Images Arizona (October 2023)

BRYCE PETTIT

Crane, bronze on metal base. 68” by 18” by 18”

TREVOR SWANSON

Crowns of Russet, oil and patina on metal. 56” by 20”

SUE KRZYSTON SOUTHWEST REALISM ARTIST

AMY LAY CONTEMPORARY WILDLIFE ARTIST

BRYCE PETTIT WILDLIFE BRONZE SCULPTOR

TREVOR SWANSON LANDSCAPE AND WILDLIFE ARTIST

JANE WORD LEATHER PILLOWS

S ANDERSON LINCOLN S ANDERSON LINCOLN

From the Publisher

Publisher

Shelly Spence

Managing Editor

Joseph J. Airdo

Graphic Designer

Meaghan Mitchell

Contributing Writers

Joseph J. Airdo

Francine Coles

Rebecca L. Rhoades

Shannon Severson

Susan Kern-Fleischer

Photographers

Francine Coles

Loralei Lazurek

Advertising Sales

Cindi Calcinari

860-966-3271

cindi@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona

P.O. Box 1416

Carefree, AZ. 85377

623-341-8221

imagesarizona.com

II am always exceptionally grateful to receive feedback from readers, story subjects and advertisers who appreciate the time, effort and diligence that go into every issue of Images Arizona. They are often also surprised, if not completely shocked, to discover that our team is relatively small, consisting of just eight people who pour their hearts and souls into these pages each month.

In September, I embarked on my first European holiday in more than 20 years. As any magazine publisher would likely tell you, being overseas for the vast majority of an issue’s creation can cause at least some anxiety. However, I trust in my talented, hard-working Images Arizona family — and they certainly delivered.

Our photographer Loralei Lazurek and contributing writers Shannon Severson, Rebecca L. Rhoades and Susan Kern-Fleischer have filled this issue’s pages with a wealth of information and images that successfully capture and accentuate that fabulous fall feeling here in Arizona.

Meanwhile, our food columnist Francine Coles shares a scrumptious recipe for roasted butternut squash prosciutto pizza that is absolutely autumn-esque and this month’s featured photographer Ron Sill allows us to showcase a selection of his macro and micro insect photography just in time for Halloween.

Finally, Cindi Calcinari, with advertising sales, has done a tremendous job of holding down the fort — as have our managing editor Joseph J. Airdo and graphic designer Meaghan Mitchell, pulling it all together into an issue of Images Arizona that I am sure you will love.

Saluti!

Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine

shelly@imagesaz.com

623-341-8221

Photography by Loralei Lazurek

FFollowing agronomist Ian Beger around the expansive gardens at Castle Hot Springs is like spending time with Mother Nature’s version of Willy Wonka.

Knowledgeable and passionate to a fault about the fruits and vegetables grown at the luxury desert resort, he eagerly shares random tidbits about each plant as well as gardening advice.

As he strides through the rows of verdant and flowering greenery, he’s constantly fussing — plucking, picking and trimming with an acute awareness of every leaf, stalk and petal. He reaches down and removes a fleshy, ruffled leaf studded with shimmering crystals that look like hoarfrost. Known as glacier lettuce, the edible succulent is crisp and mellow with a slight seawater bite.

“This plant really does a good job of expressing what the spring water does to the produce,” Beger explains. “What you’re tasting is almost like mineral water concentrates. It’s almost like tasting the ocean.”

Glacier lettuce is just one of the hundreds of varieties of produce that are grown each year as part of Castle Hot Springs’ agriculture program. As farm manager, Beger is responsible for the development and growth of the program, which now garners as much praise as the property’s natural pools of therapeutic, mineral-rich thermal water.

DINING IN THE DESERT

Castle Hot Springs is a historic resort tucked away in the Bradshaw Mountains, about 50 miles north of downtown Phoenix. Named for the hot mineral springs that flow from an underground cistern into a series of rejuvenating pools, the landmark lodging dates back to the late 1800s and was once the winter playground of some of America’s wealthiest and most well-known families, including the Rockefellers, Roosevelts, Wrigleys, Vanderbilts, Cabots and Carnegies.

In the mid-1970s, a fire destroyed much of the property, and the resort remained abandoned for more than 40 years. In 2014, a local businessman and his wife purchased it with plans to return it to its previous glory. Five years later, Castle Hot Springs re-opened to worldwide praise. It is now considered the nation’s most luxurious hot springs resort.

Castle Hot Springs is also one of many wellness resorts that use fresh organic ingredients grown mere steps away from guest accommodations. In fact, it is frequently mentioned in the same breath as Tennessee’s legendary Blackberry Farm, which is on every gourmand’s bucket list.

Here in the desert, bartenders use fresh-pressed sugarcane juice, grown on-site, to sweeten house-made lemonade. The

Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades // Photography Courtesy of Castle Hot Springs

Our main goal is to provide the best quality fruits, vegetables and herbs to the kitchen, bar and, ultimately, the guests. Ian Beger

hibiscus tea, a refreshingly cool fuschia-hued sip that’s handed out to guests upon arrival, is made with hibiscus flowers and blue spice basil grown on the farm. Fresh-picked tomatoes, celery, onions, garlic and herbs serve as the base for the resort’s bloody mary mix. In the restaurant, menus are based on the day’s harvest.

When the resort first opened, chef Christopher Brugman was recruited from Mountain Shadows to launch Harvest, the property’s on-site restaurant. Brugman left in late 2020, and sous chef John Amann took over as executive chef.

“Our concept has changed a lot since our first season,” Amann says. “We had this farm in our backyard, and it wasn’t as much of a highlight as it is now. And that was something I was always passionate about. When Christopher left, it opened up a great opportunity. Our restaurant is called Harvest; I wanted to actually do something about that. There was a natural evolution of utilizing the produce we grow and minimizing waste, which is something we really focus on here.”

Initially, the resort had a single garden — a fan-shaped planting area that stretched out from the southwest corner of the main lodge, a canary-yellow structure that houses the resort’s restaurant and lounge, Bar 1896. Known as the culinary garden, it provided kitchen staff with instant access to ingredients such as herbs, microgreens and edible flowers.

“When I first came out here, this was all we really had, along with the citrus trees and greenhouse,”

Beger recalls. “We realized after the first year that we wanted to provide more of the substance of the food — the carrots, the cauliflower, broccoli — but we really couldn’t provide most of that from this space.”

