The sale will be held on Saturday, May 19th, from 7AM to 12 NOON in the parking lot of the After Hours Building, at 116 W. McDowell Road. The After Hours Building is in the heart of downtown Phoenix, 1 block west of the Phoenix Art Museum and the Central/McDowell Light Rail Stop.

Merchandise comes from a variety of manufacturers and most are never-used overstocks and samples. Items in the sale include gift-wrap, stationery goods, pet products, scrap-booking supplies, t-shirts, greeting cards, holiday decor and other novelty items. Prices are discounted nearly 90% from normal retail, with many items marked at just 25 cents.

According to Mike Oleskow, interim President of Artlink and organizer of the sale, “This is a great opportunity for people to get incredible deals and support the Phoenix Arts community.  Proceeds keep services like the First Friday shuttles running each month.  While free for First Friday participants who love using it to explore art and to get around, the shuttles are Artlink’s biggest expense each month.”

Artlink Phoenix is one of the oldest, all volunteer run, 501-C-3 arts organizations in downtown Phoenix. Its mission is to maintain and enhance regular events, including the monthly First Fridays art walk, the annual Art Detour self-guided tour, an annual Juried Exhibition and an art-related fundraiser.

6th Avenue Gallery exhibition features stilettos like you’ve never seen them before

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A BLACK STILETTO AS A CANVAS?
That’s the question that the predominantly female crew behind the 6th Avenue Gallery posed to artists and designers to solicit participation in “Inspired Soles” Art Show and Auction. The response has been nothing short of sensational – but don’t take our word for it. Come see for yourself when the 6th Avenue Gallery debuts its exhibition on First Friday in April. Featuring dozens of high heel stilettos transformed into works of art, along with a provocative photo collection of women wearing their favorite power stilettos, this show is sure to validate what Marilyn Monroe and women everywhere have long known to be true, “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world.”

FIRST FRIDAY DEBUT
The “Inspired Soles” stiletto art show will be unveiled during a one-night event and auction presented by the 6th Avenue Gallery. The gallery’s grand opening celebration in downtown Phoenix will be done in style, complete with food trucks, music, and just enough twinkle lighting to check out the undoubtedly inspired soles of those who attend this event. Bring your wallet because every stiletto featured in the “Inspired Soles” exhibition will be sold to the highest bidders. Proceeds will benefit Artlink Phoenix, a nonprofit organization dedicated to linking artists, business and the public to better understand, appreciate and promote a thriving arts community in central Phoenix.

WHEN/WHERE    
6th Avenue Gallery, 650 N. 6th Avenue (basement level) in downtown Phoenix, 85003

•    First Friday Debut, April 6, 2012

      – Public Showing – 6:30 to 10 p.m.

      – Silent Auction – 6:30 to 8 p.m.

•    Inspired Soles stiletto art show continues on the third Friday in April, and by appointment

PUBLIC CONTACT
For more information, visit www.6thAvenueGallery.com

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT “INSPIRED SOLES”
“Inspired Soles” is the brainchild of BJC Public Relations (BJC) and Torres Marquez Communications (TMC), two power house public relations agencies that are celebrating their recent move into a newly renovated downtown Phoenix building owned by BJC. The agencies put their heads together and determined that a show featuring stilettos designed by Valley artists was an appropriate way for two mostly female PR firms to celebrate their new digs, and thriving multicultural marketing partnership.

From the First Stop! at Arizona Center or from neighborhood Hub Stops in Roosevelt and Grand, visitors can explore public art, murals, art moments from the past, and other interesting places. Times and departure locations below:

Saturday

• 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ~ Self-guided shuttle tours (board from Arizona Center, A.R.T.S. Market or Oasis on Grand)
• 11 a.m. ~ Roosevelt Neighborhood Walking Tour (depart from A.R.T.S. Market)
• 11 a.m. ~ Grand Avenue Neighborhood Walking Tour (depart from Oasis on Grand)
• 11 a.m. ~ Public Art Walking Tour North Route (depart from Arizona Center)*
• 11 a.m. ~ Public Art Walking Tour South Route (depart from Arizona Center)*
• Noon ~ Bicycle Tour of Roosevelt, Grand Avenue, and Downtown (depart from Arizona Center)
• Noon to 3 p.m. ~ City of Phoenix Gallery@City Hall (enter on the Washington St. side of Phoenix City Hall)
• 2 p.m. ~ Roosevelt Neighborhood Walking Tour (depart from A.R.T.S. Market)
• 2 p.m. ~ Grand Avenue Neighborhood Walking Tour (depart from Oasis on Grand)
• 2 p.m. ~ Public Art Walking Tour North Route (depart from Arizona Center)*
• 2 p.m. ~ Public Art Walking Tour South Route (depart from Arizona Center)*
• 4:30 p.m. ~ Bicycle Tour of Midtown, Uptown, and Coronado neighborhoods (depart from Arizona Center) +21 years
• All day at your leisure ~ Calle 16 Murals (all along 16th Street, see separate flier)

