Images Arizona July 2021

July 2021

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July 2021

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GROUNDBREAKING GARMENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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UNBRIDLED LIBERATION Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Ann von Pentz

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HOOPS + HARD WORKS Writer Shannon Severson

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Cover photo by Amelia Barofski

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OUT OF THE WOODWORK Writer Shannon Severson // Photography by Mariel Schmitt Photography

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FETA AND OLIVE PULL-APART CHEESY GARLIC BREAD Writer and photographer Kyndra Kelly

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PUBLISHER Shelly Spence

MANAGING EDITOR Joseph J. Airdo

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Meaghan Mitchell

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Joseph J. Airdo Amanda Christmann Kyndra Kelly Shannon Severson

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bryan Black Brandon Dunham Kyndra Kelly Loralei Lazurek Carl Schultz

ADVERTISING SALES Cooper Langston 480-544-8721 cooper@imagesaz.com

Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416 Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221 imagesarizona.com Submission of news for community section should be in to

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When my friends in other parts of the country see Arizona’s summer weather forecasts on national news programs, they often ask me how I handle the heat.

It is a fair question. After all, the temperatures on our thermometers exceeded 110 degrees a record 53 times last year. Moreover, we did not drop below 90 degrees for a record 28-night stretch.

I will admit that it is hot. And that heat comes with inherent dangers of which we must all be aware. Whether it is getting your outdoor workout in at the crack of dawn, carrying plenty of drinking water at all times or taking special care not to touch the metal part of your car’s seatbelt, preparation and precautions must be integrated into each and every one of our lives this time of the year.

But our summer heat also offers us abundant opportunities to gather with our family, friends and neighbors. There are few feelings as wonderful in the world as relaxing in a pool with a big umbrella overhead, an ice-cold beverage in your hand and conversation-making company by your side. Better yet, backyard cookouts can extend late into the evening, ensuring many memories are made that will last a lifetime.

There really is no place I would rather live than right here, among the many talented, friendly and generous people who make up our incredible community.

Our summer heat is not a disadvantage; it is just another one of our many benefits — an excuse to spend even more time together with those people who bring laughter, joy and meaning to our lives.

shelly@imagesaz.com by the 5th of the month prior to publication.

Images Arizona is published by ImagesAZ Inc. Copyright © 2021 by ImagesAZ, Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction, in whole or part, without permission is prohibited.

The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited material.

So when my friends in other parts of the country ask me how I handle the heat, I respond, “Surrounded by some of the most truly exceptional individuals I have ever met.”

Cheers!

Local First A R I Z O NA 6

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Shelly Spence Publisher, Images Arizona magazine shelly@imagesaz.com 623-341-8221

July 2021

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum

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As Arizona’s temperatures begin to hit their 2021 peak, you have undoubtedly already reached for that swimsuit and taken a dip in a pool, lake or creek. If you are a woman, the chances of that swimsuit being a bikini may be somewhat high. But what is now common fashion was once considered scandalous.

The history of the swimsuit dates back to the 18th century. Prior to that, swimming was a mostly private activity — like bathing — so women did not have much of a need for any attire. The first swimsuits, known as bathing costumes or gowns, featured sleeves and were cut large as to float away from the body and obscure curves. Prioritizing coverage over practicality, they were most commonly made of wool but also occasionally came in canvas and flannel.

In the mid-1800s, bloomer swimsuits featured full skirts and wide legs that cinched — controversial in and of themselves due to their resemblance to pants, which were only worn by men at the time. Later bloomer swimsuits were cut higher on the leg and featured lighter fabric.

As sports gained popularity, early 20th-century swimmer Annette Kellerman debuted a one-piece, form-fitting suit that would increase her speed — and was arrested for wearing it. The design was eventually accepted and embellished with slimmer straps, ruffles and other fashionable elements.

Then, in 1946, Louis Réard designed a new swimsuit that he believed would be just as shocking as nuclear tests that had just occurred on the Bikini Atoll islands.

Named after the islands, the bikini — made of stretchy nylon and latex — featured a daringly skimpy twopiece design with bright colors and high-cut shorts.

Scandal eventually made way to acceptance and finally popularity. The bikini is now widely available and worn in a variety of revealing styles that may have shocked even Réard.

It is also just one groundbreaking garment among many featured in Phoenix Art Museum’s Fashion’s Subversives exhibition, which runs through Nov. 28. Spanning the 19th century through today, the exhibition showcases almost 40 examples of garments and accessories that broke from culturally accepted norms and forever changed popular fashion and the fashion industry.

“These designers thumbed their noses at the idea of conforming to traditional standards of popular fashion and were uninterested in anticipating the newest trends,” says Helen Jean, Phoenix Art Museum’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design. “Instead, they sought to create something entirely new, something that people had never seen before, and this exhibition celebrates those moments of going against the grain in big and small ways to challenge long-held views of propriety, beauty and taste.”

SUBVERTING STYLES

Jean curated Fashion’s Subversive’s ensembles and accessories into five sections based on the subversive ideals they embody. The aforementioned bikini is featured in the Subverting Morality and Decency section.

In addition to the evolution of the swimsuit, the section looks at shortening hemlines in the 1920s, the rise of mini-skirts in the 1960s and the history of the slip dress — an underwear-as-outerwear design that, although popularized in the 1990s, began way back in the late 1700s.

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Diane von Fürstenberg, Leopard print jumpsuit, c. 1977. Printed cotton knit. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Kelly Ellman.

Jean Paul Gaultier, Bodysuit, spring/summer 1980. Neoprene and metal.

Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Museum purchase of the Emphatics Archive with funds provided by: Barbara Anderson, Milena and Tony Astorga, Jacquie Dorrance, Ellman Foundation, Michael and Heather Greenbaum, Diane and Bruce Halle, Nancy R. Hanley, Ellen and Howard Katz and Miriam Sukhman.

Gianni Versace, Dress, 1994.

Rayon, acetate, silk, metal and rhinestones. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Kelly Ellman.

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Subverting Morality and Decency is only the tip of the iceberg though.

Another one of Fashion’s Subversive’s sections is Subverting Gendered Dress.

“In this section, we look specifically at men's suits as women have appropriated them into their wardrobe,” Jean says. “One of the most significant examples is Yves Saint Laurent’s 1967 smoking suit — the first tuxedo suit designed and engineered for a woman's body. It is incredibly sleek in the way that it fits and hangs on the body but it carries all those notes of authority, power and success that we associate with the men's suit.”

The smoking suit upset the balance of gendered dress and was therefore considered controversial at the time of its introduction.

Similarly, the advent of costume jewelry and Coco Chanel’s little black dress — both featured in the Subverting the Status Quo section — undermined the socioeconomic hierarchy of the industry by making versatile, stylish and expensive-looking clothing and accessories affordable for the masses in the 1920s.

“Up until that point, black garments were considered mourning dress,” Jean explains. “Introducing black as a chic and fashionable color in a silhouette and style allowed women of all economic statuses to look and feel sophisticated. And that was very upsetting to the fashion industry.”

