Come Into the Cool: Museum-Hopping in the Valley is Alchemical

By Annabel V Sclippa

alchemy

/ˈælkəmi/

noun

1. 1. The ancient search for a universal panacea, and of the philosopher’s stone, that eventually developed into chemistry.
   2. The cause of any sort of mysterious sudden transmutation.
   3. Any elaborate transformation process or algorithm.

*Most commonly considered the attempt to change less valuable metals into gold.*

This is what we do when we enter the museums of the Valley of the Sun during summer. We turn hot pavement into chill Gold.  Come in from the intense summer heat and delve into the exceptionally cool settings of halls and walls inspired by life’s transformational moments. Here, creativity is captured in all forms of artistry: from paintings to jewels, clothing to photography, ceramics and music, to name a few.  The transformative alchemy of art will rejuvenate and refresh your soul and inspire your spirit.

In this summer’s edition of Come Into the Cool, I highlight Tender Alchemy: presented by mother and daughter duo Beth Ames Swartz and Julianne Swartz at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) and Ecstatic Time: The Alchemy of Photography at the Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt). Plus, the metamorphosis of the Western Spirit through its expansive addition, and the indigenous richness of The Heard, which always changes my perspective on life. I have a bit of a personal connection with each of these museums, so I invite you to come along with me on my journey.

Links Here:

• https://scottsdalearts.org/whats-on/events/tender-alchemy-beth-ames-swartz-and-julianne-swartz/
• https://scottsdalearts.org/explore-scottsdale-arts/smoca/
• https://phxart.org/exhibition/ecstatic-time-the-alchemy-of-photography/
• https://phxart.org/
• https://westernspirit.org
• https://heard.org/

**SMoCA**

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art

Old Town Scottsdale’s gem, SMoCA is located off the Civic Center lawn square, serving as a sanctuary of modern coolness for contemporary art, architecture, and design. This treasure, an ingenious renovation of a former cinema by Will Bruder, invites you to come into the cool and delve into halls inspired by global creativity. Within, you can wander through evolving exhibits and educational offerings, or pause for reflection in the iconic public “skyspace” by James Turrell—a rare place where the shifting desert sky is captured and turned into living art.

This summer, the museum’s vibrant roster of displays pushes the boundaries of artistic medium, taking visitors on an intensely compelling multi-sensory journey. The crown jewel of this season—and the heart of our journey into the transformative alchemy of art—is SMoCA’s featured headline exhibition. This installation perfectly embodies the spirit of ALCHEMY, as highlighted throughout this edition, by demonstrating how today’s visionaries transmute matter and everyday concepts into pure creative gold.

Current exhibit
Tender Alchemy

Tender Alchemy is the first exhibition to present, in coherence, the works of artists Beth Ames Swartz and Julianne Swartz. As described by SMoCA, this is a dynamic duo of mother and daughter artists, “whose distinct practices are united by a shared devotion to transformation, healing, and the invisible forces that shape human experience. Though their materials and methods differ, both artists engage in a kind of alchemy: a transmutation of matter, energy, and emotion into forms of quiet power and profound presence.”

At a vibrant 90 years old, Beth Ames has created the entirely new series Quantum Light over the last two years, adding to her immense catalogue, already spanning over half a century of work. Her life story is revealed through the ages: from delicate watercolors, to ripped and burned sheets of paper that have been transformed into seemingly copper-strong wall sculptures, through her studies on religions, wisdoms, and philosophies leading to explorations of sacred sites globally, then moves through a multi-sensory journey of the chakras, to soothing moonscapes, and now into the galaxy, and perhaps, the afterlife – or is it the inner-life? Many of these pieces are layers within layers, and poems or concepts that are written; some to be read, and sometimes only partially revealed. To see more of Beth’s work, and watch the documentary on her life Reminders of Invisible Light as shown on PBS, visit: https://bethamesswartz.com/. I highly recommend reading the full artist’s bio. Although Beth has been a massive inspiration, dear friend, and guiding light in my life for almost 40 years, I don’t think my bias is far from the truth of how legendary she is.

Beth’s daughter Julianne plays with concepts of light and life, sound and pulse, rainbows and refraction, ceramics and paired fibrous structures, as if she were trained in a new art form called ‘transcendental engineering.’ Julianne uses materials as dainty as a thin skin might be, forming it into shapes that left me feeling as though I was observing a naked part of someone’s inner body. She then masterfully created them to pulse and play in response to nerve or heart impulses she had previously recorded. Or in another instance, she has formed ceramics interrelated as two lovers might embrace, and the tones emanating from their togetherness another human state recorded, which offered me a haunting and pulling feeling. It is a display that cannot be interpreted through visuals alone. It must be walked through to experience and receive its blessing. https://www.julianneswartz.com/

Tender Alchemy is showing through August 23, 2026.

