Images Arizona August 2021

august 2021

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LITTLE HEARTS, BIG IMPACT Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography Courtesy of Tender Little Hearts

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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NATURE’S FIREWORKS Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Gerry Groeber

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SODA IN A BOTTLE Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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Photography by Carl Schultz

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EMBRACING BURKINA FASO Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Carl Schultz

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

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F

For the first time in nearly a year and a half, kids and college students will be headed back to campuses for a relatively normal school year.

Last August, educational institutions were trying to develop and implement a plan that would keep students and teachers safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to facilitate the learning process. The annual tradition of buying new clothes, backpacks and other school supplies was temporarily replaced with making sure your home’s internet connection could handle multiple Zoom meetings at the same time.

This year, teachers and professors are gearing up to finally see students’ unmasked smiling faces again — in their classrooms, where everyone can socialize, interact and collaborate. I have the utmost respect for the excellent educators who overcame unparalleled obstacles to continue to cultivate knowledge within our community’s younger generations last year. And I know how eager and excited they are to finally be able to do so in a way that also cultivates interpersonal relationships again.

I am also eager and excited to experience all that the rest of this year has to offer. From fall festivals and pumpkin patches to Friendsgiving dinners and tree lighting ceremonies, the very best of 2021 is still ahead of us. After last year’s muted celebrations, I cannot wait to see our community finally return to what it does best — come together to make life fantastic.

So before you wave goodbye to your kids as they board the bus or you drop them off at their new dorm room, take some time to discuss with them how significant this moment of returning to tradition truly is — and how this back to school season also marks the beginning of several celebrations that, for the first time in way too long, will finally be back on our calendars.

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

august 2021

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G R A C E

R E N E E

G A L L E R Y

FEATURE

ARTIST

INTRODUCING

Martin Blundell

CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE ARTIST

With bold color and gestural brush strokes, Martin’s contemporary landscape art is captivating and unique.

Grace Renee Gallery Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Summer Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080 8

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GraceReneeGallery.com

CONTEMPORARY

ART

GALLERY

CAREFREE

ARIZONA

ABOVE :

LEFT PAGE :

“Storm on the Mesa” 48” by 24”

“Clouds Rising” 48” by 48”

Historic Spanish Village | 7212 E. Ho Hum Rd. # 7 | Carefree, AZ 85377 Summer Hours: Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

By appointment Sun. and Mon. 480.575.8080

GraceReneeGallery.com

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i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m aug ust 2 02 1 Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Tender Little Hearts

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It is nearly impossible for McDowell Sonoran Conservancy steward Terry Holmes-Stecyk to travel very far along the McDowell Sonoran Preserve’s trails with her miniature horses — much less exit a library elevator — without being bombarded by questions and cameras.

After all, as if her pint-sized equines were not eye-catching enough, their sight is made even more sensational by some of the most absolutely adorable costumes imaginable — unicorn horns, fairy wings, ruffled tutu skirts, patriotic hats and even garb usually relegated to your favorite superheroes.

“We like to dress them up in creative costumes because children love things that are bright and colorful,” says Holmes-Stecyk, who runs Tender Little Hearts, a Rio Verde Foothills-based nonprofit that uses miniature therapy horses to provide encouragement to young readers and touch the lives of those most in need.

Holmes-Stecyk retired this past May so that she could focus on Tender Little Hearts — a project that has quickly become her life’s passion — full-time.

“I have had an amazing life,” Holmes-Stecyk says. “I have lived overseas, I have traveled the world ... I really felt as though I had been there and done all that. But these little horses opened my eyes to the gift of service — and the gift of opening my heart up to others.”

TURNING PAGES

There are actually two parts to Tender Little Hearts — Mini Tales and Equine Mini Therapy.

Mini Tales is a program that provides encouragement to young readers, inspiring them to develop new confidence, unfold their imagination and gain expanded knowledge.

The articles of “clothing” that often garner the most attention are the shoes that the miniature horses wear on each of their four feet... or hooves.

Similar programs at libraries and schools typically use dogs. Holmes-Stecyk, who has three dogs herself that she absolutely adores, says that dogs are wonderful and cuddly but that horses — particularly miniature horses — provide an even greater opportunity for engagement.

“We have these miniature tennis shoes that are a Build-ABear [Workshop] type of shoe,” Holmes-Stecyk explains.

“They are actually for the horses’ safety because, when we go into libraries and other facilities, they have to walk on tile, so it prevents them from slipping. But people just really get a kick out of seeing horses wearing little shoes.”

“Horses are prey animals,” Holmes-Stecyk explains.

“They are always alert to make sure that nothing is going to eat them. So when children are reading to them, it is as though they are actually listening to the story.”

Originally from the Prescott area, Holmes-Stecyk grew up on a horse ranch, where she first discovered just how majestic equine creatures could be.

“My grandfather was a horse trainer, so I have been around horses for pretty much my entire life,” she says.

Holmes-Stecyk had been volunteering with a couple of miniature horse groups while working as a dental hygienist, which intensified her interest in equine therapy.

In 2018, she began using her own miniature horse, Dolly, to bring smiles to people’s faces. One year later, she decided to register Tender Little Hearts as a nonprofit organization with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Holmes-Stecyk adds that her miniature therapy horses may often nudge a child or even turn the page of the book that is being read.

“We bring the horses right up alongside the child,” Holmes-Stecyk says. “They are non-judgemental, which encourages the child to read out loud. The equines do not care if the child mispronounces a word or forgets to stop at a period or something. So that really helps to build the child’s confidence.”

She especially enjoys seeing children turn their books around to show the picture on the page to the miniature horse to which they are reading.

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Terry Holmes-Stecyk runs Tender Little Hearts, a Rio Verde Foothillsbased nonprofit that uses miniature horses to provide encouragement to young readers and touch the lives of those most in need.

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“I really love that interaction,” Holmes-Stecyk says. “It is all about trying to get these children, at an early age, to have a love for reading. It really is just a wonderful stimulus.”

Until recently, Tender Little Hearts had to pause its library and school visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, with so many children at home looking for ways to keep their minds stimulated over the past year, Holmes-Stecyk developed a 10-minute virtual reading experience featuring her miniature therapy horses.

“We have a video on our website with bird sounds and two of our horses and the donkey all looking at the camera,” Holmes-Stecyk says. “That way, children could continue to read to them even while they were at home.

However, now that libraries are beginning to resume their normal services, Holmes-Stecyk brings her miniature therapy horses directly to the facilities so that children can read to them in-person, just as they had prior to the pandemic.

“I will see the same children every single month,” Holmes-Stecyk says.

“They will be there, ready to read. And if there is more time, they will go back through the line so they can read to the miniature horses again.”

BUILDING BONDS

Meanwhile, Tender Little Hearts’ Equine Mini Therapy program uses the miniature horses as therapy animals that touch the lives of those most in need — the elderly; military service members and others who suffer from emotional/behavioral disorders; people who struggle with addiction; and autistic children and adults.

