Arizona art encounters

[rebeccmeister]

I feel as though I got lucky on this trip to Arizona. When I went to visit Lux, just north of downtown Phoenix, I also checked to see the hours of the Burton Barr Public Library, which remains one of my favorite library buildings. In doing so, I learned that there was an exhibit of work by one of my favorite Arizona artists, a guy who goes by the name P. Nosa. You might be able to figure out why I like his stuff so much by reading this sign that accompanied the art:



Fellow grad students and I first learned about him when he was coming up to sew at the Phoenix First Fridays artwalks, back before the artwalks exploded/imploded with people more interested in public spectacle than art (and I'm not referring to performance art).*

Here's an example of one of the sewn drawings on exhibit, which of course my camera didn't photograph especially well, but which should at least give you an idea of some of the incredible things P. Nosa does with his sewing machine:




There are photos of a couple other pieces in my photostream. Also a photo of one of the solar features on the top floor of the library.

Then, last night, as S and I headed over to Endgame, a bar/video gaming establishment, we discovered that the Arizona State University Ceramics Collections have relocated into the Brickyard, in part of the space that used to be occupied by a Borders bookstore. Not only had they relocated, they also had a special display of artwork by my ceramics instructor, who passed away this past August due to an inoperable brain tumor.



Her pieces didn't photograph especially well, either, due to glare off the glass, but it was wonderful to see both older, familiar pieces as well as some of her more recent work.



The ASU ceramics collection is an amazing treasure-trove. We only had about 15 minutes to walk around prior to closing, but even that short time was richly rewarding.

In other incidental art encounters, I was also amused by this "Anti Ghetto-Blaster" on display in Cartel Coffee, in Tempe.

Thank you, Arizona, for the encounters with beauty and light.

*When I rode through the area, I couldn't help observing that the artist who made the "Future Site of Gentrification" stickers has probably also moved on, based on the number of new condo developments going into that historic neighborhood.

Comments

[randomdreams.livejournal.com]

Those are some neat ceramics!
I'm a bit agog that someone can do that with a sewing machine by hand. I've seen cnc machines/embroiderers that can do similar stuff, but handwork, zowie.

[ivy]

I'm impressed with the porcelain, but I really want to see someone try to play that anti-ghetto-blaster. It looks... uncomfortable but doable?

[bluepapercup]

Thank you for sharing these. Bridget's ceramics are wonderful, so inventive and visually arresting. A lovely tribute to her memory.