PUBLISHER
Shelly Spence
MANAGING EDITOR
Joseph J. Airdo
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Meaghan Mitchell
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Joseph J. Airdo
Francine Coles
Shannon Severson
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Francine Coles
Loralei Lazurek
ADVERTISING SALES
Cindi Calcinari 860-966-3271 cindi@imagesaz.com
As autumn settles over Arizona, there’s a palpable sense of gratitude in the air. November brings not just cooler temperatures but a collective pause to appreciate the abundance that surrounds us in our desert home — from the creative talents that flourish here to the world-class cultural offerings at our doorstep.
This month’s issue celebrates the remarkable journey of one of our own. Our cover story, “‘Road’ Trip to Stardom,” follows Anthem resident and country musician Britnee Kellogg as she trades carpool lines for tour buses on CBS’ groundbreaking reality series “The Road.” Her story embodies the determination and authentic spirit that define our community — a mother pursuing her dreams while staying true to her roots and values.
“From Cotton Fields to Concert Halls” offers an exclusive look at Morgan Freeman’s “Symphonic Blues Experience” at Arizona Musicfest, where the Academy Award winner bridges Mississippi Delta authenticity with orchestral grandeur. This unprecedented fusion of storytelling and symphonic artistry demonstrates the sophisticated cultural offerings that make our community truly special.
Our photo essay, “Wild Light,” showcases Dean Hueber’s stunning captures of Sonoran Desert wildlife during autumn’s subtle but spectacular transformation. His images remind us that even in our familiar landscapes, extraordinary beauty awaits those who know where to look and when to pause.
Images Arizona P.O. Box 1416
Carefree, AZ. 85377 623-341-8221
shelly@imagesaz.com imagesarizona.com
As I reflect on this season of Thanksgiving, I’m profoundly grateful for dreamers who inspire us with their courage, for legends who honor our community with their artistry, and for photographers who help us see familiar landscapes with fresh eyes. I’m thankful for my family and friends who support this endeavor, for our advertisers who believe in our mission, and most of all, for readers like you who make our work meaningful.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Shelly Spence
Publisher, Images Arizona
NOVEMBER 14–15
Friday 10 a.m.–7 p.m. // Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Celebrate Italian excellence with an exclusive showcase featuring FOPE’s revolutionary Flex’it technology, Demeglio’s innovative engineering, Mattia Cielo’s futuristic designs and Roberto Coin’s signature artistry. Join us Friday evening for cocktails as we toast the finest expressions of Italian goldsmithing, where centuries-old traditions meet contemporary innovation.
NOVEMBER 11–12
Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Enter the extraordinary world of Alex Šepkus, where microscopic artistry meets unparalleled vision. Each 18-karat gold masterpiece showcases intricate geometric patterns and textures that transform jewelry into wearable sculpture. Experience these collectible treasures that have captivated museums and connoisseurs worldwide.
NOVEMBER 20
Wine and hor d’oeuvre Thursday from 4–7 p.m.
Experience the intersection of architecture and art with Kathleen Hope’s textural cement compositions and Troy Axelrod’s bold geometric wall sculptures. Both artists explore structural beauty through mixed media, creating pieces that bridge the worlds of fine art and architectural design.
AARON HENRY’S GOLDEN LEGACY
NOVEMBER 21–22
Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Discover the warm luxury of Aaron Henry’s 18- to 19-karat gold creations, where each piece undergoes a meticulous 10-step process to achieve unmatched brilliance. These modern heirlooms blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary sophistication, designed to be treasured for generations.
Grace Renee Gallery is a refreshingly beautiful way to explore fine contemporary art in the breathtaking shadows of the Sonoran Desert foothills of Carefree, Arizona. Artfully designed jewelry, inspiring sculptures, spectacular wall art, stunning ceramics and more await.
HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE
DECEMBER 11
Wine and hor d’oeuvre Thursday from 4–7 p.m.
Embrace the season in perfect comfort and style. Join us for an evening of holiday treats, mulled wine and festive warmth as we celebrate the year’s finest collections. Don your coziest cashmere and discover the perfect gifts for those who appreciate exceptional art and jewelry. A relaxed evening of seasonal celebration awaits.
Writer
J.
The cotton fields stretch endlessly under the Mississippi sun, and somewhere among those 100 acres, a rhythm begins. It starts with the steady thwack of hoes against earth, builds with the natural cadence of human labor, and inevitably, someone begins to hum.
“That’s the absolute beginning,” says Morgan Freeman, his unmistakable voice carrying the weight of authentic memory. “You can’t separate blues from gospel music for that reason.”
On Jan. 8, the Academy Award-winning actor will bring his “Symphonic Blues Experience” to Arizona Musicfest, offering North Scottsdale audiences an unprecedented fusion of his legendary storytelling prowess with the raw, emotional power of Mississippi Delta blues. But this isn’t simply another celebrity concert — it’s a cultural bridge spanning centuries of American musical history, orchestrated by a man whose connection to the blues runs as deep as the Delta soil itself.
Freeman’s relationship with the blues began in childhood, long before Hollywood discovered his distinctive presence. Born in Memphis and raised in Charleston, Mississippi, by his paternal grandmother, Freeman absorbed blues music not as an outsider looking in but as someone raised within its authentic cultural context.
Freeman’s childhood was immersed in this musical tradition, where blues emerged naturally from the rhythm of daily life. His grandmother would host traveling musicians, creating some of his earliest musical memories. This early exposure shaped Freeman’s understanding of blues as more than entertainment — it’s a cultural expression born from genuine human experience, rooted in the struggles and joys of Delta life.
This authentic foundation led Freeman, his late partner, Bill Luckett, and Howard Stovall, to establish Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi, in 2001. The club emerged from a simple observation: Tourists visiting the Delta’s legendary crossroads had nowhere reliable to hear genuine blues music.
“Across the street from where we were working, we saw these backpackers — just a young guy and girl,” Freeman recalls. “Bill, being a hail fellow well met type, went over to ask if they needed help. They asked, ‘Where can we hear some blues music?’ There was no place we could recommend.”
So Freeman and Luckett decided to create that place themselves, establishing what would become Ground Zero Blues Club.
Today, the club operates under the guidance of Eric Meier, the Stanford MBA and healthcare executive who joined Ground Zero as co-owner in 2018, bringing entrepreneurial acumen to cultural preservation, viewing the club’s mission through both business and community development lenses.
“We’ve tried to make this as much about education as it is entertainment,” Meier explains. “You’ve got the beauty of great music, with Morgan providing connective tissue over a 100-year journey through his narration. Then you’ve got video storytelling.”
Ground Zero has evolved into what many consider “the world’s top blues club,” hosting more than 200 shows annually and launching careers of contemporary Delta talents including Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Anthony “Big A” Sherrod. The
Who knew that a symphony orchestra and a few blues musicians could blend so well and put on such a wonderful show?
club’s authenticity — maintained in a minimally renovated cotton warehouse with graffiticovered walls and mismatched chairs — attracts international media attention while preserving a genuine juke joint atmosphere.
“One of the things that’s made it so enduring — we’re approaching our 25th anniversary next May — is that we’ve kept it real,” Meier notes. “It doesn’t look like it was just hacked together. There are layers to it: the graffiti, the not-safe-for-work bathroom visits, the posters and flags. People want to come and experience this living history.”
The Symphonic Blues Experience represents Ground Zero’s most ambitious cultural expansion. Rather than simply transplanting club performances to concert halls, Freeman and Meier created a multimedia production combining filmed narration, live orchestra and authentic Delta musicians.