Amann concurs.

“We learned really quick that we needed more farm space,” he says.

The addition of a 1-acre garden, complete with farm offices and high tunnel greenhouses, allowed the farm and culinary teams to expand the amount of produce that’s grown on-site — supplying upward of 80% of the restaurant’s vegetables. That’s a lot of produce, considering that the restaurant caters to 60 guests each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

A LOCAVORE’S DREAM

The new farm, combined with the original culinary garden, tomato greenhouse, a 3-acre agave farm — which will be used to produce a house-made spirit — a quarteracre of stone fruit trees and a citrus orchard, increases the amount of cultivatable space at Castle Hot Springs to 5 acres.

“Our main goal is to provide the best quality fruits, vegetables and herbs to the kitchen, bar and, ultimately, the guests,” Beger says. “We’re focused on flavor more than anything.”

More than 150 varieties of produce are grown on-site. Getting the perfect mix of quality, flavor and yield — and even uniqueness for those signature dishes — has been one of Beger’s goals since day one.

“We have very unique growing conditions,” he explains. “We

use spring water for everything, and we’re in a valley. It’s unlike anywhere else that I’ve ever grown before. So we want to try out as many varieties as we can. I call it a shotgun approach to agriculture.”

So far, the farm team has trialed more than 1,000 varieties of produce to find out which ones thrive in the hot, arid desert environs. Each year, the team experiments with about 30% new crops. Produce that’s not consumed immediately is pickled, cured or fermented, preserving the flavors for out-of-season use. Herbs and flowers are dried for use in teas and simple syrups.

In addition to the freshest fruits and vegetables, this season, for the first time, the restaurant will be serving farm-fresh eggs thanks to the acquisition of 100 laying hens.

For Amann, this diversification allows for greater creativity in the kitchen by challenging the staff to develop recipes that utilize the ever-changing harvest.

“Ian’s lucky because he has one customer,” Amann says. “I’m buying it all. The challenge for the back of the house is how we are going to use all of the stuff from the farm. It has really helped me find my culinary style.”

One guest-favorite dish is the mokum carrot bisque. Mokum carrots are small in size and sweet in flavor.

“It’s the best carrot you’ll ever have,” Amann says. “The carrots are as sweet as candy, and that makes a substantial impression on the dish. People come back just for the mokum carrot soup.”

The chef also points to the intermezzo, or amuse bouche, that’s part of the dinner serving. The chef-curated bite is not listed on the menu, but it’s an opportunity for the sous chefs and line cooks to create the surprise course.

“It’s a small bite, but it’s straight from the farm,” Amann says.

While the thermal pools may draw guests to Desert Hot Springs, the resort’s culinary offerings elevate their stay.

“I do see our dining as being a huge driving force with our guests,” Beger says. “We’re really trying to be creative with it and take it to new levels.”

castlehotsprings.com

COMMUNITY

October 2023

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Ongoing

‘EARTH AND SKY’

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will host an exhibition featuring artworks that touch on how humans inhabit, construct or perceive various natural, artificial or ethereal environments. $10+. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480874-4666; smoca.org

Through Oct. 8

‘DOGFIGHT’

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre will present its production of “Dogfight.” See website for price and times. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-4831664; desertstages.org

Through Oct. 22

‘AGNES OF GOD’

The Theatre Artists Studio will present its production of “Agnes of God,” a play based on a true story of a possible murder in a convent. See website for prices and times. The Theatre Artists Studio, 12406 N. Paradise Village Parkway East, Scottsdale. thestudiophx.org

Through Oct. 28

‘DAMN YANKEES’

Don Bluth Front Row Theater will present its production of “Damn Yankees.” $30; youth, student, senior, military and group discounts available. See website for times. Don Bluth Front Row Theater, 8989 E. Via Linda, Suite 118, Scottsdale. 480-314-0841; donbluthfrontrowtheatre.com

Through Nov. 26

‘LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR AND GRILL’

Through July 28

‘ROELOF KNOL: THE SPACE IN BETWEEN’

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will host a playful, interactive, audiovisual experience that invites viewers to explore their relationship with digital and physical spaces. The installation will respond to movement, creating a network of shared pathways generated by the participants, allowing them to form bonds with others or choose to disconnect and walk their own paths. $10+. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480874-4666; smoca.org

The Phoenix Theatre Company will present its production of “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill,” a tour de force portrait of the iconic jazz songstress Billie Holiday. See website for price and times. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com

Through

Jan. 2

‘EARLY DAYS: INDIGENOUS ART FROM THE MCMICHAEL’

The Heard Museum will host an exhibition showcasing the diversity and vitality of Indigenous art in Canada. The exhibition explores the powerful tensions and continuities that exist between the present and the past, and relationships to the land, to ancestors, and to each other. $22.50+; youth, student, senior and member discounts available. Tuesdays–Sundays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-252-8840; heard.org

Through Jan. 7

‘CHRISTINA FERNANDEZ: MULTIPLE EXPOSURES’

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will host an exhibition surveying the work of Christina Fernandez, a Los Angeles-based artist who has spent 30 years in a rich exploration of migration, labor, gender, her Mexican-American identity and the unique capacities of the photographic medium. $10+. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org

Through April 29

‘COMING TO TERMS’

Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation will host an exhibition that invites audiences to ask themselves how artwork makes them think and feel. Free. Center Space Gallery at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdaleartslearning.org

Oct. 1

‘THE ADDAMS FAMILY’

Fountain Hills Theater presents its production of “The Addams Family.” See website for prices and times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org

Oct. 1

‘LEGACY’

Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix will perform a concert with the award-winning Phoenix Children’s Chorus for a program featuring individual and collaborative performances from both ensembles. $15; youth and senior discounts available. 4 p.m. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. orpheus.org

Oct. 1

‘WILLY WONKA KIDS’

Desert Foothills Theatre will present its production of “Willy Wonka Kids” See website for prices and times. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1981; dftheater.org

Oct. 2

ARIZONI THEATRE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will host the 33rd annual ariZoni Theatre Awards, which promote the visibility, cooperation and growth of theaters in the Valley. The awards are dedicated to recognizing excellence in theatrical performances, as well as individuals who produce exceptional work in all aspects of theater. Youth celebration 5:30 p.m.; adult celebration 8 p.m. See website for prices. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E. Second St., Scottsdale. scottsdaleperformingarts.org