Meanwhile, the Subverting the Social Order section features various accessories and garments that have been part of the fuel for change — such as the sash that women wore during the suffrage movement in

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Giorgio di Sant'Angelo, Surplice Black Bodice with Multi-colored Ties, Longsleeves, Wide Panel of Blue at Waist, 1968. Lycra. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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the early 1900s and the pink hat that women wore during the 2017 Women’s March.

Finally, the Subverting Reality section of the exhibition features designers and movements that changed the shape of or created outlandish silhouettes that do not even follow the human form — such as the missile bra.

“The missile bra was this really bizarre fad or trend that lasted for a while in the 1950s and 1960s,” Jean explains. “It created this incredibly pointed, very artificial shape to the woman's breasts. The human body does not do that naturally. That is just not how gravity works.”

REVOLUTIONARILY REVEALING

In 1964, designer Rudi Gernreich — who is at the center of Phoenix Art Museum’s Fearless Fashion, a special exhibition that is complimentary to Fashion’s Subversives — brought the swimsuit full circle with the introduction of the monokini.

Covering up only slightly more than the birthday suits women wore when swimming prior to the 18th century, the revolutionarily revealing topless swimsuit consisted of only a brief, close-fitting bottom and two straps.

Although today’s swimsuits are at least a bit more modest than that, it exists as proof that history is rich with examples of designers who bucked tradition and used their craft to challenge societal norms that limited self-expression.

protect ourselves but it is also how we indicate who we are, where we are, what we are doing, where we are going and how we are feeling.

Fashion is a pretty big expression of ourselves in the world and it relates to so many things.”

Yves Saint Laurent, Black Wool Tuxedo Jacket, 1967. Wool.

Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. David E. K. Bruce.

Jean adds that fashion collections in art museums are being taken more seriously now than ever before, with patrons eager to see, explore and consider the conversations surrounding it. She encourages Phoenix Art Museum patrons to always read the labels that accompany each item as they uncover many fascinating facts.

“One of the many delightful parts of this job is discovering these amazing little moments that have occurred in our artistic history and sharing those with the public,” Jean says.

“Fashion’s Subversives looks at those designers and garments that broke the rules in big ways but also in small, subtle ways.

“Fashion is intended to cause controversy, to create a stir, to ignite conversation and to bring people together to consider things outside of what is normal to them. Fashion can change our opinions, challenge our beliefs and be a catalyst for change and for expanding our minds. Fashion is a way that we communicate and we have so much valuable information to share between our cultures and between each other.” phxart.org

“Fashion is important in life,” Jean says. “It is how we, of course,

EXPERIENCE

Fashion's Subversives July June 5–Nov. 28 | Phoenix Art Museum | 1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix | $23 | 602-257-1880 | phxart.org

2021

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COMMUNITY

2021 JULY

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

July 3

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION Anthem will host an event featuring a fireworks display, fun rides and water slides, activities and festival food. Families may bring their own blankets and lawn chairs on which they can enjoy the fun-filled event. Free. 6–10 p.m. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. onlineatanthem.com

Through July 11

GILLIGAN’S ISLAND

activities that build musicianship

Splash Minis and Rockette Workshop.

skills, acting fundamentals and

See website for price and times.

dance techniques while providing

Dynamic Motion Dance Academy,

Arizona Broadway Theatre will

a safe, supportive environment

4111 W. Innovative Dr., Phoenix. 623-

present a hilarious musical with

free of criticism and full of

587-9063; dmdaaz.com

classic moments from the beloved

engagement, creative inspiration and

television program “Gilligan’s Island.”

encouragement to try new things.

See website for price and times.

Audition practice, theater etiquette,

Arizona Broadway Theatre, 7701 W.

acting games and arts and crafts

TAKE A HIKE

Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-776-8400;

round out the daily curriculum.

Vision Gallery and The Gallery at

azbroadway.org

$250–$495. 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–

the Chandler Center for the Arts will

Friday. The Holland Center, 34250 N.

feature the work of 30 artists whose

60th St., Scottsdale. 480-488-1981;

photos, prints and paintings provide

dftheater.org

insight into the wonder and joy of

Through July 30

DESERT FOOTHILLS THEATER CAMPS Desert Foothills Theater will host a series of summer camp sessions for youth aged 5–14, each centered around a certain show or theme and culminating in a performance opportunity. Professional artist instructors will carefully select

hiking the many waterways, parks,

Through July 30

DYNAMIC MOTION DANCE ACADEMY CAMPS Dynamic Motion Dance Academy will host a series of four summer camp sessions for youth aged 3–18 — Princess Minis, Summer Dance, Splish

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Through Aug. 14

trails, forests and canyons of Arizona.

Free. See website for hours. Vision Gallery, 10 E. Chicago St., Chandler.

The Gallery at the Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler. visiongallery.org

July 2

PATRIOTIC PERFORMANCE

Tankless

tale of kidnapping villains and courageous

Water Heaters

puppies. Auditionees aged 6–11 should prepare a musical theater song. $375; sibling discounts available. 9 a.m.–3 p.m.

Dynamic Motion Dance Academy is

RSVP. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201

organizing a no-cut dance opportunity

N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001;

for youth, culminating in a Fourth of July

musicaltheatreofanthem.org

IN STOCK! Starting at:

$4796*

showcase. Rehearsals for youth aged 4–18 will be held June 28–July 1. Two in-person tickets will be provided to each participant.

July 7

The show will also be streamed free to local

DEATH CAFÉ

assisted living facilities and veterans. See

Aspiring to help people make the most of

website for price and time. Dynamic Motion

their finite lives, Desert Foothills Library

Dance Academy, 4111 W. Innovative Dr.,

will host a gathering to talk about death

Phoenix. 623-587-9063; dmdaaz.com

and dying. Free. 12:30 p.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse

July 3

CREEKWEST SUMMERFEST

Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

July 8 and 27

The town of Cave Creek will host a free,

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB

family event to benefit Rural Metro Fire.

Desert Foothills Library will host a book club

Attendees may enjoy shaved ice, a bounce

featuring Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the

house, drive-in movies and a full bar with

Caged Bird Sings.” Free. 10 a.m. RSVP. Desert

drink specials at Big Earl’s Greasy Eats.

Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse

Meanwhile, Local Johnny’s will offer a water

Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

slide bounce house, live music and two full bars with drink specials. Finally, Bryan’s Barbeque will host a character lunch and live

July 11

website for schedule and location information.

CRYSTAL BOWL HEALING CONCERT FOR A CAUSE

480-488-9129; frontiertownaz.com

The Space Healing Center and Local Jonny’s

music while pinball games and food trucks will be on tap at The Eddy. Free. 3–9 p.m. See

will present a sound healing concert during

July 5

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER

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which attendees will take part in various meditative practices that ensure a relaxing and rejuvenating afternoon. The healing experience aims to induce a meditative

Hospice of the West facilitators will lead

state with crystal bowls, gongs and other

a gathering of caregivers. Free. 10 a.m.

instruments. $25. 4–6 p.m. Local Jonny’s,

RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N.