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Terry Holmes-Stecyk is organizing an Oct. 2 cornhole tournament fundraiser at Tender Little Hearts’ Rio Verde Foothills ranch. Teams of two may enter the tournament for $50 and benefit the nonprofit organization while also having a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize.

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“

A horse gets into sync with that human and they just build this bond with one another.

Their anxiety goes down, the horse is relaxed and they become one unit.

That positive, loving energy flows back and forth. It is comforting, healing, satisfying and wonderful.

Terry Holmes-Stecyk

EXPERIENCE

The simple act of petting animals releases an automatic relaxation response, lowers anxiety, reduces loneliness, increases mental stimulation, provides a happy distraction and even acts as a catalyst to reduce resistance in the therapy process.

Holmes-Stecyk loads her team — including Dolly, Mazy, Buddy and miniature Sicilian donkey Boone — into a cargo van and transports them to various facilities throughout the Valley.

“One of my favorites is Lone Mountain Memory Care,” she says. “Our miniature horses will often trigger a memory for patients. For example, one elderly woman would actually scold us every time we visited her because she thought that we were bringing her horses there. She told us how she wanted them cared for and such. During one of our visits, her grandchildren were there and she gave them a lesson on how to groom the horses.”

Holmes-Stecyk adds that Tender Little Hearts’ miniature therapy horses also visit hospitals, Arizona State Veteran Home, Saint Vincent de Paul’s Dream Center, Childhelp and MIKID — Mentally Ill Kids in Distress.

“They can immediately tell a difference in these children with developmental/behavioral issues,” Holmes-Stecyk says. “And it lasts for a while. We hear over and over how people tend to talk about the interaction that they have with the horses for at least a week or so.

There is such a bond that is built.”

After all, a horse can hear a human heartbeat from up to four feet away.

“A horse gets into sync with that human and they just build this bond with one another,” Holmes-Stecyk explains. “Their anxiety goes down, the horse is relaxed and they become one unit. That positive, loving energy flows back and forth. It is comforting, healing, satisfying and wonderful.”

TRANSFORMING LIVES

Understandably, Holmes-Stecyk would like to not only continue to provide that incredible interaction to as many people as possible but also build upon it.

Therefore, she is organizing an Oct. 2 cornhole tournament fundraiser at Tender Little Hearts’ Rio Verde Foothills ranch.

Teams of two may enter the tournament for $50 and benefit the nonprofit organization while also having a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize.

“These little horses can do powerful things,” Holmes-Stecyk says.”We often never know the impact an encounter can make.”

However, an encounter during one of Tender Little Hearts’ very first site visits affirmed every second of time that she dedicates to her nonprofit organization. The daughter of a patient with Huntington's disease at Allegiant Healthcare of Phoenix was transformed from a point of exhaustion to a place of hope after seeing her mother’s positive interaction with Holmes-Stecyk’s miniature horse Dolly.

“Some patients often refuse to even come out of their rooms,” Holmes-Stecyk says. “But when they hear the clip-clop of the horses’ feet, they rush out of their rooms as fast as they can physically do so to see and be with that horse. These little horses give them a reason to smile.

“They touch so many lives in so many different ways and do it so effortlessly. There is not one single day that I come home from either a reading visit or a therapy visit and think, ‘Why am I doing this?’ My heart is filled to the bursting point as I watch what these animals can do and how they transform lives.” tenderlittlehearts.org

Cornhole Tournament Fundraiser august 2021 Oct. 2 | Tender Little Hearts | 13906 E. Montello Road, Scottsdale | $50 | 480-318-3281 | tenderlittlehearts.org

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COMMUNITY

2021 AUGUST

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Through Oct. 6

KATALIN EHLING ART EXHIBIT Desert Foothills Library will host an exhibit of Katalin Ehling’s artwork — from fashion drawings and batiks to watercolors and autobiographical collages. Free. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek.

480-488-2286; dfla.org

Through Aug. 8

A CHORUS LINE

times. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-

Desert Stages Theatre will present its

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS

production of “A Chorus Line.” See

Arizona Broadway Theatre will

website for price and times. Scottsdale

present its production of the Broadway

Desert Stages Theatre at Fashion

smash musical that has devoured the

FASHION’S SUBVERSIVES

Square, 7014 E. Camelback Road,

hearts of theatergoers for more than

Phoenix Art Museum will host

Suite 0586, Scottsdale. 480-483-1664;

30 years. See website for price and

an exhibition that spans the 19th

desertstages.org

times. Arizona Broadway Theatre,

century through today and features

7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-

work by designers such as Yves Saint

776-8400; azbroadway.org

Laurent, Geoffrey Beene, Giorgio

Through Aug. 8 FOOTLOOSE

Starlight Community Theater will

254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com

Through Nov. 28

di Sant’Angelo, Balenciaga, Rudi

Through Aug. 22

Gernreich and Paco Rabanne. The exhibition will showcase nearly 40

musical “Footloose.” See website for

PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES

price and times. Starlight Community

The Phoenix Theatre Company will

scandalous bikini — that broke from

Theater, 1611 W. Whispering

present its production of a musical

culturally accepted norms and forever

Wind Dr., Suite 9, Phoenix.

in which filling station and diner

changed popular fashion and the

starlightcommunitytheater.com

employees deliver a toe-tapping

fashion industry. $23; youth, student

evening of country-western songs on

and senior discounts available. Phoenix

guitar, piano, bass and even kitchen

Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave.,

utensils. See website for price and

Phoenix. 602-257-1880; phxart.org

present its production of the hit

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Through Aug. 8

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examples of garments and accessories — from the humble denim jean to the

Tankless Aug. 1

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL, JR. AUDITIONS

bounce house, drive-in movies and a full bar with drink specials at Big Earl’s Greasy Eats. Meanwhile, Local Johnny’s will offer a

Desert Foothills Theater will audition

water slide bounce house, live music and two

potential cast members for its upcoming

full bars with drink specials. Finally, Bryan’s

production of “High School Musical, Jr.”

Barbeque will host a character lunch and live

Youth performers age 8+ are welcome to

music while pinball games and food trucks

audition. See website for times. The Holland

will be on tap at The Eddy. Free. 3–9 p.m. See

Center, 34250 N. 60th St., Scottsdale. 480-

website for schedule and location information.

488-1981; dftheater.org

480-488-9129; frontiertownaz.com

Aug. 2–17

Aug. 7 and 8

PROMUSICA ARIZONA AUDITIONS

Water Heaters

Trust. Attendees may enjoy shaved ice, a

IN STOCK! Starting at:

$4796*

CELEBRATE LOCAL Musical Instrument Museum will celebrate

ProMusica Arizona Chorale and Orchestra will

Arizona’s vibrant community of musicians

hold auditions for its upcoming season, with in-

and impressive range of distinct musical styles.

person concerts resuming in October. Auditions

$20; youth discounts available. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

for the chorale will be held Aug. 2 and 9 while

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo

auditions for the orchestra will be held Aug.

Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

10. Auditions for paid principal chair positions for second violin, oboe and trumpet will be held Aug. 17. Free. See website for times. RSVP. Crosswinds Presbyterian Church, 20125 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix. 602-570-4458; pmaz.org

Aug. 8

BALLET THEATRE OF PHOENIX OPEN HOUSE Ballet Theatre of Phoenix will kick off its

Aug. 3

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER

new fall session of classes with an open

• • • •

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house during which the public may tour the studio, participate in free dance classes, meet the instructors and win prizes and gift

Hospice of the West facilitators will lead a

cards. Free. 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Ballet Theatre of

Prefer the Older Tech?

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

Phoenix, 6201 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. 602-

No Problem. That’s Easy For Us!

Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse

957-3364; ballettheatreofphx.org

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

Aug. 4

Aug. 8

DEATH CAFÉ

CRYSTAL BOWL HEALING CONCERT FOR A CAUSE

Aspiring to help people make the most of

The Space Healing Center and Local Jonny’s

their finite lives, Desert Foothills Library

will present a sound healing concert during

will host a gathering to talk about death

which attendees will take part in various

and dying. Free. 12:30 p.m. RSVP. Desert

meditative practices that ensure a relaxing

Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse

and rejuvenating afternoon. The healing

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

experience aims to induce a meditative

50 GALLON ELECTRIC

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state with crystal bowls, gongs and other

Aug. 7

CREEKWEST SUMMERFEST

instruments. $25. 4–6 p.m. Local Jonny’s, 6033 E. Cave Creek Road, Cave Creek. 602492-6643; thespaceaz.com

The town of Cave Creek will host a free, family event to benefit Desert Foothills Land

**Pricing Expires 7/31/2021 august 2021

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Aug. 27 and 28

MILK CARTON KIDS AND HALEY HEYNDERICKX CONCERT Musical Instrument Museum will present a concert featuring Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan, known for their intricate, inventive musicianship with deeply personal storytelling set to ethereal harmonies, and singer-songwriter Hayley Heynderickx, whose music reflects a love of jazz radio with vocals that range from sultry to operatic. $44.50. 7 p.m.

Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix.

480-478-6000; mim.org

Aug. 9 and 23

HEALING PATHWAY

Aug. 12 on Zoom from the comfort

Jr.,” a story about a special little girl

of their own home or Aug. 24

with an extraordinary imagination.

in-person at the library. Free. 10

Auditionees aged 6–18 should prepare

Hospice of the West facilitators will lead

a.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library,

a musical theater song. Audition

a gathering that will guide individuals

38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave

preparation workshops are available

through their personal process of grief.

Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

for an extra charge. $325; sibling

Free. 9:30 a.m. RSVP. Desert Foothills Library, 38443 N. Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

discounts available. 11 a.m. RSVP.

Aug. 13–Sept. 5

THE SPITFIRE GRILL

Aug. 10

GET LIT BOOK CLUB

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

Arizona Broadway Theatre will present a musical about a woman who, recently released from a five-

Aug. 16–20

Desert Foothills Library will host

year prison sentence for manslaughter,

a happy hour book club featuring

finds her second chance working at a

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the

restaurant. See website for price and

World and Me.” Free. 5 p.m. RSVP.

LOOSEN UP: SEEING, SIMPLIFYING AND EXPRESSION

times. Arizona Broadway Theatre,

Pizzicata, 7212 East Ho Road,

Instructor Derek Penix will provide

7701 W. Paradise Lane, Peoria. 623-

Carefree. 480-488-2286; dfla.org

instruction on how to use oils to

776-8400; azbroadway.org

paint from photos. Penix will cover

Aug. 12 and 24

LIBRARY BOOK CLUB Desert Foothills Library will host a book club featuring Douglas Stuart’s “Shuggie Bain.” Community members may choose to participate

18

Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N.

i m a g e s a r i z o n a . c o m aug ust 2 02 1

topics such as how to make paintings

Aug. 14

MATILDA, JR. AUDITIONS

more three-dimensional, the power of warms and cools, color theory, harmony, edges, shape-quality, variety, simplifying, loosening brushwork,

Musical Theatre of Anthem will

elements of design, elements of light

audition potential cast members for

and shadow, the power of suggestion

its upcoming production of “Matilda,

and painting how you see. $725. 9

a.m.–4 p.m. Scottsdale Artists’ School, 3720 N. Marshall Way. 480-990-1422; scottsdaleartschool.org

Aug. 18–Sept. 12

STEEL MAGNOLIAS The Phoenix Theatre Company will present its production of a story about women who form friendships as strong as steel, which they are forced to lean on when tragedy strikes. See website for price and times. The Phoenix Theatre Company, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com

Aug. 20–Sept. 5

SAY GOODNIGHT GRACIE Fountain Hills Theater will take audiences on a guided tour through an American century told through the eyes of George Burns, who savored each day from his impoverished youth on the lower East side to his career in Vaudeville; his marriage to Gracie Allen; and their rise to success on stage, screen, radio and TV. See website for price and times. Fountain Hills Theater, 11445 N. Saguaro Blvd., Fountain Hills. 480-837-9661; fhtaz.org

Aug. 21

PARADISE WINDS CONCERT Musical Instrument Museum will welcome Phoenix-based reed quintet Paradise Winds, whose members met while pursuing advanced degrees in music at Arizona State University and have been performing together since 2005. $23.50. 7 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

Aug. 30

JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO CONCERT Musical Instrument Museum will welcome world-renowned guitarist and singer John Pizzarelli, who has established himself as a prime contemporary interpreter of the Great American Songbook and beyond. $49.50. 7 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org

Sept. 4

CREEKWEST SUMMERFEST The town of Cave Creek will host a free, family event to benefit Arizona Foothills 911. Attendees may enjoy shaved ice, a bounce house, drive-in movies and a full bar with drink specials at Big Earl’s Greasy Eats. Meanwhile, Local Johnny’s will offer a water slide bounce house, live music and two full bars with drink specials. Finally, Bryan’s Barbeque will host a character lunch and live music while pinball games and food trucks will be on tap at The Eddy. Free. 3–9 p.m. See website for schedule and location information. 480-488-9129; frontiertownaz.com august 2021

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CHORALE APPOINTS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Phoenix Chorale has appointed Nicole Belmont as its new executive director. Belmont is a member of Chorus America, a member of the American Choral Directors Association and an artist fellow of the National Arts Club. She previously served as executive director of Choral Chameleon in New York City. phoenixchorale.org

Sept. 6–16

HIGH HOLIDAY SERVICES The North Valley Jewish Community Association will celebrate the High Holidays with evening and morning services for Rosh Hashanah, an evening service for Kol Nidre and a morning and Yiskor service for Yom Kippur. All services will be led by Rabbi Robert Bonem. A traditional break-the-fast buffet dinner will follow at the Anthem Country Club for an additional charge. $106; included in annual membership. Call or email Fran Kesselman for dates,