COMMUNITY

October 2023

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Oct. 2 and 3

‘ALADDIN, JR.’ AUDITIONS

Desert Foothills Theater will audition youth actors for its production of “Disney’s Aladdin, Jr.” $225. See website for times. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. dftheater.org

Oct. 4–29

‘TIANANMEN: A NEW MUSICAL’

The Phoenix Theatre Company will present its production of “Tiananmen: A New Musical,” an epic rock musical inspired by the protests that defined a generation. See website for price and times. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com

Oct. 6–8

PRESCOTT AREA ARTIST STUDIO TOUR

The city of Prescott will host an artist studio tour, giving attendees the opportunity to observe artists as they actively demonstrate their craft, allowing them to learn about the materials, techniques and processes used in creating a work of art while forging a personal connection with the artist. More than 60 juried artists participating in the tour will appear across 45 private studios, with more than 35 additional artists appearing at five area art centers. Free. See website for map of participating studios and art centers. prescottstudiotour.com

Oct. 2

ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER CODING CLASS

Cave Creek Museum will begin offering a 20-week electronics and computer coding class to seventhand eighth-grade students. Free. 4 p.m. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. cavecreekmuseum.org/stem

Oct. 7 and 8

EXPERIENCE GERMANY

Musical Instrument Museum will celebrate the music and culture of Germany with exciting performances, informative lectures, delicious food and engaging workshops. See website for schedule of events. $20; youth discounts available. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

Oct. 7

TIERRA MADRE ART SHOW FUNDRAISER

Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary will host an event during which artist Patricia “Pat” Wozniak will be honored for her impact on the art community. The event will include a silent auction of Wozniak’s work, with 100% of each sale benefitting the sanctuary’s expenses. Free. 5–8 p.m. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. tierramadrehorseandhumansanctuary.org

Oct. 6–8

‘AND I LOVE HER: THE BEATLES REIMAGINED’

The Phoenix Symphony will present a concert, conducted by Steve Hackman, that reimagines the Beatles’ music with musical themes and ideas across different genres including classical and jazz. See website for prices and times.

Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-4951999; phoenixsymphony.org

Oct. 7 and 8

SEDONA ARTS FESTIVAL

Sedona will host its 32nd annual festival, featuring a diverse lineup of more than 100 juried artists from across the country. The renowned fine art festival will also feature live music, raffle prizes, food and a beer and wine garden — all set against the breathtaking backdrop of Sedona’s red rocks. $15. Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sedona Red Rock High School, 995 Upper Red Rock Loop Road, Sedona. 928204-9456; sedonaartsfestival.org

Oct. 7 and 8

‘SUBLIME SPIRIT: INEXPRESSIBLE WONDER’

Sonoran Desert Chorale will present a concert that celebrates life and living; spiritual harmony; and music itself. $25; student, senior and group discounts available. Saturday 7:30 p.m. First United Methodist Church of Mesa, 15 E. First Ave., Mesa. Sunday 3 p.m. La Casa de Cristo Lutheran Church, 6300 E. Bell Road, Scottsdale. sonorandesertchorale.org

Oct. 8

‘MOZART THE PLAGIARIST’

MusicaNova Orchestra will perform a concert that features Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's “Jupiter Symphony” and Joseph Haydn's earlier Symphony No. 13. $30+. 6 p.m. MIM Music Theater, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. musicanovaaz.org

Oct. 8

SCOTTSDALE PHILHARMONIC

Scottsdale Philharmonic will open its 12th season with a concert that features piano soloist Vitaly Serebriakov in Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1, Movement 1; Auturo Marquez’s Danzon No. 2; and Felix Mendelssohn’s “The Hebrides Fingal’s Cave.” $20+. 4 p.m. Madison Center for the Arts, 5601 N. 16th St., Phoenix. scottsdalephilharmonic.com

Oct. 13–15

‘FRANKENSTEIN’

Arizona Opera will present its production of “Frankenstein.” See website for prices and times. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix. 602-266-7464;azopera.org

Oct. 13–28

‘MACBETH’

Southwest Shakespeare Company will present its production of “King Lear,” a drama about a king gone mad. $53+; youth, student and teacher discounts available. See website for times. Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., Mesa. shakespeare.org

COMMUNITY

Oct. 14

EMPTY BOWLS PROJECT

The Sonoran Arts League and Foothills Food Bank will host their annual Empty Bowls Project event, featuring a chef’s competition, arts demonstrations, a wine garden, music and food. Proceeds from the art auction and bowl sale will benefit Foothills Food Bank and its dedication to assisting the community’s food insecure. Free. 2–6 p.m. Lincoln Sanderson Pavilion, 101 Easy St., Carefree. foothillsfoodbank.com; sonoranartsleague.org

Oct. 14

FASHION & FIZZ

Ballet Arizona will host a fundraiser, during which attendees will sip sparkling wine while dancers serve as models to showcase an array of curated costumes. A question and answer session will follow, along with a display of additional costumes for closer inspection. A VIP lounge and private bar with light hors d’oeuvres and even front-row seating is available with premium ticket options. $50+. 4–7 p.m. Ballet Arizona. 2835 E. Washington St., Phoenix. balletaz.org

Oct. 14

PARADISE REPUBLICAN WOMEN'S CLUB

Paradise Republican Women's Club will host its monthly meeting, which will feature a guest speaker, breakfast, socializing and more. Free. 8:30 a.m. Maggiano's Little Italy, 16405 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. prwcaz.org

Oct. 15

BRASSTASTIC

Salt River Brass will present a concert that features music from the thrilling melodies of John Williams to classic hits from Leonard Bernstein. $20+; youth, student and senior discounts available. 3 p.m. Mesa Arts Center, One E. Main St., Mesa. saltriverbrass.org

Oct. 7–March 31

‘FERNANDO BOTERO: THE MASTER’

Desert Botanical Garden will bring the works of famed Colombian artist Fernando Botero to Arizona. See website for prices. Desert Botanical Garden, 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. 480-941-1225; dbg.org

Oct. 15

‘SUN, MOON, STARS, RAIN’