Sunday

• Noon to 6 p.m. ~ Self-guided shuttle tours (board from Arizona Center, A.R.T.S. Market or Oasis on Grand)
• Noon ~ Bicycle Tour of Roosevelt, Grand Avenue, and Downtown (depart from Arizona Center)
• 2 p.m. ~ History Echoes Tour: discover Phoenix art moments of the past with Hipstorian Marshall Shore (depart from Arizona Center)
• 2 p.m. ~ Roosevelt Neighborhood Walking Tour (depart from A.R.T.S. Market)
• 2 p.m. ~ Grand Avenue Neighborhood Walking Tour (depart from Oasis on Grand)
• 2 p.m. ~ Public Art Walking Tour North Route (depart from Arizona Center)*
• 2 p.m. ~ Public Art Walking Tour South Route (depart from Arizona Center)*
• 4:30 p.m. ~ Bicycle Tour of Midtown, Uptown, and Coronado neighborhoods (depart from Arizona Center) +21 years
• All day at your leisure ~ Calle 16 Murals (all along 16th Street, see separate flier)

*Detail on Public Art Walking Tours

North Route
• Arizona Center
• Robert Miley installation in the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix valet drop-off area
• Streetscape along Taylor Street (between 3rd and 2nd Streets)
• Joseph “Sentrock” Perez mural at Downtown Phoenix Public Marke
• W.P.A. murals in the Post Office
• End at Downtown Phoenix Civic Space, see Janet Echelman’s “Her Secret is Patience”

South Route
• Arizona Center
• Phoenix Convention Center (PCC) North – “Halo,” “Arizona Handshake,” “A Moment at the Narrows,” “Arizona Beach,” and more
• PCC South, east side – Statues along fence close to 5th St.
• PCC South, west side – “Arizona Bolas”
• Collier Center – Otto Rigan installation outside Bank of America branch
• 3rd St METRO station – more of “Arizona Bolas”
• PCC West – “Art is a Guaranty of Sanity”
• Herberger Theatre – John Waddell statues, etc.
• End at Arizona Center

During this festive weekend, visitors will have the opportunity visit art galleries, artist studios, take bicycle tours, learn about public art and murals from knowledgeable docents and much more.

Music and performance art will also be a part providing visitors with a unique opportunity to explore Phoenix’s art scene in a fun, festival environment.

WHAT:    Art Detour 24 (24th annual)

WHEN:   Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, March 18, 12 noon to 6 p.m.

WHO:    70 participating venues including art studios, galleries, restaurants and temporary “pop-up” spaces.

WHERE:    Phoenix arts districts in and around Downtown Phoenix, including Roosevelt Row, Grand Avenue and Calle 16 (16th Street).

The First Stop! is at Arizona Center (400 E. Van Buren St.), with the London Bus shuttles departing from 3rd Street, near AMC Theatres. Live entertainment and kids activities will entertain visitors waiting for the next shuttle.

Visitors can also pick up maps from information tables and access the shuttles from two additional Neighborhood Hub Stop locations:

•    Roosevelt Row A.R.T.S. Market – northeast corner of Roosevelt and 4th Streets (street parking).

•    Grand Avenue – southwest corner of Roosevelt St. and 15th Ave. (parking lot).

The shuttles will run on a continuous loop (20 minute anticipated runtime for full loop, pending traffic) through Downtown. Visitors will also be able to walk, bike, Light Rail or drive to the 70 destinations beyond the reach of the shuttle route.

A digital version of the map is available for download here. Maps will also be distributed at the information tables.

PARKING:  Arizona Center is providing FREE PARKING in their garage, accessible from Fillmore St. between 3rd and 4th Streets (MAP).

INFO:  Visit www.artlinkphoenix.com or email info@artlinkphoenix.com

Art Detour Highlights:

First Stop! at Arizona Center: While waiting for the shuttle, visitors can enjoy live music, dance and comedy performances. Sunday performances include a variety of cultural performance dance groups, plus live music and child-friendly craft activities.

Saturday, March 17
12 noon –  Toby Fatzinger (Indie Folk)
1 p.m. – Ruth Lara Vichules & Simon Ames (Jazz & Latin American Roots)
2 p.m. – Alan Jones (Jazz duo)
3 p.m. – City Jazz (Jazz Quartet)
4 p.m. – Crisis (Original Rock/Boomer rock)

Sunday, March 18
12 noon – Bradley & Arianne (Folk duo)
1 p.m. – Torch Theater (Adult Improv)
2 p.m. – Mahin Sciacca (Belly dancer)
2:30 p.m. – Tir Conail Academy (Irish Step Dancers)
3 p.m. – Jeff Falk as Pigaletto 3:00-3:15
3:30 p.m. – All Rights Reserved (Teen Improv)
4 p.m. – Ballet Folklorica de Tolleson

A Public Hanging!
Of art that is. This cleverly named exhibition features visual artists from across the Valley. The display is located at Artlink’s A.E. England Gallery in Civic Space Park.

