Java.March.2017

AZ BLOOMS
By Robert Sentinery
BUZZ
This month JAVA takes a look at Arizona’s infl uence beyond its borders. Singer/
songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews was born and raised in Phoenix. Although
she wasn’t from a particularly musical family, she had a natural talent that
shined through as she sang along with her mom’s records. Her uncle sent her a
35-peso guitar from Mexico, and the rest is history.
Andrews is now living in Seattle, although she’s frequently in town visiting
friends and family. She has released a total of six solo albums. Her most recent,
Honest Life, came out at the end of last year and showcases stunning folkinfl
uenced vocals and finely honed songwriting. From her first feminist punk
band, started when she was just a tween, to her national acclaim as a modernday
folk singer, Andrews is true Phoenician to the core, despite now residing in
Seattle (see “Courtney Marie Andrews: Phoenix Expats Series,” p. 12).
Back in the mid ’90s, Andrew Brown founded a clothing company called
SoldierLeisure (now known as Sleisure). This closely coincided with the
founding of JAVA and led to several collaborations, including a cover graphic
for this magazine’s 100th edition. Over the next 10 or so years, Brown
immersed himself in the apparel industry and relocated to Los Angeles to
help run the G Star fashion brand. As sales director, he was responsible
for growing demand in Europe and Asia. Needless to say, Brown did a lot of
traveling and shook a lot of hands.
Despite his global lifestyle and many successes, Brown could no longer ignore
an inner voice that was calling. He felt the need to downsize, return to Phoenix
and start over as an artist. He has since painted some of our city’s most iconic
murals, including a remarkable two-story piece at the Westminster apartments
that depicts abstract tree rings, commemorating the building’s 100th anniversary.
Brown is currently co-launching a new community art spot called Megaphone
Space and continues to share his many talents (see “Andrew Brown: Signal to
Noise,” p. 8).
Finally, Al Beadle was one of Phoenix’s greatest architects. He passed away in
1998, but his influence is still felt today. Beadle was a self-proclaimed “Miesian”
(in reference to the pioneering modernist architect Mies van der Rohe), and
his refined glass and steel structures provide a stunning contrast to the rugged
desert terrain. Although Beadle has been gone for almost 20 years now, interest,
demand and prices for his work seem to be peaking.
While the bulk of Beadle’s practice was here in the Phoenix metro area, he did
do several projects in California, New Mexico and as far away as Chicago. Now,
Palm Springs is home to a new Beadle residence, built from plans pulled from
the Beadle archive. Builder Mike Yakovich and architect Lance O’Donnell have
come together to erect the first new Beadle in decades. This beautiful home,
now nearing completion, is set into the desert boulders like a sparkling jewel,
honoring the legacy of a true Phoenix master (see “Beadle Resurrection: An Al
Beadle New Build in Palm Springs,” p. 34).