“We realized it’s not easy for everyone to reach Clarksdale, so we thought, ‘Let’s bring it to you,’” Freeman explains. “The symphony becomes a medium to narrate the blues story.”
The production deliberately challenges assumptions about both genres. Freeman, who appreciates diverse musical forms from Ravel to contemporary blues, sees no inherent conflict between symphonic sophistication and Delta authenticity.
“I listen to symphonies. I like Ravel. And I’ve listened to the blues,” he says. “I’m not a blues aficionado — I like music, period. I don’t think there’s any music I don’t like.”
Meier elaborates on this philosophical approach: “The beauty of the strings, right? Can the strings add more gravitas to a classic blues song? Absolutely. We’ve got a song called ‘Traveling Riverside Blues’ that Led Zeppelin covered. It originally was written
by Robert Johnson, I believe. We have a gospel singer performing it, and it works.”
Arizona Musicfest Executive and Producing Director Allan Naplan immediately recognized the production’s significance when considering programming for the organization’s 35th anniversary season.
“When I learned about the Symphonic Blues show, I immediately jumped at the opportunity to present such a well-conceived and well-produced concert,” Naplan explains. “Along with the featured performances of acclaimed Delta blues artists, with the integration of our Musicfest Pops Ensemble orchestra, a beautifully produced multimedia retrospective on the history of the blues, and, of course, the presence of legendary Hollywood icon Morgan Freeman, I thought the concert would be ideal for our Musicfest series.”
Arizona Musicfest’s 35th anniversary season continues with four distinctive performances leading up to Morgan Freeman’s January spectacular, each offering unique cultural experiences for desert arts enthusiasts.
Kenny G takes the Highlands Church stage Nov. 14, bringing decades of contemporary jazz mastery to Scottsdale. The superstar saxophonist, with more than 75 million records sold worldwide, delivers smooth jazz favorites, including his signature “Songbird.” His expressive melodies and chart-topping instrumental albums have defined contemporary jazz for multiple generations.
The Texas Tenors return Nov. 22 for their highly anticipated third Arizona Musicfest appearance, presenting “Let Freedom Sing” in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The “America’s Got Talent” favorites showcase their acclaimed blend of country, pop, Broadway and classical repertoire, drawing from their extensive catalog of five studio albums and more than 2,000 concerts performed.
“We’re thrilled to bring back The Texas Tenors for their third appearance at Musicfest,” explains Allan Naplan, Arizona Musicfest’s executive and producing director. “As their first two appearances sold out, we look forward to another great success with this popular act. With their strong vocal prowess and captivating stage charisma, their special program ‘Let Freedom Sing’ will surely be a moving and powerful concert experience.”
December opens with Phat Cat Swinger Dec. 5, as Hollywood’s “Little Big Band” delivers its signature “Not So Silent Night” holiday celebration. The ensemble presents lively arrangements of Christmas favorites alongside new, unreleased material exclusive to this tour, complete with social dancing opportunities for adventurous audience members.
Naplan particularly appreciates this innovative approach to holiday programming. “For each season’s Christmas concerts, I’m always looking for inventive and engaging artists who will bring a fresh and entertaining take on holiday classics, and with Phat Cat Swinger, we’ve certainly got that,” he notes. “Their enthusiasm, exuberance, and entertaining excellence are really something special. This will be one of the most enjoyable Christmas concerts that we’ve ever presented.”
The holiday season concludes Dec. 8 with “Christmas with the Celts,” the PBS-featured celebration mixing ancient Irish carols, folk ballads, contemporary songs and spirited Irish dance. This interactive performance features traditional instruments, vibrant string arrangements and the warm humor characteristic of Celtic holiday traditions.
azmusicfest.org
After attending the production at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival, Naplan witnessed its broad appeal firsthand.
“From blues aficionados to movie buffs, everyone in attendance was having a wonderful time,” he recalls. “Further, as this season Musicfest begins our extended celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, it’s a great time to celebrate and honor the legacy of this uniquely American musical genre.”
The production’s innovative approach attracts diverse audiences, expanding traditional boundaries between musical communities.
“There will be people who don’t regularly attend symphonies coming to this show,” Meier observes. “There will be symphony aficionados who don’t go to blues concerts saying, ‘I’m going to come listen to this.’ The show has sold extremely well and is approaching sellout status.”
This cross-pollination serves broader cultural purposes beyond entertainment.
“Symphony executives have approached us afterward and said, ‘Yeah, this is what we want. We want to appeal to a broader cross section, maybe a slightly younger population,’” Meier notes. “This production enables that.”
Freeman envisions the audience experience as uniquely collaborative.
“A symphony orchestra has its own audience. But then there are people who want to come and see something different and exciting,” he explains. “So you’re going to have that mix in the audience, each bringing their own perspective to the experience. That’s the other great thing about doing things together — you have this diverse audience.”
The production’s emphasis on authenticity extends to its featured performers — all regular Ground Zero artists under 40, representing blues as a living, evolving tradition rather than a historical artifact.
“One important point: When people think of blues artists, they often think of someone toward the end of their career,” Meier clarifies. “That’s not what this is. This is a living, breathing, vibrant music genre that’s embedded itself in rock, gospel and hip-hop.”
For Freeman, the ultimate measure of success transcends commercial metrics.
“What do I want for a legacy? Simply that people had a truly unique experience — something unbelievable,” he reflects. “Because who knew that a symphony orchestra and a few blues musicians could blend so well and put on such a wonderful show?”
The Jan. 8 performance promises North Scottsdale audiences an evening that Freeman describes as transformative — a journey through American musical history guided by authentic voices and elevated by symphonic grandeur. In a region celebrated for its cultural sophistication, Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience offers something genuinely unprecedented: the marriage of Hollywood storytelling, Mississippi authenticity, and orchestral elegance.
As Freeman puts it, “Music is communication, and it’s widespread. Every culture, every subculture has a way of expressing itself musically.” On a January evening in the desert, Arizona Musicfest will host that universal communication in its most compelling form — where voice meets blues, and both find their perfect symphonic expression.
