This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Twenty minutes from Phoenix, Scottsdale offers a very different experience from the capital of Arizona. The old town is easily explored on foot, and art galleries abound there. Between a hike through the cacti and a stopover at the winter residence of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, drink a milkshake surrounded by the ghosts of Zsa Zsa Gabor, Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis seems like the most natural thing in the world. Discover this destination as part of our Summer Vacation series.
It is difficult to say, during our visit, which work, between a sculpture made up of Barbie dolls marinating in jars filled with colored liquid and a canvas lined with elephant faeces, struck the imagination the most. The first – which represents a Christmas tree, we will learn later – was enthroned in the center of the AZ/88 restaurant and the second, signed by the British painter Chris Ofili, adorned one of the walls of the SMoCA, the museum of contemporary art*.
Having experienced strong population growth since the turn of the century, the city now has some 240,000 inhabitants. Strolling quietly through its streets, you understand as quickly as a bull chased by a cowboy why this tourist destination is popular. The opportunities for wonder are numerous.
Public art is everywhere in Scottsdale — more than 1,000 works are scattered throughout the city — and many cultural events punctuate the daily lives of residents. Audacious and committed, the SMoCA offers resolutely modern exhibitions and focuses on education.
Even if the emblematic character of the American Wild West taunts us, lasso in hand, at the corner of Main and Scottsdale streets, going beyond the clichés turns out to be easier than one might think. Some works are also inspired by these shots, such as Horseshoe Falls, which takes the shape of a horseshoe thanks to real stacked horseshoes. Michael Maglich’s work also produces a drizzle where cyclists and pedestrians can come and cool off. An augmented reality application also allows you to meet Wendy Raisanen, curator of the collections and exhibitions of Scottsdale Public Art, who tells anecdotes about the work. All you have to do is point your phone’s camera at the enhanced creations to discover the additional information offered by the application.
From Bing Crosby to Frank Lloyd Wright
Arguably one of the main reasons to visit Scottsdale is the spirit mid century modern which still haunts many places, including the iconic Valley Ho Hotel. Several celebrities have paraded through its long corridors since its opening in 1956, including Bing Crosby. This is where Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood celebrated after their wedding. “When the Hollywood stars started coming, the paparazzi didn’t follow them,” says tour guide Ace Bailey, whose company Ultimate Art Cultural Tours offers tours of the facility. We can assume that many other celebrities stayed there, but no trace has been kept. »
A must-see for all architecture enthusiasts, Taliesin West, home to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, is considered the architect’s greatest masterpiece in the Guggenheim Museum. Built by Lloyd Wright and his apprentices with rocks and desert sand so that it blended in with its surroundings, the horizontal building was the architect’s home, studio and architectural laboratory all in one. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019, the residence can be visited with a mobile app or a live guide.
In a completely different style, Cattle Track Arts Compound, hidden in a residential area, looks like Ali Baba’s cave. Since the 1930s, artists of all kinds have worked in this multidisciplinary studio. Although the place does not look like much, we find here some of the most influential creators in the world. Crazy projects follow one another, whether it’s creating a high-end magazine in an ultra-limited edition, the design of a hotel or the costumes for the next Disney film. The kind of place where you enter without expectation and where you come out with stars in your eyes.
*Note that the exhibition in which popcorn tits, canvas by Chris Ofili created with elephant dung, was presented and is now over. The AZ/88 restaurant exhibits an artistic installation for Christmas at the end of each year.
This report was produced thanks to an invitation from Experience Scottsdale, which had no say in this report.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, relating to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.