BEST Things To Do In Phoenix
The Event Oracle knows ALL the fun things to do in the land of the Phoenix sun. Select your date above then scroll down for all the Arts, Entertainment, and Events in my crystal ball...
-
Carnival of Illusion
Arizona Biltmore Resort
2400 E Missouri Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85016
Carnival of Illusion is an evening of Old-World Magic in the style of classic entertainers such as Buster Keaton, Mae West, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Harry Houdini. The hosts have performed as house entertainers at the world's top resorts, Fortune 100 CEOs, to the 200 Most Powerful Women in America and operate the longest-running Arizona theater show. Carnival of Illusion is "Magic, Mystery, and OOOH La La."
-
Shaping Sound The Art of Guitar Making
3800 E Sky Harbor Blvd
Phoenix, AZ 85034
In our fast-paced, technological world of seemingly endless mass production, there are still some who desire to create with their hands. This is especially true for guitar players who design, build and repair their own instruments. The art of guitar-making, or Luthiery,allows skilled craftsman to turn raw materials into unique instruments.
The Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, based in the heart of Phoenix, has supported aspiring guitar builders for over four decades. Students from around the globe come to attend North America’s oldest and only accredited guitar-making school. At Roberto-Venn, people that are passionate about music can learn the old-world craft of creating a guitar by hand.
From selecting wood to finishing techniques, students learn every aspect of guitar construction. They discover how the design and assembly of each element affects how the guitar will play as well as the instruments visual aesthetic and artistry. By merging tradition with innovation and creativity, students at Roberto-Venn are shaping sound.
-
David Hockney’s Yosemite and Masters of California Basketry
Heard Museum
2301 North Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004
David Hockney’s Yosemite and Masters of California Basketry highlights the impact that Yosemite has had over time and space on artistic production, from the valley’s original Indigenous inhabitants to one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th and 21st centuries.
The exhibition marks the first showing of Hockney’s work in Arizona and will highlight the influence of the American landscape on his seminal work while illuminating how Indigenous women inspired by the same landscape have made significant contributions to the field of art production. The objects on view will illustrate ways in which technology can be implemented in artistic creation, from the sophisticated technology of basketry to the innovative use of digital technologies like the iPad. Included are more than 20 spectacular examples of Mono Lake Paiute and Miwok basketry, made by 9 different artists in the early to mid-20th century, as well as 29 of Hockney’s iPad drawings printed on paper, and his rarely shown photographic collages from the 1980s. Situated against the backdrop of the Yosemite Valley’s history—from first contact between Indigenous tribes in the region and Euro-American settlers from the Mariposa Battalion and the Mariposa War, on through the California Gold Rush and Yosemite Indian Field Days—the exhibition illuminates how Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists have and continue to interpret this landscape in visual culture and fine art.
-
Color in Play
5005 E Camelback Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
A juried exhibition that features outdoor sculptures combining color and whimsy with a touch of sophistication!
-
Crickets, Tea, and Snuff: Chinese Intellectual Pursuits
Phoenix Art Museum
1625 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85004-1685
In traditional China, the literati, or educated class, set the standards for aesthetic taste and leisurely pursuits, many of which are still practiced today. Through a diverse selection of objects, this exhibition introduces viewers to a number of these preferences and interests.
Crickets were the ideal pet for members of the Chinese upper classes and imperial court because of their soothing sound and their ability to be transported in elegant, portable cages. Viewers will have the opportunity to examine various gourd cricket cages donated to the Museum by Amy S. Clague.
The beverage of connoisseurs in China and still widely consumed today, tea is considered beneficial, stimulating the mind, cleansing the blood, and aiding in digestion. As a result, tea vessels hold a special significance. For centuries, the town of Yixing was known as the central producer of unglazed teawares, and a collection of Yixing teawares, donated to the Museum by James T. Bialac, is showcased in the exhibition.
The practice of inhaling snuff, or aromatic tobacco ground into a fine powder, for a jolt of nicotine originated in the Americas but took hold in China during the 17th century. Made of stone, porcelain, lacquer, and other materials, snuff bottles were symbols of status, wealth, and taste in China. The exhibition features a selection of Chinese snuff bottles, donated to the Museum by Deborah G. Carstens.
-
Celebration of Fine Art
18400 N. Hayden Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
This is your opportunity to meet 100 of the finest working artists from the United States and Canada. Watch the artists work in their studios, find out how and why they do what they do and share in the creative processes. The spectrum of artwork includes paintings in acrylic, drawing, encaustic, oil, pastels, and watercolor; sculpture in bronze, metal, stone and wood; jewelry in gold, precious & semi-precious gemstones, metal, mixed media and silver, plus photography, mixed media, and textiles.
-
Americano!
1825 N Central Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85004
This musical true story follows Tony, the child of immigrants who discovers his undocumented status when he tries to enlist in the Marines. With his lifelong dream of serving in the military vanishing quickly, Tony must confront his family, his heritage, and a deeply divided country. Featuring a sumptuous original score of new music, Americano! casts a profoundly human light on what it means to be a Dreamer.
-
Million Dollar Quartet
1825 N Central Ave
Arizona, AZ 85004
Go behind the music to that December day in 1956 when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis cut a record together at Sun Records Studios in Memphis. Half stage play and half foot-stomping live show, Million Dollar Quartet puts you right where the action is, as these four legends clash, jockey, and gel into one of the finest musical acts ever recorded.
