It’s time to explore the amazing downtown Phoenix art scene! Each month this bustling art scene features over 100 galleries, artist studios, and local businesses on the First and Third Friday of the month, running from 6-10pm.
There are galleries and art studios scattered throughout downtown, but the majority of these are located in the Roosevelt Row Arts District and the Grand Avenue District. The Phoenix art community has been recognized nationally for their incredible arts and engaging events.
March also means the Artlink Phoenix Annual Art Detour returns with their weekend long celebration of the arts in Phoenix. Artlink Phoenix and its partners host Art Detour 27, producing an incredible weekend of the arts happening next Saturday, March 7th and Sunday March 8th from 11am until 5:00pm. Artlink offers a free circulating Ollie the Trolley that will get patrons around downtown to all the hot spots, no need to worry about parking! On-board the trolley docents will guide visitors to destinations, highlighted as dots on the map, as the trolley makes stops in Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue and other locations.
There will be four park-and-ride hubs where visitors can park, pick up a map, ask questions, and hop on a trolley with these hubs located at the Burton Barr Public Library, Oasis on Grand, CityScape and Arizona Center. The weekend will feature many activities are planned for Art Detour 27 including a diverse selection of amazing art exhibitions, open studios, live painting, bike and walking tours, hands-on kids’ activities, amazing food trucks, local music and so much more.
Some of the must see art exhibitions at First Friday and Art Detour 27 include Eye Lounge Artist Collective presenting “Avant-Garde,” a diverse group exhibition showcasing an exciting variety of artwork from past and present members. The monOrchid offers two art galleries and exhibitions; FEMINISIM TODAY features 13 local female artists who have helped to shape the local art scene offering generational viewpoints on this complex topic in Shade Gallery. While Bokeh Gallery features Douglas Miles and Apache Skateboards with his collection of raw and powerful photography and more with instApache Filtered Rezoultion: Social Media Now.
Reconnect with your inner child with Kid Stuff at Halt Gallery with an exhibition designed to return to the early memories of childhood art by exploring the contemporary use of techniques and materials ordinarily utilized by children from Ten national artists. Modified Arts presents “Fugue in Dark and Light” new work by noted photographer, Luis Salazer. Taking on organic, globally-conscious forms and materials in his architecture, Salazar utilizes the human form as his primary muse in his photographic work. Lastly don’t miss Willo North Gallery who presents the solo exhibition of Fred Tieken, who has taken the art world by storm both locally and nationally. For The Birds highlights “Uno” Tieken’s iconic one-legged bird, this exhibition showcases the artist’s love of color, bold lines, symbolism, and wry commentary.
Don’t know where to go, be sure to check out the official Art Detour 27 Map, which offers “a roadmap for the public to meet the artists and discover the myriad art spaces that fill our downtown” says Artlink Phoenix. View the map here: http://issuu.com/artlinkphoenix/docs/map. When you attend Art Detour 27 next weekend take great photos and be sure to use the official hashtag #ArtDetour. It’s going to be a wonderful weekend for the arts and the perfect opportunity to explore everything downtown Phoenix has to offer!
