Signs and Signals from the Periphery, an Installation by Dinh Q Lê
May 1, 2010 - Sep 18, 2010


Curator: Heather Sealy Lineberry

Signs and Signals from the Periphery is an installation of new work by internationally acclaimed multimedia artist Dinh Q Lê. It features a series of photographs and sculptures inspired by the lively and inventive street commerce in Vietnamese cities. The works document and recreate the system of signs that signal the availability of certain goods and services. Transported on bicycles and motorbikes, they are quickly assembled on sidewalks and curbs each day. Le's installation explores the rapidly changing economy of Vietnam, which favors small and transient businesses, and larger issues of global economies and labor.

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The History of Beads

The exhibition presents a "time-line" of hundreds of original bead examples and their origins in time and place from 40 000.BCE until today. This showcases the originals in a display curated by Jamey Allen and the time-line first developed by researcher, Jamey Allen.

The Language of Beads

An introduction to the terminology used by bead researchers, collectors, traders and crafters to describe the vast variety of bead types, shapes and makes that make up this common language of reference for the specialist and bead enthusiast

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West and West: Joe Deal
June 5 - August 1, 2010

Drawing on the remarkable history of 19th century survey photography of the Great Plains, Joe Deal’s new series of photographs, West and West, serves as a meditation on landscape and history, and their place in the realms of imagination and representation. The mechanical act performed by land surveyors is believed by the photographer to be powerfully similar to the artistic act of making a photograph.

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POP! Popular Culture in American Indian Art

April 16, 20100
through April 2011

Pop culture and innovation collide with traditional art forms and cultures in artwork that reflects contemporary issues and imagery in an often comedic, tongue-in-cheek way.

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Only Tenants Reside: Chris Mars

Mar 19 - Aug 1, 2010

Known for his dark, intense imagery, Minneapolis-based artist Chris Mars has established himself as one of the leading artists in the “Low-Brow” movement. A self-taught artist, Mars often considers himself an “outsider” and empathizes with individuals who are viewed as “the other” or labeled “the outcast.” He explores challenging topics like prejudice, xenophobia, exploitation and redemption, depicting his characters in macabre play like settings. Featuring over thirty oil paintings,
Opening Reception: Friday, Apr 9 (7-10pm)

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Made in Tucson/Born in Tucson/Live in Tucson
March 6, 7pm. Members opening 6pm

Made in Tucson/Born in Tucson/Live in Tucson Part I

The inaugural exhibition in MOCA’s new home brings together artists from Tucson and around the world. Each of these artists has a relationship to Tucson—whether they were born here, trained here, or produced work here. The work represents a dynamic, engaging, and wide-ranging set of art practices from artists spanning four generations.

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MIM offers a shared experience of the history of musical instruments throughout the world. The space is bright and open, providing guests with a warm and comfortable environment.

The collection includes instruments from every country in the world.

Guests are given wireless headsets to wear throughout the museum. As they approach different displays, they can hear the instruments being played, either solo or as an ensemble. Photographs and video familiarize guests with the unique sounds of each musical culture, allowing them to share a common experience. Special display areas and exhibitions emphasize interactivity and personal selection.

Signage with information about the instruments, along with maps for orientation, allows guests to tour the many displays through each country of the world. The nearly three hundred exhibits are spaced to provide comfortable viewing and an uninterrupted wireless signal.

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In The Mood

Ellman Fashion Design Gallery
April 3, 2010 - August 15, 2010

Strong-shouldered suits with hats and gloves, and slinky, draped gowns recall the glamour of 1940s fashion. Wartime rationing created restrictions on the amount of material which could be used in a garment, and fostered an atmosphere of patriotic ingenuity and understatement. Women were encouraged to do their part to bolster moral by keeping up their appearances. Dynamic color combinations, thought to lift spirits, were an integral part of the designs and how they were accessorized. With the German occupation of France from 1940-4, many Parisian fashion houses were forced to close fostering a creative flourish in American fashion design and style.

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Light • Air • Land:
Pastel Drawings by Ellen Wagener
Security checkpoint area, Terminal 2

Landscape artist Ellen Wagener has been working in pastels formore than 20 years. In her drawing, she focuses on the atmosphere, clouds and land which drive her interest in portraying fleeting moments in nature. Close up, Wagener conveys details with scribbles and twisted lines that from a distance create the appearance that could be mistaken for a photograph.
“People often ask to watch me draw, which can be similar to watching a cake bake. Slow, messy layers of scribbling . . . then massaging the idea while massaging raw pigment and paper into one another. After days of chaos and discord, even I am shocked when the image comes together. It does it so beautifully with pastels.”
If Wagener’s process is like baking a cake, her technique is the icing on top. She renders and responds to the natural world close to her with a romantic realism that gives the viewer a feeling of wonder.

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Architecture+Art: 90 Days Over 100°

May 22, 2010 - September 19, 2010

Gallery 4, SMoCA

In keeping with the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art’s mission to champion innovation in contemporary art, architecture and design, SMoCA launches a new series: Architecture + Art. This new programmatic series will invite architects to create site specific installations in response to the museum space and the specific environmental context of Scottsdale, Arizona. With Architecture+ Art, SMoCA aims to draw on important local and international architectural legacies. Building upon the success of past SMoCA projects such as the architecture competition and exhibition Flip-A-Strip and in the spirit of ongoing programs such as MoMA/P.S.1 Young Architects Program in New York or London’s Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, Architecture+ Art will offer a platform for architects to explore the boundaries of art and architecture and push forward the practice of architects working in the art museum setting.

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The Shemer Art Center and Museum is a historical site operated since 1984 by the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department. It is a family-oriented art education center and museum, offering artists and community members a unique and inviting atmosphere to enjoy and learn about the visual arts. Shemer offers a variety of fine art classes for all ages, as well as a monthly professional development lecture series for artists and art lovers. Shemer’s galleries host changing exhibitions by contemporary Arizona artists.

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Currently closed pending refinancing.

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Thanks for Being With Us: Contemporary Art from the Douglas Nielsen Collection

July 17, 2010 - September 26, 2010

Working in a profession where the art is ephemeral and experiential, Douglas Nielsen, resident choreographer and dance professor at the University of Arizona, has amassed an impressive collection of contemporary art over the last forty years. In each work, Nielsen’s passion for art and how it conveys creative thought is apparent.

The exhibition’s title, Thanks for Being With Us, is taken from the title of a work on paper by noted California artist, Ed Ruscha. Ruscha has long been known for his use of vernacular language paired with images of Los Angeles to comment on the urban experience. However, to Nielsen, the selection of the title is a welcoming greeting as he shares his collection with the public. It is a show of appreciation for those who value art or are curious and open enough to become exposed to new ideas.

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American Innovations: The New Art
October 1, 2009 - ongoing

There is no question that the Second World War was the most dramatic instrument of social change of the 20th century. This change was particularly profound for American soldiers and the artists among them returning from the marvels and widespread destruction in Europe and in the Pacific. The lyrics of a popular song of the day, How you going to keep them down on the farm after they've seen Paree? summarized the restlessness of spirit and the determination of many to be more than they had been before the war. The overwhelming realization that the world would never be the same was felt most strongly, perhaps, by American artists and stimulated a sense that art itself had to find new form and meaning...

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