Other current exhibits include:

Mark + Making | Selections from the SMoCA Collection exploring the use of marks, gestures, and line to build form and shape ideas in contemporary artistic practice. Showing through Jan 31, 2027.

Infinite: a multi-sensory, full-surround experience of light and sound by artist collectives Squidsoup and Lunar Calendar, showing through August 30, 2026.

SMOCA Admission, Hours and Location:

Old Town Scottsdale’s gem, SMoCA is located off the Civic Center lawn, and across from the Performing Arts Center. Come into epic modern coolness, at this Contemporary Art museum. https://smoca.org/

7374 East Second Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251

Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Good To Know: Receive $3 off per admission by purchasing online. Pay what you wish on Thursdays and every second Saturday. https://smoca.org/plan-a-visit/

**Western Spirit**

Discover the Western Spirit Museum in Scottsdale: Your Cool Summer Escape Into the Heart of the American West, where my bias reigns strong, as I am a Founding Member of the museum’s Western Spirit Council.

If you are looking for an engaging, educational, and downright family-fun way to wrap yourself in Western culture and beat the summer heat, look no further than the Western Spirit Museum in Scottsdale, AZ. The Western Spirit Museum, formerly known as the Museum of the West, stands out as a proud Smithsonian affiliate, ensuring top-tier exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural artefacts.

A Smithsonian Gem Celebrating Western Heritage

Located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale’s Art District, this Smithsonian-affiliate is a true architectural and collections treasure. As an emblem of the American West’s rich history, culture, and art, this museum offers an immersive journey that’s perfect for visitors of all ages. The museum celebrates the diverse stories and iconic figures that shaped the West—from legendary cowboys and Native American tribes to pioneering explorers and contemporary artists. More Old Town Scottsdale info: https://oldtownscottsdaleaz.com/.

This Summer, the museum’s spirit just got a whole lot bigger with the Museum Expansion. The new Louis Sands IV Center is a two-story building that adds a massive 12,000 square feet to the museum’s already impressive size, bringing the total square footage to 55,000. The expansion, which cost $12 million, opened with four new exhibitions bringing art off the walls and into 3-dimension. Along with Western American and American Indian art and paintings, the new halls also have a striking collection of sculptures, jewelry and ceramics. Find details on each of the current exhibits here: https://westernspirit.org/visit/exhibitions/.

With their vibrant summer programs, it’s the ultimate destination to stay cool and inspired this season, and now is the time to catch the action with the museum’s Reel West Sundays. Every Sunday at 2 pm Classic Westerns flicker on the big screen. Transport to another time, and another place…. And join for a ride along with The Duke. John Wayne is featured week after week in July. https://westernspirit.org/project/theduke-stillinthesaddle-filmseries/.

For other enticing Summer activities including Scavenger Hunts, Live Artist Fridays, our Cultural Pass and Blue Star programs for our military friends and family, visit our Summer on the Trail page: https://westernspirit.org/project/summer-on-the-trail/. Also available through Old Town Scottsdale, is their Passport including many participating places where you can DINE, SIP, SHOP, DISCOVER & PAMPER yourself in our charming district. Go to Old Town Scottsdale for more information. https://oldtownscottsdaleaz.com/discover/experience-passport/

Become a Western Spirit Member

Enhance your experience by joining the Western Spirit Museum as a member. Members enjoy free annual admission, exclusive invitations to new exhibitions and special events, discounts on programs, and a front-row seat to all things Western. It’s the perfect way to stay connected to the stories and art that make the West truly unforgettable. https://westernspirit.org/membership/.

Plan Your Visit

This summer, come into the COOL—where history, art, and adventure collide at the Western Spirit Museum. Whether you’re here to witness live art, enjoy stunning exhibitions, or take advantage of special offers, the West’s vibrant spirit awaits you.

The museum is located at 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ. Museum Hours are Mondays–Saturdays: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sundays: 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Summer hours and programs may vary, so be sure to check their website or contact them for details before planning your trip. https://westernspirit.org/visit/directions-parking-hours/.