6033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 602-

Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-

492-6643; thespaceaz.com

50 GALLON ELECTRIC

SUPPLIED & INSTALLED STARTING AT:

$997*

50 GALLON NATURAL GAS

$997*

2286; dfla.org

July 7

101 DALMATIONS KIDS AUDITIONS

July 12 and 26

Air Conditioning • Plumbing • Water Treatment

HEALING PATHWAY Hospice of the West facilitators will lead a gathering that will guide individuals through

Musical Theatre of Anthem will audition

their personal process of grief. Free. 9:30

potential cast members for its upcoming

a.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443

production of “101 Dalmations Kids,” a

N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-

musical based on Disney’s classic animated

2286; dfla.org

**Pricing Expires 7/31/2021 July 2021

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Co-owned and co-operated by Mark and Jennifer Hughes, local professional roofing service company Rain Man Roofing has offered to sponsor Musical Theatre of Anthem’s July 29–31 production of “Singin’ in the Rain, Jr.” Photo Courtesy of Rain Man Roofing

July 18

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN, JR. AUDITIONS Musical Theatre of Anthem will present its production of “Singin’ in the Rain, Jr.,” a splashy adaptation of the world’s most celebrated movie musical.

Local professional roofing service company Rain Man Roofing has

July 13

GET LIT BOOK CLUB Desert Foothills Library will host

offered to sponsor the production, race relations. Free. 10 a.m. RSVP.

with $5,000 in funds helping the

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N.

theater with royalties, props, sets

Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-

and other show-related expenses that

488-2286; dfla.org

tuition and ticket sales cannot cover.

July 16 and 17

Rain Man Roofing’s co-owner

a happy hour book club at a local restaurant featuring Emily Levesque’s “The Last Stargazers.” Free. 5 p.m.

RSVP. See website for location. 480-

101 DALMATIONS KIDS

488-2286; dfla.org

Musical Theatre of Anthem will present its production of “101

July 13–17

SUMMER STRINGS CAMP

Dalmations Kids,” a musical based on Disney’s classic animated tale of kidnapping villains and courageous puppies. $13+. See website for times.

North Valley Symphony Orchestra

Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N.

will host a summer camp for young

41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001;

musicians who may be interested

musicaltheatreofanthem.org

in joining one of the nonprofit performing arts organization’s youth ensembles. Participants will meet and

July 19–23

their fellow students. $150. See website

MUSICAL THEATRE OF ANTHEM SUMMER MINIS

for schedule. Shiloh Community

Musical Theatre of Anthem will

Church, 19021 N. 32nd St., Phoenix.

host a minis class during which

northvalleysymphony.org

students aged 3–5 will focus on vocal

work with youth ensemble directors as well as have fun playing music with

technique, dance skills, showmanship

July 15

LITERARY SALON Desert Foothills Library will host an informal discussion of books, film and theater, with this month’s focus being

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and basic theater terminology. Skills will culminate in a performance for friends and family. $100. 3–5 p.m.

Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

and co-operator Jennifer Hughes says the decision to sponsor the production was simple since Musical Theatre of Anthem provides such a great service to both the community’s youth and adults.

“We have seen firsthand the benefits Musical Theatre of Anthem offers the youth who participate in their shows and programs,” Hughes explains.

“The growth these kids make from shy, young, elementary children to confident, mature, thriving adults who fill leadership roles in their own schools and social environments is beautiful to witness.” $13+. See website for times. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org

July 23–Aug. 8 FOOTLOOSE

Starlight Community Theater will present its production of the hit musical “Footloose.” See website for price and times.

Starlight Community Theater, 1611 W. Whispering Wind Dr., Suite 9, Phoenix. starlightcommunitytheater.com

July 31 and Aug. 1

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR. AUDITIONS Desert Foothills Theater will audition potential cast members for its upcoming production of “High School Musical, Jr.” Youth performers age 8+ are welcome to audition. See website for times. The Holland Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale.

480-488-1981; dftheater.org

ARIZONA MUSICFEST AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS Arizona Musicfest has selected cellist Leo Kubota of Tempe and pianist Sharon Hui of Mesa as first-year recipients of its college scholarship, earning up to $10,000 for their undergraduate studies in music. The pair were chosen from an exciting and talented group of applicants for their artistic excellence, musical and academic achievement, dedication to their craft and involvement in their communities. Kubota will attend Yale University while Hui will begin her studies at The University of Colorado — Boulder. azmusicfest.org

DESERT FOOTHILLS LIBRARY EXPANDS HOURS In response to the growing percentage of vaccinated people and the decline of COVD-19 cases in Maricopa County, Desert Foothills Library has expanded its hours of operation to better serve the community. The library is now open from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 9 a.m.–6 p.m.

Tuesdays and Thursdays; and 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturdays. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek.

480-488-2286; dfla.org

FOUNDATION LAUNCHES CAMP TALIESIN WEST The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation this summer will host a series of youth architecture, science, engineering, art and photography camps. Combining academic relevance with Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed principles of organic architecture and solutions-based design, Camp Taliesin West will feature a variation of hands-on projects and lessons that encourage campers to think critically, creatively and sustainably. Both virtual and in-person options are available. $100+; scholarships available for qualifying individuals. See website for dates and schedule. Taliesin West, 12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd., Scottsdale. franklloydwright.org/camp July 2021

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SAM FOX DEVELOPS INTERNATIONALLY INSPIRED HOTEL Restaurant innovator Sam Fox has announced his foray into the luxury hospitality industry with the development of an internationally inspired hotel.

Where Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley converge, The Global Ambassador will combine a refined and elevated hospitality experience that is created through a global lens and locally connected.

Opening 2023, the 141-room hotel will be oriented around its plaza courtyard with a sprawling lawn accented with lush, verdant landscaping and inviting seating that encourages guests to relax and unwind.

Amenities will include a wellness center, an ultra-luxe spa and a member’s club. globalambassadorhotel.com

KIWANIS AWARDS STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS Kiwanis Club of Carefree last month presented $249,000 in scholarships and merit awards to 23 deserving

at Phoenix Art Museum. Each of

The 23-year-old hopes to play on

up to three recipients, who will be

the LPGA in 2022 and is attending

announced Sept. 30, will receive a

qualifying school in August to make

$1,500 grant and the opportunity to

that a reality. kendrickwm.com

participate in a group exhibition at Phoenix Art Museum in spring 2022.

possible through the collective

MUSEUM ACCEPTS ARTISTS’ GRANTS SUBMISSIONS

efforts of volunteers and staff at

Phoenix Art Museum has opened

Kiwanis Marketplace in Cave Creek.

its annual call for submissions for

kiwaniscarefree.org

the institution’s Sally and Richard

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AUDITIONS MUSICIANS

Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards

North Valley Symphony Orchestra

artists’ grants program. Replacing

is auditioning musicians for

the former Contemporary Forum

its upcoming concert season.