ARIZONA MUSICFEST ANNOUNCES LINEUP Arizona Musicfest has announced a starry lineup of exceptional artists to celebrate the return of live indoor concerts in North Scottsdale. Featured artists include Paul Anka, Bernadette Peters, Kenny G, LeAnn Rimes,

respected organist and pianist, he has both taught and performed throughout the United States, Europe and South America. His first season with the chorale will include a series of concerts celebrating American choral music. arizonamasterworks.com

Broadway’s John Lloyd Young and

MUSICAL THEATER OFFERS NEW CLASSES

The Texas Tenors. See website for

Musical Theatre of Anthem will begin

tickets, schedule and locations. 480-

offering new classes this month. In

422-8449; azmusicfest.org

addition to the return of its weekly

Sergio Mendes, Sarah Chang and Emanuel Ax, as well as Pink Martini,

acting classes, the theater will offer

The North Valley Jewish Community

CHORALE APPOINTS MUSIC DIRECTOR

Association, 39506 N. Daisy

Arizona Masterworks Chorale has

classes, audition technique/cold reads

Mountain Drive, Suite 122-198,

appointed Scott Youngs as its new

and scene/film study. See website

Anthem. 623-322-0957; fkesselman@

music director. Youngs, who is also

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Productions at Carnegie Hall. A highly

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juggling for beginners, improv games, improv troupe, homeschool

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Independence Day may have come and gone but we are smack-dab in the middle of the real fireworks display.

In 2008, National Weather Service officials decided that Arizona’s monsoon season would begin on June 15 and end on Sept. 30. Of course, the thunderstorms that bring rainfall may form at different times and in different places across our region, but these summer months are typically when we see the most — and the most dramatic — activity.

And that activity extends far beyond just rainfall. Ominous clouds form in the distance and menacingly make their way directly overhead, turning day into night. Wild winds swirl dust particles into the air, blanketing entire communities in complete chaos. Our skies light up with streaks of lightning, which are then followed by startling cracks of thunder.

Suffice it to say, these storms make their presence known.

However, as alarming and destructive as they may be, there is also abundant beauty in our monsoons. Those dark clouds and their resulting rainfall give the Valley some much-needed relief from summer’s scorching temperatures. The varying density of the clouds also makes it possible for lightning to momentarily paint remarkable mosaics across our skies.

Viewing dust storms from a distance illustrates the sheer magnitude of our cities — yet, at the same time, how they are merely small dots on an enormous planet. And the thunder encourages us to huddle together with our loved ones, who make us feel safe and secure regardless of what foreboding forces might threaten us.

Of course, then there are the astonishingly colorful rainbows that stretch from one mountain range to another, indicating the end of the storm and symbolizing how when we traverse the tough times we emerge stronger and more resilient.

Fine art landscape photographer Gerry Groeber is very familiar with all of this beauty and more as he captures all aspects of Arizona, including its monsoons, on camera. It is our hope that in sharing his work, which so sagaciously reflects both the magnitude and the aesthetic magnificence of these storms, that our Images Arizona readers will see them in a new light — appreciating nature’s fireworks rather than fearing them.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo Photography by Gerry Groeber

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When it comes to weather images, you are looking for a lot of drama. We get a lot of that during our monsoons in Arizona.

Gerry Groeber

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You never want to be under a storm.

You want to be ahead of it, looking into it. If you get underneath it during a torrential downpour, there is nothing to see. You have to be able to position yourself to see it from a distance.

Gerry Groeber

august 2021

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I can begin planning my day and the temperature can be 100 degrees but you just know that the storms are going to be rolling in. So I start watching my radar and by the time I am shooting, the temperatures have dropped 20–25 degrees.

That is a nice treat after a long day of [storm] chasing Gerry Groeber

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Originally from Southern California, Gerry Groeber has always considered himself to be an artist.

“My father enjoyed doing oil paintings so I had a lot of books on classic landscape oil painters,” says Groeber, who began exploring videography in his 20s before discovering a passion for fine art landscape photography. “A lot from my early years of seeing the masters of landscape oil painting comes back to me as I incorporate it into my compositions and how I photograph landscapes.”

Groeber arrived in Arizona about 23 years ago and quickly fell in love with the state — especially what it had to offer him in the way of his art. Although he has spent time in other Arizona cities, including Mesa, his move to Prescott two years ago has proven to be the most beneficial to his craft.

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“Prescott is kind of the hub or the spoke of the wheel,” Groeber explains. “I can get to the Grand Canyon in less than two hours. I can get to Flagstaff, I can get back down to the Valley ... it is nice to be centrally located for all that Arizona has to offer. Plus, Prescott has a really great art vibe.”

Groeber’s photography and replica pottery can be viewed at Art2 Prescott in downtown Prescott on the Mezzanine in the Old Capital Market Building.

“It has always been inherent for me to create,” says Groeber, who has explored a number of different mediums, including music. “Photography is where I landed after years and years of creating different types of art. I think that artists are born with the drive to create. It can be in many forms and still be something that satisfies that drive to create, do something new and then share it.” gerrygroeber.com

Call or Text

623.552.2474 to Schedule your Appointment!

august 2021

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The Arabian Horse Association of Arizona hosted its first All Arabian Horse Show in February of 1954 at Arizona Biltmore, leaving locals who had previously only read about the gorgeous creatures completely awestruck. Photo Courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society / Scottsdale Public Library

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo

Anywhere you look around Arizona, horses play a very important role. They are a cowboy’s best friend, an outdoor enthusiast’s favorite form of transportation and an entire population’s primary symbol of simpler times.

Horses have become synonymous with our state’s Western hertiage. This is especially true in our Desert Foothills communities, where these majestic creatures have been helping to create, shape, maintain and vitalize our lives for the past 140 years.

Their significance to our state’s history is vast, as horses have provided essential contributions to both the labor that built the communities in which we now live and the recreational activities that define the unique culture that people travel here from all over the world to experience.

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Arizona simply would not be Arizona without horses.

THE REAL WORKHORSES

Much of our state’s history begins with William John Murphy — a businessman, contractor and land developer who, in 1880, moved with his family to what was then known as the Arizona Territory. Initially contracted by railroad companies for grading and roadwork services, Murphy later joined three builders with whom he landed a $500,000 contract to build the 40-mile-long Arizona Canal from Granite Reef to New River.

To say that the project was vitally important would be an understatement, as it would bring water to the very dry lands of Maricopa County and eventually lead to Scottsdale’s founding in 1951. Murphy and his team used horses to pull their digging and dredging equipment to complete the canal by 1885.

A few years later in 1888, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott visited the Salt River Valley and, impressed with its potential, made a down payment on 640 acres of land to start a farming operation near the heart of what is now downtown Scottsdale. Scott, too, relied heavily on horses as he and his wife Helen provided settlers with tours of the town via horsedrawn carriage.

