Letter from the Editor

When David Gardner first introduced me to this project, I was skeptical that anyone or anything could serve such a lofty need and mission. I am culpable of being among the many, the masses who have laid down their brushes and their swords in passive surrender to a lack of progress in the Valley Art scene.

Sure, as an artist I’ve done my part, however minimal, to participate. My work was always well received, and decently publicized, but the patrons never seemed to manifest. Perhaps that is why Art had always taken a backseat in my life, secondary to the magazine publishing, the political work, the bar hopping…Art became a means of expression, entirely for selfish explorational purposes, and no longer a catalyst for social progression or discussion, no longer a career. It seemed that the other work, my “real” work, was the only thing that could possibly make a difference, was the only thing that mattered.

I was guilty of falling into the frustration of self-pity that blinds and jades so many people in this Valley.

But here was a promising idea. Sitting amongst the hazy fog of second hand smoke and avid caffeine addicts, the foundations were pounded out on an Apple laptop by a solitary designer whittling away the hours and the regrets. He too, was an artist, and like the rest of us, had difficulty in finding venues, finding patrons, finding artists, and finding a solid network of support amongst them. So he did something about it.

Granted, one person cannot change the world alone; you must have the willing and active participation of the world in order for it to succeed. Perhaps he consciously knew this [though David’s attention is generally focused on the immediate], or perhaps he just sensed what the rest of us did. Instead of pointing fingers, wallowing in pity and doubt, he used what tools he had to take a step. It was a basic human need, the need for self expression, the same need that drives each of us to paint and photograph and sculpt, that inspired him to act…but instead of wielding a paintbrush, he wielded a keyboard and an Internet connection.

I was inspired to put aside my frustration and dawn a renewed attitude. Phoenix doesn’t have to remain imprisoned in a common misconception of Southwestern Art. It doesn’t have to feud with its neighbors. The Valley has become a megalopolis of interconnected cities; its citizens are as diverse and unique as any other in the United States. So much of this desert civilization is new, free from the constraints of an extended History and politics, and while many saw this as a curse, we see it as an opportunity.

Now is the time for artists, galleries, performers, patrons, and the public to come together. To shed their old skins, as they once did when they migrated to this place, and dawn a new image, define a new self. We have the unfaltering ambition of one pissed off designer to thank for giving us the foundation for change, and the hopeful hearts of those who have faithfully followed us for its evolution. I wish to thank all of you for participating, for continuing to have faith, for taking your pain and frustration and turning them into hope and action.

I hope you all take the same opportunity that I have to see the promise Phoenix and the surrounding areas have. We need to work together. With cooperation, challenging one another and the precepts we once held dear, we can bring about a new age for Phoenix. One where Art and cultural identity go hand in hand. One where the public respects, consumes, and supports the Arts that define its very soul.

Use the tools we have forged and wield them wisely because it is not just our careers on the line, but our home and our future.