pump money into the local economy, they bring good energy to even the emptiest bars, and if nothing else, the people- watching is epic. Best Hometown Hero TROY KOTSUR Arizona has produced its fair share of celebrities, but not many can say they’ve won the highest honor in the world of cinema. The latest is Mesa native Troy Kotsur, whose revelatory performance as a struggling fisherman in the 2021 film CODA earned him the 2022 Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Kotsur is the second Arizona native to win an acting Oscar (the first was Emma Stone for La La Land in 2017), and more impor- tantly, he’s the first deaf man to win one. In his signed acceptance speech, Kotsur thanked his “hometown of Mesa, Arizona,” and declared, “This is dedicated to the deaf community, the CODA community [besides being the name of the film, CODA stands for children of deaf adults], and the disabled community. This is our moment!” Since his win, Kotsur’s face has appeared on banners in downtown Mesa and Mayor John Giles gave him the key to the city, solidifying his status as the east Valley city’s favorite son. Best Promotion DR. MARIA ROSARIO JACKSON HEADS THE NEA We who live in metro Phoenix already knew the good work that Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson was doing in the field of the arts. Until late last year, she was an Institute Professor in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University, where she founded the Studio for Creativity, Place, and Equitable Communities, where students learn how to integrate arts, culture, and design into community planning. Then, in December 2021, she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 13th chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, the federal agency that grants money to arts and culture programs across the country. Jackson is the first African-American and first Mexican-American to serve in the role, and credits her parents for instilling in her a love for the arts. “I’m definitely going to tap into that sense of the arts being critical to healthy communities and to a healthy society,” she told the Washington Post in her first interview after being confirmed. She added, “There is a power of the arts that allows us to, encourages us to, be curious, to hold nuance, to have the kinds of thoughtful deliberations and a view on humanity that I think is so criti- cally important.” We couldn’t agree more, and we can’t wait to see what Jackson does in her new role. Best Museum SCOTTSDALE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART 7374 East Second Street, Scottsdale 480-874-4666 smoca.org Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art stands out for consistently delivering the unexpected, whether it’s the replica of an artist’s living room or a mobile home trailer purchased by an artist at a local swap meet. The museum excels at introducing metro Phoenix audiences to creatives working in other cultural hubs while also spotlighting works by artists with Arizona roots or artists working in Arizona. Curators strike a delightful balance of showing works by emerging and established creatives, and the museum has demonstrated by its exhi- bitions a commitment to elevating the voices of women artists and BIPOC artists. The museum also creates and hosts fun community experiences, such as trivia nights, screenings of films by ASU students, and artist talks, fostering a sense that the museum is a community space for learning, growth, and creativity rather than a building designed to merely house and show works of art. Best Art Gallery ART ONE 4130 North Marshall Way, Scottsdale 480-946-5076 artonegalleryinc.com Galleries get a bad rap in some circles, especially from those who assume that traditional art venues are stuffy places filled with art that’s hard to understand and impossible to afford. Art One gallery in Old Town Scottsdale counters that model by presenting an eclectic assortment of affordable artworks in a casual, friendly setting where you don’t have to worry about being intimidated because you’re not an art expert. The gallery has a large store- front window, so passersby can always see art as they walk down the street, and more pieces are often displayed outside the gallery during the day, which makes art feel even more relatable. Art One is the best place to see works by emerging and estab- lished artists, including many you won’t see on the beaten path of Phoenix’s downtown arts scene. On any given day, you might see a work by one of the Valley’s most prolific muralists, a piece by a well- known local artist that differs radically from their typical style, or a piece created by a talented high school or college student. The gallery also shows works by students at Autism Academy. It’s a perfect place to discover local talents before they hit the big time. 44 BEST OF PHOENIX 2022 | WWW.BESTOFPHOENIX2022.C0M | SEPTEMBER 29, 2022
