Author: Sam Richard
Sam likes to think of himself as Burton Barr Central Library — full of information you don't want, or at the very least, didn't know you needed until you heard it. Seriously, though, once you get past the awkward lingering smell of too many forgotten showers, the library shows its true beauty. And, much like the architectural masterpiece, Sam's chiseled specimen is a thing of beauty. But, not chiseled in the conventional sense, no. Sam is crafted in the exact shape of the Beacon of Books — with a slight bulge in the middle. And, whether or not you're looking for a conversation about urban governance, the state of professional sports media or the history of the modern folk music movement, you can be sure to find the information you need with Sam — or at Burton Barr. Sam is the five-story mind behind The Bearded Truth, which you can find here on DPJ Monday afternoons. He lives in the heart of the city with his beautiful wife, Kim.
The Bearded Truth | July 24th, 2009
If I Stay It Will Be Double Last week’s post hit a nerve. Struck a chord. Caused a commotion. And hopefully (yes, I have hope) it will stir people into action. Before I take a stab on how best to retain our talent, though, I would like to clarify a few things: First, I did… Read more
The Bearded Truth | Volume One, Issue One
I often say that we are experiencing something special in Phoenix. A tipping point. That when we look back on the turn of the 21st Century we will see a time of unbridled innovation and leading edge creativity coupled with disciplined growth in infrastructure and sound policy-making. My friend thinks I’m crazy. He says that Phoenix has always been, and will always be, at that tipping point.
I disagreed, until this week.
Downtown Voices Coalition Meeting This Saturday
The Downtown Voices Coalition is a coalition of stakeholder organizations that embrace growth in downtown Phoenix, but is mindful that healthy growth should be based upon existing downtown resources — the vibrancy of neighborhoods, the strength of the arts community, the uniqueness of historic properties, and the wonderful small businesses that dot downtown.
Contemporary Forum Presents: An Aptitude For Metamorphosis
The Contemporary Forum and Phoenix College present the next installment of the Eric Fischl Lecture Series on Tuesday, April 14 at the Phoenix Art Museum. The evening will also include the presentation of the 2009 Phoenix College Student Art Awards.
David Salle will present “An Aptitude For Metamorphosis,” a highly subjective interpretation of his work and how it has and hasn’t changed and evolved over the last 25 years. Salle’s work helped define the post-modern sensibility by combining figuration with an extremely varied pictorial language. Major exhibitions of his work have taken place at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. In 1986, Salle received a Guggenheim fellowship for theater design, and he is a long time collaborator with choreographer Karole Armitage designing sets and costumes for many of her ballets.
Eliza Gregory At Eye Lounge: Refugee Status At School
A new show by local Phoenix artist Eliza Gregory, in collaboration with COAR (Community Outreach & Advocacy for Refugees) opens this month at the Eye Lounge on Roosevelt Row.
Gregory uses large format photographs of refugee students and excerpts from interviews of students and their families to draw attention to the complex experiences these students and families have in the public education system in Arizona.
Sumptuous, large-scale prints are interwoven with the cheerful, thoughtful and emotionally provocative words of students from countries such as Iran, Burundi, and Serbia.
D-Back’s Return Expected To Boost Downtown
Monday marks the return of Major League Baseball to downtown Phoenix with the Arizona Diamondbacks opening the 2009 season against the Colorado Rockies.
Opening Day and the subsequent 81 home games at Chase Field are expected to give a much needed economic boost to bars and restaurants surrounding the stadium.
Art Builds “Urban Campus”
Strong winds were no match for Malissa Geer’s months-long effort to organize the Downtown campus’ fourth-annual Urban Gallery Exhibition to bring ASU closer to the community.
The weather forced Geer, a University community-engagement liaison and the event’s organizer, to set up differently than planned, moving the outdoor stage inside the University Center to join the indoor stage. But the exhibition still helped to make the Downtown campus a true urban university, she said.
Diamondbacks Open Season Monday
Baseball is important. At least to me.
Monday marks the start of the 11th season of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the first full season that the light rail will be running.
Art, Advocacy, Action Today At Downtown Phoenix Campus
Arizona State University’s “Action, Advocacy, Arts” will emphasize the strength of community dialogue and engagement through a series of free activities from 1:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, April 3 at the Downtown campus University Center, 411 N Central Ave.
Civic Space Grand Opening
Great news! The Downtown Phoenix Civic Space Park will be officially opened on April 16th. Stop by the Downtown Phoenix Journal often, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all of the happenings during the Grand Opening Weekend.
