Java.NOV.2016

AZ DELIGHTS
By Robert Sentinery
BUZZ
November is in full swing and the city has awakened from its summertime
slumber. The dreamy weather means weekends are jam-packed with openings,
events and festivals. Phoenix Art Museum has ramped up for fall with a massive
Kehinde Wiley retrospective that fills about 12,500 sq. ft. of the Katz
Wing. Wiley’s exuberant personality made last month’s opening festivities
(artist talk, media preview, etc.) something very special, and the show itself
is not to be missed.
Walking through Wiley’s “A New Republic,” one can’t help but feel a sense of
awe, not only from the scale of the works but also the sheer amount of Wiley’s
artistic output over the last 15 years. More importantly, Wiley’s work speaks
about deep cultural changes taking place in society with regard to race and
cultural perception. JAVA was fortunate enough to sit down with Wiley for
an exclusive interview and photo shoot. The man is a fountainhead who
speaks with amazing eloquence about his work and the cultural conditions that
make it so relevant (see “Conversations with Kehinde Wiley,” p. 8).
The opening of the FOUND:RE Hotel and its restaurant, Match, in the burgeoning
Roosevelt Row district was one of the most anticipated events of late. Last
month, the doors swung open to reveal a true art hotel where every detail—
from the floors, to the walls, to the fixtures and furnishings—seems touched
by creative hands. The really cool thing about the FOUND:RE is that it doesn’t
pull any punches. The industrial chic décor, complete with raw steel, concrete
and I-beams, may not exude the idea of comfort, but the design is elegant and
stimulating for the senses. Best of all, the hotel is committed to the Phoenix art
scene and promises to be a hot spot on First Fridays (see “Downtown’s New Art
Hotel,” p. 12).
One of the best times to head up north is when the leaves are changing and
fall colors abound. A run up to Flagstaff might produce some tasty surprises for
those willing to veer off the beaten path. Things have changed quite a bit from
the sleepy granola days, and Flag has developed a very interesting culinary and
cocktail scene, bursting with authenticity.
Chef Brian Konefal at Coppa Cafe is one of the top personalities. An avid forager,
he makes frequent trips to the forest for seasonal mushrooms, bitter greens,
edible flowers and more, which end up on his plates. This sort of forest-to-table
philosophy abounds in Flagstaff, where sourcing ingredients has become an
obsession. There are seven breweries—the most lauded being Mother Road.
There is even a butcher shop, Proper Meats, that specializes in local humanely
raised meats (and has delicious sandwiches). Nationally heralded Pizzicletta
makes an amazing pie with naturally leavened crust and top-notch ingredients
(see “Flagstaff Foodcation,” p. 34).