**Heard Museum**

Heard Museum: A Deep Dive into Native Heritage

When I enter the Heard Museum, I feel an immediate sense of reverence. This institution is not just a museum; it’s a cultural sanctuary dedicated to Native American art, history, and storytelling. It’s significance is reflected in its ability to withstand the test of time. As its website states, “Five brief lines in the Arizona Republican newspaper announced the opening of the Heard Museum on December 26, 1929.” Now as it approaches its 100th anniversary, current Curator Ann Marshall will be presenting a brief history of the “decades that led the museum to the present.” One of many of their Summer calendar offerings: https://heard.org/experience/events-and-classes/.

The Weave of Culture and Tradition

My visits to The Heard revolve around their intensely compelling exhibits, such as the  Away From Home: American Indian Boarding School Stories, a poignant installation that sheds light on a complex and deeply painful chapter of Native history with sensitivity and honesty. From the Heard Museum website, “Away From Home examines an important and often unknown period of American history. Beginning in the 1870s the U.S. government aimed to assimilate American Indians into “civilized” society by placing them in government-operated boarding schools. Children were taken from families and transported to far-away schools where all signs of “Indian-ness” were stripped away. Students were trained for servitude and many went for years without familial contact—events that still have an impact on Native communities today.”

https://heard.org/exhibition/away-from-home-american-indian-boarding-school-stories/

Juxtapositioned, one of the Museum’s most vibrantly colorful, culturally deep, and creatively inspiring highlights for me is the collection of Hopi Kachina dolls: each one intricately carved and painted, embodying spiritual stories passed down through generations. Moving through these galleries, I feel a profound respect for the craftsmanship and cultural significance behind each piece. In more recent years, the Museum has kept its focus on the younger, and newer, artists as opposed to introducing more post-mortem and historical archives.

The new generation’s work is often bold and bright, and shouts their stories from the canvas, or in glass, such as the entry hall of “Indigenous Evolution.” The 30-foot art fence created by Tony Jojola (Isleta Pueblo) and Rosemary Lonewolf (Santa Clara Pueblo) is part of the “HOME: Native People in the Southwest” exhibition. The artwork features motifs inspired by the desert Southwest, including adobe, ocotillo, and saguaro cactus, harmonizing colors of the Southwest in clay and glass. To see current displays, visit the Museum’s website: https://heard.org/

Another favorite of mine to visit is the Sandra Day O’Connor Gallery. Currently exhibited is Majestic Figures, a gift of 23 contemporary sculptures, donated to the Heard by Charles and Valerie Diker. The sculptures were created by five master artists: Rhonda Holy Bear, Jamie Okuma and three generations of Growing Thunder family members: Joyce Growing Thunder, Juanita Growing Thunder Fogarty and Jessa Rae Growing Thunder, Ph.D.

At the finale of my visit, I like to pause at the cafe and sip a glass by the sculpture garden – outside, weather permitting. It serves as a peaceful oasis, ideal for reflection on the resilience and artistry of Native peoples’ experience and expression just witnessed.

Workshops and Demos

For those interested in further discovery, the Heard Museum offers workshops, educational programs, and live demonstrations throughout the year, making each visit a new opportunity to learn. Whether you’re a native Arizonan or a visitor from afar, the Heard Museum is a vital stop for understanding the deep roots of the Southwest.

FREE EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, LECTURES & DEMOS include the Free First Friday Carving with James Johnson https://heard.org/event/first-friday-july2026/ on July 3, 2026, and the Curator Talk | Heard Museum History in the 1929 Gallery on August 4th https://heard.org/event/curator-talk-1929-gallery-ii/ . For more dates throughout the year visit: https://heard.org/experience/events-and-classes/

**PHOENIX ART MUSEUM**

Returning once more to our central motif of transformation, the Phoenix Art Museum unveils Ecstatic Time: The Alchemy of Photography.

This collection commemorates two decades of the significant Norton partnership between PhxArt and the Center for Creative Photography (CCP) in Tucson. This exhibition features a curated selection of nearly 100 artifacts from the CCP’s prestigious archives. The display includes surprising masterpieces from legendary figures, alongside intriguing examples of technical experimentation and imagery that plays with the whimsical or the mysterious, showcasing the vast ingenuity inherent in the photographic medium.

Encompassing a timeline from the mid-19th century to our modern era, Ecstatic Time highlights works from the early 1900s, with a particular fascination for eccentric and playful still-life compositions. Organized into four evocative chapters, the installation explores how photography interacts with time and perception through flash, time-lapse, and celestial imagery, extending into today’s conceptual art. This assembly of work functions as a “cabinet of curiosities,” illustrating the magical capacity of photography to transmute ordinary vision into artistic gold through pure trial and alchemy.

Showing July 29, 2026, through January 3, 2027, within the Norton Photography Gallery.