symphonicblues.com
Morgan Freeman’s Symphonic Blues Experience
Thursday, Jan. 8 // 7:30 p.m. // Highlands Church 9050 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale // $79+ 480-422-8449 // azmusicfest.org
The Phoenix Theatre Company presents the remarkable true story of Alonzo Fields, chief butler to four U.S. presidents, in an intimate solo play that journeys from the Great Depression to the dawn of the Cold War. $60+. See website for showtimes. Judith Hardes Theatre, 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. 602-254-2151; phoenixtheatre.com
Explore illuminated lantern installations featuring Bugs Aglow, Color of Holidays, Rainforest and Prehistoric Animals themes at this walk-through experience. Handcrafted displays include interactive elements, food court and marketplace with unique treasures. $25+. 6–10 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday. Camelback Ranch, 10710 W. Camelback Road, Glendale. tianyuculture.us
Cultural Coalition’s 14th annual celebration moves to the Arizona Center
Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery celebrates its 50th anniversary with an open house featuring live musicians playing custom guitars and a special exhibit honoring the school’s legacy. Coinciding with the annual Grand Avenue Festival, Roberto-Venn hosts a parking lot stage with performances by four-time Grammy nominee William Eaton, Seth Loveless, John Calvert, Jake Williams and Posterchild. Free. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, 1012 Grand Ave., Phoenix. 602-243-1179; roberto-venn.com
in downtown Phoenix for an evening honoring ancestors through music, dance and community art. Experience performances by local Chicano, Latino and Indigenous artists, giant puppets, live art demonstrations, traditional curanderas and a community altar where guests may place photos and mementos of loved ones. Free. 5–9 p.m. Arizona Center, 455 N. Third St., Phoenix. culturalcoalition.com
Big Ideas Forum examines recent concerns from researchers at major tech companies about AI systems’ capacity to contemplate and carry out unprogrammed activities, refuse instructions, and develop incomprehensible language. The discussion explores whether AI systems understand their actions and could potentially assume control of human society. Free. 4:30–6 p.m. Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem. 305-302-7536; bigideasforum.info
NOV. 7
Get ready to scoop, share and save seeds at this unique bazaar offering
bulk quantities of more than 100 climate-appropriate vegetable varieties for purchase at discounted prices. $7.50. RSVP recommended. 4–8 p.m. North Phoenix Baptist Church, 5757 N. Central Ave., Building B, Phoenix. greatamericanseedup.org
NOV. 8
Celebrate Arizona’s unique flavors and creative community at this 20th annual event, hosted by Local First Arizona. This family- and pet-friendly event features more than 200 local vendors, live music, food samples from Arizona restaurants, an Arizona beverage garden, a silent auction, raffle, activities for kids and more. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix. localfirstaz.com/fall-fest
NOV. 8
Join the Anthem community as it honors the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans. Free. 10 a.m. See website for route. daisymtnvets.org
11
Anthem Community Council hosts its annual ceremony honoring veterans and their families. The event features musical entertainment by Musical Theater of Anthem and ceremonial presentations including a special video from CCV Anthem, invocation by Pastor Jared Medlin, and keynote remarks by Rear Adm. William Putnam. At 11:11 a.m., attendees can witness the solar illumination of the Great Seal through the Veterans Memorial’s pillars (weather permitting). 10 a.m. Anthem Community Park, 41703 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. anthemcouncil.com
11–12
Enter the extraordinary world of Alex Sepkus, where microscopic artistry meets unparalleled vision. Each 18-karat gold masterpiece showcases intricate geometric patterns and textures that transform jewelry into wearable sculpture. Experience these collectible treasures that have captivated museums and connoisseurs worldwide. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com
NOV. 14
The Musical Instrument Museum hosts a concert honoring the 50th anniversary of Arizona’s Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery. Experience 14 acclaimed guitarists and touring artists performing with unique guitars built by Roberto-Venn graduates, including a custom replica of George Harrison’s famed rosewood Fender Telecaster crafted by Fender Master Builder Paul Waller. British guitarist Laurence Juber, former lead for Paul McCartney’s Wings, headlines the event and will play the Harrison tribute guitar onstage. See website for prices. 7:30 p.m. Musical Instrument Museum Theatre, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 480-478-6000; mim.org
NOV. 14–15
Celebrate Italian excellence with an exclusive showcase featuring FOPE’s revolutionary Flex’it technology, Demeglio’s innovative engineering, Mattia Cielo’s futuristic designs and Roberto Coin’s signature artistry. Discover the finest expressions of Italian goldsmithing, where centuries-old traditions meet contemporary innovation. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com
NOV. 15
The Arizona Women’s Board presents this 46th annual event bringing together bestselling authors to support vital programs and services for Arizona kidney patients and their families. Cochaired by Laura Bill and Jackie Hutt, the luncheon continues a philanthropic tradition founded in 1980 by author Erma Bombeck. Over four decades, the event has raised more than $14 million for kidney disease education, research and patient services. See website for price and time. Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix. authorsluncheonaz.org
NOV. 15–16
This 10th annual festival returns as a downtown tradition, featuring top pizzerias including Spinato’s, Re di Roma, Otra Pizzeria, Mi Amore, Prince Street Pizza and more, plus vendors offering pizza muffins, doughnuts and Dippin’ Dots. Guests enjoy live music, craft beer, lawn games and family-friendly fun. Proceeds benefit Downtown Phoenix Inc. $16. Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday
NOV. 26–JAN. 16
The Phoenix Zoo’s beloved holiday tradition transforms more than 2 miles of trails into a winter wonderland with millions of dazzling lights, animated animal lanterns, a floating 50-foot LED tree, immersive light shows, Glow Garden and interactive displays. Enjoy the immersive light tunnel, s’mores by the fire, photos with Santa, wildlife lanterns, holiday treats, carousel rides and more. See website for prices. 5:30–10:30 p.m. Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix. phoenixzoo.org
11 a.m.–4 p.m. Margaret T. Hance Park, 1202 N. Third St., Phoenix. phoenix.pizza
The Verde Valley Pottery Festival returns to Cornville, featuring more than a dozen Arizona potters, live demonstrations, food trucks and estate-grown wines. Free. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. D.A.Ranch, 1900 Dancing Apache Road, Cornville. 928-247-6868; verdevalleypotteryfestival.com
NOV. 20
Experience the intersection of architecture and art with Kathleen Hope’s textural cement compositions and Troy Axelrod’s bold geometric wall sculptures. Both artists explore structural beauty through mixed media, creating pieces that bridge the worlds of fine art and architectural design. Free. 4–7 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480575-8080; gracereneegallery.com
NOV. 20–22
Discover the warm luxury of Aaron Henry’s 18- to 19-karat gold creations, where each piece undergoes a meticulous 10-step process to achieve unmatched brilliance. These modern heirlooms blend traditional craftsmanship with contemporary sophistication, designed to be treasured for generations. Free. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Grace Renee Gallery, Historic Spanish Village, 7212 E. Ho Road, Carefree. 480-575-8080; gracereneegallery.com
NOV. 28–29
Downtown Glendale marks the 32nd anniversary of its beloved holiday celebration with a two-night kickoff featuring dazzling light displays, interactive features and picturesque holiday decor. Visitors can browse local vendors, listen to carolers and enjoy a visit from Santa during the festivities. Free. 5–10 p.m. Glendale Civic Center, 5750 W. Glenn Drive, Glendale. glendaleaz.gov
Classic and modern vehicles fill this monthly car show, complemented by coffee, food vendors and community fellowship. Free. 8–11 a.m. Outlets North Phoenix, 4250 W. Anthem Way, Phoenix. anthemcarsandcoffee.com
Downtown Tempe’s holiday season begins with the Fantasy of Lights Street Parade along Mill Avenue, featuring dazzling floats, performers, holiday characters and live music. Snack and drink vendors, photos with Santa and a kids’ letterwriting station add to the festivities. The event culminates in the lighting of a 30-foot holiday tree at CenterPoint Plaza. Free. 4–8 p.m. See website for route. downtowntempe.com
Celebrate the start of the holiday season at the Scottsdale Waterfront Canal Bank with Scottsdazzle’s signature kickoff event hosted by community leader Kira Peters. Enjoy live jazz, dance performances, children’s activities, and stunning decorations. The evening features complimentary photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, hot cocoa, seasonal snacks, and unique pop-up boutiques from The Merchantile of Scottsdale at Stetson Plaza. The festivities conclude with the lighting of the 36-foot Scottsdazzle tree. Free. 7–9 p.m. 7135 E. Camelback Road, Scottsdale. 480-312-7177; scottsdazzle.com
Musical Theatre of Anthem presents a fundraising cabaret featuring diabolical solos, dramatic duets and villainous group numbers performed by MTA’s Outreach Student Leaders. The immersive evening includes themed mocktails and concessions plus a silent auction with baskets from local businesses. $45. 7 p.m. Musical Theatre of Anthem, 42201 N. 41st Drive, Suite B100, Anthem. 623-336-6001; musicaltheatreofanthem.org
Convergence Ballet has appointed Ian Parsons as artistic director. A graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School, Parsons performed with Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo and The National Ballet of Canada before appearing in “Cabaret,” “Cats” and “Les Misérables.” Since 2018, he has served as artistic staff and exchange program manager at Canada’s National Ballet School. Parsons will lead Ballet Theatre of Phoenix and its affiliated professional company. convergenceballet.org
Sip, savor, and celebrate!
