Allan Houser at the Desert Botanical Garden

This year the Desert Botanical Garden is featuring the sculptures of Native American artist Allan Houser during Las Noches de las Luminarias. (Last year, it was the work of Chiluly.) Houser, who died in 1994 at the age of 80, is often referred to as the father of American Indian sculpture. Here are a few of the works I photographed (not very well) recently at the Luminarias:

Tempe Art Galleries

In my last post, I talked about the Tempe Center for the Arts, which includes a small art gallery and a sculpture garden. I wanted to take a few minutes here, though, and talk about the other galleries in Tempe.

The Tempe Public Library, located at 3500 S. Rural Road, displays art on both its first and second floors. Exhibits rotate and include student work. At Connections Cafe, also within the library, local artists have an opportunity to show their work. Upcoming exhibits include Othman and Thomas; Bruns and Keaton; Kaster and Klotz; and Carlton and Farias.

The Tempe Post Office, located at 500 S. Mill Avenue, also showcases local artists. Displays here emphasize fun, eye-catching and unusual work.

The recently refurbished Gallery at the Vihel Center also offers the community a chance to see local artwork. The center, located at 3340 S. Rural Road, holds classes, too, in dance, music, theater and visual arts for both children and adults.

And, then there's ASU. Check out the ASU Art Museum at the corner of Mill Avenue and 10th Street. This contemporary art museum is free to the public and is home to the very first Georgia O'Keefe skull painting. As part of your visit, cross 10th Street and tour the Ceramics Research Center's displays of 3-dimensional art.

Tempe Festival of the Arts

Here are some photos to enjoy of this weekend's Tempe Festival of the Arts. The festival features the works of more than 400 artists and attracts nearly 250,000 people to the Mill Avenue District. If you missed this weekend's event, be sure to catch the spring festival, March 26-28.

Tempe Center for the Arts

I took a tour yesterday of the Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) and wanted to share a little of what I learned. Opened in 2007, the facility was designed to house nine arts groups including Childsplay, Tempe Little Theater, the Tempe Symphony Orchestra, and the Arizona Wind Ensemble. Two stages showcase the groups' performances. The main theater accommodates up to 600 and features African mahogany and stylistic seating. No seat is further than 55 feet from the stage. The smaller theater can accommodate up to 300, depending on what its used for: performance, dance, cabaret or even banquet space.

The TCA also houses a 3,500-square-foot art gallery and, just outside the gallery's doors, a sculpture garden. Banquet and meeting facilities offer stunning views of downtown Tempe, the town lake and Papago Park.

You don't have to wait for a performance to visit the TCA. Stop by, visit the gallery, and take the elevator up to the third floor balcony. It's all free. In fact, even some of the performances are free. "Performance with a View" presents local talent including jazz vocalists and the ASU Saxophone Choir. "Walk-In Wednesdays" is an open mic night allowing for musicians take center stage. Check online for a list of current events.

The Tempe Center for the Arts is located at 700 W. Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. Telephone: 480-350-2822. Website: www.tempe.gov/TCA.