Artists’ Grants, the newly branded

The nonprofit performing arts

and juried grant program provides

organization will accept video

recognition and financial support

auditions for its adult orchestra

for emerging, professional, Arizona-

through Aug. 1 and for its youth

based artists. Submissions will be

ensembles through Aug. 6.

accepted through July 15. Proceeds

northvalleysymphony.org

seniors representing four area high schools. The awards were made

LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER SPONSORS GOLF PRO Noah Kendrick of Kendrick Wealth Management will sponsor Scottsdale resident Nishtha Madan’s journey to succeed in the world of golf. Madan will represent Kendrick Wealth Management on tour by wearing the business’s logo in addition to

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appearing at private client events.

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m Jul y 2 02 1

from $10 submission fees will support education programs and exhibitions

bit.ly/lehmannawardsopencall

July 2021

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Dr. Brian Hester, center, is using the Ironman Triathlon platform to raise money and awareness for Youth for Troops — an Anthem-based nonprofit service organization that expresses and demonstrates unparalleled support for the exceptionally brave men and women who serve our country.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Back to Health of Anthem

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“

If you want to get better in any aspect of your life, you have got to put in the work. You cannot just show up and expect things to change.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

Dr. Brian Hester

D

Dr. Brian Hester has always embraced a single, transformative philosophy across all aspects of his life: If you do the homework, then the test will be easy.

Ten years ago, the chiropractor and founder of wellness facility Back to Health of Anthem decided to test the limits of his own strength, endurance and personal fitness.

“It was at a time in my life when I had about 50 pounds to lose and wanted to get my own health back on track,” Dr. Hester says.

“The first wise thing to do is to get a coach — someone who can formulate your training plan and schedule out some fitness tests and benchmarks to make sure that you are hitting your mark,” Dr. Hester says.

He adds that the coach who helped him prepare for his first Ironman Triathlon advised him to become comfortable with being uncomfortable — and to wake up and work out at 4:30 a.m. in order to avoid Arizona’s excruciating summer heat.

At 37 years old, he trained for and competed in the Ironman Triathlon — a series of longdistance races that is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the entire world.

“The second thing to do is to get really specific on your nutrition,” Dr. Hester says.

“You want to reach the starting line healthy but also at an ideal body weight. The heavier you are, the more mass you have to carry around and the longer it is going to take you to complete all three disciplines.”

“It is a 2.4-mile swim in Tempe Town Lake followed by a 112-mile bicycle ride that goes out the Beeline Highway toward Payson in three loops and a 26.2-mile run in and around Tempe to finish it up,” Dr. Hester explains.

Dr. Hester adds that the trick to achieving an ideal body weight is to find the right balance of exercise and nutrition.

Through that experience, Dr. Hester lost the 50 pounds he wanted to shed and gained a sense of accomplishment that only the most elite athletes ever achieve. Moreover, he also used the platform to raise a few thousand dollars for the Prostate Cancer Foundation — a victory that he perceives as even more significant than his triathlon finish itself.

With this year marking the 10th anniversary of his first Ironman Triathlon, Dr. Hester has decided to do it again Nov. 21 in Tempe as a continuing process of his personal fitness.

“A lot of people refer to that as the fourth discipline,” he says. “You can be a really good swimmer, a really good bicyclist and a really good runner, but if you do not get your nutrition right and you do not fuel and hydrate your body the way that you should, you will find that your body will not give you the performance that you are striving for. More often than not, it will break down.”

ON YOUR MARKS!

The wisdom that comes from having previously competed in the sporting event helps Dr. Hester to feel much more confident as he begins his training this time around and sets a goal to finish all three legs in less than 12 hours.

And if you were to ask anyone, training for and competing in the Ironman Triathlon definitely constitute “hard things.” Athletes typically begin preparing for the series of races at least six months prior to the sporting event itself.

“I learned that there are no shortcuts,” he explains. “If you have done the training and you have done everything that you are supposed to do across all three disciplines, then that will show up on race day and you are going to have a memorable experience.

If you do not do the homework, then that, too, will show up on race day and you are still going to have a memorable experience

“Doing hard things that challenge you and help you to remain focused spills over into other areas of your life,” Dr. Hester says.

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At 37 years old, Dr. Brian Hester trained for and competed in the Ironman Triathlon — a series of long-distance races that is widely considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the entire world.

— but it will not be one that you remember fondly, as you are going to have a really hard day.”

GET SET!

However, the thing that may be the most important aspect of preparation is having a strong — and motivational — support system. Fortunately, Dr. Hester has plenty of that in his wife Desiree KretschHester, with whom he proudly runs Back to Health of Anthem. He also has it in the entire staff of the wellness facility, which has been helping patients in the community since 2003.

“We coach people who have lost their way with their health to set goals, accomplish those goals and then set new goals,” Dr. Hester says. “I believe that many people are overmedicated and undernourished. That leads to a lot of physical conditions, weight gain and health problems. We help people formulate a path to take less medication, lose weight and live a better quality of life.”

Dr. Hester adds that he would never ask his patients to do anything that he would not do himself. He remains personally committed to setting regular goals and participating in a variety of outdoor recreational activities and sporting events — such as mountain bike races, half marathons and trail runs.

“Every year, I hike the Grand Canyon rim to rim,” Dr. Hester says. “I am always testing myself and making sure that I am staying committed to my continued growth and to the process — and doing everything that I ask other people to do. The coolest part is taking people who do not think that they can accomplish something like this and watching them see it come to fruition.”

Dr. Hester estimates that he will be completing 15–20 hours of exercise each week leading up to the Ironman Triathlon. Therefore, the support of his wife and his Back to Health of Anthem staff is an absolutely essential aspect of his preparation.

“I am blessed to have people around me who love to do the things that I do,” Dr. Hester says. “But, most importantly, they help keep me on track by asking me about my nutrition, by working out with me, by doing strength training with me and by just being part of the overall process.”

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GO!

Speaking of support systems, Dr. Hester is again using the Ironman Triathlon platform to raise money and awareness for a very worthy cause — just as he did 10 years ago. This time, he is partnering with Youth for Troops, an Anthem-based nonprofit service organization that expresses and demonstrates unparalleled support for the exceptionally brave men and women who serve our country.

“I just thought that it would be great to help raise money that will go toward serving the people who protect the freedoms that so many of us take for granted while helping our community become more aware of what others have sacrificed,” Dr. Hester says.

Youth for Troops has assembled more than 5,000 care packages — containing food and hygiene items — for deployed service members since 2018. Founding youth board member Taylor Piatt says Dr. Hester's fundraising campaign will help the nonprofit service organization send even more care packages to our country’s heroes.

Youth for Troops members also make plastic mats for homeless veterans, serve as flag-bearers for Honor Flight homecomings, help to conduct the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Buddy Poppy Drive, assist with ceremonies and paver installations at the Anthem Veterans Memorial and participate in the community’s annual Daisy Mountain Veterans Parade.