Step into Arizona’s most unforgettable festival experiences, brought to you by Vermilion Promotions. Whether you’re an art lover, wine connoisseur, music enthusiast, or a culinary explorer, Vermillion curates an immersive celebration where creativity, flavor, and community come together in perfect harmony. Free admission.
Stagecoach Village Art & Wine Festival
Nov. 21-23, 2025
Jan. 9-11, 2026
Mar. 20-22, 2026
Kierland Fine Art & Wine Festival
Nov. 1-2, 2025
Jan. 31- Feb. 1, 2026
WestWorld Art & Wine Experience
Nov. 8-9, 2025
Wigwam Fine Art Festivals
Dec. 5-7, 2025
Feb. 13-15, 2026
Tubac Festival of the Arts
Feb. 4-8, 2026
Oro Valley Art & Wine Festival
Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2026
High Street Art Festival
Mar. 7-8, 2026
SanTan Art & Wine Festival
Oct 25-26, 2025
Mar. 28-29, 2026
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography by Hugh Halback
n the fall of 2014, two newcomers to Anthem found themselves drawn to the same corner table at the Starbucks on Anthem Way, their conversations invariably turning to the future. Gary Bettis, a retired clinical psychologist, and Torben Riise, a retired biotech executive from Denmark, discovered a shared fascination with emerging technologies that seemed to promise — or threaten — to reshape human existence.
“Two things stood out,” Riise recalls of those early discussions. “First was the concept of singularity — also known as Moore’s Law. We realized that technological development wasn’t just fast; it was accelerating exponentially. Things we might have thought were decades away could become reality in just five to 10 years.”
Their weekly coffee meetings became an exploration of revolutionary concepts: graphene, the newly discovered carbon molecule with properties that could transform construction and engineering; origami techniques being adapted by the space industry to compress large equipment into launchready packages; the emerging promise of 3D printing.
My question was always: Where do you go to get a good, solid introduction to a subject in a short amount of time — without signing up for classes at a formal teaching institution? Torben Riise
Torben Riise, co-founder of the Big Ideas Forum, brings decades of biotech executive experience and a passion for accessible intellectual discourse to Anthem’s most enduring community salon.
“We thought every curious person would be fascinated by these developments and want to understand their implications,” Riise explains.
That conviction led to a simple question: Why not share these conversations with others? Drawing inspiration from Culture in the City, a successful lecture series Riise had participated in while living in Miami, the duo approached the library manager at Boulder Creek High School with their vision for a community forum. She embraced the concept immediately.
On Oct. 1, 2015, 12 people gathered for the inaugural Big Ideas Forum meeting to discuss “Futurism and Singularity.”
“It was a mixture of apprehension and hope,” Bettis remembers. “We had no idea if anyone would be interested. I think we prepared ourselves for the possibility that it might just be the two of us.”
Their concerns proved unfounded. Within months, attendance swelled to 20 to 25 regular participants, with occasional meetings drawing 35 to 40 curious minds. The forum had tapped into something vital: a community hunger for substantive intellectual discourse in an accessible format.
“When we saw more and more people not only attending but also wanting to share their own knowledge and expertise, we knew we had found a good formula that was working,” Riise notes. “Among those early participants was Brant Herbert, who not only became a regular presenter but has since served as the forum’s webmaster, becoming the backbone of its digital presence.”
The breadth of topics tackled over nearly 130 meetings reflects both the founders’ wide-ranging curiosity and their community’s intellectual appetite. Sessions have explored cutting-edge science — epigenetics, brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence — alongside social issues such as human trafficking, creativity and the philosophy of contentment. Politics and religion remain deliberately off limits.
Some of the forum’s most memorable moments have emerged from unexpected directions.
“When a finance professor gave a five-minute presentation about the talus bone in the foot and the discussion that followed lasted 40 minutes, we knew people were more than superficially curious,” Riise recalls. “It was similar when a culinary specialist gave us an update on the status of nuclear energy in Arizona as well as when an attorney engaged in a discussion about the nature of time and quantum physics.”
The forum’s signature event, the recurring TechSlam, embodies this spirit of spontaneous intellectual exchange. Participants have five to seven minutes to introduce any topic for discussion — no formal presentation required. The format consistently generates the kind of animated dialogue that extends long after meetings officially end.
In 2020, the forum relocated from the high school library to the Anthem Civic Building, where it continues to meet monthly on the first Thursday at 4:30 p.m. (excluding July and August). The venue change reflected both growing attendance and the forum’s established role as a community institution.
For Riise, whose background includes founding multiple intellectual organizations across two continents, the forum addresses a fundamental need.
“My question was always: Where do you go to get a good, solid introduction to a subject in a short amount of time — without signing up for classes at a formal teaching institution?” he explains. “When we moved to Anthem, I was looking for something that would fulfill that ambition. Since it wasn’t here, Gary and I decided to create it.”
As the Big Ideas Forum approaches its 129th meeting this November, Riise’s hopes for its future remain characteristically thoughtful.
“I hope we’ll be remembered for providing valuable information in a friendly, entertaining format,” he reflects. “My greatest wish is that the forum will continue indefinitely, with people always motivated to develop both the format and the content.”
What began as two strangers bonding over coffee has evolved into Anthem’s most enduring intellectual salon — proof that curiosity, when shared, multiplies exponentially.
bigideasforum.info
Big Ideas Forum: AI Systems and Human Relationships
Thursday, Nov. 6 // 4:30 p.m. // Anthem Civic Building // 3701 W. Anthem Way, Anthem // Free // bigideasforum.info
Writer Joseph J. Airdo
As autumn’s first crisp breath sweeps across Arizona’s diverse landscapes, a particular restlessness stirs in those who understand that the state’s most profound beauty lies not in its famous destinations but in its hidden corners. This is not about disconnecting from the everyday — it’s about reconnecting to something deeper: to the rhythm of your own heartbeat under a canopy of stars, to the ancient silence that exists only in places where cell towers fear to tread and to the kind of solitude that doesn’t feel lonely but complete.
Arizona’s autumn wilderness offers experiences that commercial campgrounds simply cannot deliver. These are places where silence has weight, where starlight tells stories and where the simple act of waking to sunrise over untamed landscapes becomes a form of prayer. From high-mountain meadows ablaze with color to sandstone moonscapes under the Milky Way, these eight destinations represent the pinnacle of Arizona’s wild camping experiences — each carefully selected for its ability to restore, inspire and transform.
When photographers speak of Arizona’s fall color epicenter, they’re talking about Lockett Meadow. Nestled at 8,600 feet on the flanks of the San Francisco Peaks, this alpine sanctuary hosts the Southwest’s largest aspen stands, creating a golden cathedral that draws pilgrims from across the country.
The journey here is currently an adventure in itself — road closures have transformed what was once a drive into a 6-mile round-trip hike or bike ride, effectively filtering out casual visitors and preserving the meadow’s sacred quiet. Those who make the effort are rewarded with camping beneath quaking aspens whose white trunks rise like columns in nature’s most magnificent hall.
The Inner Basin Trail begins at your tent door, winding 3 1/2 miles through groves so thick with golden leaves that the light itself seems to glow from within. Wildlife is abundant — elk bugle across the meadow at dusk while Abert’s squirrels chatter in the pines overhead. On clear nights, the thin mountain air reveals stars with startling clarity.
Pack extra layers; November nights can dip below freezing, but the crisp air only enhances the experience. Bring ample water, and prepare for the kind of silence that makes city dwellers remember what peace actually sounds like.
