Phoenix’s original art walk, Art Detour celebrates its 30th anniversary as the city’s greatest opportunity to connect working artists with the community.
Downtown Phoenix’s art scene has become more loved by the community as they familiarize themselves with First Friday, Third Friday and other art and culture events. Restaurants and coffee shops engage with the artists as well, hanging their pieces on the walls, because without them there wouldn’t be much of a downtown scene.
“Art Detour was the first time artists banned together and decided to work together to promote themselves and invite phoenix residents to explore the city and discover a new part of town through the arts,” Publisher of Downtown Phoenix Journal Catrina Kahler says.
Art Detour gives the community a chance for a behind the scenes look as artists open their studios to the public for most likely the only time that year. Kahler says the impact of the artists contributions to the districts is immeasurable.
“This year with Art Detour 30, as we celebrate 30 years, what we’re doing is celebrating the development of the districts and obviously the destinations within districts and honoring the artist contribution,” Kahler says.
Art Detour is typically a weekend-only event, but this year it has expanded to a six day celebration. It kicks off with the 6th annual Art d’Core Gala on March 15 at Warehouse 215 @ Bentley Projects in which Mayor Greg Stanton will make an appearance to toast the event. The weekend will be dedicated to exploring the art districts and studios. It will end with two symposiums. The first on March 19 will be at Crescent Ballroom for azcentral’s Who’s Next series which will be promoting the conversation between arhitecture and art. The second symposium on March 20 will feature an open and honest discussion about contemporary art at the Phoenix Art Museum.
For more information on Art Detour, visit artdetour.com.
ART DETOUR IS CELEBRATING ITS 30TH-ANNIVERSARY. THE ANNUAL ART WALK INCLUDES A VARIETY OF EVENTS, BUT IS MOSTLY KNOWN AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT WORKING ARTISTS IN THEIR STUDIOS. HERE WITH MORE IS CATRINA KAHLER, PUBLISHER OF THE DOWNTOWN PHOENIX JOURNAL. WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON." GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.
CATRINA KAHLER- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
TED SIMONS-WHAT IS ART DETOUR.
CATRINA KAHLER- IT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT ARTISTS BANDED TOGETHER AND DECIDED TO WORK TOGETHER TO PROMOTE THEMSELVES AND INVITE PHOENIX RESIDENTS TO EXPLORE THE SEASON AND DISCOVER A NEW PART OF TOWN THROUGH THE ARTS. ARTIST STUDIOS ARE NOT TYPICALLY OPEN. THEY ARE CREATING WORK ALL THE TIME. THIS IS THE ONE TIME OF YEAR.
TED SIMONS- TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF ROOSEVELT AND GRAND AVENUE. THOSE PLACES WERE NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS.
CATRINA KAHLER- THE LEADERS OF THE DISTRICTS ARE IN FACT ARTISTS. THE IMPACT IS IMMEASURABLE, WE CELEBRATE 30 YEARS. WE ARE CELEBRATING THE DISTRICTS AND DESTINATIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICTS AND HONORING THE ARTIST CONTRIBUTION.
TED SIMONS- I THINK WE HAVE PHOTO OF ARTISTS AT WORK WITH PEOPLE NOSING AROUND. YOU HAVE TO BE PATIENT, DON'T YOU? THIS IS LIKE STANDING THERE STARING AT YOUR ART SUPPLIES.
CATRINA KAHLER- EXACTLY. THAT'S GRANT AVENUE. THAT'SBAYNES WORK THERE. THEY ARE JUST FOCUSED ON THEIR WORK LIKE ANY OF US.
TED SIMONS- NOT EVERY ONE IS WORKING. WE HAVE SHOTS OF THE GALLERIES OPEN. YOU CAN GO TO MOST OF THE GALLERIES. YOU CAN BUY LOOK, HAVE A COOKIE AND ENJOY THE AFTERNOON.
CATRINA KAHLER- EXACTLY. WE WANT TO PROMOTE THE VENUES AND HONOR THE NONART VENUES SUPPORTIVE OF THE ARTS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THEY BENEFIT FROM THIS COMMUNITY.
TED SIMONS- ART DETOUR USED TON ONE DAY AND OVER. YOU ARE EXPANDING TO SIX DAYS THIS YEAR?
CATRINA KAHLER-WE ARE. NOW, MINUTES FROM NOW. IT'S A GREAT WAY TO TOAST THE ARTS AND KICK US OFF INTO THE SIX DAY TOUR OF THE DISTRICTS AND WE HAVE THE CITY SYMPOSIUM ALLIANCE THIS YEAR.
TED SIMONS- THE EVENTS, WHERE ARE THEY BEING HELD?
CATRINA KAHLER-TWO NIGHT, TWO VENUES. MARCH 19TH AT THE CRESCENT BALLROOM, WHO'S NEXT SERIES. WE ARE WELCOMING A KEYNOTE SPEAKER TO TALK ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CRITIC IN PLACE TO PUSH THE STANDARDS OF THE CITY, AND WHERE ARTS FIT INTO THE CONVERSATION. WE HAVE A PANEL FOLLOWING THAT. TUESDAY, AT THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM, WE HAVE AN OPEN AND HONEST PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ART MODERATED BY JOSH ROSE.
TED SIMONS-ART TOUR HAS GROWN UP. AS SOMEONE THAT GOT ON THEIR BIKE TO GO TO NORTH JACKSON STREET, THIS IS HUGE.
CATRINA KAHLER- THE FUN PART, BIKES ARE STILL IN. IT'S A MULTIMODAL FRIENDLY EVENT. TAKE IT.
TED SIMONS- QUICKLY, A WEBSITE TO GO TO?
CATRINA KAHLER- ART DETOUR.COM.
TED SIMONS-ART DETOUR.COM.
TED SIMONS-GOOD LUCK THIS WEEKEND. SOUNDS LIKE FUN.
CATRINA KAHLER-THANK YOU.
Catrina Kahler: Publisher, Downtown Phoenix Journal