Scott also traveled by horse into downtown Phoenix to deliver crops to the Phoenix Herald newspaper and to attend sessions of the Arizona Territorial Legislature — to which he was eventually elected.

In 1909 — one year before his death — Scott commissioned Scottsdale's first resident artist Marjorie Thomas to paint a portrait of his beloved retired U.S. Army mule, Old Maud. That oil painting, which is now on permanent display in the Scottsdale Historical Museum, led Thomas to have a lifelong fascination with horses and mules as they became a favorite subject in her work.

Around the same time, George Cavalliere arrived in the Arizona Territory and began providing blacksmithing services for the horses that were being used to dredge and maintain the Arizona Canal. Originally mounted on skids and pulled along the canal bank by a team of horses, Cavalliere Blacksmith Shop later set anchor at Brown Avenue and Second Street — where it remains operational as an ornamental ironwork business today.

Speaking of Brown Avenue, the street’s namesake Edwin Orpheus (E.O.) Brown — who was responsible for much of North Scottsdale’s early development — heavily relied on horses to traverse the 44,000-acre cattle ranch that he, his sons and his partners established in the 1910s.

Even as automobiles began appearing in the area at that time, horses

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remained residents’ primary form of transportation — especially because many of them were ranchers and much of Scottsdale’s side streets were still unpaved.

HORSEPLAY ENCOURAGED

Of course, horses were — and still are — used for much more than just work and travel. Their history is deeply rooted in Arizona’s recreational activities as well.

In 1888, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott started a farming operation near the heart of what is now downtown Scottsdale. Scott relied heavily on horses as he and his wife Helen provided settlers with tours of the town via horse-drawn carriage. Photo Courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society / Scottsdale Public Library

Horses were integral to the completion of the Arizona Canal project, which would bring water to the very dry lands of Maricopa County. Photo Courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society / Scottsdale Public Library

The fall of 1920 saw the rise of the Cavalry Reserve Officers Training Corps at University of Arizona.

Cavalry ROTC sponsored a number of recreational activities on the campus — including co-ed horseback riding clubs and a nationally recognized polo team. In 1924, University of Arizona’s polo team won the Western Collegiate Championship and traveled to the east coast to present President Calvin Coolidge with a cowboy hat.

Equestrian recreation continued to gain popularity and spread throughout the state over the next two decades.

In 1929, the manager of Phoenix’s then-new Westward Ho arranged for his guests to ride horses at Captain H.A. Mosse's riding academy and stable. This led to the creation of the Westward Ho Riding Club, later renamed the Valley Field Riding and Polo Club.

Unfortunately, World War II diminished the number of polo players and clubs not just here in Arizona but across the entire country. University of Arizona’s polo team was preparing for a tournament on Dec. 7, 1941, when players learned that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. Many men joined a newly mechanized army that no longer relied on horses and, by 1944, the university sold its 80 horses, effectively ending the sport’s existence on campus.

A rodeo was added to the Parada del Sol festivities in 1956. Photo Courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library

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However, when one gate closes, another one opens. When Arizona State College (now known as Arizona State University) took over the WWII aviation cadet training base in 1947, it also built a rodeo arena — a site that hosted a number of Intercollegiate Rodeo Association events, proving that equestrian recreation had not vanished but merely pivoted.

Also in 1947, a group of merchants led by Malcolm White — a man who, in 1951, became Scottsdale’s very first mayor — aspired to capitalize on the city’s potential as a tourism destination. White and the then-new Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce began referring to Scottsdale as “The West’s Most Western Town” and integrating elements of that image, such as hitching posts and horse troughs, throughout the area.

The Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce partnered with a local riding club in 1951 to host the Sunshine Festival, which featured an entirely horse-drawn parade — a predecessor of Parada del Sol, an event that still today draws hundreds of horses and participants and thousands of spectators each year. A rodeo was added to the festivities in 1956.

to hold the event at her show ring on what is now the southwest corner of Shea Boulevard and Loop 101.

The All Arabian Horse Show — which is now endearingly referred to as the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show — later moved to a ranch at 60th Street and Bell Road before again moving to a then-new equestrian event facility.

WESTWORLD OF SCOTTSDALE

In the 1970s, the city of Scottsdale aspired to establish an equestrianoriented park in order to provide residents with a place to ride their horses. Desert Park opened on the north end of the Scottsdale Airport runway. However, less than 10 years later, the park — which had undergone a name change to Cholla Park — closed to accommodate a runway extension.

The city then entered a long-term agreement with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to lease land north of the Central Arizona Canal and at the base of the McDowell Mountains for the development of a park.

Meanwhile, several Arabian horse ranches had opened north of Scottsdale, creating a new industry that became extremely significant to the local economy. A small group of Arabian horse owners met in August of 1952 at the Westward Ho and founded the Arabian Horse Association of Arizona.

Horseman’s Park opened in 1986 and initially featured an open-air arena, several smaller open arenas and stables.

The park underwent a name change to HorseWorld in 1988 before finally settling on WestWorld of Scottsdale in 1990. The facility now hosts more than 90 equestrian events each year — including the Bentley Scottsdale Polo Championships, the Parada del Sol Rodeo and the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show.

The association hosted its first All Arabian Horse Show in February of 1954 at Arizona Biltmore, leaving locals who had previously only read about the gorgeous creatures completely awestruck. In 1957, Anne McCormick of McCormick Ranch Arabians invited show participants

From pulling digging and dredging equipment and providing Arizona’s earliest settlers with transportation to fortifying our lives with sportsmanship, recreation and beauty, horses throughout history have helped to establish a culture here in our state that is unlike anywhere else in the world.

In the late 1800s, William John Murphy used horses to pull digging and dredging equipment to complete the 40-mile-long Arizona Canal from Granite Reef to New River. Photo Courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library

Originally mounted on skids and pulled along the Arizona Canal by a team of horses, Cavalliere Blacksmith Shop — depicted here via a Parada del Sol float — later set anchor at Brown Avenue and Second Street, where it remains operational as an ornamental ironwork business today. Photo Courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society / Scottsdale Public Library

George Cavalliere — shown here taking a horsedrawn carriage ride with his wife Mary Alice and their eldest daughter Alice — arrived in the Arizona Territory in 1909 and began providing blacksmithing services for the horses that were being used to dredge and maintain the Arizona Canal. Photo Courtesy of Scottsdale Public Library

In 1951, the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce partnered with a local riding club to host the Sunshine Festival, which featured an entirely horse-drawn parade — a predecessor of Parada del Sol, an event that still today draws hundreds of horses and participants and thousands of spectators each year. Photo Courtesy of the Scottsdale Historical Society / Scottsdale Public Library august 2021

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42311 N. CROSSWATER WAY, ANTHEM Offered at $1,100,000

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Absolute Beauty, Complete Convenience and Total Luxury Pamper yourself and your family with this gorgeous 4-bedroom, 3.5-bath home located on Anthem Country Club’s resplendent golf course, with expansive mountain vista views and highly desired east-back exposure. Experience life the way it is meant to be lived — in absolute beauty, complete convenience and total luxury.

