Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center

After dropping one of my kids off for a meeting in downtown Phoenix on Saturday, I had an hour or so of spare time on my hands. Recently armed with a new camera, I decided to go in search of art venues I could explore and maybe snap some photos.

The view as I walked east towards ALAC and Symphony Hall

I found a metered parking spot along Adams, and headed a block or so up the road to the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center. I entered through the gift shop, lured by a vast array of colorful objects of art, attire, jewelry and more.

ALAC has a humble exterior but boasts great works of imagination within

There I met two cheerful gentleman who welcomed me to the Center, and assured me they’d be happy to answer any questions. I got permission to use my flash and off I went.

This bracelet with hearts might make a nice Valentine's Day gift

While going from room to room, I enjoyed works ranging from small metal sculptures to giant artworks drawn with colored pencils.

Sweet Dreams by David Romo sits at a nice height for younger viewers

I enjoyed artwork featuring cars, owls, desert animals, children, butterflies, the wide open sky and so much more. It’s a place you can explore in less than an hour, and I saw plenty of works that have strong kid-appeal.

Detail, Til the Road Ends by Ray Rivas

The Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center is in a great location for walking city streets and enjoying all sorts of shops, restaurants, galleries and performing arts venues.

Untitled by Carlos Navarrete is part of a Visions of Guadalupe exhibit

You could easily make a day of it by taking in a show at Valley Youth Theatre nearby or htting the Phoenix Burton Barr Central Library. (Both have small art exhibits on site.)

Like many musems, ALAC uses technology to enhance cultural exhibits

But back to my ALAC adventures — which included a lengthy and lively chat with one of the young men who’d greeted me when I arrived.

This metal and found objects sculpture (R) is Cicso's Ride by David Romo

I learned late in our conversation, after mentioning my fondness for the colored pencil works, that I was talking with artist Carlos Rivas.

Detail, Must Not Sleep by Carlos Rivas - Part of the "Off the Grid" exhibit

Rivas is a 33-year-old “self-taught” artist from El Paso, Texas who has been creating art since childhood, but only embraced his talent within the past few years. His passion for art and community are evident as he speaks.

Detail, Lord Ganesh by Carlos Rivas - My favorite work on exhibit at ALAC

I mentioned seeing yet another Arizona-related story on the front page of The New York Times — regarding recent changes to policies regarding ethnic-studies courses in high school.

We agreed that it would be nice to read good news about Arizona for a change, and Rivas shared his conviction that the Center serves the community by increasing knowledge, understanding and dialogue.

I hadn’t yet heard the tragic news of the shooting in Tucson, and it occured to me that the national media should visit the Center to find a bit of what’s beautiful here in Arizona.

You can enjoy the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center free of charge during regular operating hours — but a glass jar welcomes donations by those who wish to support the Center’s work.

ALAC has a room/stage dedicated to performance and educational events

Or head to the Center for Phoenix “First Fridays” so you can enjoy several arts and cultural activities in one evening.

Remember ALAC next time you enjoy a symphony, opera or ballet downtown

If you’re a teacher taking students on a field trip to the Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix Symphony Hall or other nearby venue, leave some extra time to explore the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center.

The Herberger Theater Center has a stunning new look both inside and out

The Center is also a nice pairing with an afternoon spent at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. I left the Center with a wee bit of time left on my parking meter, so I scurried over to the Herberger Theater Center Art Gallery to enjoy their new “Sacred Places” exhibit.

This James Van Fossan work titled Sky IV is part of the Sacred Places exhibit

On my way back to get Lizabeth, I drove past the Phoenix Center Theater and noticed a long line of folks heading into the theater for a performance of “Grease” by youth in an afterschool program titled “Art & Sol.” The show runs through Sat, Jan 22.

Enjoy true community theater just off the Loop 202 at 3rd St. in Phoenix

I’ll share more of my Saturday afternoon adventures in another post. In the meantime, feel free to suggest other venues you’d like me to explore and share with our readers.

Watch for roving Phoenix Ambassadors eager to assist downtown visitors

Inspired by the work and words of Carlos Rivas, I expect to take not only my camera, but also a sketch pad and colored pencils, on future art adventures.

