55 september 28, 2023 | WWW.bestofphoenix2023.c0m | best of phoenix 2023 (S’edav) platform mound (Va’aki) that was the ceremonial house of a village in the Salt River Valley. Visitors can see the preserved mound just outside of the museum, which is undergoing a major overhaul of signage and exhibits to add context to the true history of the region’s Indigenous people. Best Art Gallery LISA SETTE GALLERY 210 E. Catalina Drive 480-990-7342 lisasettegallery.com Many art galleries in metro Phoenix cluster together in certain geographic areas: Roosevelt Row, Old Town Scottsdale, Grand Avenue. And then there’s Lisa Sette Gallery, which stands alone not only on a map but also in reputation. Sette’s gallery, which is rapidly approaching its 40th anniversary, has moved around the Valley before settling in its current location near Third Street and Thomas Road. What hasn’t shifted is the gallery’s stellar offerings from top artists in Phoenix and beyond. A favorite show this year was “Dark Garden” featuring mixed-media work by local artist Mayme Kratz. The gorgeous, moody pieces celebrate the harsh beauty of the desert. We celebrate Lisa Sette Gallery for consistently showing some of the best work in Phoenix. Best New Art Space STUDIO GENNARO GARCIA 1114 Grand Ave. 480-383-3259 artegennaro.com If you dig the look of Taco Chelo, Barrio Queen and Ghost Ranch, visit this new studio in the heart of the Grand Avenue arts district where the artist responsible for those vibes, Gennaro Garcia, creates a range of distinctly Mexican-inspired works. He churns out everything from highly collectible paintings, prints, sculp- tures, wood carvings and Talavera pottery to more affordable T-shirts, stickers and tote bags. Garcia’s favorite subjects include women (particularly Frida Kahlo), skulls and food, and, as an avid cook himself, he plans to use the space to host intimate dinners co-created with various chef friends. Maybe he’ll even serve wine from a collaboration he’s doing with a producer out of Valle de Guadalupe — he plans to launch the vino this year and considers it yet another art form. The studio is open by appointment and on some First Fridays; check his Instagram page to keep up. Best Art Exhibit ‘MR.: YOU CAN HEAR THE SONG OF THIS TOWN’ Phoenix Art Museum 1625 N. Central Ave. 602-257-1880 phxart.org How does one decide the best art exhibit of the year? Is it the prominence of the artist or the cultural significance of the work? If we’re going strictly by how many people saw and enjoyed the art, the clear winner is “Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town,” which occupied the Steele Gallery at Phoenix Art Museum this past winter. The contemporary Japanese artist’s work — bright, whimsical and inspired by anime — was a delight for eyes of any age and any level of artistic knowledge, and we watched during one of the museum’s PhxArt After Hours events as attendees stood rapt, scanning the intricate, colorful pieces to glean every detail. Best Art Festival CANAL CONVERGENCE Scottsdale Public Art canalconvergence.com In our opinion, there’s nothing more glorious than Phoenix in November, when the weather has finally cooled and it’s once again a joy to be outside. It’s just one reason why the annual Canal Convergence event, produced by Scottsdale Public Art, is the best art festival of the year. The tagline of Canal Convergence is “Water + Art + Light,” and the inventive light-based works created by artists from all over the world are just the beginning. For 10 days, the Scottsdale Waterfront is abuzz with creativity and excitement. There are tours of the area, art-making activities for all ages, live music, dance performances, food and drink vendors and more. Much of the programming is free, which is just one more reason we eagerly await the return of Canal Convergence each year.