Founding youth board member Sophie Hoffa says that the nonprofit service organization’s members are immensely grateful that Dr. Hester chose to help them with their mission. A calendar of fundraising events is available on Back to Health of Anthem’s website.

“After completing the Memorial Day group workout at Back to Health of Anthem, we have all decided to make health, nutrition and exercise a priority — and have turned meal-prep and workouts into family events,” she says. “We may not be in shape for the Ironman in November, but we will be healthier versions of ourselves to cheer him on.”

As Dr. Hester at age 47 continues to prepare for his second Ironman Triathlon, he says that each and every one of us only get what we work for — not what we believe we deserve. His philosophy extends far beyond the sporting event.

“That transcends into your career, that transcends into being a parent, that transcends into running a business, that transcends into being a better spouse and that transcends into being a better Christian,” he explains. “If you want to get better in any aspect of your life, you have got to put in the work. You cannot just show up and expect things to change.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.”

Most importantly, though, Dr. Hester says we must work together to achieve that change not only in our own lives but also in our communities.

With this year marking the 10th anniversary of his first Ironman Triathlon, Dr. Brian Hester has decided to do it again Nov. 21 in Tempe as a continuing process of his personal fitness.

Dr. Brian Hester remains personally committed to setting regular goals and participating in a variety of outdoor recreational activities and sporting events — such as mountain bike races, half marathons and trail runs.

“You can run, bike or swim the same route every single day and see different things, hear different sounds and feel different [sensations],” he says. “But it all boils down to the fact that you only get out of it what you put into it. If you are going to do it anyway, why not do it in a way that can make a lasting impact and link arms with other people who can help make the workload a little lighter?” myanthemhealth.com youthfortroops.org

Youth for Troops board member Tonya Piatt adds that in addition to helping the nonprofit service organization achieve its goals, Dr. Hester has also inspired her family to eat healthier and exercise more.

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Ann von Pentz

H

Horses have long been universal symbols of freedom without restraint.

Way back in the days of the Wild West, riding a horse made a person feel as though they could free themselves from their own bindings.

Therefore, it is only natural that horses are also linked as symbols of travel, movement, power, grace, nobility and desire.

There are no other horses in the entire world that better reflect freedom than the Salt River herd. Having existed along the Salt River and Salt River Valley for as long as anyone can remember — even well before the Tonto National Forest was created in 1902 — these horses provide hikers, tubers and other nature enthusiasts a glimpse at not only Arizona’s serene beauty but also what it must feel like to know truly unbridled liberation.

Photographer Ann von Pentz first encountered the Salt River horses soon after she arrived in Arizona a little more than five years ago.

They quickly became a central focus of her work. She believes that the mustangs — descendants of Spanish Iberian horses brought to the Americas by Spanish explorers in the 16th century — represent the absolute best of the Wild West.

“Like the American bison, these horses were subject to mass extermination starting around 1850, as ranchers and farmers complained they were competing with livestock for land and food,” von Pentz says. “Despite attempts of roundups and extermination, the Salt River herd has eluded capture, hiding in the desert and among the trees.”

Of course, just as the horses have eluded capture, they are very wellknown to elude the camera lens as well. Therefore it is with the utmost quiet caution that von Pentz tracks them. And the moment she finds the herd is as magical as it is exhilarating.

“I might hear a crack of a branch, a rustle in the trees and I stop,” von Pentz explains. “I may have a sighting. I hide and they hide, both not wanting to acknowledge the existence of the other. Quietly I begin my work, photographing the beauty of this moment.

“Wearing two cameras — a 500mm prime lens and a 70-200mm — I make split-second decisions depending on distance, motion, light and composition. Ever so quickly I am ready as adrenaline begins rushing through me. I know any sudden movements could lose this opportunity forever.”

In honor of July Fourth — our country’s ubiquitous celebration of freedom — Images Arizona is sharing with its readers some of von Pentz’s majestic photography of these wild horses with the hope that you, too, can witness their imperial independence.

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What would the cowboy — one of the quintessential icons of the American West — have been without these horses?

The cowboy and the Wild West, like the wild mustang, symbolize freedom, adventure and stamina.

Ann von Pentz

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My images explore the complex nature of these horses, wild and free yet burdened by constraints to their habitat. I photograph to evoke an emotional response from the viewer that corresponds not only with the current circumstances of these horses but also remembering their historical significance.

Ann von Pentz

July 2021

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With camera in hand, I escape into the Tonto National Forest, embarking on daylong solitary hikes, always finding wildlife, but very occasionally finding a band of wild mustangs. To find and photograph them is a magical experience.

Ann von Pentz

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Based in both Montana and Arizona, Ann von Pentz’s love for photography has not only led her to some of the most beautiful and fascinating places on earth but also provided her with a unique way to witness them.

“I am passionate about photography as it allows me a tool through which I am able to explore my world, moving outside of traditional art forms, inherently becoming part of the experience I photograph,” von Pentz explains. “Through my images, I seek to cultivate or spark a sensation of heightened awareness deep within that is both visceral and magical.”

Von Pentz’s style is frequently described as ethereal and creative. She is known for finding hidden beauty in often overlooked subjects and scenes. Reflected in her images is her ability to connect with her subject’s character, humor, mood and life force.

Von Pentz is usually found hiking trails or forging her own, in pursuit of the unknown.

Her love for exploration and adventure is apparent in her work as she aspires to combine her sense of the world and her creativity into each image she captures with her camera.

“Once home, I receive the confirmation of my experience and the everlasting joy of my adventure as I scroll through my images,” von Pentz says. “I choose my favorite moments easily. I am careful in post-processing my images to preserve the authenticity of these sacred moments. I want you to witness not only what I saw but how I saw it.

I want my subject to be the focus of your attention, just like it was mine.” annvonpentz.com

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After a year that could have crushed their dreams of playing in college, Boulder Creek High School 2021 graduates Kayla Clark (right) and Violet Toon (left) persisted and were rewarded with scholarships that will allow them to continue on in their basketball journeys.

Photo by Amelia Barofski

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Writer Shannon Severson

B

Basketball requires endurance, focus and the ability to shift direction at the same fast pace as the game itself. Boulder Creek High School 2021 graduates Kayla Clark and Violet Toon embody all three of those skills — both on the court and in their personal lives.

After a year that could have crushed their dreams of playing in college, Clark and Toon persisted and were rewarded with scholarships that will allow them to continue on in their basketball journeys.

The talented pair led the Jaguars to finish in the Top 16 of their division, nearly beating Sandra Day O’Connor High School at school year’s end and earning a spot in the 6A playoffs. While the team fell short in a loss to eventual champions Valley Vista, they ended the year with a lot of which they can be proud.

Moreover, both have big things on the horizon. This fall, Clark will join the basketball team at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, where she will be majoring in business, while Toon will join the team at Ottawa University in Surprise, where she will be majoring in communications.