Phoenix Chorale will perform a concert that is designed to be a musical mediation on the celestial world that surrounds us. See website for price. 3 p.m. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. 602-253-2224; phoenixchorale.org

Oct. 17

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

Jim Sherbert will present a lecture about the geneses of the first amendments to the United States Constitution, exploring their reasoning, why they were established and what they represent. $10. 4 p.m. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.org

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Oct. 19

GLASS ARTIST SETH FAIRWEATHER

Explore a collection of glass and mixed media artworks that reference both the natural and the mechanical worlds that surround us, using them as a way to access a deeper understanding of the self, during a special reception for artist Seth Fairweather. Free. 4–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, #7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Oct. 19–22

COSANTI ORIGINALS BRONZE SALE

Cosanti Originals will host its annual bronze sale, featuring savings on all bronze wind bells, planters and more. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Cosanti Originals, 6433 E. Doubletree Ranch Road, Paradise Valley. 480-948-6145; cosanti.com

Oct. 20–22

GLASS PUMPKIN PATCH FUNDRAISER

The Holland Community Center will host its annual Glass Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser event, featuring 1,000 glass pumpkins handmade by acclaimed artist Gregory Tomb. Proceeds benefit the center and its commitment to enhance arts, education and community in the Desert Foothills region. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.com

Oct. 20–22

‘HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE’

The Phoenix Symphony will perform the score of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” during a special screening of the film. See website for prices and times. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-4951999; phoenixsymphony.org

Oct. 20–29

‘JUNIE B.’S ESSENTIAL SURVIVAL GUIDE TOP SCHOOL’

Fountain Hills Theater presents its youth production of “Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide top School.” See website for prices and times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org

Oct. 21

DESERT FOOTHILLS BOOK FESTIVAL

The Holland Center will host its annual Desert Foothills Book Festival, during which attendees may engage with 70 award-winning local authors, learn about their creative process and purchase signed books. The event will also include a free and paid raffles. Proceeds will support the center’s Creative Kids: Tell Me a Story program. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.com

COMMUNITY

October 2023

Oct. 21

FLAPPERS & FREEDOM

Military Assistance Mission will host its annual Flappers & Freedom event — an unforgettable evening of casino games, delicious food, dancing and live auctions, with all proceeds benefitting the families of our brave servicemen and women. $125+. 6–10 p.m. Elks Lodge No. 335, 14424 N. 32nd St, Phoenix. 602-246-6429; azmam.org

Oct. 26

50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF SCOTTSDALE PUBLIC ART

The city of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Public Art, a department of the nonprofit organization Scottsdale Arts, will host an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the city’s first large-scale, public artwork, while simultaneously dedicating the newest work in its permanent art collection. Free. 4–6 p.m. Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale. scottsdalepublicart.org

Oct. 26–29

‘JUAN GABRIEL’

Ballet Arizona will present a captivating performance that celebrates the music and memory of the late musical icon Juan Gabriel. See website for prices and times. Symphony Hall, 75 N. Second St., Phoenix. 602-381-1096; balletaz.org

Oct. 20–June 3

‘AMERICAN ICONS: WRIGHT AND O’KEEFFE’

Taliesin West will host an exhibition featuring the photographs of Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia

O’Keeffe — two legends of American art and architecture — taken by Michael A. “Tony” Vaccaro while on assignment for LOOK Magazine from 1957 to 1960. The exhibition will present a behind-the-scenes, intimate visual pairing of Wright and O’Keeffe in their homes and studios. See website for prices. Taliesin West, 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale. 480-860-2700; franklloydwright.org

Oct. 27–Nov. 12

‘13’

Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre will present its production of “13.” See website for price and times. Scottsdale Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road, Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664; desertstages.org

Oct. 27–Nov. 12

‘THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS’

Black Theatre Troupe will present its production of “Barbecue,” which blends the agony of Greek tragedy and the ecstasy of Black gospel music. $50. See website for times. Tempe Center for the Arts, 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway, Tempe. 602-258-8128; blacktheatretroupe.org

Oct. 28

PRICKLY PEAR FEST

The Desert Awareness Committee will host its annual event featuring demonstrations showing techniques for gathering and preparing prickly pear fruits. Free. 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1090; hollandcenter.com

Oct. 28 and 29

KIERLAND FINE ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Vermillion Promotions will host its Kierland Fine Art and

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Wine Festival, featuring more than 100 world-class artists, wineries, trendy food concessions and main-stage entertainment. The unique outdoor gallery will boast a collection of original art that represents a wide variety of cultures and artwork in a range of subject matter and media. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Kierland Commons, 15205 N. Kierland Blvd., Scottsdale. vermillionpromotions.com

Oct. 29–Jan. 24

‘PHILLIP K. SMITH III: THREE PARALLELS’

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art will host an exhibition of Southern California artist Phillip K. Smith III’s site-specific, commissioned work that highlights changes in perception as related to light, color, time and space. $10+. Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, 7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale. 480-874-4666; smoca.org

Nov. 2–4

ALEX SEPKUS JEWELRY

Discover the wonderful world of New York fine jewelry designer Alex Sepkus, whose work reflects an irresistible playfulness and quirkiness and is celebrated for its understated elegance and intricacy. Explore a one-of-a-kind collection of hand-picked gemstone jewelry and other pieces of timeless, wearable art. Free. Special sneak peek Thursday 4–7 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, #7, Carefree. 480575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Nov. 4

CENTRAL ARIZONA FLUTE ENSEMBLE

Central Arizona Flute Ensemble will perform a concert that serves as an interactive journey into the world of melodies, emotions and unity. $25+. 2 p.m. The Holland Community Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480488-1090; hollandcenter.org

COMMUNITY

Nov. 4

BOYS TO MEN FESTIVAL

Participating male singers from schools across the state will join male singers from local male choruses in an afternoon-long rehearsal session with guest clinicians, culminating in a concert consisting of selections by participating schools, performances by the participating local male choruses and a few songs by all participants.

