Art Detour is back and bigger than ever.
What was once a weeklong art walk, will now celebrate art not just in Phoenix, but across Arizona, for more than a month.
From Feb. 27 to March 31, Art Detour will feature more than 300 arts activities and connect art lovers with special shows at art galleries, arts and culture organizations, arts-supporting businesses and visual and performing artists.
The annual event is put on by Artlink Inc., a nonprofit that supports local artists, art initiatives and events including First and Third Fridays.
“We want these 33 days to feel completely different from any other set of 33 days,” said Catrina Kahler, Artlink president and CEO.
“We want arts and culture to be front and center. We want people to appreciate and or perhaps learn for the first time that the definition of arts and culture may not be what they previously thought. We’re focused on so many different categories of art, visual arts, performing arts, public art, culinary arts, and fashion.”
Last year’s Art Detour kicked off just as the nation began to shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the Art Detour events were canceled.
This year the event will incorporate virtual options from art shows in addition to live artist talks and demonstrations. Art galleries and museums that host in-person Art Detour events require guests to wear masks and practice social distancing.
More:Artists are creating new murals along Phoenix’s Grand Canal
What Art Detour organizers learned from 2020
“If this past year has taught us anything it’s that we don’t have to do anything the way it’s been done in the past,” Kahler said.
“We are very excited by the opportunity to connect with new stakeholders in a more meaningful way via Art Detour. We’re excited to focus on and leverage technology to connect with artists from around the state. It really allows us to take in the full, diverse and unique culture of our region, and in a way that we would not be able to otherwise.”
Kahler added that there will be surprises, also known as Daily Detours, that will be announced on Artlink’s social media accounts and via a daily newsletter.
For a complete 2021 schedule and other information, head to https://artdetour.com/.
10 highlights of Art Detour 2021
1. The 21st Annual Juried Exhibition: More than 80 artists will be exhibiting in this multi-media showcase of works selected by a panel of jurors. The show will be on display at FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel and include artists Jared Aubel, Marilyn Frances Szabo, Laura Spalding Best, Michael Afsa, Min Kyu Kim and Patricia Sannit.
Details: FOUND: RE Phoenix Hotel, 1100 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. foundrehotels.com/contemporary.
2. The exhibition “Color Theory” will be on display at Bentley Gallery and includes artists Jimi Gleason, Andy Moses, Nellie King Solomon, Jeremy Thomas, Jennifer Wolf and in The Project Room, Donald Martiny who display the endless possibilities of what color can display.
Details: Bentley Gallery, 215 E Grant St., Phoenix. bentleygallery.com.
3. Fashion organization, The Garment League, presents “On Central Fashion and Art” a showcase of works from Arizona designers, stylists, visual art and music. The event will be held at Park Central.
Details: 4:30 p.m., March 20. Park Central, 3121 N. Third Ave., Phoenix. $50-$100. thegarmentleague.org.
4. Alwun House presents the “Exotic Art Show” exhibition that showcases artworks from the sensual to proactive of more than 25 artists.
Details: Alwun House, 1204 E. Roosevelt St. $4 donation. alwunhouse.org.
5. See the solo exhibition by Arizona printmaker Harold Lohner at Mesa Arts Center. Lohner creates life-size images of human figures and faces in a series of monprints and artist books.
Details: Mesa Arts Center, Free.
6. Artist Keely Finucane will host a series of virtual acrylic painting classes for students. Each class package consists of eight virtual art lessons conducted once a week over Zoom, lessons are designed for ages 11-14.
Details: 4-5 p.m. Thursday’s March 11- April 29. Zoom. $160 per student. keelyfinucane.com.
7. {9} The Gallery presents the final virtual exhibition of its Capulse Collection with “Photography/Collage/Print” co-curated by Dadsocks and Rembrandt Quibally. The collection features the work of Bacpac, Christopher Butcher, Winona Grey, Laura Rodriguez, TJ Oxley and more.
Details: 9thegallery.com.
8. Urban Nocturnes members Karen Sinclair, Christopher McKay and Viviana Cumplido Wilson are joined by guest Shaun Tilburg, The Phoenix Symphony’s Principal Percussionist, on marimba. The outdoor performance will include familiar classical works from the Baroque, Romantic, and 20th Century musical eras.
Details: 5 p.m. Feb. 27. Trinity Cathedral, 100 W Roosevelt St. Phoenix. $10. trinitymusicaz.org.
9. Learn how to mix cocktails and colors with a virtual watercolor painting event presented by Phoenix Center for the Arts. Start the evening with a live demonstration on how to make an Over the Sunset cocktail with Dwayne Allen, of the Breadfruit and Rum Bar then learn to paint with artist Koryn Woodward Wasson.
Details: 5-6 p.m. March 20. Virtual. $10-$150. phoenixcenterforthearts.org.
10. Download the map for a self-guided bicycle mural tour in downtown Mesa. The map features more than 30 stops that showcase the work of 50 artists and passes by dozens of locally owned restaurants.
Details: railcdc.org/mesa-murals-self-guided-bike-tour/
Elizabeth Montgomery is Arts and Culture Reporter for The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com. Reach her at [email protected] or 602-444-8764. Follow her on Twitter @emontnews. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
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