The Sagrado is a lab-hub where all kinds of conversations and experimentation take place. It’s an organization dedicated to empowering the South Central community through Art, Culture, and Design. For decades, Sam Gomez, its executive director, has advocated for spaces where people from all backgrounds can share their humanity, learn about the land they inhabit, […]

On December’s First Friday, the Phoenix Art Museum is hosting “After Hours,” a multidisciplinary event showcasing music, visual art, performance, food, and opportunities to create art. We visited one of its featured artists to get to know her vibe a bit. Here’s what she had to say. La Phoenikera (LP): What’s your full name? Noemi: […]

Cuba is not its beaches or its whores. It’s not the sadness of its streets or romanticism of the “máquinas” (cabs), the Moskovich, Lada, or the American classics with loud hot-wired sound systems. It’s not the elders’ acquiescence or the youngsters’ indifference, nor an amusement park where you can throw a tantrum because you paid […]

Friendly House, a social services organization in La Phoenikera, turned 100 years old last year and couldn’t even get a birthday caravan. So on December 3, 2021, they’re celebrating their centennial as if the world is ending, cuz who knows, maybe it will! They’re bringing down the house with their annual Tamale Dinner, which also […]

When we found out John Waters was doing stand-up at the Celebrity Theatre we almost choked with happy vomit. I’ve been friend-crushing on this man for most of my life thanks to a really bad copy of Pink Flamingo in a used up tape someone left inside our PV-1225 VCR when I was a kid. […]

When we asked Liliana Gomez what is the most important thing about BlakTinx and she answered “the brown and black experience through movement,” our knees jerked a bit y sudamos frío de la emoción. Although the festival focuses on contemporary dance, the aim for 2019 is to go beyond contemporary or modern and include categories […]

First, we’re stoked that local thespians are putting together shows lately that don’t overindulge in the melodramatic sameness we’ve been force-fed for the longest time (of course, there are exceptions; however, in our view, they’re not the norm). We’re also thrilled to tell you that Guillermo Reyes’ new play Bad Hombres: Date Me or Deport […]

Si entre tus sueños guajiros está ser parte de una obra de teatro, tal vez esta sea tu oportunidad. El 8 y 9 de febrero se presentará una lectura dramática de Los Monólogos de la Vagina completamente en español como parte de la campaña mundial V-Day contra la violencia de género. El sábado 5 de […]

All Hallow’s Eve is upon us and we’re sure you’re itching to flaunt the costume you’ve been working on for weeks (or a day in the case of the procrastinators). That’s why we decided to put a guide together so you know where is gon’ to get lit! Furthermore! (you like that definitive word?) La […]

We’re stoked about the skinnyblk (Skinny Black) opening this Saturday. Sean Avery, writer, and performer, describes it as a hip-hop album/staged play about the journey of a black masculine individual figuring out what is authentic in a society prone to impositions. The show exposes excerpts of Sean’s catalog of experiences accumulated over the years. It’s […]

“If reading bears fruit, let the trees read,” said the writing on a Ministry of Education’s wall in the city I lived a few years ago. Some scolded teenager wrote it after begging his teacher for a passing grade, and not getting it. But even a cringe-worthy message such as this, requires some literacy, even […]

First Friday’s opening night of Teotihuacán: City of Water, City of Fire at the Phoenix Art Museum (PAM for short) was super dope. Especially because we saw so many local artists participating in the celebration, and the community came out to support them. We think no one should pass up experiencing a traveling show with […]

So, I’ve been a fervent fan of El Chullo since I first visited about 5 years ago. Every time I go, I have difficulty deciding what item on the menu I’ll smash: the Lomo Saltado, Ceviche, el Escabeche de Pollo, or any other deliciousness. Whatever you order, you know shit’s gon’ to go down once that […]

This Friday July 6 is Frida Kahlo’s birthday. We know that some Phoenikerxs out there are dying to channel their inner Frida and strut their head dresses and inspired outfits in public. That’s why we put together a list of birthday celebrations for you to hop this weekend. We have a favor to ask you […]

