Meet me on Main St.

Detail of the Animal House at Arizona Museum for Youth

It always starts out innocently enough. I tell one of my kids we’re heading out for a quick museum spin, then end up stumbling on oodles of other arts-related fare that I can’t resist exploring. Thursday it was art adventures along Main Street in Mesa, and surrounding areas.

Christopher came along, eager to help me capture a few “before” pictures of Mesa’s light rail expansion. Also to check out the “Extreme Pets” exhibition at Arizona Museum for Youth — hoping to find some of the pets he favors most, including fish, reptiles, cats and more.

Detail of Fish Eye by Kristine Kollasch of Phoenix exhibited at AMY in Mesa

We were intrigued by several of the facts gleaned from “Extreme Pets” signage. A timeline showing that dogs have the distinction of being human pets longer than any other animals. A tidbit of trivia noting that cats respond best to names that end with the sound in our own cat’s name — Pinky.

Adrift by Coreen Geertsen, Part of AMY “Extreme Pets” exhibit in Mesa

Christopher loved the fetishes and other artworks featuring frogs, and we were both wowed by something called the “Animal House.” I enjoyed works by local mask-maker Zarco Guerrero — and those by Corinne Geersten, who also has works in the “Family Matters” exhibit at the Gallery at Tempe Center for the Arts.

After exploring every nook and cranny of the museum, we headed to Cucina di Vita for a little nibble — where we spied a wall sporting several works by local artists, and a flyer encouraging folks to support an AMY fundraising project. The pizza was a lovely mix of sweet and spicy, with crust that was a nifty mix of moist and crunchy. I’ll be a repeat offender.

Great pizza, friendly folks, local art on the walls — what’s not to love?

Christopher decided to linger over his salad, which was fabulously fresh with a great assortment of veggies, while I went in search of the Fiber Factory. I’d planned to hit their “spin-in” that evening at the Mesa Arts Center, before making a mad dash for the Hormel New Works Festival at Phoenix Theatre, but didn’t know if I’d survive a second Mesa run in the humidity.

Need more fiber? You’ll find it near this sculpture on Mesa’s Main St.

Turns out I stumbled onto one of their spinners when I finally spied the Fiber Factory next to a Mary Consie sculpture called “The Big Pink Chair” on Main St. I asked what type of “yarn” she was using, and she gently told me about the “fiber” in her hands — which was alpaca. I recalled seeing a story about alpaca farming on CBS Sunday Morning, hoping it would redeem my “yarn” faux pas. She was gracious, but unimpressed.

Karen Sadow does alpaca proud at the Fiber Factory in Mesa

Once she told me about friends who do alpaca farming, and the summer camps they offer, I mentioned the Raising Arizona Kids magazine camp directory. Soon she leapt from her seat and shouted “Lynn!” Seems it’s hard for some to recognize me now that I’ve got an 8-ply rather than 2-ply figure. Turns out our kids went to Arizona School for the Arts together — and her brother was my children’s elementary school music teacher — so the shop was filled with unexpected strands that day.

I had just enough time for a quick stroll through the store before Christopher called, and I realized I might be in the wrong city for the Broadway musical that serves as my ring tone. Before rushing out, I admired various looms, oodles of yarn and other fibers, whimsical buttons (including some the size of a silver dollar) and more. Karen Sadow (who runs One Planet Yarn & Fiber) made sure I had got a copy of the Fiber Factory class schedule before heading out.

Ragamuffin by Dean Russo of Brooklyn reminded me of “Pinky” back at home

Knowing that rush hour in the Valley gets underway by about 3pm most days, we jumped on the freeway and headed home so Christopher could take care of feeding and such for all his real-life pets. Paintings are all good and fine, but they rarely purr or welcome a gentle pat on the head.

— Lynn

Note: I’ll be sharing more about the “Extreme Pets” exhibition in a future online exclusive for Raising Arizona Kids magazine — so stay tuned at www.raisingarizonakids.com.

Coming up: Casualties of love and war

Art in the fast lane

This sculpture in downtown Phoenix is by Cliff Garten of L.A.

You might think the Valley METRO light rail system is merely a means for getting from here to there.

But it’s actually an impressive mix of art and science, making an afternoon spent riding the METRO a sort of mobile museum adventure that’s fun for all ages.

Seems the clever folks who design and develop such things strive to combine safety and efficiency with aesthetic elements that promote neighborhood pride and cultural identity.

The Urban Design Task Force that planned and designed the Valley’s first light rail system included local architects, engineers, environmental experts and artists.

Their work was guided in part by more than 100 volunteers working on various panels and committees.

Valley METRO credits the 28 artists involved in creating artwork for various stations with helping to make the light rail a “celebration of place and community.”

Artists hail from around Arizona, and from other states including New York, California, Washington and North Carolina.

You’ll see the diversity of their work as you travel around the Valley via light rail — whether you’re traveling across 19th Avenue, Central Avenue, Washington Street, Apache Boulevard or beyond.

I enjoy "HANDS" by Suikang Zhao of New York each time I travel along Apache Blvd. in Tempe

My own personal favorite is a 21-foot high sculpture titled “Hands” by New York artist Suikang Zhao — which is part of a larger installation (“The Space Between”) created by four artists in collaboration.

