Full series passes are available now - at a savings of $21 off face value!  To purchase your tickets, visit the Traditional Ties website or call us at (928) 779-2300.  Tickets are also available at Arizona Music Pro in Flagstaff.



Traditional Ties is presented in partnership by Flagstaff Friends of Traditional Music (FFOTM) and Flagstaff Cultural Partners.  Both are non-profit organizations.

There is little doubt that more and more, our small mountain town and other nearby towns have become a hot spot for fantastic art. The longer I live here, I find myself more impressed with the quality and volume of artists drawn to Northern Arizona.  This month we are proud to present UNspoken, an exhibition of contemporary paintings featuring three Northern Arizona artists you'll want to keep an eye on.

Karen McClanahan was born and raised in Flagstaff, but has spent the majority of her adult life studying painting around the country and making a name for herself in Denver and New York, among others. We are lucky enough to have her back in Flag and doing her inaugural exhibition in her hometown. When you come in to see Karen's work, be prepared to take your time. Her work, though seemingly minimal, carries many philosophical layers. This isn't to say that one couldn't enjoy her work on the simplest level. It's been said about her many times before, but I'll say it again, she is a color genius. Without knowing much about that "deeper level" of her work, I could easily appreciate the dynamic compositions and deliberate color schematics. Beyond that lies powerful architectonics, designed to guide the viewer back and forth from painting to painting. Her work truly tells its own story, amazingly, without identifying plot or character. Check it out, you'll love it.  (note: also see Artist Profile on Karen McClanahan below.)

We met Daniel Arnold back in the summer when he and pals from Hozhoni showed their work in "7" here at the Center for the Arts. Daniel made such an impression on the general public (not to mention our staff) that we decided to invite him back again to show a new body of artwork. Daniel's paintings are centered on his "Brainscape" which captures a moment of his "reality". Viewing his work, beyond doubt, conjures just that: the sense that one has landed themselves smack dab in one of Daniel's dreams. His paintings are raw and intense, fueled by his mental snapshots in time. I'm instantly drawn in.

Julie Comnick is the third artist showing work in UNspoken. Julie's work draws from representational imagery to speak its message. Her interest lies in "revealing the stigma behind the extraordinary" while asking the viewer to "consider how the concept of the exotic masks genuine cultural integration in Western society." Working in large scale (think 8 x 8 foot works on canvas), Julie's technique is on spot. She conveys her ideas in part by denying the viewer pieces of information one might expect to see. I can't help but feel attracted to the fascinating selection of subjects she's chosen to paint. Julie lives in Prescott, Arizona, where she paints and teaches at Prescott College.

Please join us for the opening reception for UNspoken on Friday, January 18th from 6-8pm.  There will be live entertainment, refreshments and libations will be served.  Special for this show, we'll be serving up sushi from the good folks at Sakura, in addition to some regular faire.  The reception is free and open to the public.  The UNspoken exhibition is open to the public from January 19th through February 23rd during regular Center hours.

Calo Flamenco Cooks It Up With FSO

Here's a January event to celebrate the New Year! Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra begins 2008 with the compelling and magnetic Calo Flamenco.



FSO will present Calo Flamenco: Ballet de Martin Gaxiola in the Northern Arizona premier performance of  "Caudro."  Mark your calendars now: the performance is Friday, January 25th, in NAU's Ardrey Auditorium, 7:30 to 9:30pm.  

In Spanish, "calo" has several meanings: "heat" (short for calor) as well as "mannerism; style of communication."  All these describe the essence of Calo Flamenco.

Artistic Director Martin Gaxiola founded Calo Flamenco in 2003 out of a deep sense of desire to express his creative talents within an ensemble setting.  Based in Phoenix, the group is one of the largest professional flamenco groups in the United States with over 15 talented dancers and musicians.  Calo has received rave reviews for its performances rivaling any flamenco group in the world.  Martin studied flamenco extensively in Sevilla and Madrid with renowned Spanish artists, Antonio Granjero, Immaculata Ortega, Juana Amata and Manolo Marin.  He has performed in two PBS specials, "Flamenco" and "Flamenco: the Passion of Flamenco Dance," as well as throughout the southwest.  Martin is well known for his innovative choreography and dramatic staging.

Chris Burton Jácome, Calo's Music Director, began playing the guitar in 1986. He studied the guitar in Sevilla with world famous flamenco performers including Miguel Aragón, Manolo Franco, Segundo Falcón, and Cristo "El Francés."  Chris has performed to sold-out audiences throughout the US, Canada and Mexico.  As Music Director, he matches Martin's brilliance - writing the music and lyrics for Calo's productions, collaborating with Martin on the productions, and performing live with his ensemble at the concerts.

Please join Martin, Chris and FSO for the heat and passion of flamenco at its best! Tickets are $26 - $41 and can be purchased at the NAU Central Ticket Office: 928-523-5661, toll free 888-520-7214, or at the FSO website.

The second half of the 2007-08 Grand Canyon Guitar Society concert series opens this month with an up-and-coming talent in classical guitar.  Thomas Viloteau, from Paris, France, won the 2006 Guitar Foundation of America's International Solo Competition.

The honor sent him on the road.  The GFA winner traditionally tours the states shortly after receiving the award.  Viloteau is no different, embarking last September on a seven month tour of fifty cities in North America. 

Viloteau has performed throughout Europe and has garnered other awards for his talent, including the Salou guitar competition (Spain), the Segovia International Competition in Linares (Spain), the Ville d'Antony International Competition in Paris, and the Mottola Competition held in Italy.

The next stop for Thomas Viloteau is a concert at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff on Saturday, January 26th.  The concert begins at 7:00pm.

Tickets are available online, by phone at (928) 779-2300, or at these ticket outlets in Flagstaff:  Arizona Music Pro, Cedar Music and Custom Sound Instruments.

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Flagstaff Cultural Partners' programs are made possible in part by a partnership with the City of Flagstaff, from the Bed, Board and Beverage (BBB) Tax.

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