Trans Queer Pueblo (TQP), an organization that advocates for the immigrant trans cummunity in La Phoenikera, is looking for queer artists for their upcoming event Queer Artivismo: A Toda Madre. Queer Artivismo is a monthly arts event that features visual art, performances, poetry readings, dance and drag shows, among other things. TQP wants to increase […]

Call for artists are popping up left and right in La Phoenikera and local artists should at least take a look at what is going on. Murals, public art opportunities and connections with local businesses and institutions are hot right now (I hate it that it reads like a Cosmo mag article for the latest […]

We are very excited because Friendly House is hosting a cultural festival this weekend that is going to expose Phoenikerxs to food, entertainment, and traditions from Latin America in a way that is authentic. We love events like the Flying Burrito, Tacolandia, and the Chile Pepper Festival but sometimes we can’t help to think “man, […]

Our city is continually shifting, and it’s all because of a convergence of energies that make up our art scene. We’re stoked that more frequently local agencies are actively seeking collaboration with local creatives on public art projects that flaunt La Phoenikera’s identity. If you’re an emerging or experienced Phoenikerx artist who wants to bring […]

La Phoenikera’s litness is thanks to its arts scene. People can beat around the bush and say whatever, but it’s true. Art made it “palatable” and attractive. It wasn’t that long ago that people “yucked your yum” about living dwntwn or its neighboring communities. It wasn’t until culture became monetized or could yield serious money […]

Check out some of the snapshots we took at the 2018 World Championship Hoop Dance Contest. This legit competition takes place every year at the Heard Museum, and if you haven’t had a chance to experience it, you must give it a try!

This musical inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote and produced by Arizona Theatre Company is showing in La Phoenikera at the Herbeger Theater Center. In the play, Miguel de Cervantes is sent to prison and has to defend his possessions during a mock trial done by the other prisoners. His defense is a play whose […]

If you think the world should hear or read the poetry you’ve locked away and only your friends stoically listen to, this is your chance. You have a little less than 10 days to scribble some cool ish and submit it for the poetry contest organized by La Phoenikera’s Poet Laureate, Rosemarie Dombrowski and the […]

Melissa Quintans had a little chat with LA PHNKRA about ¿Navidad? a new Spanish-language production by Matices Theatre Company and she tells us that this new project is a window into contemporary society and approaches subjects like filial relationships, the search for opportunities far away from home, and love in its different facets. This original […]

This Christmas/Hanukkah/Kuanzaa season (and the ones that I’m forgetting), Phoenikerxs have the opportunity to avoid the fast fashion producers and multinational super stores and support local business and the local economy with their shopping. Sometimes though, we don’t know where to find those local spots that offer really cool gift options. That’s why we’ve put […]

The first time I saw his art was on a pair of lime green pumps a girl I liked was rocking. I heard his name and how he was one of La Phoenikera’s wildest artists. Later I saw his work at local galleries and speakeasies. I ended up hooking up with the girl with the […]

Nĭ Hăo Phoenikerxs! That’s one way to say hello in Chinese for those of us who have to Google it. We’re not sure if you know this, but until recently, La Phoenikera had its own Chinese Cultural Center. It was where you could go into 99 Ranch Market to get authentic ingredients for your most […]

Carla came to the U.S. as a tiny human Seven she was A Chavarría she was From Atizapán Estado de México she was. Crossed the border with her mother Her long-haired, rocanrol–loving dad Anxiously waited on this side.   As her bones stretched upward in the land of the free She lived in two worlds. […]

Much of what Isela Meraz has done in the U.S. has been to challenge a system that requires her to show papers. Art is one of those things. In 2014, though, art became more of a tool for self-preservation. That’s when she started drawing in the sketchbook, which she says saved her life. She showed […]

Once upon a time, a little girl dreamed of being like JonBenét Ramsey because all she heard was that blue-eyed blondies were prettier and had better lives. She carried a notebook everywhere she went and wrote poems and love songs that got her in trouble with her parents because they feared she had a noviecito. […]