Restaurant Discounts
Participating restaurants will be offering a discount or deal to those event visitors wearing a special sticker available at the three information tables.

Special Guided Tours
From the First Stop! at Arizona Center or the Neigborhood Hub Stops in Roosevelt and Grand, visitors can explore public art, murals and art moments from the past.

Neighborhood Tours
11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday; 2 pm. Sunday. Depart from Visit Roosevelt, Grand Ave. explore murals, art studios and more.

History Echoes Tour
2 p.m. Sunday – discover PHX’s art moments of the past with Hipstorian Marshall Shore.

Bike Tours
•    12 noon Saturday and Sunday – ride to the Roosevelt A.R.T.S. Market and Oasis on Grand Ave.
•    4:30 pm. Saturday and Sunday – tour Midtown, Uptown and Coronado Neighborhoods. (Ages 21+)

Public Art Walking Tours – Both routes depart from the Arizona Center at 11am and 2pm on Saturday and at 2pm on Sunday.

North Route
•    Arizona Center
•    Robert Miley installation in the Sheraton Downtown Phoenix valet drop-off area
•    Streetscape along Taylor Street (between 3rd and 2nd Streets)
•    Joseph “Sentrock” Perez mural at Downtown Phoenix Public Market
•    W.P.A. murals in the Post Office
•    End at Downtown Phoenix Civic Space, see Janet Echelman’s “Her Secret is Patience”

South Route
•    Arizona Center
•    P.C.C. North – “Halo,” “Arizona Handshake,” “A Moment at the Narrows,” “Arizona Beach,” and more
•    P.C.C. South, east side – Statues along fence close to 5th St
•    P.C.C. South, west side – “Arizona Bolas”
•    Collier Center – Otto Rigan installation outside Bank of America branch
•    3rd St METRO station – more of “Arizona Bolas”
•    P.C.C. West – “Art is a Guaranty of Sanity”
•    Herberger Theatre – John Waddell statues, etc.
•    End at Arizona Center

Broad Community Participation

Art Detour’s diverse base of participating art galleries and activities promises something for everyone, from
the established arts collector to those who are new to the arts and interested in learning more.

List of participants: 1205 space, 515 Arts Gallery A.E. England Gallery, ALAC – Galeria 147, Alliance Bank, Alter Ego Studio Alwun House, Arizona Center Gallery #1, Art Awakenings, Artlink gallery at Heritage Square, Bliss/ReBAR, Bokeh Gallery, Braggs Pie Factory Gallery, Carly’s Bistro, Circle 6 – Gallery, Circle 6 – Studio, Civic Space Park, Crescent Ballroom, Deise Studio, Deus ex Machina, Ecocentricity, Eye Lounge, Firehouse, First Studio, G.L. Parsel, Gallery Marsiglia, gallery SUHU, Garfield Galleria, Goings Galleria, greenHAUS, Hazel, Hjalmarson Pottery, Iambic Alamo, Icehouse Arts, Jackson Street Studios, jordre studio & poolside gallery, Kooky Krafts, Legend City Studios, Liquid Colour Design and Gallery, Longhouse, Made Boutique, Margaret, Wright Photography, Marilyn Szabo Studio, Michael Anderson Studio, Modified Arts, monOrchid, monOrchid Artist Collective, Oasis on Grand, Oaxaca restaurante y cantina, Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix Natural Medicine & Detox Center, Phoenix Public Market, Practical Art, Purple Wall Studios, Rae’s Art Gallery @ salon 1219, Release the Fear @ Grace Chaple, Revera Beauty, seven13sk8, Spread the Weird, Studio 6, Tent and Sheridan, The Collective in the Artery, The Gallery@City Hall, The Hive, Tilt Gallery, Turf irish Pub, Vermillion Studio Collective, Warehouse 1005 and Willo North

Kids’ Detour Activities:
This year’s event will also include Kids’ Detour designed to provide free family-friendly art activities at a variety of gallery spaces Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Saturday, March 17
10 a.m. 1 p.m. – Try your hand at painting a masterpiece at Rossen House at Heritage Square
12 noon to 3 p.m. – “Play with Your Food” at the Phoenix Art Museum

