A New Event for Members

 

The Heard Museum recently started a once a month Member's Bagel Breakfast.  I've attended the first two events where one of the curators provides detailed information about specific pieces in the collection.  The event this last Saturday morning featured the pictorial weavings of Sadie Begay.  

The one on the top is about Noah's Ark while the one to the right tells the story of Jonah and the whale. 

It was fascinating hearing stories about the artist who is now 86 years old and has been weaving since she was 5 years old.  

One thing that hadn't occurred to me is that these are woven from the bottom up, so she would have started this large piece from the end of the story and worked her way up.  

In addition to the two pieces displayed at the event, they presented a slide show with pictures of more of Sadie's weavings.  The one is this slide shows Noah's Ark after it landed on dry land.  I'm enjoying these events very much, it's a great way to get to know other members and to learn interesting facts about items in the museum's collection.  

Colorful Abstract

 

For the last two days I've had photos from the changes at Park Central so it seems appropriate to feature this mural from the same center.  It is on the front side of the complex on the wall for a sandwich shop.  I couldn't find a signature for the mural but I like the way it works well with those white metal structures that are featured at the front of the center.  In fact, those metal structures look like they are shooting out from the mural. 

Here is a shot that shows more of that metal structure. It's a design concept that I don't quite get.  

Taking part in Monday Murals.

New Life at Park Central

 I'm following up yesterday's post with a few more photos from the massive changes at ParkCentral.  The area that once was a thriving shopping center has been converted into a very pleasant business complex.  There are fountains and gardens scattered throughout the area.

I noticed that the owners of the property are paying homage to the site's former tenants.  They have named the buildings for the department stores they once housed.  This building is "Goldwater" after the former Goldwater's department store.  I loved shopping there when I first moved to Arizona. 

This building is named "Diamond" after the department store called Diamond's. On another end of the shopping complex was a JC Penney's store.  Three huge anchor department stores will tell you that this was once a thriving shopping complex.

I had to show one more photo with a business sign because I just loved the name.  Nerdery is a business that works with other businesses to create a digital presence.  I'm guessing they help businesses with creating websites and other social media products.  What a great name for the business.

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today. An important discovery is the subject.

Big Changes at Park Central

 

Big changes have been happening at Park Central, the site of a former shopping center located on Central Avenue right in the heart of Phoenix.  I posted about the changes back in 2020 when I first noticed them here and here.  Now even more changes can be seen.  In fact, so many new buildings have gone up, you can't see the heart of the center from the street any longer.

The first big change came in the form of Creighton University opening a school for medical sciences. 

St. Ignatius of Loyola and the World stands guard outside the main building.

The entire former shopping center has become a haven for all kinds of businesses and schools related to health care. 

I spotted signs for two other learning facilities.  The University of Jamestown has one building and Smith Chason school of nursing has another.  

Queen of the Desert

 

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert was spotted next to a building on Central Avenue recently.  I quickly turned the corner to get a photo.  

This Priscilla is looking in a lot better shape than the original that made that lengthy trip across the Australian outback back in 1994.

It turns out that Priscilla belongs to ION Arizona, a LGBTQ magazine.  It's a pretty sleek looking motorhome.  It would be fun to drive it across the desert.

I loved that old movie "The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert".  I need to look for it and watch it again.  

Is It Early or Late?

 

I found a cactus bloom while walking at the Desert Botanical Garden and like the daisies from yesterday, this bloom is way out of season.  Cactus blooms don't start showing up until late March and early April.  And to make it even more unusual, this bloom is growing out of a very damaged cactus. 

On the other hand, the aloe plants were blooming all over the garden.  This bloom was framed by the barrel cactus in the background.  

Early Bloomers

 

When I was driving home from the Desert Botanical Garden last Sunday, I caught sight of this colorful yard on my way home and I immediately turned the corner to go back for a second look.

The yard was covered with the yellow and orange blooms of African Daisies.  I was surprised to see them.  They usually don't pop up until mid February.  I wonder if all the rain we have been getting prompted them to make an early appearance.  

Whatever the reason for the early start, they are a welcome sight to see.  It's been unseasonably cold here in the desert southwest this January so these little bursts of sunshine are sign of the warmth to come.  

Blogging Friends and a Friendly Bird

 

I got to meet a fellow blogger from the Washington DC area on Sunday and we took a walk together at the Desert Botanical Garden.  I met David from the blog Adventures of Travel Penguin.  We had a nice long walk through the garden.  That's where we met this rather friendly cactus wren.  

I say he was friendly because he landed on this plant right next to us and stayed there for quite a while while we clicked our cameras.  

He seemed quite content with having his photo taken.  I always enjoy meeting fellow bloggers.  It's like meeting an old friend you haven't seen for a while even if you've never met in person before.  