She’s a jeweler, not the kind who wears a loupe at a store or sits in a dark room inside a diamond and gemstone warehouse. She makes earrings, bracelets, and necklaces that reflect her connection to her ancestors. She designs her pieces considering what they would wear as adornments. She’s also pursuing a fiber arts […]

Have you noticed that all La Phoenikera Light Rail stations have some art pieces incorporated into their design? You might not know, but except for a few, most of them aren’t from local artists. Suppose you are a visual artist in our city, especially a South Phoenix creative. In that case, you can submit your […]

Before traveling to Cuba this month, we had tons of questions. A couple of our friends had gone relatively recently, so we were able to compile a hodgepodge of answers that helped us through the trip. So you don’t have to scramble for information from different sources, we decided to create a guide for anyone […]

For Tato Caraveo, event coordinator for The Lost Leaf (which just celebrated its 10-year anniversary at the 5th Street location), this week marks their perseverance and survival as a local business that keeps on grindin’ in an ever-changing landscape. “It means that we continue to survive, that we’ve become a staple in the community,” Tato […]

“The universe is not made out of atoms. It is made out of stories,” said Muriel Rukeyser in her Speed of Darkness poem. We know storytelling is one of humans’ most basic and effective ways of communicating, and undoubtedly, our personal narrative parallels others, indistinct of who they are. Through it, we are reminded of […]

When Sam Gomez and Julia Duran would travel down Central Avenue to get ice cream at Oasis, their favorite antojito shop in South Phoenix, they saw both the opportunity and the need to build something in that community. As soon as the stars aligned and they met someone who could help realize their vision, that’s […]

The world is filled with Frida Kahlo fans. Some are real (the kind that can name even the artists’ pet dog), some are fake (the kind that put up hipster-fied images with inspirational quotes without knowing if she really said that s*&%t!). But I’m not here to hate. I’m here to tell you what a […]

There is a demand for accessible events celebrating the rise of La Phoenikera’s culture, but how do we show support? Sometimes we share shit on social media with a rally-cry that gets lost in the ether of 0’s and 1’s. This month, though, you have three opportunities to voice your opinion on something important to […]

On Sunday, an installation created by eight Arizona artists, many of them Phoenikerxs, executing the vision of Mexican artist Bestabeé Romero, was unveiled. Giovana Aviles, Leonor Aispuro, Martin Moreno, Jenea Sanchez, Gloria Casillas, Oliverio Balcells, Estrella Payton and Raji Ganesan participated in Betsabeé’s week-long residency that culminated in the presentation of the piece under perfect […]

Queen Muhammad Ali and Hakeem Khaaliq, two local visual anthropologists, have made it their mission to demystify preconceived notions about black and Indigenous communities worldwide. This is no easy feat since they’re against a historical propensity to spread inaccurate information about communities of color (at this point, we’re all misinformed about everybody else, really), erase […]

If you’re going to celebrate Pride this weekend but the official Pride party is not your scene, we suggest you check out Booty Pop, the Official Black and Brown Pride Party. Haus of Jotería is the group organizing la pachanga, which they say is by and for queer people of color (and friends/allies). Haus of […]

Artists from La Phoenikera have the incredible opportunity to do a six-week residency in Guadalajara this summer. The arts organization Celebración Artística de las Américas (CALA) is offering this in partnership with Programa Anual de Open Studios Guadalajara (PAOS GDL), the organization housing the selected Phoenix artist. “PAOS GDL is doing amazing work. They have […]

If you’re like me and you’ve Heard the term “V-Day” and thought, what the crap is that? Here it goes. V-Day is not Valentine’s Day, Virginity Day, or Vloggers Day…It’s a global activist movement to stop violence against women and girls…against Vaginas! And no, it’s not just one day; it occurs at several events around […]

Last October, I attended an event called Crossfade LAB, and I was mind-blown. Rita Indiana, a badass musician and writer from the Dominican Republic and equally awesome Tucson-based band Calexico, shared the stage in a spoken and musical exchange about borders, intersections, and Juan Gabriel. In my view, it was one of the most intentionally […]