$5. 4:30 p.m. Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley. orpheus.org

Nov. 4

MOVING DAY PHOENIX

For the fifth straight year, Team Terravita Movers & Shakers will represent its North Scottsdale community during Moving Day Phoenix — an annual fundraising walk event that unites people around the country living with Parkinson’s disease , their care partners and loved ones. 9:30 a.m. Kiwanis Park, 5500 S. Mill Ave., Tempe. movingdayphoenix.org

Nov. 5

FALL YOUNG MUSICIANS CONCERT

Arizona Musicfest will present a concert showcasing Arizona’s brightest young classical musicians — each of whom possesses astounding technique and prodigious musicianship. $23.50. 1 p.m. MIM Music Theater, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-422-8449; azmusicfest.org

Nov. 6

‘ELVIS: THE CONCERT OF KINGS’

Arizona Musicfest will present a concert that possesses the legendary power and presence of music’s greatest icon, Elvis Presley. $39+. 7:30 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. 480-422-8449; azmusicfest.org

Nov. 9–11

AARON HENRY JEWELRY DESIGNER

Nov. 3–12

CANAL CONVERGENCE

Scottsdale Arts will host its 11th annual showcase of interactive, light-based artworks. Free. Scottsdale Waterfront, 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. canalconvergence.com

Meet the brilliant designer behind this marvelous American luxury jewelry collection and explore an exquisite selection of brilliant pieces, each one meticulously handcrafted to bring classical Old World quality to modern design. Free. Special sneak peek Thursday 4–7 p.m. Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Hum Road, #7, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com

Nov. 11

FRANKIE AVALON

Arizona Musicfest will present a concert featuring 83-year-old pop culture icon Frankie Avalon. $53+. 2 p.m. Highlands Church, 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale. 480-422-8449; azmusicfest.org

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

2/17 Kristin Chenoweth

1/5 & 1/6 Paul Anka

3/10 Renée Fleming with the Festival Orchestra

12/4 The Texas Tenors Deep in the Heart of Christmas

12/1 John Pizzarelli & Catherine Russell Swinging in the Holidays & More

11/11 Frankie Avalon

11/17 The Music of Billy Joel & Elton John Starring Michael Cavanaugh

11/6 Elvis: The Concert of Kings

3/22 Judy Collins 3/16 Rita Moreno In Conversation

2/12 Brian Stokes Mitchell & Lara Downes

Seth’s sculpture is meant to invoke conversations, particularly about the absence of individual thought in today’s society. His creations are powerful and provocative, and truly original.

SSometimes a phone call from a stranger can change a life. Sometimes it can change many.

Alexis Roeckner Ferri, the chief executive officer of Tierra Madre Horse and Human Sanctuary in Cave Creek, received just such a phone call.

“In mid-April of 2022, Tara [Mockbee] called me,” Ferri recalls. “She said, ‘I have a [resident] who passed away. She was a renowned artist, and she wanted her entire collection of original charcoal artwork to go to an equine rescue.”

On Oct. 7, Tierra Madre will host an event during which artist Patricia “Pat” Wozniak will be honored for her impact on the art community. The event will include a silent auction of Wozniak’s work, with 100% of each sale benefitting the sanctuary’s expenses — including hoof care, feed and the significant veterinary bills which, in 2022, amounted to $40,000.

CIRCLE OF HEALING

Mockbee and her staff, who cared for Wozniak at Fairmont Village, a memory care facility, accepted an invitation to tour the sanctuary. She knew this was the place that Wozniak would want her art to benefit, as in her will she wanted her art to be donated to an equine charity.

The artist was a bit of a mystery, with no immediate family. By the time she came to Fairmont Village, she was experiencing the significant effects of Parkinson’s disease and dementia. She passed away on April 14, 2023.

“We take care of elderly people, and Tierra Madre takes care of elderly horses,” Mockbee says. “I know she would be so happy to know that the art sales will help the sanctuary.”

Ferri says it’s an honor to be the recipient of the more than three dozen charcoal, graphite pencil and watercolor pencil drawings — primarily of horses, wildlife and Native Americans. The proceeds will help the sanctuary continue its mission of giving aging horses the very best life in their later years.

“We were so blown away,” she recalls. “Shortly, we had approval from [founder] Jim [Gath] to scatter Pat’s ashes here, and now she is laid to rest beneath one of our trees on the property.

“We want to honor her legacy and share more about who she was as a person, and honor the impact she made in the art community and the world. You change the world just by living.”

At Tierra Madre, humans volunteer to care for the horses, and the animals seem to know just what the humans around them need. Deep connections are formed.

“People say these horses are life-changing,” Ferri explains. “Horses live in the moment. They’re prey animals; they’re intuitive. You can’t lie to a horse. You have to face what’s going on inside you because that’s the only way through it.

“Horses say, ‘Stay with me in this moment.’ Those horses saved my life when I was 17. This place does something to you; it changes your life.”

Writer Shannon Severson

We want to honor her legacy and share more about who she was as a person and honor the impact she made in the art community and the world. You change the world just by living.

Alexis Roeckner Ferri

A MYSTERIOUS FIGURE

Piecing together Wozniak’s life story wasn’t easy, but Mockbee was able to glean key facts about the early life of the artist. One thing was clear: she was passionate about horses and used her natural talent to create realistic depictions of the majestic creatures.

Wozniak was an artist her entire life. A Massachusetts native, she attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design and even lived in Hawaii for a time. There, she owned her first horse, named Soda. She eventually had to put Soda down while she was in Hawaii. When her ashes were interred at Tierra Madre, they were accompanied by a lock of her beloved Soda’s mane, which she had preserved through the years.

With no discernible stream of income, Mockbee surmises that Wozniak survived by drawing and selling art, often at independent galleries. By the time she needed to be moved from her home, she hadn’t drawn in years.

“When Pat came to us, she had fallen several times in her Scottsdale condo, and we knew very little about her,” Mockbee says. “She could no longer live on her own, but her landlord was kind enough to gather all the art she could find in the home.”

Wozniak was a determined, independent soul. The daughter of Polish immigrants, she spoke with a Boston accent and was a huge fan of the Red Sox and Boston Bruins. She had a special shirt she wore to watch the games. While she never married or had children, she was a devout Catholic and was generous about donating her art to worthy causes.

HONORING A LEGACY

While Wozniak was a bit of an enigma, her heart for horses was easy to see. As preparations are made for the art show fundraiser, one piece will be kept and framed at Tierra Madre with words to honor the special posthumous donation from the artist.

