Art Night: Arizona’s Monthly Anomaly

Can inclusivity go hand in hand with quality? Could a community sustain events that are completely free? Can fun and freedom be preserved as essential parts of artistry?

Last year, I stumbled across Aimee Shattuck, painter and director of the party. Immediately curious, she invited me to capture the February 2020 Art Night - the last one of the year. So when events disappeared, I had felt Art Night's impact, but it slid from the top of mind.

Clearly, however, was there something brewing beneath the surface, sustaining the seed until it could be reincubated. In March 2021, flyers emerged and murmurs moved through the circles of AZ - Art Night was back in business, and there was no way I could miss it.

Excited as I was, those main questions were still on my mind: upon its return, could Art Night again capture it's magic without preventing any art spirit from participating?

Camera in hand, I entered.

LIVE PAINTERS:

Artists in their natural state can be difficult to capture in a live setting. The skillset to produce wonderful works is not the same as presenting them.

Immediately at Art Night I noticed the bustle of brushes and the pushing of pencils; artists of all kinds working. The party of the center dance floor formed a perimeter of people all comfortable to create.

The Art community, globally and in Phoenix, contains creators in many different circumstances: the arts have served as a safe avenue for mentally ill people, handicapped people, unhoused people, and those with nobody else to turn to.

I found that the arrangement of the event, with it's large space, open tables, and organic separation, had no deterrence for anybody's expression. Reserved folk could pick a spot and focus, while the socialites could dip in and out of the party world and their personal one.

The link of appreciating Art at its core lets people be unafraid to show themselves - whether it's their primary image or a side only seen at each month's gathering.

(above: Kooz’s collaborative painting)

Saida E. was propped up against a tree, focused on her newest work while a display of monochrome masterpieces stood behind her. She had only started painting a year prior, and now is a staple contributor.

"The people at Art Night make you feel supported and welcome. Everyone is free to be who they are, and just have a good time. Seeing so much art in one space opens people's minds to what humans are capable of."

An unavoidable marvel is the work in progress painting being developed by Jakob Oddwang and Christmas Glasses. This piece featured, in different evolutions, at each of the Art Nights in 2021.

“I think that when I started doing these Art Nights, I was under the impression that it was gonna be just like any other event I had been to,” Jakob remarked, “but with how many other creative aspects you find at these Art Nights, it's really helped influence my artwork personally. I've been able to pick up on people's technique and skill, and apply it to my art. There's a beautiful array of painters in Arizona, and it’s really helped me.”

Jakob is one of the many who uses his Art Night time to push forward on his paintings, and to showcase and deliver his artwork as well. They provide their presence to the event, and in turn get the opportunity to connect with an eclectic, interested audience.

VENDORS:

It is then I get introduced to the Art Night Fair: rows of art vendors presenting and selling their creations. Unlike the Fair, however, I did not feel I was making and betraying promises to my pockets. Each table sat an independent creator with items of their own making, or a small, local business serving the community.

Prices reflected the grassroots level of the Phoenix Art Community, while respecting the care and love invested in each piece. To meet and speak directly with each creator opens you up to their world; money spent willingly and wholesomely.

Absolutely enamoring was this section of Art Night that never seemed to end. Each vendor brought a Portal to their imagination in the form of their unique display, and anything taken home germinates such threads of personal inspiration. The sheer breadth of everyone’s contributions to the outdoor art mall amazed me; to meet even a single one of these special souls may shift your entire outlook, or at least be the most noteworthy part of your day.

Each month brought brand new faces, meaning there was no way I could meet every merchant and fully dive into their world. I arrive at these events energized, electric, strongly caffeinated and lightly toasted - the state I consider my optimum. Still, the natural pace of that approach could not absorb the entirety of Art Night, with the constant points of intrigue hopelessly derailing me.

This aspect really did feel like an artist Disneyland - a thought that served to remind me, once again, that this was free; anybody strolling through the middle of downtown could notice the commotion and dive right in: quality powered directly by inclusivity.

