Running Head: CULTURE OF THE ART SCENE IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX Torres 1

CULTURE OF THE ART SCENE IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX

Lizbeth Torres

Arizona State University

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Abstract

When researching the art community in downtown there was a lot to look at and observe

with many local artists and galleries. After the research I understood more about what made

each artist’s art unique to them. To see the different aspects of the arts I interviewed a few local

artists and also took notice of the arts displayed in art galleries around downtown Phoenix. WIth

the research I understand the need for art because of what it brings to artists. That there is a great

importance to art not only for those who create it but the audience as in the society. Artists use

art to express who they are as a person in a creative format or remember different points in their

lives. I was able to understand why artists create art and what it has done for them. I express the

need for art to be more involved in schools for kids that have the need to express themselves in a

creative manner. Whether a person is an artist or an observer, art is needed to connect people and

show what can not be said in words.

Keywords​: Ethnography, Arts, Community

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Entering the Art Awakenings Gallery, two rooms filled with art from different local

downtown artists. I walk in to the first room and take in every piece of art, slowing doing a 360

turn. Trying to figure out why it is the way it is and the artist was trying to tell me. In the second

room there is a table in the center with two local artists surrounded by just their artwork. The

woman speaks enthusiastically of her work to another observer. I take in each of her emotions

and how it is displayed on her art. Later walking to a back room where many local artists have

their art for sale while having live music. You can feel the sense of a community, all coming

together to display what they had accomplish, all their sweat and tears. There are common

misconceptions about art especially from someone who does not understand its purpose. Many

people think art is not necessary however my research demonstrates there is a need for art to

continue growing. Art in the past decades has been something that has been pushed to the side

and not seen as essential. In my research after speaking to local artists, looking at artwork, and

looking up more mainstream artists, I can see how much art means to not only the artists, but

society as a whole.Those who do not understand need to be informed and think past that creating

art will not equal money.Art and overall the creative arts are something that is looked down upon

and has lost its value. Not seen as necessary and in schools it should be something that is more

valued like other subjects. The community that I researched was the art scene in downtown

phoenix and its local artists. In seeing how it affected each artist in different ways and how it led

them to creating art. I want to show a different side of art that people may not take a moment to

look at.

In my research projects I started off by going to First Friday and going to the different

galleries while seeing the local artists’ artwork. Also speaking to different artists about their
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artwork in how they came about creating it the way it is and what lead them to becoming an

artist.

Being able to see in the galleries the different type of art that artists create. It is all unique to

them even the type of canvas they use. Although the art was made by them, I did speak to a local

artist who drew inspiration from a more mainstream artist to create art. This reveals that art can

be an inspiration for others to create their own. It could also be a way to continue creating art if

there is artist block like said by Questlove in Creative Quest. As an observer I can see that each

painting has a story that is unique to the artist. When being in a gallery I would also listen to

what others observers had to say about the art. They also looked for the meaning behind the art

while discussing it with those with them. In

the galleries that I went into which were Art

Awakenings, Monorchid and Modified Art

there were many people looking in awe at the

art, in a sense of a close community. I was

able to interview a couple of artists from PSA

Art Awakenings and looked into more local

artists. When speaking to the artist Lori Rifle from Art Awakenings she spoke of how art helped

get her out off hard times. That her inspirations to create art is her emotions. She feels a deeper

connection to her art and she feels she has a lot more art to create. When looking into secondary

research I could see the larger perspective of art. Artwork is not only a creative art that is just

seen as an elective in high school, but also a valuable resource to be taught. In one of the articles

it said, “There is an opportunity to increase the significance of art education in a democratic

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society if we embrace practices that empower preservice teachers to analyze how artmaking

practices shape their own sensibilities and those of the communities in which they

live”(​Schlemmer, R. H​). With people having a better understanding and appreciation for art it

also leads to knowing the community in which one lives in and also those one is not a part off. A

person can see someone else’s perspective on an issue that one has not faced. Society would

become more aware of the diversity that exists. In another article it talked about what art bring to

the community, “​According to new data released on March 6, 2018, by the U.S. Bureau of

Economic Analysis (BEA) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Arizona’s arts and

culture industries contribute $9 Billion to the state’s economy,”(​Arizona Commision of the Arts​).

The arts not only brings in money to the economy, but also allows people to go out and see it in

person which can lead to inspiration. It should continue to be explored and supported due to what

it offers.

In my research I found that each artist is unique

in their own way of creating art. They have

different purposes and motivations for creating

art. In a way art has helped them like in my first

interview I did. It important to recognize what

makes each artist unique and how they

contribute to the community and overall society. To see how art helps develop people and

express their emotions in a creative way. In my community the central value is their work of art

and how it displays what they were trying to convey whether it was inspired from another artist

or event/experience in their life. They are interested in people seeing their work and be able to
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share what they have created. There may be obstacles in how people many criticize their art or

not see it as worthy of display. Being an artists can also be deemed by some people as having no

value and won’t lead to monetary compensation. There needs to be a bigger spot light on local

and upcoming artists. There is great monetary value in the arts and also artistic value to the artist.

It displays their story and conveys a strong message to their intended audience. Every art piece

may not be for everyone, but it serves a purpose to a certain person who can feel the connection

to the art. The arts is not something that should be put aside, but should be appreciated and

taught to the youth. It could help younger kids find another side of themselves and could lead

them to becoming an artist. Now is the time to have more art that reveals people’s stories and

experiences that will bring people together in supporting each other in inclusion and diversity not

only of art, but of every person.

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References

Ann M. Galligan & Joni Maya Cherbo (2004) Financial Support for Individual Artists, The

ehere​Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society, 34:1, 23-42, DOI:

rththt​10.3200/JAML.34.1.23-42.

Arizona Commision of the Arts. (2018).New Report: Arts and Culture Contribute $9 Billion to

hthttth​Arizona’s Economy, AZArts​,

fbfhhd​https://azarts.gov/news/new-report-arts-culture-contribute-9-billion-arizonas-economy/.

Schlemmer, R. H. (2017). Community arts: (Re)contextualizing the narrative of teaching and

bgbgd​learning. ​Arts Education Policy Review,​ ​118(​ 1), 27–36.

fdbfbb​https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1080/10632913.2015.1051255.
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