ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SCOTTSDALE PROGRESS | WWW.SCOTTSDALE.ORG | APRIL 24, 2022
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Jim Elling, Wendy Raisanen and Karla Elling are proud of the “Interwoven” exhibit at the gallery inside Scottsdale Civic Center Library. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)
Sonoran Desert Chorale of Mesa is back in full swing post-pandemic and have concerts planned. (Courtesy of Sonoran Desert Chorale)
‘Interwoven’ celebrates Arizona's flora, fauna
Sonoran Desert Chorale celebrates companionship
BY ALEX GALLAGHER Progress Staff Writer
A
s artists were forced to stay home during the pandemic, members of the Telaraña Fiber Arts Guild wondered how they would keep the creative spirit alive. Then came a challenge that kept them engaged and encouraged them to celebrate the flora and fauna of the state. “The guild challenge proposed by member Maureen McCarthy healthily directed our collective focus toward the beauty around us in Arizona,” said guild member and artist Karla Elling. “Art pieces in this show not only illuminate places– a slot canyon near Page, the Grand Canyon, Mogollon Rim, Monument Valley, the Superstitions, and Red Mountain-they also include a small desert fox in a Mesa neighborhood, urban images
and flowers.” The challenge tasked artists with duplicating images of Arizona’s plants, canyons, lakes and skies to inspire their creations while using their chosen fiber art techniques and the artists didn’t disappoint. The works caught the eye of Scottsdale Public Art’s curator of collections and exhibitions Wendy Raisanen, who had an idea of how to display the works in an exhibition. “When Scottsdale Public Art’s Wendy Raisanen named the Telaraña Inspiration Challenge ‘Interwoven,’ she drew attention to an idea, ‘we are all interwoven,’” Elling said. Raisanen had no idea how timely the opening would be as it came during a time when the world began to emerge
see INTERWOVEN page 30
BY SRIANTHI PERERA Progress Contributor
W
hile weathering a seemingly endless pandemic, many people became more appreciative of the value of companionship. The Sonoran Desert Chorale takes it a step further with a concert on the themes of companionship and journeys. “You Come, Too,” is the title of the Mesa-based chorale’s next performances on Saturday, April 30, at First United Methodist Church in Mesa and on Sunday, May ,1 at La Casa De Cristo Lutheran Church in Scottsdale. “I just feel like I wanted to celebrate this notion of valuing companionship, of valuing that journey, of valuing important people and ideas that sojourn with us,” said Dr. Carric Smolnik, artistic director.
The chorus will sing three pieces by Andrew Maxfield, a Utah-based contemporary composer; Whatever Is Foreseen in Joy, The Door, and A Gracious Sabbath Stood Here. The composer, who will be in attendance, will comment on the songs and share his musical vision on them. Other songs include O Whistle and I’ll Come To Ye, I’ll Ay Call In By Yon Town, and My Love’s in Germany – a trio of Scottish folk songs; Shaun Kirchner’s I’ll Be On My Way; Felix Mendelssohn’s For God Commanded Angels to Watch Over You; a traditional American folk hymn – The Promised Land; Aaron Copeland’s Zion’s Walls, and songs of finding the way home in Stephen Paulus’ The Road Home and Marta Keen’s Homeward Bound. The concert’s title, You Come, Too, is from a poem called The Pasture by Rob-
see CHORALE page 31