Novelty did not seem to be the only commodity of this section; each time a booth was explored by an individual, it was not a single experience consumed upon enjoyment. Turns out, Art Night is sticky and addicting, even to the contributors! Over the three months, many people hopped on as newcomers and stuck around each time as veterans.

It’s not enough to be aware of an artist and their offering, and then move on with that knowledge. Each table grows broader and more beautiful as the artists behind it evolve. The exposure to the rich streams of inspiration pooling together at Art Night provide just the space for that expansion of one’s self, reverberating naturally into their works over time.

The team of two comprising Mr. Meerkat’s Market: the dedicated, patient Mr. and the energetic, hustling Mrs., represent one of the few clear consistencies between Art Nights. They are always open with a wide array of available wares, wire-wrapped and personally empowered.

“We love all the encouragement going on,” Mr. Meerkat informed me. “Everyone is there to support the art scene, and the up and coming artists in it.

“We love getting to make great connections with awesome people who all seem to have hidden talents to share!” chimed Mrs. Meerkat.

Initially, I thought that vending at consecutive Art Nights would diminish in excitement, as fewer new connections could be made to the same group of attendees. Such a worry was nonexistent; pro local shops like Mr. Meerkat’s Market frequent the vending opportunities throughout all of Arizona, yet always find their way back here.

I started to sense that the magic did not exist as a component of the event, able to be excised and analyzed. There was a protocol beyond any individual that encouraged creativity and freedom.

The sustainability of anything complicated is a matter of maintaining balance; enough structure to persist and build upon, yet enough fluidity so that all that is unique, interesting, and challenging can enter the mix and influence its flavor.

This is a model of Organic Growth: keeping the principles of fundamental freedom and organizing sustainably atop that foundation is the key to preserving the core principles of an Art - centered event. The organization is a loose framework filled by the community’s participation, giving it both the room to bloom and the nutrition to flourish.

Aimee’s style of management is that flow Incarnate: localized nowhere while present everywhere, she zips around in a frenzy finding moments to make event-wide announcements, interact directly with attendees, show off some of the cool happenings in the corners, or sometimes even hit up the microphone and perform a wicked vocal solo with whoever happens to be onstage at the time.

“I love when things like dance battles or freestyle-battles start. I love the idea of unscheduled, spur-of-the-moment type things,” Aimee explained, a personal representation of the ideal she described.

“The element of surprise is something that I really love. Especially including other artists -I know so many people who bring their partners who are not necessarily artists, but all of a sudden, that night they sure as hell are!”

To appreciate art is to cultivate the new generations of art-makers, whether that be children open to learning, or adults who have never tried. Aimee made it clear that an Art Night is successful not only if it serves existing artists, but if it makes a real impact on people to be more creative, echoing throughout the rest of their lives.

Mid-conversation, we were interrupted by Aimee’s call to action when approached by musical act Abby Walker, sporting an outfit fully aligned with the Theme of this month’s event: A celebration of “National Unicorn Day.” We willingly engaged the sidebar to snag a photo opportunity.

MONTHLY THEME:

The ‘theme’ of each Art Night is present in the announcements and promotional media leading up to the event. March shone light on the dark artists and purveyors of the macabre. April brought in a stampede of mythical horned horses, while May honored the classic genre of scary movies in it’s music lineup and auxiliary events. Bright, colorful branding is already in place for June’s “Woodstock” theme, supported by cannabis-centered side attractions.

“It adds to the excitement by being a sort of writing prompt, a challenge to get people who aren't normally creative inspired. It adds another level of creativity to the night,” Aimee mentioned. This measure adds to the fun by making memorable moments each month, while also bringing something brand new every time. I felt this strongly in the first jump from cryptic horror to radiant unicorns.

If your style is established and the monthly theme provides friction to your expression, no requirement is placed to alienate you. However, Aimee notes that the point is to shake up the art space, and that perhaps the leap from your comfort zone to accommodate the night’s prompt may be just what you need.

