ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | FEBRUARY 20, 2022
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Artist’s personal life inspires 2nd exhibit BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
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he artist featured in a newly opened exhibition, titled “Beverly McInver: Full Circle,” at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art inspired the creation of a second exhibit that highlights the talents of people with intellectual and development disabilities. Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation wanted to explore an aspect of McIver’s personal life: she is the caregiver for her older sister Renee, an adult with I/DD. Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts partnered with the Scottsdale Training and Rehabilitation Services (STARS) and The Opportunity Tree to curate “What Makes Me Me,” an exhibition of poems, paintings, acrylics, collages and ceramics created by individuals with I/DD. “It was a natural thing to do because at Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation, we promote what is going on at SMoCA,”
People with intellectual and development disabilities created their own works of art that are on display at the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)
said Laura Hales, curator of learning and innovation at Scottsdale Arts Learning and Innovation. “We saw this as an opportunity to shine a light on that aspect of Beverly McIver. In a sense, all of these artworks in the gallery are inspired by Renee.” Members of STARS and The Opportunity Tree were broken into small groups and worked in three workshops. “We worked with professional artists who led the workshops for this and they were all really wonderful at adapting the projects so that everybody in the room could do them well,” Hales said. “We had accessibility in mind because even within that group there were different levels of accessibility that needed to be addressed.” What came next fulfilled a need that oftentimes is glossed over for individuals with I/DD. “It’s self-advocacy and it is a powerful communication,” Hales said. “During one of
see STAR page 30
Mavrix marks 2nd year with specials, gratitude BY KATY SPRINGER Progress Contributor
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veryone likes a good underdog story. And the story of Mavrix in Scottsdale certainly fits the bill. The entertainment hub opened at the Pavilions at Talking Stick Shopping Center on March 7, 2020 and got off to a great start, posting high guest counts and earning top customer reviews. But the venue was forced to close its doors just 10 days later amid COVID-19. “It was an awful day,” said Scott Sanders, owner of Octane Entertainment, the company that owns and operates Mavrix and Octane Raceway next door. “Beyond the disappointment and financial devastation of shutting down a business we had
Scott Nelson is the chef for Mavrix, which survived the pandemic and is now seeing business return to pre-VOVID levels. (Progress file photo)
worked so hard to build, we were forced to lay off many of our employees. That was the worst part.” Two years later, Mavrix is hardly recognizable, its transformation from a shuttered building to a booming business complete. Now, the company is planning a big celebration to mark its second anniversary: From Thursday, Feb. 24-March 4, Mavrix has a series of guest offers – such as $2 bowling, $2 laser tag and daily specials including $15 xs on Mondays and half-price arcade games on Wednesdays. The anniversary is a milestone moment. “We just have so much to be grateful for,” said Sanders.
see MAVRIX page 30