— Lynn

Note: Click here to learn more about arts and cultural attractions in the downtown Phoenix area.

Coming up: Art at the Herberger — inside and out

Photos (decent and lousy) by Lynn Trimble

Ode to laundry lint?

Laundry is an everyday occurence at our house — but sometimes it feels elevated to its own sort of fine art. When I pulled a thick, long strip of espresso-colored lint from a dryer screen recently, I was struck by the rich color and texture — wondering what it might become if given life outside a trash bin.

Ode to Green by Scottsdale artist Jill Friedberg

Alas — I hadn’t yet discovered Scottsdale artist Jill Friedberg. I imagined my husband finding me saving yet another object for it’s artistic potential. Thankfully, he has yet to uncover the rough-textured putty grey egg carton I recently set aside for a school art project — or other recent additions to my stash.

I recalled the lint, which seemed to me a thing of beauty, after chatting Friday afternoon with Friedberg. I learned of her work from Cynthia Henry with the Arizona Department of Health Services, who noted that the three of us have all served at one time or another on a committee charged with reducing stigma against those living with mental illness.

As we spoke by phone, Friedberg rattled off a list of materials she’s enjoyed working with of late, including laundry lint. I felt a sense of wonder where I’d once felt only shame. Turns out that themes of beauty, shame and wonder are integral to many of her works — which include photography, sculpture, painting and more.

Wall Sculpture I by Jill Friedberg

Friedberg shared early in our conversation that she’s been making art since very early in life. I recalled a clay sculpture once crafted by my now 19-year-old daughter Jennifer. She was two at the time. I remember being struck by its sophistication — which called to mind memories of visits to some of Europe’s great art museums in Italy, Paris and London.

Jennifer has been creating art from just about everything she encounters practically from the womb. She’s an artist through and through — though I don’t think she’s necessarily connected yet with that essential part of her being. She dances around it, but has yet to embrace herself as artist and creator. Instead, she studies cultural anthropology — perhaps just another facet of the same jewel.

My own mother saw something similar in me as a child, and created plenty of spaces and places for playing with diverse ideas and materials. Perhaps she once wondered why I chose the study of religion and philosophy over art, a query I’m not sure I can answer except to posit that playing with thought and language might be its own form of artistic expression.

Dancing Within by Jill Friedberg

Friedberg says her mom pretty much gave her the run of the kitchen as a child. It was there that Friedberg’s earliest art was born — crafted of eager little fingers exploring gobs of multi-colored frosting. Even today, Friedberg quips that “frosting is paint.” So do all those cupcake boutiques popping up of late really signal a deeper yearning for creativity?

I got to wondering about all sorts of things after talking with Friedberg — the best tribute, perhaps, to her ability to create, inspire and foster genuine wonderment with fellow travelers. I remembered how we used to encourage Jennifer during her own early childhood explorations of food as art media. “You’re a food artist,” we often marveled.

It had never occured to me that there might be others out there who appreciate the fine art of lint and frosting. I’m hoping to meet Friedberg before too long, for we have many things in common — including an interest in art of the Holocaust and a belief in the absolute necessity of arts in a robust education.

I’ll share more about Friedberg and her work in a future post. In the meantime, make some time Saturday night to get to know her yourself. She’s one of 22 Arizona artists whose work is featured at an exhibit that runs through March 27 at the Herberger Theater Center Art Gallery in downtown Phoenix.

Wall Sculpture II by Jill Friedberg

She’ll be there Sat, Jan 8, from 5:30-7pm for the opening reception of “Sacred Places.” The exhibit includes two of her works, titled “Ode to Green” and “Dancing Within.” You also can enjoy Friedberg’s artwork at her local studio — or get a taste right now by clicking here to visit her website.

But after connecting with this amazing woman, mother and artist, I’ve no doubt that the best way to enjoy her work is right alongside her. The reception is free, the setting is lovely and the company will be grand.

— Lynn

Note: Watch for a future post sharing more about Friedberg’s current projects and work in the community.

Coming up: From preschool tap lessons to dancing in a Broadway show, Tips for students heading out for this season’s round of B.F.A. program auditions

Photos courtesy of Jill Friedberg