I see it each time I drive to and from performances at ASU Gammage, or travel between Scottsdale and Tempe for other purposes — like enjoying Essence Bakery or Changing Hands Bookstore.

You can sneak a peak at various works on the Valley METRO website, but the best way to experience public art is to grab your kiddos and just go. Take a camera, a poetry journal, a sketch pad or just your imaginations.

You’ll see all sorts of themes — like air and water, time and space, language and culture. A large circular sculpture titled “Landmark” at a downtown Phoenix stop reflects “the Hopi belief that life is a circle that we each enter at a particular place.”

Public art is like vegetables. Kids need to know that corn and peas come from the ground, not from a can. And they need to know that the works of art and design we too often take for granted are created by people sharing individual and collective stories and ideas. They don’t just fall from the sky.

You'll see "A Thousand Points of Reference" by Phoenix artist Michael Maglich when you visit Burton Barr Central Library

I’m especially intrigued by the backstory of the Smith-Martin and Apache Metro stop in Tempe, another collaboration of four artists — this one including Dan Corson’s “Carpet of Languages,” which references the 70 languages spoken in the area.

Materials used by these artists range from glazed tiles and sand-cast bronze to red granite and steel railings. While one incorporates a quilt theme, another embraces historical photos of the surrounding community.

It might make for an especially fun outing if your child needs inspiration for using art supplies received during the holidays — or if you want to help your teen think through issues of identity and design as he or she starts to redecorate a bedroom or study space.

Let family members help plan the route. Your children might discover an intriguing museum alongside one or more of the Valley METRO stops, whereas your teens might uncover some trendy coffee joints where they can gather with friends tired of meeting at the mall.

And you might just discover that riding the light rail is more than a mere convenience — it’s actually a rather creative enterprise.

— Lynn

Note: Click here to learn more about the Federal Transit Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation and their position on art and design in public transportation.

Coming up: I-Spy: Sculpture style

Photos: Valley METRO

Walk a mile in my shoes

Yesterday was a half-day for my youngest daughter, Lizabeth, who attends a school for the arts in downtown Phoenix, so I decided to hit the area a bit early with my son, Christopher, and his nifty camera.

We've long enjoyed this sculpture located near Phoenix Theatre

I ended up covering only a mile or so in distance, yet I managed to explore all sorts of art offerings. As we approached the Phoenix Art Museum, we saw a sculpture that’s been located for some time near Phoenix Theatre.

This sculpture joined the Phoenix Art Museum collection on Dec 12

It’s quite different from the sculpture that recently took up residence on the lawn outside the Phoenix Art Museum. You can see it up close as you enter the museum or find it by looking through a peek-a-boo window of sorts along a wall that faces Central Ave.

Kids will love playing 'peek-a-boo' with this giant red dinosaur

Walk just across the street and you’ll discover a charming performing arts venue — the “Playhouse on the Park” located in the towering Viad Corporate Center. It’s used by several community groups for an interesting assortment of theater productions and other performance fare.

The Viad tower is home to Playhouse on the Park

Hop on the metro or stoll just a few blocks north and you’re at the Heard Museum — where I always seem to find both plenty of diverse exhibits and oodles of interesting events. Think hoop dancing contests, Indian markets, student art shows, films and more.

I've always enjoyed the architecture of the Heard Museum

This weekend it’s the “NU (Native + You)” event, taking place on “Free 3rd Friday Evening,” Dec 17 — from 6-9pm. The spacious grounds of the Heard Museum will be “filled with light from luminaria and candles” and guests can enjoy both music and traditional Apache storytelling (by Ken Duncan).

One of many sculptures you'll find in and around the Heard Museum courtyard

Cash bar. $5 taco bar. Classical guitar music. Vocal performance by the Xavier College Preparatory Honor Choir. There’s plenty to enjoy — just check the Heard Museum website for the fine print on what happens at which times. And, says the Heard, feel free to bring the kiddos.

Heard Museum grounds are especially lovely when bathed in luminaria and candlelight

There’s free admission to the museum and Berlin Gallery, and the gift shop will be open for those still doing their holiday shopping. Think rugs, jewelry, folk art, baskets, children’s books, holiday ornaments and more. Or shop for yourself –the good folks at the museum store won’t blow your cover.

This time of year, the Heard Museum gift shop features Christmas trees with ornaments crafted by American Indian artists

The Valley has several cities where walking just a mile or so will take you all kinds of exciting places. Watch for future art adventures as I head east, and west, in search of more places you can enjoy music, dance, theater and art.

— Lynn

Note: Stay tuned for more photos of our adventures at the Phoenix Art Museum and the Heard Museum in Phoenix (the Heard Museum also has a Scottsdale site). If your child loves dinosaurs, check out the Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa.

Coming up: New Year’s celebrations — some for families, some for grown-ups — but all with an arts twist, The fine art of dinosaurs, Growing up with Childsplay, “New Kid” comes to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Walk a mile — Mesa style

Photos: Lynn Trimble