Art Detour 2021 Open Through March 31

Art Detour began on Feb. 27, kicking off a slew of in-person and virtual art exhibitions in Phoenix and across Arizona. Whether you’re attending from the couch at home or out for a night of gallery hopping in downtown Phoenix, there is something creative for everyone from now until March 31.

From its humble beginnings in 1989, Art Detour has grown from a week-long art walk to a month-long art extravaganza over the past 33 years. Art Detour is put on by Artlink Inc., a nonprofit that supports local artists.

Last year, the emergence of COVID-19 canceled some art events, including some of Art Detour’s own, including Art d’Core Gala, and others. In 2021, Art Detour adapted. To maintain safety in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Artlink has expanded Art Detour to both in-person and online art installations. At in-person events, organizers ask patrons to wear face coverings and practice physical distancing.

Here are the highlights of Art Detour’s downtown Phoenix offerings:

Visit “Watching You Watch Me,” a collaborative exhibition by Emily Sarten and Sam Pesqueira at Modified Arts, located at 407 E. Roosevelt Street. Live performances are visible from outside the gallery from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the remainder of March.

Paint ceramics with Ben’s Bells, located at 918 N. 2nd Street. The nonprofit invites volunteers to visit on Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jam to house beats starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday at Lacuna Kava Bar at 821 N. 3rd St. #12.

Take a virtual jazz class on Zoom with The Nash. All classes run on a pay-what-you-can donation basis. Catch “Get Jazz Smart: Freedom Now! Jazz and Civil Rights in the 1960s” with Christi Jay Wells on March 9 and “Get Jazz Smart: Dixieland/Traditional/Trad Jazz: What’s in a name?” with Zach Wiggins on March 23. For more information and to sign up, visit thenash.org/get-jazz-smart.

Visit the Alwun House at 1204 E. Roosevelt St. Throughout the month, its offerings range from weekly qigong lessons to an exotic gallery exhibition to “IGNiGHT: the ART OF BURNING MAN,” an interactive art experience. For more information and for tickets, visit alwunhouse.org.

Shop at the Churchill Phoenix at 901 N. 1st St. Sidewalk Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visit ASU’s Grant Street Studios at 605 E. Grant St. Art Detour brings “HEARTH: Sojourn of Belonging” and “Map(ing): 10 Years of Indigenous Prints” to the gallery space during normal hours.

Enjoy food and drinks. Use “ARTLAB Detour 33” secret password-style to receive a 15% discount off of your bill at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails, located at 2 E. Jefferson St. Luckys Indoor Outdoor at 817 N. 2nd St. will donate $1 of each “South of the Border Punch” cocktail sold during Art Detour to Artlink.

Check out the 21st annual juried-art exhibition featuring 85 artists from across Arizona. Starting in February, art will be on display for four months at FOUND:RE Phoenix Hotel.

Virtually connect with local artists every third Friday at 6 p.m. The Roosevelt Row Artist Advisory Council hosts a virtual happy hour that is open to Arizona-based creatives, and the next happy hour is on March 19 at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

Other offerings include studio tours by local artists, virtual galleries and workshops, and much more. For more information about Art Detour programming and a full calendar of events, visit artdetour.com.