Sunday, March 18
12 noon to 3 p.m. – First Stop! at Arizona Center hosts painting and crafts, face painting, performances from Arizona Jewish Center Teen Improv and a “Clothesline Art” display featuring work from the Phoenix Children’s Hospital, and Autism Speaks/Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center (SARRC)

Kids’ Detour Participating Galleries (hosting child-friendly art exhibits and activities):
Arizona Center Gallery #1, Bokeh Gallery, Circle 6 – Gallery, Civic Space Park, Crescent Ballroom, Firehouse, Goings Galleria, Hazel, Hjalmarson Pottery, Iambic Alamo, Jackson Street Studios, Legend City Studios, Longhouse, Made Boutique, monOrchid , Phoenix Public Market, Practical Art, Release the Fear @ Grace Chaple, Revera Beauty, seven13sk8, Spread the Weird, The Hive

Art Detour 24 is made possible through the support of these partners: Alliance Bank, Arizona Center, Autism Speaks, Bryan Mok Design and Photography, DotZ Social, Downtown Phoenix Journal, Downtown Voices Coalition, Grand Avenue Merchants Association, Invexi Web Development, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Convention Center, Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, Roosevelt Row CDC, Waugh Communications, Jennifer Ignaszewski and all Friends of Artlink including Art Detour participants, tour guides and volunteers.

About Art Detour

Art Detour is an annual free, two-day, self-guided tour of artist studios, art spaces, galleries and other art venues in downtown Phoenix organized by Artlink, Inc. in cooperation with the participating venues. Art Detour draws thousands of enthusiastic arts supporters each year providing a unique cultural experience for people new and not so new to the Downtown Phoenix Arts Community. The launch of Art Detour preceded and brought about the creation of the now-famous First Fridays Art Walk.

About Artlink

Artlink, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to linking artists, business and the public to better understand, appreciate and promote a thriving arts community in Central Phoenix. Artlink promotes a variety of community-based art events happening throughout the year, including First Fridays, the country’s largest self-guided gallery tour, and also operates two downtown galleries at Heritage & Science Park and the A.E. England Building. Both gallery spaces are committed to showcasing the talents of new and emerging local artists. Ongoing community projects include, the promotion of the First Friday Art Walk and Third Friday Gallery Tour, annual Juried Exhibition, the annual Artlink Art Detour self-guided tour, featuring open studios, pop-up galleries, family-friendly art experiences and more. For more information, visit: artlinkphoenix.com

There hasn’t been a “public hanging” in Phoenix for 20 years! Visual artists of all ages and levels of expertise in any media can submit hangable works of art and take part in Art Detour 24’s exciting event. All entries (up to the limitations of our exhibition space) will be accepted and displayed.

For more information download the information document here. Fill out the form on the Art Detour page and submit your payment via Paypal, or download a .doc copy of the application Here.

• Download Artlink’s map, courtesy of Downtown Phoenix Journal.
• Review our e-newsletter of February’s events and activities.
• Click to join our email list and receive our First and Third Friday e-newsletter:

Remember to mark your calendar for Art Detour 24:

• Saturday, March 17 (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
• Sunday, March 18 (Noon to 6 p.m.)

Art Detour 24 will take place on Saturday, March 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 18 from Noon to 6 p.m. It will feature self-guided tours of art galleries, studios, and other venues, as well as performances and activities. Highlights include a Kids’ Detour comprised of family-friendly activities, and a “Public Hanging” that allows people from the community to submit artwork to be displayed at the A.E. England Gallery. The Arizona Center will serve as the “first stop” for Art Detour 24, with free parking, gallery and tour maps, and a variety of on-site festival activities, including music, performances, and restaurant discounts. For more information, contact Nancy Hill, Art Detour 24 chair.

Ronna Nemitz, "Diver," (steel, plaster life casts)

Artlink Phoenix is excited to present the 14th Annual Juried Exhibition. We are fortunate to have prominent members of the Arizona arts community as this year’s jurors: SMoCA director Tim Rodgers; artist, professor, and ASU Herberger Institute faculty director Adriene Jenik; and artist Cory Weeks.

We invite you to join us for the opening reception on the night of February 3, 6 to 10 p.m., at the Artlink A. E. England Gallery. At the reception you will have a chance to meet this year’s selected artists, jurors, Artlink board members, and volunteers. The jurors chose ten accomplished artists working in mediums that include sculpture, painting, photography, and drawing. We will also award monetary prizes for the jurors’ top selections.

• Opening Reception: Friday, February 3, 6-10 PM
• Closing Reception: Friday, February 17, 6-9 PM

Exhibiting artists:

• Julie Anand
• Jesse Armstrong
• Matthew T. Clark
• Lee Davis
• Jolyn Frazier
• Ronna Nemitz
• Steve Paoli
• Eduardo L. Rivera
• Julio Cesar Rodarte
• Catherine Ruane