Forest Road 9350 traces the dramatic precipice of the Mogollon Rim, where designated dispersed campsites perch literally on the edge of Arizona’s high country. At nearly 8,000 feet, these rim-side camps offer unobstructed views that plunge 2,000 feet to forested valleys below — a perspective that redefines the word “vista.”
Nearly 40 marked campsites dot this 2-mile corridor, most featuring established fire rings and picnic tables. The first mile accommodates RVs and trailers, while the final stretch rewards tent campers with increasingly dramatic rim-edge positions. Some sites hover so close to the precipice that morning coffee becomes a meditation on infinity — though parents should note these spectacular perches come with genuine safety considerations.
November brings peak color as aspen, maple and oak paint the surrounding forest in brilliant golds and reds. Nearby trails like the Cabin Loop and Highline Trail wind through groves of changing leaves, while Woods Canyon and Bear Canyon lakes offer excellent trout fishing surrounded by autumn’s palette.
The Rim Road corridor extends camping options far beyond Forest Road 9350, with forest roads branching into increasingly remote and private settings. Fire restrictions are common, so check current conditions before planning your trip.
These are places where silence has weight, where starlight tells stories and where the simple act of waking to sunrise over untamed landscapes becomes a form of prayer.
Twenty minutes from downtown Prescott, the Granite Mountain Wilderness offers accessible yet genuine solitude among towering granite domes and boulder fields. The 1,563-acre wilderness provides diverse camping options, from the developed Yavapai Campground to true backcountry dispersed sites.
Yavapai Campground delivers the perfect balance of comfort and wild beauty, with 19 shaded sites nestled among granite outcrops. Running water, flush toilets and established fire rings provide civilized amenities while maintaining the wilderness aesthetic. The adjacent Granite Basin Lake adds fishing opportunities to the impressive hiking available throughout the wilderness.
For deeper solitude, dispersed camping is permitted throughout the wilderness, though campfires are prohibited year-round due to fire danger. The granite formations create natural windbreaks and privacy, while the elevation provides pleasantly cool autumn weather just minutes from Prescott’s restaurants and amenities.
The area is renowned among rock climbers, with more than 1,000 established routes on the granite walls. Even non-climbers will appreciate the cathedral-like formations and their dramatic interplay of light and shadow throughout the day.
For those seeking the ultimate in primitive camping, White Pocket delivers an otherworldly experience that requires serious commitment. Located on the remote Paria Plateau within Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, this permit-free alternative to the Wave rewards the prepared with surreal beauty and absolute solitude.
The swirling red-and-white Navajo sandstone formations create a landscape so alien that visitors regularly describe feeling transported to another planet. At 6,100 feet elevation, autumn brings mild days and crisp nights perfect for photography and stargazing — this is among Arizona’s darkest locations, with zero light pollution and crystal-clear views of the Milky Way.
Access requires a true four-wheel-drive vehicle and considerable preparation. The final 8 miles traverse deep sand that regularly claims unprepared travelers, and once there, you’re entirely self-sufficient. No water, no facilities, no cell service — just you, the rocks, and silence so complete it has a physical presence.
Bring satellite communication devices, plenty of water and the kind of gear that could save your life if weather turns. This is wilderness camping for experts only, but the payoff — sunrise over formations that seem sculpted by alien hands — justifies every challenge.
The Chiricahuas rise from the Sonoran Desert like a lost world, their “sky island” peaks creating a biodiversity hotspot that feels more like the Rocky Mountains than southeastern Arizona. At Bonita Canyon Campground, 25 sites nestle at 5,400 feet among towering rhyolite hoodoos and dense oak woodlands that burst into spectacular fall color.
This is Arizona’s premier birding destination, with more than 375 species recorded, including the occasional elegant trogon. The autumn migration coincides perfectly with peak foliage as cottonwoods, sycamores and Rocky Mountain maples paint the canyons in brilliant golds and scarlets. The South Fork Trail outside the monument offers some of the most reliable fall color viewing in the state.
Bonita Canyon’s 25 sites provide flush toilets, running water and bear boxes — welcome amenities given the area’s active black bear and mountain lion populations. The monument’s 17 miles of trails wind through a wonderland of balanced rocks and stone spires, culminating at Massai Point’s 360-degree views of the hoodoo landscape.
For greater solitude, Piney Canyon Road in adjacent Coronado National Forest offers excellent dispersed camping among the pines, while higher-elevation spots like Barfoot Park may require four-wheel drive but reward visitors with cooler temperatures and even more dramatic autumn displays.
Dean Hueber
J.
Acclaimed photographer Dean Hueber captures the surprising vitality and unexpected beauty of Sonoran Desert wildlife during autumn’s subtle but spectacular transformation.
The Sonoran Desert doesn’t announce autumn with a cascade of crimson leaves or the crisp snap of New England air. Instead, it whispers its seasonal shift through subtler signs — the softer arc of winter solstice light, the restless energy of animals entering mating season, and the unexpected pockets of gold hiding in desert watersheds.
Acclaimed local photographer Dean Hueber has spent years learning to read these quiet cues, developing an intimate understanding of when and where the desert reveals its most spectacular autumn moments. His latest collection captures the surprising vitality of native wildlife during this season of transformation, from the piercing gaze of a great horned owl resting on a tree stump to the playful antics of bear cubs exploring their mountainous domain.
“Traveling through the Sonoran Desert during autumn does not generally present a plethora of fall colors, but if one knows where to look, it can be stunningly spec-
tacular,” Hueber explains, his enthusiasm evident as he describes discovering bigtooth maples in remote canyons and cottonwoods glowing gold along watershed corridors.
This month’s photo essay reveals the desert’s hidden autumn drama through Hueber’s lens — raccoons foraging with increased urgency, majestic elk bugling across mountain meadows, and elusive bobcats emerging from shadows in the season’s forgiving light. Each image tells a story of adaptation and survival, captured during that magical window when the sun sits lower in the sky, creating what Hueber calls “photography lottery” conditions.
For Hueber, beauty remains the driving force behind every frame, but his definition has evolved to embrace the unexpected moments that wildlife photography demands.
“This is not our planet — it belongs to all living creatures,” he reflects, “and we need to balance our needs with those of the many animals we share our state with.”
Beauty being my key motivator, I am always hoping to find and photograph animals with stunning backdrops, and these autumn colors are nothing if not beautiful. Dean Hueber
Fall brings mating season, and that brings out different, often more public behaviors in many of these animals as they compete for the attention of groups of females. Dean Hueber
Combine this softer light with fall colors and it’s like hitting the photography lottery, keeping in mind that fall in the Sonoran Desert is mid-December through mid-January. Dean Hueber
Dean Hueber’s journey from a Buffalo suburb to becoming one of Arizona’s most respected nature photographers began with a childhood fascination that drew him up water towers to glimpse unobstructed star-filled skies. Those early moments of wonder, combined with college dorm walls decorated with images of the Grand Tetons and Yosemite, hinted at a deeper calling that wouldn’t fully emerge until years later.
The transformation occurred during Hueber’s first visit to Yosemite National Park while attending graduate school in Northern California.
“The power of Yosemite was spectacular and overwhelming,” he recalls. “I spent the weekend awestruck, never having imagined that such pure beauty could exist. I had always loved nature, but that was the first time I had truly desired to take photos of it.”
What began as a practical purchase — an SLR camera to document his son’s childhood — evolved into what Hueber describes as a “passionate love affair” with landscape photography. Technical workshops and relentless study of other photographers’ work provided the foundation, but it was the addictive combination of adventure and artistic pursuit that sustained his commitment.