Also showing in July…

2025 Arizona Artist Awards Exhibition Opening

Experience the transformative alchemy of local talent as Phoenix Art Museum celebrates the opening of the 2025 Arizona Artist Awards. This evening honors the newest visionaries receiving the Scult Family Artist Award, the Sally and Richard Lehmann Emerging Artist Awards, and the Sette/Cohn Artist Award.

The celebration begins with a community reception in the Great Hall South, followed by an artist talk in Whiteman Hall, featuring recipient Alice Leora Briggs. Briggs will delve into her creative practice, revealing the intricate layers of her technical process and recent works.

2025 Arizona Artist Awards Recipients

• Alice Leora Briggs | Scult Family Artist Award
• Jan Talmadge Davids | Sally and Richard Lehmann Emerging Artist Award
• Christopher Ignacio | Sally and Richard Lehmann Emerging Artist Award
• Shaunté Glover | Sette/Cohn Artist Award

About the Artists

Alice Leora Briggs (Tucson, AZ) transmutes the narratives of la frontera—the desert borderlands—into meticulously rendered art. With over 50 solo exhibitions, her compelling work is featured in prestigious public collections, including our own Phoenix Art Museum and the Library of Congress. Her creative journey includes notable publications like Dreamland: The Way Out of Juárez and Abecedario de Juárez: An Illustrated Lexicon.

Jan Talmadge Davids (Tucson, AZ) engages in a kind of material alchemy, using clay and mixed media to explore childhood landscapes and local ecologies. Through thoughtful installations, she invites us to witness themes of fragility and place-making. An MFA graduate from ASU’s Herberger Institute, her work has been showcased at the Tucson Museum of Art and the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum.

Christopher Ignacio (Phoenix, AZ) acts as an interdisciplinary engineer of the soul, exploring how voice and technology intersect with identity. As a puppeteer and Creative Producer for the T. Denny Sanford Harmony Institute, his work pushes boundaries through 3D animation and motion capture. Dedicated to community empowerment, his practice invites participation far beyond the traditional gallery walls.

Shaunté Glover (Phoenix, AZ) captures the invisible forces of identity through photography, film, and sculpture. This ASU graduate uses contemporary artistry as a catalyst for visibility, amplifying marginalized voices with a focus on Black women. Her practice is a profound exploration of representation, turning the canvas into a powerful vessel for dialogue and community connection.

These awards are graciously supported by the Scult Family, the Lehmanns, and the Cohn Fund for Arts and Culture, ensuring our desert remains a sanctuary for creative transformation.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 5pm is the Artist Reception, and 6:30 pm the Artist Talk with 2025 Scult Family Artist Award Recipient Alice Leora Briggs.

Free for Members | $5 for the General Public

ONGOING EXHIBITIONS

Juxtapositioned against the Museum’s massive array of ongoing exhibits with collections spanning a magnificent spectrum of creative expressions from the American West and Latin America to the far reaches of Asia and Europe, alongside sophisticated collections of fashion design, photography, and modern masterworks, is the ultra-modern and mystical Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room created by Yayoi Kusama. Step into a summer night dream, and continue to the other side where you will emerge into some of my favorite art of Asia: ceramics. Also currently showing are vibrant and expressive oils from the 1620s, such as Allegory of Poetry by Felice Ficherelli. Rooms open into multi-story displays offering an uplifting splendor. As experienced in the permanent collection, the grandly impressive 1980 Arizona Fault Line #1 by Beth Ames Swartz, whom you may recall as our first featured artist in the beginning of this article at SMoCA.

https://phxart.org/art/art-collection/

https://phxart.org/exhibition/fireflies/

MEMBERSHIP THAT SUPPORTS ARTISTS

Since 1986, Phoenix Art Museum has awarded more than $350,000 to over 200 Arizona-based artists through two annual artist awards opportunities. https://phxart.org/art/artist-awards/

Location and Times

Good To Know: Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesday | 3 – 8 pm and First Fridays | 5 – 8 pm.

Location: 1625 North Central Ave.; Phoenix, AZ 85004

HOURS: Monday | Closed; Tuesday | Closed; Wednesday – Friday | 10 am – 8 pm; Saturday – Sunday | 10 am – 5 pm

For more museum events, including Coffee Socials poetry readings, movies, and outdoor music and dance presentations, visit: https://phxart.org/events/

Enjoy your Summer, and maximise on the feature of spending days inside, mixing with the cool and classy of the museum crowd. With so many wonderful galleries and exhibits to see, there is surely something special, and inclusive for everybody. Be a part of the Alchemy.