Art Detour, founded in 1989, has evolved as much as the Phoenix scene around it and now celebrates 32 years with a range of artists.
It is known to artists and organizers alike as something that connects the community through art.
Art Detour is an art event in downtown Phoenix put on by ArtLink Inc. It is a self-guided art tour in downtown Phoenix as well as uptown, midtown and south Phoenix featuring art and culture.
“Overall, Art Detour is a really fun time of year to connect with other creatives in the community and to see an abundance of new artwork in downtown Phoenix all in just one week,” said Gina DeGideo, co-president of Eye Lounge Collective.
“As ArtLink grows, so does the variety of represented artwork and things to do during Art Detour,” said DeGideo.
Eye Lounge Collective, located off of Roosevelt and Fifth streets is a contemporary art space that hosts exhibits, it is one of the longest-running galleries participating in Art Detour.
Local Phoenix artist Ann Osgood shows with Studio Six at the Artery, located on Indian School and Seventh Avenue, which has been a part of Art Detour since it was renovated for artists in the 1990s. She began with Art Detour in 2010.
As a resident, she has noticed a lot of the Phoenix art scene changes. Roosevelt Row has lost many of the older, “funky” buildings, Osborn said.
The average audience in the city changed as more students and younger artists have come to Phoenix and bars have replaced some of the old galleries.
Two galleries Osgood specifically remembers closing are Five15 Arts and Lotus Contemporary Art. The two previously located on Roosevelt Row closed in August 2016 as they were sold to new owners to be renovated into Trapp Haus Barbeque.
Five15 Arts moved to a different building in Phoenix, while Lotus Contemporary Art has relocated to Scottsdale.
Osgood has also been witness to the changes and similarities in Art Detour. She said it is great that the event has always been put on by volunteers.
All Art Detour staff are volunteers, and over the years, they have focused on making it more professional for the artists. The handmade signs used to display the names of artists have recently been replaced with printed out ones.
One aspect that makes Art Detour so special is that it is put on during the day, Osgood said. Many other Phoenix art events such as First Friday happen at night, which is not ideal for every group wanting to make it to the event.
For the past eight years, the Art Detour throws the Art d’Core Gala on opening night, which is an opportunity for artists to show in an area with a large audience. One local artist, Stephanie DaLeigh, is new to the event this year and said she is looking forward to sharing her art.
The event runs March 19-23. Eye Lounge Collective will host talks, demos and activities on March 21 and 22.
“The more that can be done to spread the word about this awesome weekend to make it less of a hidden gem the better!” said DeGideo.
Contact the reporter at cparkiso@asu.edu