“I know she would be so happy to know that the art sales will help the sanctuary,” Mockbee says. “When we scattered her ashes at the ranch, we said a prayer and went on our way. I am certain she is at peace and couldn’t be more thankful to Alexis and Jim for helping to honor her life and talent.”

tierramadrehorseandhumansanctuary.org

Experience

Tierra Madre Art Show Fundraiser

Thursday, Oct. 7 | 5–8 p.m.

The Holland Center | 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale Free | tierramadrehorseandhumansanctuary.org

RRenowned contemporary figurative artist Fernando Botero once said, “Art should be an oasis: a place or refuge from the hardness of life.” Those same words can apply to nature, with studies showing that exposure to the natural environment has a calming, restorative effect.

At Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, fine art and flora often overlap. Here, the expressive arms of saguaros, spiky leaves of agaves and feathery petals of cactus blossoms frequently share space with highly polished glass elements, playful plastic creatures and large architectural installations in harmonious blends of color and form.

Now, the Sonoran Desert and Latin America meet, as the garden welcomes a must-see collection of paintings, drawings and sculptures by Botero — Colombia’s mostcelebrated artist.

A collaboration between Desert Botanical Garden and the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, “Fernando Botero: The Master” marks the first time an exhibition of the artist’s works has ever been shown in Arizona.

Writer Rebecca L. Rhoades

“Sunflowers,” oil on canvas, 1977

LIVING LARGE

Born in Medellín, the secondlargest city in Colombia, in 1932, Botero is known for his immediately recognizable paintings and sculptures that distort volumes and question the concept of beauty. His signature style, known as “Boterismo,” depicts rotund, voluminous, some may even say obese, figures, meticulously painted in bright colors, through which he ridicules the pomposities of life, art and officialdom.

“People think I am a painter of fat women, but I draw volumes,” the artist is quoted as saying.

“Botero really did redefine beauty,” says Elaine McGinn, chief experience officer at Desert Botanical Garden. “By using these really voluptuous and full forms, he’s making us see and think about the world differently.”

Laura Spalding Best, senior director of exhibits at the garden, adds that there are several ways Botero uses the exaggerated form.

“One is to celebrate beauty and push it to its full extent,” she explains. “He’ll exaggerate the lines of the female just as he will the lines of a vase of flowers. Then, he uses it to present satire and to represent pain and suffering. His work has all the drama of the Renaissance paintings that he always admired.

“He’s able to put a lot of symbolism into his work, but there’s always something you can smile or laugh at. It provokes a reaction. I don’t think there’s anyone who can look neutrally at a Fernando Botero painting.”

Drawing inspiration from varied sources — from folk imagery to the formal portraits by the Old Masters — Botero portrays contemporary Latin American life. His oeuvre ranges from gentle scenes of everyday family life and popular Colombian pastimes, such as bullfighting, to topical issues, including political corruption and his home country’s history of violence.

Like his figures, the artist’s works themselves are large in scale. Paintings and drawings are wall size, while larger-thanlife bronze sculptures tower upward of 15–20 feet.

Those who may not know his name will still recognize his work. Botero has exhibited in the world’s best museums, and his sculptures can be found in parks and squares across the globe.

Some of his most famous pieces include “Mona Lisa,” a balloonlike interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci’s legendary painting; “The Death of Pablo Escobar,” which shows the infamous drug lord being fatally shot; and “Dancing in Colombia,” which highlights a lively café filled with music and dance. “Gato,” an enormous bronze corpulent kitty cat, and “Caballo,” a hulking horse, have become beloved symbols of Barcelona, Spain.

Botero is also a noted art collector. In 2000, he helped open the Museo Botero in Colombia’s capital city, Bogotá. In addition to more than 120 of his own works, the artist donated 85 pieces from his personal collection, including ones by such renowned masters as Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, Alberto Giacometti and Joan Miró.

The museum, which is housed in a colonial mansion in the city’s historic La Candelaria neighborhood, is a major attraction for tourists and locals alike, and it is open free of charge.

“Botero has been recognized across cultural and geographical borders, as has his art,” McGinn says. “He changed art, and not many can say they’ve done that.”

A SONORAN SUCCESS

“We have been trying to bring an exhibition of Botero’s work to the garden since 2004,” McGinn notes. “He’s a phenomenal artist. He’s one of the most recognized living artists, and he has such strong ties to Latin America and Colombia, specifically.

Prior to coming to Desert Botanical Garden, “Fernando Botero: The Master” was exhibited at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California. // Image provided by MOLAA //

Photo by Yubo Dona / ofstudio photography // Instagram: @ofphotostudio

This is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the culture and aesthetics of that world.”

“Fernando Botero: The Master” includes a selection of the artist’s large-scale wall pieces, as well as two of his monumental sculptures that will be displayed within Desert Botanical Garden’s landscape. The paintings and drawings will be exhibited in the Dorrance Center.

Works include “La Familia,” “Sunflowers” and “Still Life with Watermelon.” The star of the show is “Reclining Woman,” an 11-foot-long female nude. Her undulating curves complement the exaggerated forms and volume of the desert plants.

“Botero’s work is such an incredible fit with our garden because we have a curated collection of plants that sometimes feel as though they’re bursting at the seams,” Best says. “The outdoor placement of his sculpture within the Sonoran Desert landscape has never been seen before. To have them here, in metro Phoenix within our garden, is going to be spectacular.”

Accompanying the artworks is a documentary about the artist — who, at 91 years of age, is still creating.

“Fernando Botero is one of the most recognized living artists in the world,” Best notes. “There’s no denying that he’s such an important artist in the way that he represents Latin America. Although he now lives in Italy, his heart has always belonged in Colombia. He’s the painter of Colombia’s soul.”

dbg.org

Experience

‘Fernando Botero: The Master’

Oct. 7–March 31 | Desert Botanical Garden

1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix

See website for prices | 480-941-1225

dbg.org

After I photographed my first couple of ants, people suddenly started bringing me all kinds of bugs. I have, so far, not had to go out and look for them or figure out how to get them because people have just been bringing them to me. Ron Sill

AAccording to the Insect Identification Database of Arizona, there are at least 877 varieties of insects that crawl, fly or otherwise roam around our state. These include numerous species of scorpions, ants, bees, wasps, beetles, moths, centipedes, mosquitoes and, of course, flies.

