career artists, groups from Mesa Community College s Sculptural Welding classes and for 3-D printing. Artists are the most vibrant part of any community. They generally know no bounds and are able to see the same old things in brand-new ways. As for the growth of the Valley s art scene, Coran says it s been fun to experience firsthand. The local art scene is absolutely amazing. Downtown Phoenix was not even on the art radar 10-plus years ago, and now it may well be the center of the Valley s art culture, Coran says. As it s grown, the art being exhibited has gotten more sophisticated and professional. Almost every city in the Valley now has a public art program people everywhere recognize the value and importance of art to our quality of life. Another fan of Downtown Phoenix s artistic growth is graphic designer-turned-artist, Sara Becker, who began painting 15 years ago. A self-described expressive colorist she creates her artistic vision by layering paints, sanding and reapplying the paint for deep texture and luminous colors. Inspired by the natural palette and textures of the Valley s mountain preserves, her work is reminiscent of the Southwest s sunsets juxtaposed with minimalist symbols and modern text. I find inspiration in the act of artistic creation itself, in the serenity of yoga and in certain words and symbols that act as a portal to those places for me, Becker says. Sometimes the paint itself takes me where I want to go. As a yoga enthusiast, the practice is commonplace both in Becker s work and life, with pieces currently on display at Modern Yoga in Scottsdale. No longer limited to traditional galleries or art shows, more and more artists are connecting with like-minded businesses to showcase their work, or turning to more collaborative, shared spaces. The arts always have the potential to reflect the local culture. It s important that Phoenix sees itself through the eyes of many different artists. Amazingly, no two are ever the same. An avid supporter of Scottsdale s ArtWalk and Phoenix s Frist Fridays where she has upcoming shows at First Studio and Olney Gallery on Roosevelt Becker sees the most growth in artists willingness to share their creativity and opening their studios to broader audiences. I love that artists here are so supportive of each other and there is a diversity of visual expression. The art scene is always changing, as new artists, styles and imagery are put out there, and their influences ripple through our community. SEPTEMBER UPTOWN

8 Published online & in print 09/ page 33-39