NOTHING BUT NET

Clark — whose parents and brother have all played basketball — picked up the sport when she was about 5 years old. Toon began playing, initially with the Anthem Community Center recreational league, just after sixth grade.

“I have two sisters — one older and one younger,” Toon says. “Both played basketball and it helped because we were always trying to compete and get better. I can never beat my older sister, Jordan. And my younger sister, Lyric, can never beat me. That first season I played after sixth grade, I didn’t score a single point; I was awful. But then, for the next four seasons, we were undefeated.”

Toon was also inspired to get into basketball and keep pursuing greatness by WNBA Phoenix Mercury player Brittney Griner. She even had the chance to meet her idol.

“When I was 13 or 14 [years old], there was a meet and greet,” Toon explains. “But it was at a bar and you had to be 21 to attend.”

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This fall, Boulder Creek High School 2021 graduate Kayla Clark will join the basketball team at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, where she will be majoring in business.

Photo by Amelia Barofski

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Toon sent several emails to the WNBA. Its director facilitated their meeting during which she obtained Griner’s autograph.

“The next time I met her, she surprised me with season tickets,” Toon adds. “It was a dream come true. I knew then that I wanted to play basketball.”

Clark, who sings and plays both piano and guitar when she’s not on the hardwood, credits her family for keeping her going — particularly through the injuries she suffered during every year of high school.

“My whole family, in general, is my inspiration,” Clark says. “They’re the most supportive people I know. My parents, my brother, my grandparents and all of my coaches have been really supportive the whole time.”

MAKING IT RAIN

When Clark and Toon began playing basketball at the high school level, both girls wound up on the varsity team as freshmen. Toon also ran track for the Jaguars, competing in hurdles and the triple jump.

Together, they persevered through injuries, coaching changes and the trials of the COVID-19 pandemic.

An athlete’s junior year in high school is prime time for college recruiting; but so is the summer club season, when traveling to major tournaments naturally draws the most attention from universities.

“It was really difficult because I was saving my junior year club season to get looks, but that got canceled,” Clark says. “I’m really grateful to Coach Marlon Wells of EBO, a California club team. They gave me a spot on their team so I got to play in some of the tournaments when every other team was full.”

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This fall, Boulder Creek High School 2021 graduate Violet Toon will join the team at Ottawa University in Surprise, where she will be majoring in communications. Photo by Amelia Barofski

Violet Toon (center) signs with Ottawa University’s women's basketball head coach Craig Wiginton (left) and assistant coach JoAnna Wiginton (right). Photo by Seth Askelson

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“

They’ve got great work ethic. That’s why they received scholarships for both academics and athletics. They demonstrated a strong commitment to their teams and to themselves. They strived to get those scholarships and they’ve earned them.

Noah Barofski

As the school season began, the COVID-19 restrictions that effectively shut down many of those summer opportunities nearly claimed their senior season, as well. The team did what they could to keep training and conditioning through the summer and the fall.

“Our season kept getting delayed and pushed back and then they canceled it,” Toon says. “I remember that weekend, I was devastated that I wouldn’t have a senior season. Then the AIA changed its mind and we got right back in the gym.”

The Jaguars also had to adjust to a new head coach and the departure of many seniors from the 2020 season. Coach Noah Barofski took on the task and set about guiding the team to the 6A playoffs.

In the past, the post-season pool included 24 teams. This year, only 16 qualified — and the Jaguars were seeded at No. 15. With such a young team, it was an accomplishment just to be there.

“We were very fortunate and blessed to have a season,” says Barofski, who had previously served as the school’s junior varsity and freshman team coach. “It was difficult for sure, but wonderful to have a season. And the camaraderie on the team was a joy.”

BUZZER BEATER

Clark and Toon, who were leaders on the young team, had already had looks prior to the 2020-2021 season.

“It was fortunate that Kayla and Violet were already in the recruiting process,” Barofski explains. “Colleges are also struggling with lack of roster and funds. Some had to rescind offers because of those constraints.”

Clark was signed by Southern Utah University by November of her senior season. But there were still challenges.

“Their whole budget was cut,” Clark says,

“But the coach and the team there were so supportive. They brought my application to the school’s attention and I was given the Presidential Scholarship — which only goes to two people per year. I was very thankful for that.”

Toon had been in talks with Ottawa University during her junior club season and had received an offer, but had not yet committed. There was a coaching change and Ottawa stopped calling.

“I kept getting offers but I wanted to stay in-state,” Toon says. “Ottawa was my No. 1 [choice]. When they stopped showing interest, I didn’t know why and didn’t really know what I would do.”

Then, Ottawa University finally called again, expressing remorse that Toon’s name had not remained on its list.

“I connected well with the new coach and they offered me a full-ride scholarship,” she says.

Before all was said and done, Clark, who led the entire district in five statistical categories, was named Player of the Year.

Meanwhile, Boulder Creek High School's recipient of the title last year, Toon, was named Teammate of the Year.

Barofski acknowledges that this past school year’s season was a unique and strange one for sure. However, he is not at all surprised that Clark and Toon are continuing on in their basketball journeys — and with scholarships, no less.

“They’ve got great work ethic,” Barofski says. “That’s why they received scholarships for both academics and athletics. They demonstrated a strong commitment to their teams and to themselves. They strived to get those scholarships and they’ve earned them. As much as I’d like to say I played a role, they really did it themselves.

It’s a very proud accomplishment for the two of them.”

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Resplendent Views, Lavish Features and Dream-Like Living Prepare to be absolutely amazed in a home that offers stunningly gorgeous and highly sought-after, unobstructed views of one of Arizona’s most majestic mountain preserves. Be the envy of each and every guest who walks into your home as their jaws drop with awe at the resplendent sight of saguaro cacti and southwestern wildlife right outside your window.

This 5-bedroom, 5.5-bath Anthem Country Club home is the “wow” factor epitomized. Each bedroom in the 4,280-square-foot is a suite with its own private bath. There is even a casita with a full bath and private entry. But be forewarned — your guests will be clamoring for the opportunity to stay the night and may never want to leave.

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July 2021

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona

W

Where else but the small towns located along Historic Route 66 can you eat at a restaurant called Roadkill Cafe, take a selfie in front of a 14-foot-tall tiki head or experience a tollway run by wild donkeys paid with alfalfa blocks?

Nearly 95 years since it was established, the highway still offers one of the greatest summer adventures available.

“Historic Route 66 is just a different experience than a lot of other vacations,” says Nikki Seegers, director of operations of Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. “People are seeking out the nostalgia of a different time in history and also a different pace of life that we no longer see.”

Seegers — whose association is dedicated to the preservation, protection and promotion of both the surface and the memories along Arizona’s portion of Route 66 — adds that it is surprising what one finds along the historic highway. Whereas there is nothing particularly fun about traveling on I-40, traveling on Historic Route 66 is an incredibly unique experience.