Some — like butterflies — we typically attribute with beauty; in others — like crickets — we find nuisance or annoyance; and a select few — like ladybugs — we believe bring us good luck; but most — especially spiders — send shivers down our spines and cause us to jump higher than grasshoppers.

“I have never really been grossed out by or had any kind of fear of bugs,” says photographer Ron Sill. “I do not want them crawling around my bed, but I do not have any problem picking them up and checking them out.”

Sill does much more than just check them out; he gets up close and personal with them, photographing insects at high magnifications to reveal details that are essentially invisible to the naked eye.

“From moths and butterflies to beetles and ants, these insects are all so diverse from one another,” Sill explains. “Even two different kinds of ants can look completely different. Discovering what is different about each bug is what really draws me in.”

This month, in honor of Halloween, Images Arizona is showcasing a selection of Sill’s micro and macro photography, through which he shrinks us down and pulls back the curtain on the wonderful world of creepy crawlers.

We encourage you to fight the urge to look away and instead stand spellbound by the fascinatingly minute details of these captivating creatures with which we share this planet — even though they look like they come from another one.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Ron Sill

Cricket

June Bug

The beauty of photography is in trying to leverage what the camera can see that the human eye does not perceive the same way. Ron Sill

The moth is interesting because it has, for lack of a better term, scales that you do not normally see when you are looking at it. You do not even pay attention to these things until you see microphotography with all of the detail in it.

Ron Sill

The compound eyes on insects are a very big fascination for me. That was probably the first thing I gravitated toward. I wanted to see all the elements of an insect’s compound eyes. Ron Sill

About the Photographer

Ron Sill has never been one to rest on his laurels. In addition to a career as an electrical drafter, designing such things as the physical layout of semiconductors, the Chandler resident has collected a diverse and ever-expanding list of hobbies that range from cycling and running half-marathons to making and throwing boomerangs.

However, over the last 40 years, one hobby has stood not only the test of time but also the test of limitless learning.

“Back in the mid-80s, one of my coworkers wanted to get into photography and asked if I would like to join him,” Sill says.

“I said, ‘Sure! Why not?’ and bought a camera. As life went on, my interest in photography waned a bit — especially because it was a particularly expensive hobby. After all, in the film days, it would cost money every time you pushed the button.”

The advent of digital drew Sill back into photography, as it allowed him to experiment and explore the medium in entirely new ways.

“I have been in and out of so many different hobbies,” Sill admits. “For many of them, I tend to get to a point where I believe there is nothing further upon which I can improve. Photography never gets there. Unlike other hobbies, where you are kind of locked into one thing, photography can take you to a lot of places — weddings, landscapes, wildlife. There are a lot of different avenues you can go down.”

Sill has gone down many of them, often finding forks in the road and detours that capture his fascination. From micro and macro photography to still-life photography, Sill does not believe that his interest in the hobby will ever be satiated or exhausted.

“Landscapes are my favorite,” Sill adds. “It is low-stress, it does not move and it does not talk back to you. The only challenge is in figuring out how to compose it or look at it differently so that it speaks to somebody. That is the carrot at the end of the stick that seems impossible to catch, so you just keep going after it all the time.”

flickr.com/photos/ronsill instagram.com/ronaldsill facebook.com/ronald.r.sill

FFive decades ago, New York City-based artist Louise Nevelson unveiled Scottsdale’s first large-scale, public artwork — a sculpture, formally titled “Atmosphere and Environments XIII,” but more affectionately called “Windows to the West.”

The piece, installed at what was then the new Scottsdale Civic Center Mall, would start a movement that has since led to the commissioning of more than 150 permanent and temporary public artworks throughout the city.

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the city of Scottsdale and Scottsdale Public Art, a department of the nonprofit organization Scottsdale Arts, will host an event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Nevelson’s sculpture, while simultaneously dedicating the newest work in the city’s permanent art collection.

“This event will honor Scottsdale’s 50-year legacy of integrating public art into the building of our city,” says Kati Ballares, the director of Scottsdale Public Art.

“We know our residents and visitors appreciate how the city is so intentionally designed, but few

Tammi Lynch-Forrest

people actually know that Scottsdale Public Art has played an ever-increasing role in this process since the early 1970s.

“The opening of the renovated Scottsdale Civic Center and the completion of our newest public artwork is a great opportunity to celebrate and tell this story.”

‘WINDOWS TO THE WEST’

On June 5, 1970, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded the city of Scottsdale a $20,000 matching grant to commission a monumental work of art by “an outstanding American sculptor.” In February 1972, after raising $20,000 in private contributions, the Scottsdale Fine Arts Commission selected esteemed female sculptor Nevelson to create her first large-scale work in the Southwest.

“It was a bold move for the early 1970s, when nearly all public art in the country was created by men, and the other considered American sculptors for the project were men,” says Wendy Raisanen, curator of collections and exhibitions for Scottsdale Public Art. “Nevelson was a real trailblazer in her art career and life. As a young artist at Scottsdale High School, I saw her as a role model and icon.”

Dedicated Nov. 11, 1973, “Windows to the West” sought to capture shadow and light while incorporating a myriad of abstract forms. The contemporary nature of the artwork initially drew criticism from some vocal Scottsdale residents, who preferred Western realism instead.

However, by the late 1990s, it was named the most popular sculpture in the city’s collection.

Nevelson’s work has since been relocated to an area just north of Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, facing Scottsdale Civic Center’s West Paseo — a corridor stretching westward to connect with the shops along Main Street in Old Town Scottsdale.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Brian Passey

I feel that public art is important to the vitality of a community.

Tammi Lynch Forrest’s “The Desert’s Garden”

Over the last 50 years, countless other public artworks have been added to the city’s collection — such as Bob Parks’ “Bronze Horse Fountain,” Curtis Pittman’s “Diamond Bloom,” Donald Lipski’s “The Doors,” Ed Mell’s “Jack Knife” and George-Ann Tognoni’s “The Yearlings.”

‘THE DESERT’S GARDEN’

A juxtaposition five decades in the making, Scottsdale Public Art this year unveiled the city’s newest large-scale, public artwork — “The Desert’s Garden” — across the lawn from “Windows to the West.”