A Portrait of Trader Joe

 

I found this new mural on the side of my local Trader Joe's store.  I always wondered what he looked like. I'd say he's quite eclectic driving that strange contraption.  It looks like he's headed for somewhere tropical.  There was no signature but I'm assuming it was commissioned by the store.  I think it's kind of cute and perfect for an equally eclectic store.  I wonder if it was painted during the pandemic.  I see that Joe is wearing a mask.  

Taking part in Monday Murals.

Sunday Strays

 

I have some stray photos today.  They have been bouncing around in my photo files for a while so I thought it was time to give them a showing.  First up, a row of pretty blue pots hosting some straggled palms.  

Here is someone who has found some humor in the fact that his car is dented.  

Some cute little kitties that I found hanging around on a gift shop shelf.  That one peeking in from the side reminded me a lot of a cat I once had.  

A cave-man style wine rack that was spotted inside a restaurant.  

And lastly, some shaggy looking owls that were decorating an Anthropologie store in Scottsdale.  Just another random assortment of observations I've made along the way.  

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  It features artifacts from around the world.

Nature's Beauty

 

Nature is the ultimate creator of beauty.  I love stopping to admire what she has to offer like these pretty, reddish leaves glowing in the late afternoon sun.

Or the beauty of some dried leaves holding on to the bitter end.

Even a tiny little plant placed on a cafe table.  

They are all worthy of second look or a photograph.  

Clever Name

 

I found this shop at the Town & Country Shopping center with a prominent name of TBC.  Then I realized that the name was actually "To Be Continued".  What a clever name for a used or second-hand clothing store.  I haven't been inside yet.  I will have to check it out.  

Life Imitating Art

 

While I'm on the subject of life imitating art, I decided to post this photo that has been in my files for several years.  My sister Judy took this several years ago when she visited Phoenix and we went to the Heard Museum.  She spotted this lady sitting on the bench and almost mimicking the statue behind her.

The statue is called "Window to the Past" by Native American sculptor Roxanne Swentzell.  

I wonder if my sister remembers this photo.  

Living Art, part 2

 

When I was getting ready to leave the Phoenix Art Museum last week, I saw this young man sitting near the gift shop and reading a book.  

The sight of the man reading a book immediately made me think of this painting that I posted a photo of back in 2019.  The pose is exactly the same, the setting is just different.

I decided this scene needed an artistic look too!  

A day at the art museum gets my creative juices flowing!

Living Art

 

There was something about this little family group that made me think they looked like a piece of art. The way they were positioned looked to me like they might be posing for a painting.   I saw them when I was at the Phoenix Art Museum a week ago and I couldn't help getting a photo. 

I tried to think of an actual painting it resembled but this was the closest I could come.  It's a bit different with all women but it does have that same relaxed family look to it.

I decided to do some editing and turn this little group into an actual art piece.  Tomorrow I'll show you another scene at the art museum that inspired me.  

For the Children

 

I found this mural recently on the side of an office building on Thomas Road.  I couldn't find a signature for the mural and I tried to determine why it was painted there.  The building is occupied by several law firms all specializing in family law but that didn't seem to fit the mural.  Finally I saw that an organization called Candelen had offices there.  They are described as an association for supportive child care services for parents and professionals in child care and early education.  That seems to fit the mural better than the law firms.  

Taking part in Monday Murals.

The Art of Clutter

 

When I was at the Phoenix Art Museum at the end of December, I found this "sculpture" in the contemporary art gallery.  It was created by Jeff Colson, a California-based artist.  It's called "Shelf" and is a proposed gift to the museum.  (The link takes you to the Google image page for the artist.  You can see that he is well known for putting together this kind of sculpture.)

Seeing that sculpture inspired me to photograph the closet self in the room I use as an office.  I never thought the clutter of my office closet could be considered artistic.  😁

I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  A visit to Tucson is in order.

Late Afternoon Walk

 

I took a late afternoon walk at the Desert Botanical Garden on Thursday and I was greeted by this welcoming sign.  I know it wasn't there for me but it made me smile anyway.  

The winter sun was so low in the sky that I wished I had worn a hat or a visor.  The light made for bright spots and deep shadows in all my photos.  

The Passing of a Glass Artist

 

I've posted photos of this glass art installation at the Heard Museum in the past. I'm posting photos of it again today to mark the passing of its creator, Tony Jojoba.  I recently heard that he had passed away in late December.  His artistic talent will be missed.

I learned when reading his biography that he had worked with Dale Chihuly, the famous glass artist and that Chihuly had nothing but praise for Jojola's talent.  

This piece is called "Indigenous Evolution."  The artist's statement about the piece reads "The fence speaks to the endurance of our culture.  It's about going through boundaries; it symbolizes our persistent existence."  He has created things that will be admired and loved many, many years into the future.