In recent years, Hueber has undergone a significant evolution, transitioning from pure landscape photography to include wildlife subjects. This shift has demanded an entirely different skill set and approach.
“Landscape photography is easy compared to animal photography,” he admits. “With animals, you can decide you want to photograph a particular species, but then you have to figure out where they are.”
His technical prowess has advanced dramatically as well. Hueber now employs sophisticated techniques including focus stacking, focal length blending and multi-image stitching, all enhanced by his Nikon Z8’s superior capabilities. The result is a body of work that captures not just the visual beauty of the Sonoran Desert’s wildlife, but the deeper connection between all living creatures sharing this remarkable landscape.
pbase.com/deanhueber
The Mississippi River doesn’t care about your past. It doesn’t ask why you can’t sleep at night or why crowds make your pulse quicken. It simply flows, mile after endless mile, carrying whatever burden you’re willing to release into its muddy embrace.
For Navy veteran Joe Nichols, that ancient current became a lifeline — a 2,300-mile liquid trail from Minnesota to Louisiana that would transform his relationship with anxiety, community and himself.
“I always feel at my best when I’m outdoors,” says Nichols, an Anthem resident since 2007 who completed the grueling Warrior Paddle expedition this summer. “Being out in nature is like hitting a reset button for me.”
The 90-day journey down America’s great river was no casual float trip. As part of Warrior Expeditions — a nonprofit that uses long-distance outdoor challenges to help combat veterans heal from invisible wounds — Nichols joined fellow veterans in an odyssey that would test their endurance while rebuilding their sense of purpose.
Since returning from Operation Desert Storm, Nichols has struggled with sleep issues and anxiety common among veterans transitioning back to civilian life. While not formally diagnosed with PTSD, he requires medication to sleep and has found crowds particularly challenging.
“I have to take medication just to sleep; otherwise, I pretty much can’t sleep at all,” he explains. “Several of the guys I did the Warrior Expeditions excursion with had been formally diagnosed with PTSD and related challenges.”
The path to the Mississippi began three years ago when Nichols discovered Warrior Expeditions through social media. Founded in 2013 by Marine veteran Sean Gobin after his own transformative hike of the Appalachian Trail, the organization offers three expeditions: the 2,200-mile Warrior Hike along the Appalachian Trail; the 3,800-mile Warrior Bike across the Great American Rail Trail; and the Warrior Paddle down the Mississippi.
“I had considered applying before, but I realized I had missed the deadline that year,” Nichols recalls. “Last year, though, I made sure to apply before the cutoff, and on Christmas Day, I found out I was selected — which was awesome.”
The selection process is rigorous. From 400 annual applicants, only 40 veterans are chosen through application review, resilience surveys and interviews. Nichols chose the paddle expedition specifically because it offered something entirely new.
“While the Appalachian Trail really interests me, and I definitely hope to do it someday, I’ve already done a lot of hiking over the years,” he says. “Paddle sports, on the other hand, were
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography Courtesy of Joe Nichols
something I’d never really tried before, so I thought it would be amazing to experience something entirely new.”
The Mississippi River expedition crosses 10 states, requiring participants to navigate everything from tranquil stretches to challenging rapids. For Nichols, one moment midway through the journey crystallized both the risks and rewards of the adventure.
“We ended up capsizing our boats when we went through what’s called a wing dam,” he recounts. “The canoes we were using weren’t made for rapids; they’re designed for smooth paddling.”
As the three veterans approached the narrow opening where water rushed and dropped quickly, disaster struck. While one paddler made it through with a waterlogged boat, Nichols and another veteran weren’t as fortunate.
“We got hit and flipped over. It looked like a shipwreck, with our gear floating everywhere,” he says. “Thankfully, we had life jackets on, so we were safe. We managed to gather up all our things, make it to shore, and set everything up at camp early that day, although everything was pretty soaked.”
What could have been a demoralizing setback became something else entirely — a moment of camaraderie and mutual support that exemplifies the Warrior Expeditions philosophy.
“The guy who didn’t end up in the water still had a boat full of water, but he helped us recover anything that was floating away,” Nichols explains. “It went from a really tense experience to one where we were all laughing about it afterward. So even the tough moments ended up being a lot of fun.”
Being out there in nature brought me a sense of peace and noticeably lowered my anxiety. There was so much peace and tranquility. Joe Nichols
That spirit of brotherhood runs throughout the program. Research conducted by psychologists Dr. Shauna Joye and Dr. Zachary Dietrich — both veterans themselves — consistently shows significant improvements in PTSD, anxiety and depression symptoms among participants. The program operates on three therapeutic pillars: contemplation in nature, camaraderie with fellow veterans and community support from civilians along the route.
“Being with other veterans was incredible,” Nichols says. “You’re surrounded by people who have gone through similar experiences, and right away there’s a bond — a kind of instant friendship and understanding. That connection was huge.”
But it was the generosity of strangers that truly transformed his perspective on community and asking for help. Throughout the journey, Veterans of Foreign Wars posts, local families and community volunteers opened their homes to the paddling veterans, providing meals, showers, laundry facilities and, most importantly, human connection.
“The support we received along the way was probably the best part of the entire trip,” Nichols reflects. “They treated us like family; it felt like visiting my own relatives — an aunt, uncle, parents. They welcomed us into their homes and cooked us amazing dinners — sometimes huge steaks and incredible meals.”
For someone who typically struggles with social anxiety, these interactions represented a profound shift.
“Normally, I’m reluctant to ask for help, especially from people I don’t know. But with these supporters, I never felt that way,” he says. “It really changed how I think about asking for help or support — it made me realize how special and generous people can be.”
The transformation extended beyond social comfort. The physical demands of paddling, combined with nights under the stars and days surrounded by wildlife — including frequent bald eagle sightings — provided the natural therapy Nichols had experienced on his beloved Grand Canyon hikes, but amplified over months rather than days.
“I definitely experienced better sleep during and after the trip,” he says. “Being out there in nature brought me a sense of peace and
noticeably lowered my anxiety. There was so much peace and tranquility. I slept better, felt less anxious and just felt refreshed overall when it was done.”
By journey’s end, the veteran who had struggled with social situations found himself looking forward to meeting supporters along the route.
After camping alone for three to five days at a stretch, the team would anticipate its next community connection.
“There was also a real sense of pride and accomplishment by the time we finished,” Nichols says. “I felt less anxiety and much more comfortable in social settings.”
Now back in Anthem, where he regularly hikes his favorite local trail on Daisy Mountain, Nichols carries forward the lessons learned on the river. The man who once discovered his neighborhood’s 3,000-foot peak after living nearby for years has gained a new appreciation for both adventure and community.
“I think the outdoors is truly therapeutic,” he says. “My biggest takeaway is: Get outdoors — plan some kind of adventure. It doesn’t have to be a 2,000-mile journey; just get out and hike more, especially if you live somewhere like Arizona. We’re practically at the epicenter of outdoor adventure.”
His message resonates with the philosophy that inspired Earl Shaffer in 1948 to “walk off the war” by becoming the first person to hike the entire Appalachian Trail. In an era when service members can travel from combat zones to civilian life within days — unlike historical warriors who had lengthy journeys home to process their experiences — programs like Warrior Expeditions provide that crucial transition time.
“So really, embrace the outdoors and go for it — you’ll feel better,” Nichols advises. “And you definitely don’t have to be a combat veteran to appreciate that. I think a lot of people can relate to the feeling you get after a hike or workout. It’s just so much better than sitting inside all day.”
