Art or Fashion? You Decide.

I'll be honest. I don't have the greatest appreciation for art. Spending hours in a museum looking at wild contemporary creations or classic paintings by famous artists, like Vermeer or Monet, isn't my cup of tea. However, on my first trip to the Phoenix Art Museum, I discovered that art isn't limited to the traditional mediums of canvas or clay. Fashion, and the collection of Ann Bonfoey Taylor, has its place in the world of art.


Billed as Fashion Independent: The Original Style of Ann Bonfoy Taylor, the museum's featured exhibit was a stunning example of form meets function, with style and flair. Ann B. Taylor, who has no connection with the store that resembles her name, was not a famous fashion designer. Although she did for a short time design ski apparel, Ann was a unique American woman who had a passion for fashion, assembling her collection carefully. Whether dressed in day wear, evening wear or sportswear, Ann's wardrobe was both classic and sophisticated, but with a distinct style all her own. Ann's son donated his mother's extraordinary wardrobe to the Phoenix Art Museum, which will serve as the foundation of its fashion design collection.

Although I spent most of my time in Ann's "closet," I did venture into some of the museum's other galleries, including the Thorne Miniature Rooms, Latin American collection and the Modern & Contemporary exhibit. My favorite was the Western American collection, which had a section of works exhibiting the unique landscape, people and history of Arizona, including a painting by my favorite local artist Ed Mell. The museum also included a statue by realist artist Fredric Remington, but nothing from C.M. Russell, whose museum in Great Falls, Mont., I've had the pleasure of touring twice. Note to the Phoenix Art Museum: You should include the works of Charlie Russell.

While I may not be an art enthusiast, the Phoenix Art Museum was a great way to cool off in "style" on a hot Saturday afternoon in Phoenix.

Frank was Wright

Last month I stopped by Frank's place (aka Taliesin West). Designed in 1937-1959 by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin West was his personal winter home, studio and architecture campus. But,in fact, it is more than that. It's also an art gallery and an enduring example of how to integrate indoor and outdoor spaces.


Nestled at the base of the Sonoran foothills of the McDowell Mountains in North Scottsdale, you won't notice the structures until you arrive. The buildings are designed to blend in with the natural environment. Stone from the immediate area was used in construction, as well as a color pallet that complements the desert environment. Indoors, natural lighting was used to brighten up rooms. Fireplaces warmed Frank and his guests in the winter, while expertly designed breezeways drew in cool air on hot days. Even the water is drawn from the site, from a aquifer located hundreds of feet below the ground.

But there is more to Taliesin West than its architecture -- there's its art. At every turn you will find statues made of stone or metal. Some stand alone, out in the open, while others are tucked into discreet corners of the property. Still others are grouped together so you can easily stroll among them and compare their artistic designs.

Today Taliesin West is maintained by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, which provides opportunities for the public to learn about Wright's work and the importance of architecture in our daily lives -- teaching us that you can improve your surroundings without damaging the environment. Sounds like Frank was ahead of his time, promoting environmental sustainability and green building practices.

Three Women Spend 3 Days in Bisbee Part 3

Never a Dull Moment in Bisbee

Bisbee may be a small town but there is plenty to do. The main reason Jenni, Janelle and I were there - other than to cross something off my list - was to participate in the Bisbee 1000. Held on the 3rd weekend of October, the event is billed as a 5K that feels like a 10K. Why? Because it includes 1,000+ steps, plus Bisbee is a mile-high town, so the altitude can be a killer. I also discovered that the run is longer than a 5K, registering 4.3 miles according to my Garmin. Imagine my surprise when I reached the 3.1 mile mark and discovered I still had more to go. It's a good thing I trained for this, and I really did, climbing the 10-story stairwell each day at work. That's 198 steps, a fraction of the Bisbee 1000, but it turned out to be better than doing nothing.

The run is well organized - even chip timed - and includes some very interesting activities like the Made in Bisbee Marketplace, featuring local artists and merchants selling unique craft items. One artist that caught my eye was XoTerra Art, where I bought a print of the Maxfield stairs, which I had climbed earlier that day. Another event is the Ice Man, where the heartiest of competitors climbs 155 stairs while carrying a 10-pound block of ice with a set of antique metal tongs - the fastest man or woman wins. I was told that more than 1,700 people participated in the Bisbee 1,000 this year, which is almost 1/3 of the population of Bisbee. Next year I expect there will be more. 2010 marks the event's 20th anniversary and I plan to be there.

Shopping is another recreational activity in Bisbee. Main Street is lined with antique shops, art galleries and a variety of other unique local merchants. We spent the better part of an afternoon wandering from store-to-store browsing and buying. One of our favorite shops was Finders Keepers Antiques & Collectibles. It's a great store filled with old and new items, as well as a fabulous selection of costume jewelry. It also has a friendly shopkeeper, who's willing to chat with any visitors that stops by. We visited this store twice.

Another unique shop is the Bisbee Bicycle Brothel, which is located on Brewery Avenue. At first it seems more like a museum than a bike shop, but don't let that fool you. Everything is for sale. But beyond that, the store has some other unique features - a full bar in the back room and a zen water feature in the adjoining room. These are not open to the public, but purely for the proprietor's benefit. Lucky him! I wish my job had such great amenities.

Another place you must stop in and see is the Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum. A Smithsonian affiliate museum, it offers a fabulous education on the town and the industry that brought it to life - mining. But unlike the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., it's a fraction of the size, so it won't take you too long to go through. Remember, there's plenty to do in Bisbee and I have a few more stops to make.

Do you believe in ghosts? You will in Bisbee if you take the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour. We met our "Ghost Host" on the steps of the Mining and Historical Museum. From there she took us up Main Street and around the town showing us a variety of spots with ghostly activity. Some were stores, others were bars and hotels. Even a park in Bisbee is said to be haunted.

This wasn't my first ghost tour. I've been on one other at the San Carlos Hotel in Downtown Phoenix. There we were encourage to take a lot of photos because spirits would sometime show up as "orbs" in the image. Take a look at the two images below. They were taken outside of the Bisbee Grand Hotel,where you'll find a female ghost haunting the upstairs rooms and a male ghost haunting the downstairs bar. The first picture is my original photo. The second second image was adjusted to add more light. Do you see any orbs floating about in the second photo? I see a lot. Are the spirits? I don't know -- could be.

Bisbee was built on mining, so if there is one stop that should be mandatory it's the Queen Mine Tour. Now it's not for the claustrophobic. You will be going deep inside the mine. First you'll don mining lanterns, hard hats and slicker - not a stylish outfit, but will keep you safe and dry. But not warm, so take a sweatshirt. It's a cool 40 degrees underground.

The mine tour is billed as one for all ages, but parents PLEASE leave your small children at home. I don't have any children of my own, but I do know small children don't like the dark. This is a mine -- its dark. One couple brought their three children into the mine on my tour, twin girls about four years old and a boy just over one year old. The girls were quiet but kept dropping their hard hats on the floor every two minutes, which echoed throughout the caverns. The boy cried the entire time we were underground. These children probably won't remember their trip to the Queen Mine, but I will remember them - for sure.

I know it's early on my journey and I still have a lot more things to cross off my list, but I'm sure Bisbee will remain among my favorite stops. If you're in Southern Arizona I recommend you stop there too.