Visiting the Valley’s premiere museums with one-of-a-kind summer exhibits is a great way to escape from the blazing heat in favor of some cool air and artistic delights.
Left: Cottonwood Tassels, 1946. Middle: Old Santa Fe, 1924. Right: Processional, 1951. All images color woodblock prints by Gustave Baumann.
Gustave Baumann: Artisan Printmaker of the Southwest
Famed printmaker Gustave Baumann traveled from Illinois to New Mexico, only to fall for the colorful southwestern landscape, where he settled down in 1918. Captivated by the southwest’s exotic landscape, Baumann drew on the desert’s natural beauty for his one-of-a-kind color woodblock prints. The exhibit features more than 40 of his prints, many of which showcase Arizona.
Phoenix Art Museum, Orme Lewis Gallery
Now – July 29
Native American Bolo Ties – Vintage and Contemporary Artistry
Did you know that Arizona’s official state neckwear is the bolo tie? The Heard museum pays homage to this uniquely Western sartorial adornment by dating its history to its recent revival in fashion. The exhibit also examines the popularity of Western wear in 1950s television, through personalities such as Cisco Kid, Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers.
Heard Museum, Now – September 3
Peter Sarkisian: Video Works, 1996–2008
Video artist Peter Sarkisian explores the spatial and perceptive possibilities of video, film and sculpture. Sarkisian combines 3D screens and objects with video projections, inviting viewer participation. This small retrospective focuses on the various approaches Sarkisian has taken to create perceptual viewing enticements.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Now – September 9
Intaglio!
Witness this unique form of printmaking that dates back to 15th century Europe, where a design is cut into a metal plate and ink is impressed in the cutout areas onto wet paper. The pieces, from some of the most recognizable names in art, including Dürer, Schongauer, Rembrandt, Goya, Picasso, Gillray, and Cassatt, are rarely exhibited due to their sensitivity to light exposure.
Phoenix Art Museum, Lyon Gallery
Now – September 23