“Historic Route 66 is quirky and off the wall but also very picturesque,” Seegers explains. “You just want to look at everything, ask questions and see what is next.

You come along all of these different little towns and see all of these neat things instead of just being lulled to sleep by the interstate. You take I-40 to get somewhere.

Route 66 is the destination. You are there to drive.”

A HISTORIC START

spanning 2,448 miles — from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona to Santa Monica — it forever changed how Americans traveled and appropriately become our country’s most famous highway.

That path, which basically followed the train route across Arizona along the 35th parallel, had originally been established as a wagon road in 1857.

“It was an Indian trade route that later became the route that the railroad took and eventually became the route followed by [the highway],” Seegers explains. “It was not too far south nor too far north so the weather was pretty good.”

Prior to the creation of the highway, the small towns located along the route — such as Seligman and Kingman — were very rural and isolated, with only those fortunate enough to be a designated railroad stop claiming much attention from travelers. U.S. Route 66 was a total game-changer.

“After World War II, everyone took to the road, wanting to take their families out and see America,” Seegers says. “These roadside attractions, cafes and motels started popping up along U.S. Route 66 to cater to these new traveling Americans. And it really fueled their creativity as to how to get people to stop.”

In turn, the tourism industry was born.

U.S. Route 66 was established Nov. 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. Originally

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Arizona’s official state historian Marshall Trimble acknowledges that even he did not know the significance U.S. Route 66 would eventually have in the history and culture of Arizona and all of America. However, his affinity for it led him to select 66 as the number of his basketball jersey while in junior high school. Photo Courtesy of Marshall Trimble

A BRIEF PIT STOP

Arizona’s official state historian Marshall Trimble, whose family moved to Ashfork in 1947, has very fond memories of his time living and working along U.S. Route 66.

“I was 14 years old when I took a job working at a gas station,” Trimble says.

“I saw a lot of people come through — many of them coming from California and headed wherever — and they were usually not in a very good mood after driving from Barstow to Needles to Kingman to Seligman. I think that by the time they got to Ashfork, they were about ready to kill somebody.

“Our gas was the unbelievably high cost of 34 cents per gallon. In these days, we did not have asphalt lots or anything like that. They would pull up to the gas pumps in a cloud of dust then look at me grumpily and say, ‘34 cents per gallon?

Is this a stick-up, kid?’ As if I was setting the oil prices when I was 14 years old.”

“Sometimes, they would just peel out of the lot and head east toward Williams.

I got a secret joy because, when they got to Williams, gas was about 38 cents per gallon. And if they did not like it there, they could continue into Flagstaff where it was 47 cents per gallon. Then they wished they were back in Ashfork, filing their tank.”

Trimble acknowledges that even he did not know the significance the highway would eventually have in the history and culture of Arizona and all of America.

However, his affinity for it led him to select 66 as the number of his basketball jersey while in junior high school.

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After U.S. Route 66 was decommissioned, Angel Delgadillo — the owner of a barbershop and pool hall in Seligman — refused to allow his town and business to remain bypassed. A Feb. 18, 1987, meeting he organized at Seligman’s Copper Cart restaurant led to the formation of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona and eventually the rebirth of the highway.

A SUDDEN SHARP TURN

Those who lived and did business along U.S. Route 66 became prosperous as a result of the growing popularity of the highway. Therefore, when news arrived that their towns would be bypassed by the new Interstate Highway System — developed from a proposal by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953 — they were completely devastated.

Williams became the last town bypassed by the newly built I-40 in 1984 and U.S. Route 66 was officially decommissioned the following year. All signage was then taken down and the highway was completely removed from maps.

Seegers says that the suddenly defunct highway went from one day seeing tons of traffic to the next day seeing nothing but tumbleweeds.

“There is this famous photo of Angel Delgadillo and his brother Juan who, on the day U.S. Route 66 was decommissioned, put folding lawn chairs in the middle of the road and just sat there with not a car passing by,” Seegers says. “Everybody wanted to use the new road so these small towns and mom and pop businesses died.”

Delgadillo — the owner of a barbershop and pool hall in Seligman — refused to allow his town and business to remain bypassed.

“Angel really wanted to come up with a way to get people back into these small towns so that they would not have to leave and relocate to larger cities,” Seegers says. “So he started talking about creating a group that could help promote Route 66 as a historic highway.”

After having met many travelers who were excited to see the old highway and experience the different pace of life in the small towns located along it, Delgadillo called a meeting Feb. 18, 1987, at Seligman’s Copper Cart restaurant. Fifteen people attended and that day formed the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona.

The group then began tirelessly lobbying Arizona and its various county boards of supervisors until the state finally christened the portion of former U.S. Route 66 from Seligman to Kingman as Historic Route 66.

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You take I-40 to get somewhere.

Route 66 is the destination. You are there to drive.

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Additional portions of the former U.S. Route 66 that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico and right here in Arizona have since been communally designated a National Scenic Byway. This prompted not only the road’s return to maps but also the creation of its iconic status — especially among foreign travelers who Seegers says helped to make 2019 the historic highway’s best year for tourism to date.

Travel writer Roger Naylor believes that Historic Route 66’s notoriety is due, in part, to the fact that it represents the very best of America.

“It symbolizes a sense of freedom and the spirit of adventure,” says Naylor, who pens the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona’s quarterly newsletter, authored the book “Arizona Kicks on Route 66” and recently debuted a podcast devoted to Historic Route 66 road trips.

“It is where you get off the interstate to connect with small-town America; to find diners, cafes, motor courts

and motels; to get away from some of the chains and just experience the mom and pop places; to meet people again.”

Many people who travel Historic Route 66 each year have a specific destination in mind. Others find joy in just traveling on the highway and seeing where that takes them. Either way, Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona enhances the experience with a passport in which travelers can collect stamps at stops along the highway and earn a certificate that states they “got their kicks on Route 66.”

“Roll your window down and crank the radio up,” Naylor says. “Enjoy the road trip for the sake of the road trip. That is the Route 66 experience. Discover the little joys that you find along the way; those moments of scenery and those connections you make with people. It is a way of life that you are afraid may have vanished. But it has not. Bygone days are not gone at all. They just exist along Route 66.”

• • • •

Limited Lifetime Warranty Adaptive Smart Control Professional Installation 120 lbs. of Salt Included

Reverse Osmosis System

$750*

• Includes Color Matched Tap • Remineralizes Water • High Efficiency 1 to 1 membrane

historic66az.com

**Pricing Expires 7/31/2021 July 2021

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For furniture maker Todd Flaming, each piece of wood that enters his shop is full of potential— a puzzle piece designated to be honed and formed into something beautiful and functional.

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Writer Shannon Severson // Photography by Mariel Schmitt Photography

F

For furniture maker Todd Flaming, each piece of wood that enters his shop is full of potential— a puzzle piece designated to be honed and formed into something beautiful and functional.