Incredible custom features make up this 3,737-square-foot home from front to back, both inside and out. Beginning with 12-foot flat ceilings and extending throughout the light and neutral interior and into the awe-inspiring backyard, this home boasts both large amenities and small details that are certain to not only catch your eye but also set your imagination ablaze with how wonderful life within its walls will be.

The custom Stone Creek office makes working from home feel more like a vacation. And when your work is done, the stunning master bath includes a jetted tub that offers the ultimate experience in relaxation.

Then retire to the family room or the highly sought-after split master bedroom — which provides plenty of privacy — where gas fireplaces ensure that each and every evening and night are incredibly cozy, whether you are cuddled up on the couch with your family for movie night or snuggled up in bed with your significant other.

The home’s exterior is just as impressive, with a charming entry fountain out front and an alluring heated Pebble Tec saltwater pool and spa out back. A barbecue and fire pit complete the outdoor entertaining experience, which will delight your family, friends and neighbors year-round.

Other notable details scattered throughout the home include upgraded cabinets, stainless appliances, custom window treatments, a central vacuum, mechanical sunshades and skylights that provide beautiful ambient light, jaw-dropping views and even some savings on your energy bill.

What are you waiting for? You deserve to live a life of elegance, accommodation and lavishness — and this home offers exactly that.

Please call Linda for your private showing.

Linda Rehwalt RE/MAX Professionals 602-402-1136 lindarehwalt@azrealty.com

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North Scottsdale resident Gary Spaniola’s talent and generosity ensure that, at 63 years old, this star shines even more brightly than he did during his initial 25-year stint in the music industry.

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Carl Schultz

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Like so many musicians, North Scottsdale resident Gary Spaniola’s start was a result of seeing the Beatles perform on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

“It solidified my dream,” says Spaniola, who was born and grew up in Detroit. “I was just mesmerized by them.”

Little did he know back then that he would go on to enjoy not only a very successful 25-year career in the music industry but also a career in computer programming and software design that resulted in the invention of a system that is regarded as the future of home automation. Nor did he know that he would eventually return to his musical roots to make a difference in the lives of children and families in need.

As a child, Spaniola worried about being or becoming bored. However, his mother used to say, “If you are bored, then it is your own fault.” So at age 10, believing that if he could write songs every day for the rest of his life like the four men with the textured mop-top haircuts he saw on television, Spaniola took matters into his own hands and began to teach himself how to play the guitar.

Spaniola practiced playing his guitar at least eight hours every day. In fact, he practiced so incessantly that his mother had to actually beg him to leave the basement to go play outside. By the time he turned 13 years old, he had successfully learned how to play by ear — something that he says opened an entirely new and exciting door for him.

“I had a hard time reading music,” he admits. “I tried to understand it but it never made much sense to me. It seemed like just a bunch of dots on a page. But I realized that I could hear anything and start playing it. And if you practice that enough, you can eventually see what the person is playing with your mind’s eye.”

One of Spaniola’s friends who lived down the street informed him of a classmate who played the drums. The band Bitter Sweet Alley was born.

CASTLE IN THE SKY

“We started playing high school dances and such,” Spaniola says. “We even played in bars. We were only 15 years old.

In those days, all you needed was a note from your mom

saying that it was OK and that you would not drink. We just built upon that and started playing more and more.”

A local DJ eventually discovered the band and Bitter Sweet Alley was entered into full rotation on the radio.

It was even invited to be the opening act for a number of high-profile performers — including Rick Springfield, the Romantics, Cheap Trick and Ted Nugent.

“I found that I did not like the sound that we were getting recording in other studios,” Spaniola says. “So I bought a house just north of Detroit and I built my own recording studio there. I started recording many of the bands in the city.”

In fact, Spaniola’s recording efforts grew to the point that he eventually decided to leave Bitter Sweet Alley in 1987.

“Everybody thought that I was crazy for leaving the most successful band in the city at the time,” he says. “But I really liked the producing and engineering aspect of it all. I got to work with a lot of different bands and a lot of different styles of music. And I just loved doing it.”

Spaniola would go on to work with more than 100 musical groups, earning both gold and platinum records along the way. Some of his producing and songwriting credits include a top 10 hit with rhythm and blues group Ready for the World and a song for the “Beverly Hills Cop II” movie soundtrack.

Spaniola eventually sold his second Michigan recording studio to hip hop duo Insane Clown Posse and pursued something completely out of left field — computer programming and software design.

“Music was changing,” he says. “It was becoming very electronic and I was not really into that. So I began playing around with the software side of things and realized that it was pretty cool.”

Spaniola taught himself C++ programming language, just as he had taught himself to play the guitar by ear a few decades earlier. He ended up getting a number of highprofile clients — people he describes as among the richest men in the world — and even invented a system that is still displayed at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry as the future of home automation.

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Gary Spaniola’s 25-year career in the music industry began with the band Bitter Sweet Alley and progressed through a successful stint producing albums out of his own recording studio in Detroit.

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During this time, Spaniola and his wife moved to Arizona. Shortly after that, his father passed away.

Spaniola explains. “When you are younger, it is more about how fast you can play than what you play.”

“As we were going through my father’s house, we found a scrapbook in which he had placed all of these interviews and news reports about my old band that he had cut out,” Spaniola says. “That really tugged on my heartstrings.”

SUNRISE AGAIN

He also aspires to imbue each song with the sincerity and honesty that are only made possible by experiencing the incredible journey of life. For example, the first song on his new album, “Soda in a Bottle,” was influenced by a heartfelt conversation that he had with his older brother, Michael.

“There, out of a hundred or more guitars, hanging on the wall, this one just stared at me,” Spaniola says. “I knew what he was trying to say, so I packed him up and brought him home.”

“I remember talking with him about going back in time, when life was much easier,” Spaniola says. “In those days, soda came in a glass bottle, and drivein theaters were a big deal. One of [Michael’s] muscle cars was a blue GTO that he would race on Woodward. It was a little before my time, but I lived vicariously through him.”

One day, Spaniola was driving by a guitar store and decided to stop and go inside. He had not been to such a store in decades.

And the songs just started pouring out.

“I feel like all of these songs live in the instrument and when I buy a new guitar they just come flying out,” Spaniola explains. “It was like a backlog of songs wanting to get out. All I had to do is get my fingers back into shape.”

Spaniola says that, just as riding a bicycle, one never forgets how to play the guitar.

One need only re-strengthen the muscles in their fingers that are responsible for the physical movements. That process only took three weeks for Spaniola, who believes that the guitar is a part of him.

Having built a small studio in North Scottsdale, Spaniola released his first album in years — a collection of instrumental music titled “Entropia.” He followed that up with a classical album, “Lost in Control.” His latest release, “In Wonderland,” is rich in harmony, melody and something that the musician describes as “ear candy production.”

