BESPOKE ART & DESIGN
POST CONTRIBUTORS: All | A.D. Cook | Bob Barnes | Frank Mallinder
Classic cars and hot rods made for an exciting show at Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale, Arizona. This was my first visit to this venue and my first car show experience on the west side of the Phoenix Valley.
I’ve been looking forward to catching the East Valley Cruisers Car Club‘s weekly car show. Having visited a couple of local car shows recently, I get asked a lot if I’ve checked out the gathering in East Mesa, Arizona. A collection of vehicles from club members around the East Valley gathers on Friday afternoons from October to May from 2 PM to 6 PM at the old Bashas location at Signal Butte and Main Street in Mesa. Last week marked their first event of the season.
LUSTER Art Exhibit Open Now LUSTER will be in residence at the National Corvette Museum through the end of 2024. See art juxtaposed against Corvettes, motorcycles, and other automotive icons that inspired the work. Plan your visit now. Visit CorvetteMuseum.org/Luster
Last weekend, I attended a fantastic car show in Apache Junction (my second for the season) at the VFW Post 9399. I shared with the local car crowd that I was taking pictures for a blog post I shared earlier this week. During my few hours at the VFW’s 1st Annual Car & Motorcycle Show, I was asked several times if I was planning to visit the upcoming 1st Annual Superstition Classics in Gold Canyon.
Clear skies and warm weather prevailed as the VFW Post 9399 hosted its 1st Annual Car and Motorcycle Show this past Saturday, and the quantity and quality of eye candy was impressive. Arizona’s beautiful southwest has no shortage of classic and contemporary cars to complement its stunning mountains and winding highways, making it a perfect backdrop for such an event.
World Day of Architecture is a special occasion dedicated to celebrating and acknowledging the profound impact that architecture has on our society. Through its design and functionality, architecture has the power to shape our communities and influence the way we interact with our environment. It can also inspire, provoke thought, and evoke emotions.
The fall beer festival season is heating up as the temperatures begin to cool, with two outdoor events this month.
With Summer nearly over and Autumn upon us, it’s car show season in the Phoenix Valley. To some degree, I may be exaggerating a bit regarding the season. Technically, the Autumnal Equinox was about a week ago, on September 22, but Arizona is still experiencing Summer heat, with today’s temps hitting 112 degrees. The Mesa Market Place provided an excellent venue to escape the heat with its covered public zones and soothing water misters, while enjoying the cars and chatting with fellow enthusiasts.
Sometimes, it’s hard to know what’s real anymore. In this ever-changing, hyper-paced world of fast food and artificial intelligence (AI), so much is fake that it’s easy to forget what is real. In a society where social media filters and Photoshop often distort reality, it can be challenging to discern authentic experiences from manufactured ones. We are constantly bombarded with illusions and fake art, making it increasingly difficult to determine what is genuine and what is fabricated.
In celebration of my recent move from Las Vegas to my beloved old hometown of Phoenix, I was inspired to create my latest painting, PHOENIX RISING, as a powerful ode to the concepts of rebirth, renewal, and embracing new beginnings. Reflecting on my roots and the rich tapestry of experiences that Phoenix holds for me, I poured my heart and soul into this piece.
How long did that take? That is often the first question I get asked when presenting a new artwork. I always thought it an interesting question because aside from imaginative endeavors, I am never asked that question regarding non-creative activities. I find it to be an interesting question mostly because I believe creative time is different for each of us. I might be able to create something in a month that would take a year to complete for someone else or vice versa.
Art Is About Creating, Not Recreating. As a lifelong creative, I’ve always been fascinated by different art processes and techniques. This curiosity has led me to seek new ways to express my creativity constantly.