The Mississippi River continues its eternal journey to the sea, indifferent to human struggles. But for Joe Nichols and the growing number of veterans finding healing through Warrior Expeditions, those muddy waters carry something precious downstream: proof that sometimes the longest journeys lead us home to ourselves.
warriorexpeditions.org
The tour bus idles outside another venue, another city, another chance to connect with an audience through song. For most fans, this is where the story ends — but for Anthem’s Britnee Kellogg, it’s where CBS’s “The Road” begins.
The groundbreaking reality series pulls back the curtain on touring life, following 12 emerging musicians as they compete for the chance to open for Grammy winner Keith Urban. The talented mother of three has been singing since age 6 and, while she’s performed for years on her own, the show marks her first experience as part of a national tour.
“I think ‘The Road’ will change the [music singing competition] game,” Kellogg says of the show, which airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/ PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
“It’s much more behind the scenes and shows what it’s like to be on the road — the nitty-gritty, the bus rides — you get to know the artists in a different, more connected way. It’s not an easy life, but touring has been a big part of my career. They focus on original music, which is unheard of [in this genre]. I’m excited for viewers to see what it’s really like.”
Despite the show being a competition, she says the contestants spend so much time together that they’ve become like a family, guided by country megastars Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Blake Shelton, who teamed with Taylor Sheridan of “Yellowstone” and “Landman” as coexecutive producers.
“Yes, it’s a competition, but we’ve all been doing this for a long time, and this is our dream — it’s what we want to do,” she says earnestly. “I can only speak for myself, but
I really do believe that we all wanted each other to be successful, whatever that looks like. I think that’s something really special, and you’ll see that on the show.”
Kellogg spent most of her life in Washington state, growing up on ‘90s country. Her very first concert was Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. She names the Cashes, Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw and Martina McBride as early influences. It’s that storytelling style that she loves, and she sees a space for it in today’s country music landscape.
“I look back to being in my mid-20s, and when I went through a breakup, I’d turn on country radio and I could relate to the lyrics,” she recalls. “Now, as a 40-year-old, what’s on the radio today just doesn’t reflect what I’m going through. I feel like we really need more music for the average person going through it — the messy kitchens, screaming kids, divorce — everyday life. We don’t have that demographic right now in country music. It’s traditionally been a younger person’s game. I honestly believe that this show is going to change that.”
Kellogg plays guitar, writing and singing songs for real life. “Hey Mama” is one of her anthems that strikes a chord with mothers in the thick of parenting — the stress of busy days and sleepless nights — but she points out that the lyrics serve up a mix of encouragement and tough love.
“The song says, ‘It’s not gonna be this hard forever,’ but it also says to get over it,” she says with a laugh. “It’s hard right now, but you’ve got this. ‘Pull yourself together’ and let’s go. I stay true to that.”
Kellogg shares that she’s often asked how she balances life as a wife, mother and
Writer Shannon Severson // Photography Courtesy of CBS
‘Road’
My goal is to get my music into the hands of as many people as I can and to change lives with my music.
Britnee Kellogg
touring musician and admits it’s not easy; she relies heavily on her family support system as she pursues what she terms her first love — music — which she compares to being like another one of her children. While it’s hard to be away, her eldest son has expressed admiration that she’s doing all she can to pursue her goal, saying it inspires him to do the same in his own life.
“My son has said, ‘I’ve seen you walk out the door, and I know that I can do it, too. I know my circumstances don’t define my future,’” she says, her voice softening with the memory. “I hang on to knowing that my kids are going to have dreams, and they’re going to believe in them because they saw me do it. They’re seeing what determination, grit and passion look like, and they’re going to be better for it. I’m so grateful to have such an incredible support system — my husband, my mom and family.”
That newfound confidence extends to how she approaches work-life balance. For Kellogg, staying grounded means being wholly present, whether at home or on the road.
“When I’m home, I’m being present as much as I can,” she reveals. “I’m not working. When I’m gone, we have daily FaceTime chats, but I’m focused on work. The behind-the-scenes of ‘The Road’ is just incredible. I think my kids will see it and understand a bit more about what I’m doing and how busy it is. I think it will be really cool for them to see, and they are so excited and proud. We can’t wait to tune in to see it all.”
As her family learns more about her life as a musician, Kellogg says her experience on the show has prompted personal reflection and growth in how she perceives herself and her career. She’s faced self-doubt, admitting that being compared to 11 other super-talented artists can shake your confidence. When you hear another person’s powerful vocals or compelling songwriting, it’s easy to question your own abilities. But she’s gained a new perspective on her musical gifts.
“Through this process, I really learned that every single one of us has something unique and different to bring to the table or to our careers,” she says.
While life and experience have been excellent teachers, so too have the show’s celebrity coaches.
“Working with Blake, Keith and Gretchen, I’ll never be able to repay them for the advice and encouragement,” she says with heartfelt enthusiasm. “They have those years of experience, and they tell you, ‘Wow! This song is crazy!’ or other things that encourage you to keep going. They’re people who have had such amazing success in the industry, and then Taylor Sheridan — I literally feel like everything he touches turns to gold. I’m just honored to be a part of it.”
Wilson, whom Kellogg describes as a “mama” who took the contestants under her wing, acts as the show’s tour manager. As the contestants travel from city to city, Urban, Shelton and guest country stars, along with a live audience, decide who advances until one winner remains.
“Gretchen is wonderful,” Kellogg reveals. “She has a tenacity and [an attitude of] ‘I’m going to do this whether you like it or not,’ and it is what has made her successful. Keith is one of the most insanely talented musicians, and his charisma on stage is just something you can’t match. And Blake, of course, you just want to pinch his cheeks. He’s so sweet and easygoing; he’s an entertainer. He steps on stage and you say, ‘Yes. That’s it.’”
With all the advice that Kellogg has taken to heart through her experience on “The Road” and throughout her career, she has some wisdom of her own for aspiring performers.
“The biggest advice I have is, if it really, truly is your dream, then just never, never stop; never give up,” she says. “You’re going to hear ‘no.’ You’re going to hear ‘you’re terrible.’ The door is going to be slammed in your face 100 times, and you just have to get up and keep going and believe in what you have to say.”
She’s also learned that fame isn’t something to chase as an end game and shouldn’t be the goal.
“My goal is to get my music into the hands of as many people as I can and to change lives with my music. I want people to connect to my music at whatever level I’m allowed, and I’m going to be so incredibly grateful for it.”
As Kellogg’s journey continues, her clear passion for music and storytelling has only deepened as she’s learned to embrace the special, singular nature of her talent as a performer and songwriter who uses her voice, her words and her life experience to connect with and uplift others. Her commitment to sharing the messy, everyday challenges of life is sure to resonate with fans old and new, and her determination to never give up on her dreams, even in the face of adversity, is an inspiration for anyone working to make their dreams a reality.
britneekellogg.com
Writer Joseph J. Airdo // Photography
Acholla cactus performs an almost imperceptible dance, its spiny arms swaying in slow motion against an azure sky. Sediment flows like liquid mercury across desert washes after phantom rains. Cactus blooms breathe in microscopic pulses, revealing the secret choreography of an ecosystem most consider static.
This is the Sonoran Desert as you’ve never seen it — captured through the electronic eyes of machines and transformed into “Framerate: Desert Pulse,” a groundbreaking exhibition that opened this fall at Desert Botanical Garden. Five monumental video installations now reveal the hidden life pulsing through our familiar landscape, challenging even longtime desert dwellers to see home through entirely new eyes.
London-based ScanLAB Projects has spent the past year documenting the subtle transformations of our desert landscape using pioneering 3D scanning technology, capturing billions of data points that reveal the constant, nearly imperceptible dance of life in the Sonoran ecosystem. The result is a multisensory experience that challenges even longtime desert residents to see their home through entirely new eyes.