“I think I play even better now than before because it is more melodic,”

Michael has since passed away and is greatly missed by his younger brother.

Speaking of loss, the album’s title track, “In Wonderland,” is a very deep, very sad song about death and dying. Oddly enough, Spaniola wrote it for his wife, Erica Smith, a singer who was formerly signed with Columbia Records and is also featured on the album.

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“She was like, ‘I do not want that song,’” Spaniola says, laughing. “So I wrote, ‘When I See You’ for her instead, which is much nicer. But the other one is about something that people do not talk about.

But it is a part of life. And I have found that sharing that through music can be very beneficial for people.

“Music is so strong and rewarding. A lot of times, when you are kicked to the curb, music is where you go to help yourself recover or just change your mood for a minute. If I can be part of that, then I think that is just fantastic. It is therapeutic for me, too. When things are not going well, I can just get lost in the music.”

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Gary Spaniola, shown here with his wife, Erica Smith, recently released three albums that have been remarkably well received. Their strong sales are especially poignant considering the musician doubles every purchase and donates it to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

“

Music is so strong and rewarding. A lot of times, when you are kicked to the curb, music is where you go to help yourself recover or just change your mood for a minute. If I can be part of that, then I think that is just fantastic.

Gary Spaniola

HEART OF GOLD

Spaniola’s three recently released albums have been remarkably well received. Their strong sales are especially poignant considering the musician doubles every purchase and donates it to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

“I do not withhold any money for recording, promotion or expenses,” he says. “Every cent received goes to charity. I have been very fortunate and am so grateful. It is my way of giving back. The more I can give to charity, the better I feel.

“I truly love the process of creating, developing and recording songs. Knowing that it will be helping children and families in need makes the experience shine even more brightly.”

Speaking of which, Spaniola’s talent and generosity ensure that, at 63 years old, this star shines even more brightly than he did during his initial 25-year stint in the music industry.

Best of all, with no publishing company dictating what he can write, sing, record or release, his music is more resonant than ever.

“I never write a song thinking that it is going to be a hit,” Spaniola says. “I may have done that a long time ago, but not anymore. I just write what is in my heart. And that is what you hear.” garyspaniola.com

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Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Fever

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Imagine arriving at a restaurant, hotel venue or catering space with a family member, friend or significant other and being invited into a candle-lit dining room. After being seated, you and your guest are provided with blindfolds, which you wrap around your heads to completely seal off your sight.

You converse with your guest, both of you able to hear a tinge of nervous excitment in each other’s voices. Then your meal arrives. You have not been told what to expect, having instead only selected it from a general category — meat, seafood or vegan.

The absolutely delectable aroma slowly rises to your nose. The possibilities of what it might be swirl around in your mind. You and your guest share guesses but both are very different from one another. You take your first bite. It is divine. You fight euphoria for just long enough to again ponder what might be on the plate before you. You and your guest agree that neither of you can put your finger on it.

Nor does it matter, because your senses of smell and taste are in a state of sheer ecstasy.

“When one of our senses is inhibited, our other senses are naturally enhanced to compensate for it,” says Sumner Rogers, project manager for Dining in the Dark Phoenix. “That is just what our brain does. We do not quite go into Daredevil mode, where we can see with sonar, but our senses of smell and taste are

naturally enhanced. And because we are not looking directly at what we are eating, our brain does not know exactly what it is. It just knows that the food is good.”

An offering from European experiences company Fever, Dining in the Dark debuted July 2020 in Manchester, England out a need to develop ideas on how people could continue to enjoy social activities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We had to think of something that would be fun for people to do but where they would not mingle with other people that they did not come with and that they would also stay within a single assigned area,” Rogers explains.

The experience was a hit, prompting Fever to quickly launch it in six other cities within the United Kingdom.

By September, it was being enjoyed by people all over Europe. Fever decided to bring it to America earlier this year where it has been delighting diners throughout the spring and summer months.

Sumner says that Dining in the Dark has proven to be most popular among millennials, who love to go out and are drawn to Fever’s app-based approach, which he describes as the “Netflix of experiences.”

“Our app offers a similar interface as Netflix,” he explains. “But instead of clicking on TV shows, it

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“

The unique food experience that Dining in the Dark offers is one in which you are eating something that you know tastes good, but you do not know exactly what it is.

That little bit of a dance that your brain does in between each bite is what makes this fun.

Sumner Rogers

FOOD

displays a bunch of different experiences, activities and things to do in your city. We host others’ experiences on our app, for which we operate as a ticketing platform.

But then we also have the opportunity to connect previously unconnected dots and create our own experiences. Dining in the Dark is one of those.”

He adds that, nationally, Dining in the Dark has been very beneficial for local businesses because Fever not only gets customers through the door but also does most of the legwork.

“We sell tickets, do all of the marketing and get everyone's information ahead of time — including their order, their allergies and their party size,” Rogers says. “Even some of our larger venues have had issues just getting people through the door lately. Plus, staffing is tough. We are able to help with all of that. At our Cleveland location, it was the first night that they were open since the COVID-19 pandemic and we were able to give them a full house.”

Locations are typically kept secret but, in Phoenix, Dining in the Dark has most

recently been partnering with Romano’s Macaroni Grill.

“There is some influence from the current offering of the restaurant but we work specifically with its local chef to get creative and put together a distinct menu for this experience,” Rogers says. “We have made sure that it meets our parameters and is easy to eat while blindfolded.”

Ultimately, the thing that guests like most about the entire Dining in the Dark experience is the mystery involved with the food.

“We have been successfully eating for decades now,” Rogers says. “However when you are looking at your food, you know exactly what you are about to eat. Your brain eats first and you have an expectation of what it is going to taste like. The unique food experience that Dining in the Dark offers is one in which you are eating something that you know tastes good, but you do not know exactly what it is. That little bit of a dance that your brain does in between each bite is what makes this fun.” feverup.com/phoenix

Dining in the Dark august 2021 Wednesdays | 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. | See website for location and ticketing information | $80 | feverup.com/phoenix

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Shown here with his wife Zaza, New River resident Arouna Diarra performs folk songs that reflect topics from war to love for one another, aspiring to instill joy, harmony and connection within those who hear them.

Writer Joseph J. Airdo

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Music is a big medicine on my life. Sometimes I can be there but my mind is somewhere else thinking about something challenging.

As soon as I pick up and start to play my instrument, I will go back to the normal place like nothing ever happened.

Arouna Diarra

N

New River resident Arouna Diarra was destined to bring traditional music into the modern-day — further developing it while maintaining its cultural roots.

Originally from West Africa, Arouna performs folk songs that reflect topics from war to love for one another, aspiring to instill joy, harmony and connection within those who hear them.

In addition to singing with spirit, nostalgia and great joy in his native language of Bambara, Arouna also plays the kamale n’goni and the balafon — a 14-string harp-like instrument that is believed to be an ancestor of the banjo and a gourdresonated xylophone, respectively.

