So Much Reason To Head Downtown

First, I would like extend a big thank you to everyone that participated in our Season Kick- Off Festival: Guitars and Handlebars!  With the festival stretching to every corner of our seven-acre campus, there were multiple facets to maintain and the Kick-Off would not have been a success without the support of our amazing community. A special thank you to our Guitars and Handlebars corporate sponsors: GMC, AZ Lottery Crescent Crown Distributers and San Tan Brewing Company.  As for the Season Kick-Off itself… it was great to see people enjoying the live music and yummy festival food. Plus, there were some really cool cars!  I don’t think I saw one bad paint job.  And the motorcycles!  I couldn’t help but picture myself cruising down State Route 160 through Monument Valley, on a clear, fall day.  My hair, but a victim to the whims of the wind.  And I, not a worry in the world.  Ahh, the transformative effects of art!  But do not fret!  Our season is just beginning…

Join us Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, 2011 for our annual Dia de Los Muertos Festival.  This free community celebration will host live performances and music, as well as various children’s activities.  Learn more about the celebration’s heritage and impact on cultural arts at our mercado and shop an assortment of Dìa de los Muertos merchandise, arts & crafts and jewelry. 

And the events don’t stop there…

Between MACfest, and the launch of Target 3 for Free (10/2) and our Fall “Out to Lunch” Concert series (10/27), the Mesa Arts Center going to be a-buzzin’.   Get more details of our upcoming events here.

Attention teachers, parents, grandparents, child care associates…  Need a good reason to bring your energetic kiddos to historic downtown Mesa?  Well, look no further!  Located on the north-west corner of campus, the Mesa Contemporary Arts (MCA) provides guided Gallery Field Trips.  Students get to experience artwork by emerging and internationally-recognized visual artists demonstrating an array of contemporary theme through a variety of materials and concepts. With five rotating galleries, MCA continually provides an engaging and thought-provoking arts education opportunity for children of all ages. Pre-registration is required; cost is $2.50 per student, and includes a fun hands-on art making activity based upon the exhibitions that the students just toured.  This valuable supplemental experience will deepen participant’s engagement and connections to contemporary art.

We also just launched our new MCA season.  It’s pretty Rock ‘n’ Roll. Legendary LEGO(R) artist Nathan Sawaya built a full scale motorcycle out of Legos just for the MCA!  As one could imagine, his art pieces take quite a few lego blocks to build.  And that’s why Mr. Sawaya has a studio in New York City filled with millions of them. Explore unusual realities that are only created in the far recesses of our mind with Altered States, in gallery through September 30^th.  Also, be sure to check-out Easy Ridin’ and Hard Rockin’, a showcase of Arizona artists inspired by music and motorcycles. The exhibit runs until December 18^th.

Our Performing Live Series has officially started and is picking up steam!  If you haven’t already seen our upcoming lineup, click here.   Oh, get out your monthly planners because there’s bound to be a lot of dates you will need to block so you can get your tickets for top-notch talent like: The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China (10/5 @ 7:30p.m.); Choo Choo Soul “with Genevieve!” (10/8 @ 11a.m. or 1p.m.); The Miles Davis Experience (10/14 @ 7:30p.m.); k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang (10/16 @ 7:30p.m.); and the world premiere of MAC-commissioned AMEXICA: Tales of the Fourth World (10/21 – 11/6 – multiple show times).

I’ve got to say we have one very awesome season ahead of us folks! I hope you’re ready to join us for some rocking art, family fun, and ovation-worthy entertainment.  

Forever young,

Ryan Spillers

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