If we can encourage people to recognize and appreciate that this landscape is always changing — and that those changes aren’t always about us — I think that’s a truly beautiful place for people to arrive at.
Matt Shaw
“There’s this sense of surprising wonder — the thing that’s struck us most about the desert is just how full of life it is,” says Matt Shaw, co-founder and director of ScanLAB Projects. “That life is both vividly present and, at the same time, somehow hidden.”
Shaw and his creative partner William Trossell have built their artistic practice around what they call “machine vision” — the use of 3D scanning technology to capture reality with scientific precision while revealing poetic truths about the world around us. Their previous work has taken them to melting Arctic ice and former concentration camps, but the Sonoran Desert presented unique revelations.
“Phoenix, after all, is one of the hottest cities in America,” Shaw explains. “From our perspective, it exemplifies the realities of climate change — a city getting hotter and more extreme every year, sometimes to a dangerous degree.”
Yet what emerges from their yearlong documentation is not a story of harshness, but of resilience and surprising vitality. The installation’s five massive screens, positioned thoughtfully throughout Desert Botanical Garden’s landscape, display footage that transforms familiar desert scenes into something otherworldly yet deeply truthful.
The technology itself reads like science fiction. Teams of specialized photographers returned to the same 15 locations across the Valley every day for an entire year, capturing repeated 3D scans from identical positions. These sites
ranged from the Tonto National Forest and Salt River to McDowell Mountain Preserve and carefully selected spots within Desert Botanical Garden itself.
“We don’t just show up with a concept and impose it on a location; it’s about engaging in a conversation with that place,” Trossell explains. “Asking how we can respond to it and how, through technology, we might tell truly beautiful and meaningful stories that come alive.”
The resulting footage captures phenomena invisible to casual observation: the microscopic movements of cactus blooms, the flow of sediment after rare desert rains, the seasonal breathing of an ecosystem that many mistakenly perceive as static. Layered onto this yearlong documentation are captures of events unfolding over mere hours, creating a temporal tapestry that reveals the desert’s multiple rhythms.
The visual complexity extends beyond individual screens. Shaw and Trossell, both trained architects, have designed the installation as a four-dimensional editing experience where images flow not just across screens but through the physical space of Desert Botanical Garden itself.
“The architectural design of the installation is critical to how audiences experience the piece,” Shaw notes. “Even though it’s digital — just screens — we care deeply about the materiality of those pixels. Every detail is carefully crafted.”
Composer Pascal Wyse has created an equally sophisticated soundscape that responds to and enhances the visual revelations, having captured audio recordings in precious locations including Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands. The result is a 20-minute immersive journey distributed across multiple screens that functions as both meditation and revelation.
Echinopsis Bourne Mischief (from above) 2025 Pointcloud animation still Courtesy of the artist
For Elaine McGinn, Desert Botanical Garden’s chief experience officer, the project represents more than artistic innovation — it embodies the institution’s commitment to fostering deeper connections between visitors and the natural world.
“Curating ‘Desert Pulse’ has been a process of peeling back assumptions, inviting the viewer to consider not just what deserts are, but what they represent: resilience, transformation and the unseen networks that sustain life,” McGinn says. “The exhibition is not just a display of art — it is a meditation on what it means to belong, to remember and to reimagine the unique and beautiful place we call home, the Sonoran Desert.”
Desert Botanical Garden’s selection of ScanLAB Projects continues its tradition of hosting world-class artists like Dale Chihuly, Bruce Munro and Fernando Botero. But this exhibition breaks new ground by bridging art and science while addressing contemporary environmental concerns through a distinctly local lens.
London artists use cutting-edge 3D scanning to reveal the Sonoran Desert’s hidden life in a stunning new exhibition that transforms how we see our own backyard.
McGinn discovered the artists at South by Southwest, where their prototype immediately resonated with her vision for art that transforms perspective.
“Will and Matt from ScanLAB have brought an entirely new dimension to what we hope to achieve with our art program,” she explains. “This exhibition is, above all, a deeply visceral experience. People leave not just thinking, but truly feeling — often in ways that are quite surprising.”
The project’s commitment to sustainability adds another layer of meaning to its environmental themes. ScanLAB has documented the carbon impact of every aspect of production, making choices that sometimes cost more but create less environmental impact. Its partnership with Rivian Automotive, which provides an electric R1T pickup for the project, underscores these values while supporting the artwork’s themes of innovation and environmental responsibility.
“We genuinely hope people appreciate the honesty with which we approach these decisions,” Shaw says. “Sometimes we make choices that complicate our process or cost us money, simply because they help us minimize our footprint.”
For viewers, the experience promises revelations both grand and intimate. McGinn has found her own relationship with the desert transformed by witnessing it through the artists’ technological lens.
“Now, when I drive out into the desert or even just around town, I find myself noticing things differently,” she reflects. “There’s one incredible cholla that almost appears to do a little dance. You’ll see — it’s truly fascinating.”
The installation reveals moments of human celebration alongside natural processes — a baseball game recording captures community joy while documenting our collective footprint on the landscape. Such juxtapositions invite reflection on how we inhabit and impact the desert environment.
Shaw hopes visitors will expand their temporal perspective beyond daily routines and individual lifetimes.
“There are moments in this piece where we hope viewers reflect on the timescale of a landscape or a river — features that have existed long before any of us and will likely persist long after we’re gone,” he says.
Simultaneously, the work captures fleeting moments — events too quick for normal perception — encouraging appreciation for the desert’s constant, subtle transformations.
“If we can encourage people to recognize and appreciate that this landscape is always changing—and that those changes aren’t always about us — I think that’s a truly beautiful place for people to arrive at,” Shaw concludes. “‘Framerate’ is a glimpse into the future of cinema, a sobering observation, and a hopeful moment — all at once.”
For desert dwellers who thought they knew their landscape intimately, the exhibition offers a profound gift: the chance to fall in love with home all over again, seeing familiar terrain through eyes that miss nothing and reveal everything.
dbg.org
Framerate: Desert Pulse
Through May 10 // 8 a.m.–8 p.m. // Desert Botanical Garden // 1201 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix // See website for prices 480-941-1225 // dbg.org
Serves: 20
For the cake:
2 1/2 cups (330g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs, room temperature
For the frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
This generously spiced pumpkin sheet cake captures autumn’s essence with warm notes of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. The tender, oil-enriched crumb paired with silky cream cheese frosting creates a dessert sophisticated enough for entertaining yet approachable for family gatherings. Its sheet pan format makes it ideal for feeding a crowd — perfect for those intimate dinner parties where conversation flows as freely as the wine.
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup granulated sugar
1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Pinch of kosher salt
8 ounces full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or coat with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and ginger; set aside.
Writer and Photographer Francine Coles thefancypantskitchen.com
3. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, vegetable oil, pumpkin puree, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Gradually fold in the dry ingredients until just incorporated.
4. Transfer batter to the prepared pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Cool completely on a wire rack.
5. For the frosting: Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese on medium-high speed until light and fluffy — approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
6. Reduce mixer speed to low and gradually add the confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Beat in vanilla and salt.
7. Once cake is completely cooled, frost with the cream cheese frosting.
For an elegant autumn presentation, create a rustic buttercream base using an offset spatula. Divide remaining frosting among four bowls, tinting one orange, one dusty blue, one brown, and leaving one white. Transfer to piping bags fitted with Wilton tips 6B (orange), 4B (blue and white), and 3 (brown). Pipe decorative pumpkins on opposite corners of the cake and top with brown frosting stems.