However, music is more than just a hobby for this impossibly cheerful man. One could even say that music is in Arouna’s blood — a family responsibility since birth.

Arouna was born in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, a major hub of cultural and artistic significance in West Africa. His family name, Diarra, is associated with griots — musicians, poets and storytellers who, traditionally, are curators of the arts and history. Seen as leaders, griots serve as advisors to royal personages and are official peacekeepers within their communities.

Arouna’s wife Zaza notes that there are numerous tribes within the Mandingue culture of West Africa.

“In Arouna’s village, there are many tribes doing many different things,” she explains. “Griots are responsible for all communication. And music is a big part of communication. So Arouna’s tribe is a tribe of musicians.”

In fact, Arouna does not recall doing anything else except play music when he was in Africa — and make the instruments with which the music was performed.

Therefore, he experienced quite the culture shock upon moving to the United States.

STARTING OVER FROM ZERO

Arriving in Ashville, North Carolina in December of 2012, Arouna recalls being taken aback by the city’s chilly weather.

However, adapting to a different climate was nothing compared to integrating himself into a society with which he had absolutely no experience.

“When I first moved here, I did not know where to play,” Arouna explains. “It was very challenging in the beginning. The language was difficult and I had to start my life over from zero. That was not easy but I never gave up.”

One of the strangest things Arouna discovered here in the US was the way in which instruments are tuned. In West Africa, instruments are traditionally tuned by ear rather than with the use of a physical or digital tuner.

“Everything was new,” Arouna adds. “I learned something new every day. I feel like I had been put in school and had to learn 200 new things all at once. At the same time, I had to work at a job that I did not have the experience for. But I had to work because I had a family.”

Arouna worked at Whole Foods for about three years before finally pursuing music full-time in 2015. While playing music on the streets, he made connections that allowed him to create a band.

Formerly a key member of internationallytouring group Lanaya, Arouna became a founding member of the North Carolinabased West African folk music ensemble Mandé Foly. More recently, he has toured the US with Rising Appalachia, performing as part of a diverse group of musicians known as The Ancient Roots Band.

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Shown here with his wife, Zaza, Arouna Diarra was born in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, a major hub of cultural and artistic significance in West Africa. His family name is associated with griots — musicians, poets and storytellers who, traditionally, are curators of the arts and history.

Having moved to Arizona in 2016 because the desert reminded him of his homeland, Arouna discovered that the more he put himself out there, the more success he would find. One day, he brought one of his handmade instruments to a guitar store and asked if he could leave it there to gain some exposure.

Arouna’s initiative paid off. One of the guitar store’s customers contacted a friend who worked at Musical Instrument Museum. This led to Arouna being invited to perform at the museum. He has since been invited back on numerous occasions — to not only perform there but also teach its patrons how to play his homeland’s instruments.

“This makes me very happy,” Arouna says. “I am developing Burkina Faso culture here in America.”

KAMALE N’GONI

One of the key ways in which Arouna honors and expands exposure to Burkina Faso culture is by making and selling his instruments out of his New River home. Known as a West African harp, the n’goni has existed since at least 1352, when Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta reported seeing one in the court of Mansa Musa.

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One of the key ways in which Arouna Diarra honors and expands exposure to Burkina Faso culture is by making and selling kamale n’goni — a 14-string harp-like instrument that is believed to be an ancestor of the banjo — out of his New River home.

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The kamale n’goni variety of the instrument that Arouna makes is believed to have been invented by the musician Alata Brulaye in the 1950s and 1960s in the Republic of Mali — a landlocked country in West Africa. The string instrument became popular in the Wassoulou region and contributed to the rise of Wassoulou music during the 1970s and 1990s.

Arouna estimates that he has sold his handmade instruments to more than 200 people since he has moved to the US. Very generous, welcoming and forthcoming, the Diarras even open their New River home to clients who would like to stay for a few days while Arouna teaches them how to play the kamale n’goni.

Others prefer to simply display them in their homes. After all, with gorgeously intricate detailing, these instruments truly are fabulous works of art. In fact, his handmade kamale n’goni are prominently displayed in Musical Instrument Museum’s Experience Gallery as a representation of West African string instruments.

Each kamale n’goni’s foundation lies in a strong neck, typically made from mahogany. Its base is made from a calabash — a strong West African gourd.

Goatskin is then shaved, soaked in water and attached to the calabash. Bamboo is cut, dried, filed and used to attach the skin to the gourd. Finally, different weights of fishing line are strung through metal keys to complete the instrument.

Arouna handmakes each and every one of his kamale n’goni according to the traditional West African method. Best of all, due to the extremely high level of their quality, no two instruments are ever alike.

Arouna Diarra handmakes each and every one of his kamale n’goni according to the traditional West African method. Best of all, due to the extremely high level of their quality, no two instruments are ever alike.

“Every instrument is unique and has a different tuning,” Arouna explains.

“That is something that I love about them.”

Arouna also makes and sells traditional West African leather wallets, bronze bracelets and Taureg earrings from the Sahara Desert. Zaza says that her husband’s creations allow him to continue his griot responsibilities here in the US. “Besides peacekeeping, one of Arouna’s tribe’s responsibilities is to be ambassadors,” she explains.

“So it is almost like he has come full circle, getting to be an ambassador wherever he goes.”

THE CAPTAIN OF SMILE

One could not ask for a better ambassador than Arouna, who also teaches his passion and an appreciation for traditional music and instruments to infants, toddlers and preschoolers at Immanuel Care for Children in Phoenix.

Moreover, Arouna has one of the widest and brightest smiles you have likely ever seen — a smile that is continuous and unflinching. And as they say, happiness is contagious.

“My band called me ‘the captain of smile’ because I always made everybody happy by doing something that I do not even know that I am doing,” Arouna says. “When I worked at Whole Foods, my manager always asked me why I was so happy. It is just natural for me. I do not even notice it.”

Arouna may not notice it but he has a fairly good guess as to the reason behind it.

“Music is a big medicine on my life,” Arouna explains. “Sometimes I can be there but my mind is somewhere else thinking about something challenging.

As soon as I pick up and start to play my instrument, I will go back to the normal place like nothing ever happened.” burkinastrings.com

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Chocolate Avocado Pudding This is my go-to sweet treat at night when I am craving something chocolatey... without the guilt! I like to add whipped coconut cream and a spoonful of peanut butter to make it extra decadent. It is also delicious with any kind of berries or bananas — or try it frozen!

Serves: 4–6

Ingredients: 1/2 cup dates (soaked in warm water) 1/2 cup maple syrup 1 teaspoon vanilla 1-1/2 cups mashed avocado 3/4 cup raw cocoa powder 1/2 cup water

Directions: Combine dates, maple syrup and vanilla in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Add mashed avocado and cocoa powder to the food processor and continue to blend until creamy.

Add water, mix until smooth and serve.

Writer and Photographer Kyndra Kelly

kyndraclaire.com

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