Created by Arizona-based artist Tammi Lynch-Forrest, the 40-foot mosaic wall combines thousands of hand-crafted tiles to depict flora and fauna of Scottsdale’s desert landscape. The canal, trail and sidewalk represent the flow of time, while the beauty of desert plants and charming animals, native or introduced to the area, are shown throughout.

Lynch-Forrest says that the mosaic reflects her fascination with the intricately woven tapestry of life that is the ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert.

“In this work, I attempt to capture [the desert’s] amazing interconnectivity of diverse and unique species,” she explains. “It is also my way of showing my admiration for the ways that nature provides abundance and nourishment, even in the most challenging of environments.

“In our desert, what might first appear to be a barren landscape, actually has life teeming in its every crack and crevice. The desert’s citizens are hidden away in its rocks and plants, and even under its dry surface. It is at its hottest and driest that the desert sleeps. And most people think of it that way. But we know better.

“After it rains, the desert awakens to become a wealth of new life and color. Exploding with wildflower blooms, its trees and bushes are laden with flowers, fruits and seeds. When the desert is blooming, the dry and harsh landscape becomes a desert garden.”

Lynch-Forrest adds that she believes each flower and creature — down to the tiniest insect — is its own work of art.

“I am in awe of the artistry of nature,” Lynch-Forrest says. “She is the ultimate artist, and I only attempt to capture and share the beauty that she has already created.”

Tammi Lynch Forrest’s “The Desert’s Garden”

Flora & Fauna

Located near Scottsdale City Hall, “The Desert’s Garden” acts as a timeline for the Scottsdale area, portraying three eras of the land through the plants and animals present.

“Each section represents [Scottsdale’s] ancient past, its early beginnings as a city and its vibrant present day,” says artist Tammi Lynch-Forrest. “A timeline winds through these eras, first the canals that made life possible in the desert, then the trails that brought settlers to form Scottsdale and finally the sidewalks of the modern-day city.

“The first section is filled with the fruits, flowers and seeds that were both food and medicine for the Native Americans of this area. The second section represents the produce and crops that the settlers cultivated. The third section shows the non-native plants that were introduced and thrived here, along with native plants.”

“The Desert’s Garden” portrays olive and desert ironwood trees, pima cotton, bougainvillea, citrus trees, poppies, violets, oleander and yucca as well as the monarch butterfly, black cardinal, Anna’s hummingbird, Gambel’s quail and western bluebird.

Some of the tiles creating the expansive 40-foot garden mosaic are smaller than a dime, and nearly all were hand-crafted by the artist.

“This public art is one large image, but it is also a mosaic made up of multiple smaller mosaic vignettes,” Lynch-Forrest explains. “I wanted to give the viewer an image to see at first glance, then invite them in to discover elements that are hidden away until closer inspection, to encourage visits to discover all the details the mosaic holds.”

IDENTITY & LEGACY

Raisanen says that Scottsdale is fully aware of the value that public art brings to the city’s visitors and residents, which is why in 1985 it established Scottsdale Public Art to enhance the quality of life in its communities by incorporating art and design projects throughout.

“Art is something that allows us to see our world in a new way,” Raisanen adds. “Artists provide us a window into another way to see where we live, how we live and what we value. I think that these viewpoints from all of these different artists help us better understand our world.”

Lynch-Forrest agrees.

“I feel that public art is important to the vitality of a community,” she explains. “I worked on-site for several months installing ‘The Desert’s Garden’ and had the unique opportunity to daily watch and listen to people enjoying the public art around me. I saw families interacting with the pieces, and I also saw that many visitors came specifically to view a certain piece, then went on to enjoy what else the area had to offer.

“Public art brought the community and visitors alike to where the museums, shops and restaurants were. I could see that locals felt a sense of pride in their city’s public art; and for the visitors, it became a part of their photo ops as they posed with it, becoming a part of their memories of the city. Public art becomes a part of a city’s identity and a way to share its legacy.”

scottsdalepublicart.org

Tammi Lynch Forrest’s “The Desert’s Garden”

DAVID GROSS FINE GEMSTONE COLLECTION

Each bespoke jewel the David Gross Group creates has its own character, its own story. The spectacular quality of each gemstone is further enhanced by the finest craftsmanship and elegant award-winning design.

Featured Sapphire Ring: 20.26 carat Cushion Blue Sapphire with two Trapezoid Modified Brilliant Diamonds 2.41 carats set in a handmade Platinum ring

7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377

Hours Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080

Roasted Butternut Squash Prosciutto Pizza

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1/2 pound pizza dough, at room temperature

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 cups cubed butternut squash or pumpkin

2 teaspoons honey

2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or to your taste)

2 pinches crushed red pepper flakes

Kosher salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 yellow onions, thinly sliced

3/4 cup apple cider

3/4 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella

3/4 cup shredded fontina cheese

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional)

2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, torn

Directions:

Position the oven rack in the upper 1/3 position. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. If you have a baking stone, start preheating it.

Place the ball of pizza dough on a lightly oiled quarter-sheet pan. Lightly drizzle olive oil on top of the dough ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest.

The cooler weather we are all experiencing brings into focus winter vegetables and herbs — such as butternut squash and sage. This recipe incorporates both ingredients in a wonderful new take on pizza. Fresh pizza dough gets topped with cidercaramelized onions, a combination of three different kinds of cheese, salty prosciutto, and autumn-roasted butternut squash. Bake this in just 15 minutes and you have the perfect weeknight pizza or appetizer!

On a separate baking sheet, toss together the olive oil, butternut squash, honey, sage, cinnamon, cayenne and a pinch each of crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Roast until the squash is just tender, 15–20 minutes, then remove from oven.

While the squash is in the oven, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add half of the apple cider, season with salt and pepper and continue cooking until the cider has mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining cider and cook until the onions are golden and caramelized, about 5 more minutes. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes and cook for one more minute. Remove from the heat.

Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees and begin assembling the pizza. Remove the plastic wrap from the dough and gently press until it covers the entire sheet pan. Lightly drizzle the dough with olive oil. Top with onions, cheese, prosciutto and butternut squash.

Slide pizza into the preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate pizza and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese has melted, 3–5 more minutes. Top pizza with additional crushed red pepper flakes and serve.

Writer and Photographer Francine Coles thefancypantskitchen.com