“I feel like this is a partnership between me and a piece of wood and we are trying to see what it will become together,” Flaming says. “I change things as I go, moving pieces around. Every piece has a fingerprint.

The next one will never be like this. Every piece is a journey I’ve taken with the wood.”

The Anthem resident’s professional background is in creative direction, brand strategy, graphic design and church ministry.

“With digital design and marketing, it’s abstract, ephemeral,” he says. “Woodworking is creating something with what feels like a very unclear deliverable as opposed to something that is endlessly duplicated. Even if I decided to built it twice, it’s never the same because I’m never going to get that same piece of wood again.”

In his original career, Flaming has spent many years formulating representations of other people’s ideas.

“I’m used to having conversations about people’s visions and then bringing it to life,” he explains.

“The clients I work with know they can find cheaper products, but they know there’s a difference. This isn’t

furniture you put together yourself with a hex wrench.

I’m never going to get where IKEA and Walmart are, but I don’t want to.”

Flaming is also a skilled musician and singer — the electric guitar being his instrument of choice. It took the work lull of the COVID-19 pandemic and the support of his family to finally pursue his self-taught hobby as a small business.

T-Flame Design focuses on custom and semi-custom furniture with mid-century modern flair, though Flaming insists that he doesn’t want to evoke any particular time period. Each piece is hand-built with extreme care and attention to detail. After all, a musician and graphic designer knows the importance of adjusting even the smallest elements.

KNOCK ON WOOD

The father of two first came to his craft through a bit of happenstance.

“Getting into furniture making was an organic process,” Flaming explains. “We had friends who were moving to California and into a smaller place. He had a shed with his dad’s tools and knew I liked doing stuff around the house, so he gave me the tools — a miter saw and a table saw. I downloaded plans for a coffee table off of the internet and made some modifications.

I had no idea what I was doing.”

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Furniture maker Todd Flaming primarily uses walnut, but has also built creations with white oak, hickory, ash, cherry and birch.

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“

I try to help clients balance form and function. If form takes over, you get something a little too expressive that can get weird. If it’s too functional, then you lose the beauty and uniqueness of the piece. There’s an important balance to find.

Todd Flaming

As time went on, he amassed quite the array of tools in his garage and was making items for his family. He wanted to do more, but space was at a premium. Three years ago, the family moved and intentionally bought a home with a third car garage that now serves as Flaming’s shop.

“My deal with my wife, Lisa, was that we would buy tools instead of furniture and I would build the furniture,” he says. “I still have a very long to-do list. Making furniture for others has slowed it down a bit.”

Flaming primarily uses walnut, but has also built creations with white oak, hickory, ash, cherry and birch. Sourcing can be tough, so when he can get his hands on a nice piece of wood, he jumps at the chance. Demand for his pieces has been steadily growing.

“I started posting photos on social media as just showing my hobby,” he says. “People would joke and say, ‘When are you open for business?

I’ll pay money for it!’ Somewhere in 2020, I started to take it seriously. I made a bunch of furniture for an office where I was working — desks and work tables with integrated charging stations, a solid oak counter-height table that weighed several hundred pounds and had to be assembled in place.

“People started wanting me to build stuff and a few trends started picking up. My signature style is kind of mid-century modern; it’s functional, clean, geometric — something that looks simple from a distance but has a lot of little details and bevels that are more complicated.”

His first sale was a console table for his neighbor. It was also the launch of his Irene collection — a series that includes a coffee, a

console and a side table in dark or light wood that make a splash as a coordinated set.

Irene isn’t named for a friend or family member as one might expect. Flaming is a fan of science-fiction movies and decided he’d like to create multiple lines over time, each named after characters he considers good but lesser-known in their genre. With its more feminine profile, Irene is named for a character played by Uma Thurman in the 1997 movie “Gattaca.”

HOLLYWOOD ENDING

Flaming envisions expanding his lines to create pieces and series that are accessible and appealing to a multitude of tastes.

With work booked several months out, he may also need to expand his space for the volume of orders he’s receiving.

“I also have a Cole line planned,” he reveals.

“It’s named for Bruce Willis’ character in '12 Monkeys.' It’s a beefier design. I want my work to look relatively clean, not trendy or calling too much attention to itself.

“When you look closely, you’ll find a bevel on a leg or a radius that wasn’t necessary. I like to profile the bottom of a tabletop, varying the edges. I like to orient the grain of the wood just right. Sometimes you’re hiding it and sometimes you’re bringing it out for contrasting purposes.

It just depends on the project.”

While the Irene line and potential upcoming Cole series are the signature of T-Flame Design, he’s still doing a lot of custom work for clients — from freestanding furniture to built-ins that give any home or office a more refined look.

It’s quality that doesn’t come cheap. But Flaming’s clients are looking for quality

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Furniture maker Todd Flaming envisions expanding his lines to create pieces and series that are accessible and appealing to a multitude of tastes.

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pieces to fine-tune their living or work spaces. Increasingly, living and work spaces are becoming one and the same. Flaming enjoys helping people customize rooms to fit their lifestyles, work habits, personal collections and hobbies.

“I have always been equal parts organized and creative,” he says. “I really like crafting a custom, oneoff piece, but I also like iterating on a design and making it better and more streamlined. I try to help clients balance form and function. If form takes over, you get something a little too expressive that can get weird. If it’s too functional, then you lose the beauty and uniqueness of the piece.

There’s an important balance to find.”

Flaming’s ideal future is filled with opportunities to design and build his own vision and make custom pieces his clients are proud to own, use and pass down through the generations.

Furniture maker Todd Flaming’s ideal future is filled with opportunities to design and build his own vision and make custom pieces his clients are proud to own, use and pass down through the generations.

“The bespoke details are one of the things I like most about what I am doing, “ he says. “I want to build something that people can give to their grandkids, and their grandkids will still want it because there’s a timeless quality to it.” tflamedesign.com

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Feta and Olive Pull-Apart Cheesy Garlic Bread Who does not love a pull-apart bread? This appetizer is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser! Plus, it is super simple to throw together in a pinch. Serve it up at your next gathering and watch your guests quickly devour it. Nary a crumb will remain.

Serves: 6–8

Ingredients: 8 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons minced garlic 1 tablespoon dried parsley 1 loaf French bread 2 bags shredded mozzarella cheese 1 jar olive tapenade 1 block feta cheese

Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a glass measuring cup, melt butter. Add olive oil, garlic and parsley then mix and set aside.

Using a sharp bread knife, slice the loaf of French bread in a criss-cross pattern, making sure not to cut all the way through the bottom. Place the loaf on a sheet pan covered with aluminum foil or parchment paper.

Stuff the contents of one bag of shredded mozzarella cheese in between the slices of the bread. Repeat with the olive tapenade and the feta cheese.

Sprinkle the contents of the other bag of mozzarella cheese on top of the bread then drizzle butter and garlic mixture over the top.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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Bake for 15–20 minutes. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 15–20 minutes. For some extra crisp, set the oven to broil briefly before serving.

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