13 May 1st-May 7th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | and take on their own mantle, whether it’s doing other art shows or curating outside of here.” That accessibility and focus on the community of local artists is what many are worried the plaza could lose. FOSTERING CREATIVITY Champ Styles, a local graffiti artist who has followed in the footsteps of his renowned father’s work, told New Times that the Danelle environment grants artists true artistic freedom — an invaluable air that’s hard to come by in the increasingly commercial world of art. While he thinks cactuses and hummingbirds are nice and all, he lauded Danelle for being an envi- ronment in which artists are encouraged to follow the wilder sides of their imagina- tions — exploring themes outside the Valley’s more stereotypical images. “Danelle Plaza has the opportunity to maintain its identity. It’s the only hub that’s true expressive art, and it’s going to be a challenge for the city to maintain that,” Styles said. “It’s by the people, for the people.” He argued that developers can’t be trusted to keep it that way, even while the plaza’s rejuvenation is an opportunity to take the plaza to new artistic heights. “It comes down to the community caring about something,” he said. “My offi- cial stance on the whole matter is, if we’re gonna move forward, we gotta work together. I want to see this move on to be bigger and better.” Maney, the executive creative director of TAMC, the nonprofit that will take over management of the art haven in May, noted that things are bound to change in a few ways. For one, the space won’t be rent- free anymore. “The galleries were a gift to show and activate space, to see if you gave a space to a community, you could see what the community could do,” Maney told New Times. “That was a gift, and now we have to start paying for the gift. With developers and investors and all that stuff, they have to pay their bills too.” IT’S NOT REALLY GOODBYE Moore said he might be leaving his role at the plaza, but living down the street from it, he plans to stay involved from the wings and keep a close eye on developments (no pun intended) to come. But as the sun set on Danelle Plaza and Moore’s era at the art collective’s helm, that wasn’t front of mind. The crowded room was full of charac- ters with unique and expressive outfits and style, all mingling between the haunting red and black art. Moore swirled around the room, talking to many of them and reminiscing, including Such Styles. “It’s the end of a chapter in a really, really good book,” Styles told New Times of the Danelle Project’s run. Moore told stories about what Styles has meant to the project, at one point saying he needed to be careful so he wouldn’t cry. I told him it was a funeral and that it was OK to cry, over which we all shared a laugh. Several people approaching Moore noted that they liked the Luster Kaboom painting on display that featured him: titled “Leader,” it shows Moore at the door of one of the plaza’s buildings, inserting keys while a cat looks on from inside. Moore’s take: “I feel bad. It looks like I’m locking that cat in,” he said. I mentioned that he must be locking the cat into Cat Prison. “Exactly,” Moore smiled serenely. “It’s a double reference.” Speaking with New Times two days after the shows, Moore got emotional talking about how he felt after the night at the plaza wrapped up. “I felt really humbled and fortunate just to be surrounded by so many creative people. There are so many amazing people out there,” Moore told New Times over the phone, choking up. “There’s a lot of pride too. All these people always step up and support the community. And they always come together and create so much beauty. They give so much, you know?” Passing the Torch from p 11 “Cross Eye” by Matt Dickson (Photo by Neil Schwartz ) “Cat Prison” by NXOEED (Photo by Neil Schwartz )
