IN THE ZONE: Barrett-Jackson 2013 - An Introspective Look at American Car Culture (PART II)
In this segment, resident Arizona artist, Lucretia Torva gives us her perspective on how art, history, and memorabilia each contribute to the Barrett-Jackson experience…
Lucretia Torva’s lifetime of art experience inspires her masterful technique, clever eye, and intriguing compositions. Having grown up in Europe, she was blessed with exposure to some of the world’s greatest museums and landmarks. This instilled in her a great respect for past creations as a starting point from which to grow into the future…
To learn more about Lucretia and her art visit:
IN THE ZONE: Barrett-Jackson 2013 - An Introspective Look at American Car Culture (PART I)
What is it about people’s fascination with cars, making car culture such a phenomenon that an event like Barrett-Jackson has to exist? This brief series seeks to answer this question in addition to others by asking some of the attendees that participated in this year’s event held in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This short segment features Jason Bair, owner of Bair Customs in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which specializes in custom automobile build, upgrade, restoration, and modification.
IN THE ZONE: CYPHERS - Center for the Urban Arts (teaser)
IN THE ZONE: Amanda Adkins
Human emotion is such a mystery and the artwork that flows from that should also be enigmatic. My artwork comes from a place of secrets; a place where I express my deepest desires and release my personal pain. Simultaneously, I like the viewers of the artwork to come up with their own explanations, uncover their own secrets, and hopefully feel a connection or some type of release.
I use variety of media to create unique and meaningful art that is both cerebral and emotional. My inspiration to create comes from my intimate experiences and my environment. My current series, Unraveled, is focused on the complexity of relationships. Interwoven in the artwork of Unraveled is the idea of entropy in the human condition and how the impermanence of our own relationships is juxtaposed with Mother Nature’s ability to extend or endure through relationships of instinct and love, as we may see, for example, in animals that mate for life. Subsequently, there are also aspects of cultural belief about love and marriage that I have tied in. This series also intends to explore the connection between personal happiness and our overall well-being. “What makes one happy?” To express the deeply personal but universal concepts of Unraveled, I have primarily been using spray paint and oil. I also use mixed media materials such as, paper; coal, casting material in other works.
I feel I was first influenced to make artwork shortly after a tragedy happened in my family. My eldest sister, my dearest friend, was killed in a car crash in 1995. To cope with the loss that couldn’t be put into words, I began to paint, and art has been my necessity and passion ever since. Over the last 15 years I have been developing my artistic language through my work and showing my art pieces in galleries in Arizona. I attended Arizona State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education. While currently teaching art to K-8th grade students, I also teach a Community Mural Making course as a Faculty Associate at Arizona State University. I think it’s important to help connect the community to art, to inspire appreciation and encourage an understanding of human expression.
Amanda Adkins, Artist
You can find out more about Amanda’s art and upcoming shows @ https://www.facebook.com/theartistamandaadkins
ONE MIC: FRED MAC (promo)
ONE MIC is a series which specifically looks at the art of stand up comedy through the eyes of comedians in the Phoenix metropolitan area…
IN THE ZONE: Amanda Adkins (teaser)
IN THE ZONE: Frank Thompson
Frank Thompson is the founder of AZ Rhythm Connection, a group of highly skilled facilitators whose primary focus is to bring the joy of rhythm and percussion to any and all events where rhythm is welcome.
Frank has been involved with Rhythm his entire life. He was born into a musical family and his initial foray into rhythm was as a singer during his youth. Although he was singing, his eyes were always on the drummers and percussion players in the band who kept the beat.
He founded “Classic Moment Entertainment” in San Diego and spent 12 years running a successful mobile music and DJ business. During this time he also became very involved in helping to bring Caribbean music to the San Diego scene as a supporting member of Prophet Productions.
Frank’s introduction to the Djembe, West African Drumming and Drum Circles was via Paulo Mattioli in 1991. He has been hooked since the first moment of seeing Paulo working the Groove at San Diego’s Street Scene. Frank quickly purchased his first Djembe from Paulo and was on his way to hand drumming happiness.
Further introduction and mentoring into drum circles came via John Yost, Remo Facilitator, and founder of the exceptionally successful, Rhythm Revolution in Chicago. Frank considers John to be his most important mentor. Through John, Frank met and studied with Arthur Hull, the world’s foremost practitioner and leader of drum circle facilitation. Frank has attended the Hawaii Playshop and weekend trainings with Arthur. The AZRC subsequently launched drum classes and the offering of many workshops featuring some of the best West African Drummers and Dancers in the world such as: Mamady Keita, Abdoul Doumbia, Dibo, Moustapha Bangoura and others.
Frank continues to “Keep To His Beat” as a rhythm facilitator by building the AZRC into one of the leading Rhythm Facilitation organizations.
For more information about their Community Music and Wellness Program, drum classes and drum circles, upcoming events and more visit, AZ Rhythm Connection’s website: http://www.azrhythmconnection.com/
THE GREAT PAINT ESCAPE (featurette)
A glimpse into what community building is all about. Made possible by Harder Development, Free Arts of Arizona, and a talented group of artists known as CALLE 16…
THE GREAT PAINT ESCAPE
WHEN: August 11, 2012 @ 6:00 pm - 12:00 am
WHERE: 335 W. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, AZ
Come see this great redeveloped building owned by Harder Development on Saturday, August 11th. 10 Free Arts kids will have the opportunity to participate in a wonderful community mural designed by local artists Colton Brock and Hugo Medina on the south wall of the property. There will also be 10+ artists inside the space creating paintings, possibly with help from the kids, and each piece will benefit more children being served by Free Arts.
Participating artists include: (Curator) Hugo Medina, Sebastien Millon, JB Snyder, Angel Diaz, Katie Beltran, Amanda Adkins, Colton Brock, Pablo Luna, Thomas Breeze Marcus, Gennaro Garcia and Aaron Johnson.
About Harder Development: Harder Development’s passion is contributing to the development of downtown Phoenix by bringing outdated commercial sites to a successful modern standard. By applying sound design principles with more innovative concepts we strive to create spaces that speak to today’s small business needs. Our goal is to create spaces that foster a sense of pride in the adjacent communities and spark a lasting dialog between the two. We seek to work with hip, modern businesses that contribute to the vibrancy and energy of downtown Phoenix’s exciting renaissance. We believe in connecting people with spaces in ways that spark creativity, celebrate intellect and cultivate art and design.
About Free Arts: Free Arts of Arizona is a nonprofit organization that brings the healing powers of the creative arts to abused, neglected and homeless children by partnering with over 100 group homes, treatment centers and shelters in Maricopa County.
