I saw two ghosts this weekend!

This is the Gold Man from the boardwalk of Venice Beach. He was an wonderful performance artist. Sanding perfectly still until money is dropped into his bucket, then out-of-this-world dance moves begin. I could definitely learn a thing or two from hanging out and watching him perform all day. I think performance artists making a living doing something like this is a beautiful thing indeed. How liberating to spend your whole day being creative and making money!

This weekend was Phoenix Artlink’s Art Detour 2008, the 20th Anniversary of the event. I had a delightful time and just want to highlight the best moments.

*Friday night I wore my new pocadot dress and red hat to the last show of the Dietrichs. The dress is gorgeous! When I twirl, the dress twirls with me… it really is the reason I bought it. ha! The last show was great! They played all my favorites and THEN announced some great news, they are forming a new band. The Dietrichs played together for ten years and since they are now a four-some a changing of the name and a new sound was required. The sneak peak of the new song was great, I felt like it was a mix of The Dietrichs and Hot Bot (a side project they did last year). Insta-fave new band, The Westwoods

*After the show we walked to The Firehouse and Gary bought me a toy from Synthetic Compound and it’s the cutest ever! Her name is Ciao Ciao and she’s pink, a toy more appropriate was never made! I want the whole family, so I will be back for Adios and Skeleterino the Cat! It’s the perfect toy to brighten up my office!

*On Saturday after a delicious breakfast from Matt’s Big Breakfast we biked all over Phoenix! We covered about 12 miles from 1pm to 6pm and saw everything we wanted to see. Biking is definitely the way to see downtown Phoenix. It’s a great little city but the hot spots are spread out and driving is not nearly as fun as biking!

*The Icehouse had a marvelous show as always. It was our first time on floors two and three. The third floor has some neat performance pieces. On our way down we paused and opened the door on the second floor. We peered in and Gary closed the door, but I said “Hey there was people in there, let’s go in”. He said “No there wasn’t” and I said “Yes there was”. So he opened it again and it was pitch black. The first time he opened it I saw a light and two people walking! I saw two ghosts this weekend, how rad is that!

*Outside of The Icehouse these two artists were sitting in a hut they built out of mortar and bottles… wine bottles, beer bottles, liquor bottles, plain bottles, colorful bottles… The top of the hut was a kaleidescope with crystals hanging into the space. It was beautiful! Inside they had a device that measured energy! When Gary and I walked closer the device was getting brighter and louder! They were amazed and said it was the first time that had happened. Gary said, it was me because I am an alien. So now he has confirmation… his thoughts are accurate. I am an alien! I went to pinhole the piece on Sunday and she was not there, but I will contact them to photograph them both inside the hut they built.

*Stopped at the new Chez Nous on Grand Ave to do a little day drinking! Well, actually we stepped back into the 1970′s, split a Heineken and relaxed in their black leather round booths, while groovy tunes piped through the speakers. I especially loved the flocked wall paper. I think this is not the first time I have mentioned flocked wall paper on this blog. I LOVE IT! Fuzzy velvet paisley designs blanketing the wall, how could you not love it.

*Dropped into The Braggs Pie Factory to see the mutilated pinata show. My favorite pinata’s were by Beatrice Moore, one of the most incredible local artists I know. She’s also an art’s advocate and makes amazing things happen in our lovely city. I was immediately drawn to two of the pieces and both tags had her name on them! She is one of the most colorful people I know. I hope my color stays with me throughout my life like it did with her!

*Behind that show was a wonderful photography exhibit by Marilyn Szabo. All black and white images, she also had a corner photo booth set up. Gary and I smashed into the corner, me with my jellybean helmet and he with his red baseball hat and she photographed us. It was fun. WE are usually the ones setting up photo booths, so it was neat to see someone else doing it as well.

*Next great stop was Perihelion Arts, run by Amy Young and others. I thought it was one of the better exhibits we had seen. The pieces by Shag were colorful and wonderful, bold and graphic and would have looked perfect in any corner of my apartment. BUT the best pieces in the space were by Suzanne Falk, by far my favorite local artist. I am always speechless when I look at her pieces. How can one person be so talented. Her photorealism paintings will be hanging in all the major art museums in a few years.

*Between talking to Amy and then heading over to The Trunk Space to check out their Kite Show, Gary had wandered off. About 30 minutes or more had passed and I was patiently waiting for him to walk into the gallery so we could have our obligatory black and white photo booth photo taken. When he finally strolled in, he had a story to tell and some explaining to do… turns out Mr. Millard, was biking behind an abandoned motel and was arrested. He was in hand cuffs and had his rights read to him and his license scanned. Lucky for him the cop believed that he was only riding his bike and not buying crack or meth like he first thought and let him go. The crazy part of the story is that we used that hotel as a photo shoot location for Jessica and Jonathan’s engagement photos a few weeks earlier.

*Saturday night we spent with Sandra and her friends. It was her 28th birthday and we played Catch Phrase and got to know new people. Sandra is amazing and so kind. Instead of gifts she wanted us to bring items for kits an eagle scout friend of hers is putting together for homeless youth of Phoenix. So I bought $60 worth of items to help with the project. I hope he is successful in putting together 1000 kits and that he brightens the life of others in doing so.

*Sunday morning we tried out Over Easy, a new breakfast place on 40th and Indian School. It was pretty good. I had french toast and read the fashion section of the New York Times on a retro boomerang print counter top! The restaurant is in an old Taco Bell. Gary says it was one of the first taco bells, when they were still walk up taco stands.

*The best part of Sunday was going to Hollywood _______ I forget the name of the vintage store… it’s on Montecito and 7th Avenue by Melrose Pharmacy. It was my first time in there and I totally scored two gorgeous vintage hats and a pair of red earrings to go with one of the hats! I was in there for at least an hour! Every inch of the space was covered with marvelous finds! I was in vintage heaven! I will be a regular customer indeed!