For non-artists to open their world, and for the experienced to enter a new one - these are the reasons to thematically designate each Art Night and make each one something special.

LIVE MUSIC / DANCE:

Grooves so smooth they flow seamlessly into everyone’s experience - a musical ideal achieved almost too well at the Art Nights I attended. Though obviously pervasive by vibrating the entire event, I found it took me some time to sort through the visual stimuli before I could mentally approach the live performance section.

Christmas Glasses and Lavander were rocking the faders for the night. Christmas Glasses is a long-time painter and producer who dove into DJing less than a year ago. He is known for being an integral supporter behind AZ’s art scene.

If you refer to his collaborative piece from earlier, you’ll find shocking similarities between such and his music mix; riding the lovely line between personal taste and public interest - Christmas spoke through sound, and the event responded through dance. This conversation continued to develop long into the night.

Within his set, there was no pressure to conform to the event’s theme or to a genre classification. While the performance acts are selected in concurrence to the theme, all that is requested of them is to be themselves on stage - however that may be.

“Art Night in general curates an environment that doesn't pigeonhole people; it gives artists of many different mediums the space to feel comfortable, that their art is a wonderful expression of themselves,” Christmas said. “They don't have to stress or fret about being different; being different is cool at Art Night.”

Christmas’s music needed no definition for it to take effect. The dynamic style of playing with the crowd produced a hypnotic scene. As we rounded out the night, I placed my bags down, sat back, and watched the wonder. Until I too flew under the fold, and found myself harnessing energy generated purely from the resonance and took it to the dance floor.

CHANGING THE WORLD:

Art Night wound down from there until it’s midnight conclusion. The ending was indicated not by the participants (who had to be herded out of the closing venue), but by Aimee returning to the forefront for the ceremonial closing. During the event, her and firedancer and primary AN helper Pauline collected donations for a Raffle of public contributions from Art Night addicts / advocates.

This ending celebration was a fun closer; none of my raffle tickets yielded victory, but those that won were elated to take home an original creation while helping out a powerful cause.

Here is the underlying but incredibly important component of Art Night: social change. It’s absolutely amazing to be able to uphold a monthly State Fair for Eclectic Artists, and the desire to respect our ability to do so and pay back to the ground floor community that makes it all possible is prominent in the Art Night team.

Through raffles and donations, the audience gets involved in the positivity, and hopefully the good deeds spread and propagate into many more. Voluntary, mutualistic donation drives like such were used at Art Night to fight animal cruelty and poverty among local artists.

This ending raffle got my brain back on track regarding the balance and sustainability of art events in Arizona. Art Night checked all my boxes and more in terms of providing freedom of expression to all artists and localizing that inspiration into a community. There was nothing that I noticed that was limiting or discouraging, evident by the countless number of people joining the fun however they wanted.

But then, when you make something amazing, the natural question is: How long can it keep going? Is the free-flowing nature of Art Night to the detriment of its survivability? What is the system under Art Night that will allow it to keep growing creativity in Arizona for many months to come?

The answer is all in the organic growth that got the event where it is today. The presence of artistic souls inherently adds value to a creative space, so as attendees were pleased, they would assist in the event in subliminal ways.

Even the direct contributors - the Art Night team of volunteers - all decided to help out from their appreciation for Art Night and the way it helps artists. No one was making a sacrifice they didn’t want to make, and the conversation seemed to encourage honesty in regards to responsibility.

You truly don’t need a strict power structure to get things done: the power of love and willing collaboration may be just a strong force. Management, structure, and adherence to core values are all necessary, no matter the scale. But, in my time contributing to Art Night in the media space, I’ve come back with nothing but confidence that these individuals are up to that task.

The next Art Night is June 11th, at Jarrod’s, in Mesa, Arizona. If you have the night open, come art with us. No one I’ve brought with me has regretted it (so far!).

Photos taken and article written by ben kessel media

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