Escaping the Heat

A 5.5-hour drive will take you from the blistering Phoenix summer to a beautiful day in San Diego.

When we made the trip the first week of July, I recorded parts of it (like I did en route to Pasadena a couple years ago).

This time, I used Instagram Stories to shoot video – capturing location and temperature info at the same time.

It was 104F (40C) when we left Phoenix and 73F (22 C), when we arrived in San Diego. Big difference!

You can watch a 1-minute version our journey from the desert to the ocean either below or on Travelcraft Journal’s YouTube.

Do you ever feel like escaping the summer heat?

June 18, 2018June 18, 2018

Color Story: Blues

When it comes to the summertime blues, the best kind are the rich shades of sea and sky and distant mountains.

Here’s a collection of those blues, in art, craft, and beautiful places.

1. Big Sur, California. 2. Cyanotype workshop, Rotterdam, Netherlands. 3. Owl art print by Elizabeth Graeber. 4. Plate collection, Ibiza, Spain.

5. Mount Rainier, Seattle from the air. 6. Bird mosaic by Smashing China Mosaics. 7. Not a Dozen Even cyanotype print by Tom Loeser.

8. Pebble ring by KT New. 9. Denver Botanic Gardens, Monet Pool. 10. Plant vase by Andrew Ludic. 11. Mural by Isaac Caruso.

12. Cloud earrings by Wolf + Moon. 13. Schloss Hollenegg castle near Schwanberg, Austria. 14. Fringe garland DIY by Oh Joy! 15. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee via National Park Service.

16. San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm by Angela Oliver. 17. Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Consuelo in Altea, Spain. 18. Desert container garden via Agave Heritage Festival. 19. Indigo Dye Kit by Anna Joyce.

What blues make you happy?

May 28, 2018May 14, 2018

Jacome Plaza in Tucson

Jacome Plaza is a park in Downtown Tucson with lots of tables, free wifi, and lawn games like giant Connect Four and human-sized chess.

You’ll find it at Pennington and Stone Avenue next to the Joel D. Valdez Main Library plaza and the red Sonora sculpture by David Black.

It’s designed both as a place to relax and a place for people to work outside, taking advantage of Tucson’s beautiful-most-of-the-year weather.

I stumbled on it during a break in Arizona International Film Festival. By the time I happened upon it, however, it was almost time for me to leave. But I’ll definitely keep the park in mind next time I’m in town.

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018

Library on Hold: Burton Barr’s Borrowed Art Space

You have just over a week left to see the “Gems from the Burton Barr Library Art Collection” at Phoenix City Hall!

Yes, there’s a gallery inside City Hall. And, yes, there’s an exhibition of art from the library.

Library Unavailable Due to Water Damage

It was almost a year ago that a burst pipe in the central library wreaked enough havoc in a matter of minutes to require months of reconstruction.

With repairs in process, a selection of the library’s art was transferred to Gallery @ Phoenix City Hall. Located in a walled-off corner of the main lobby, the Gallery is only open during the work day.

Art to Check Out

The eclectic collection features work as varied as a series of paintings by Ed Mell, a piece by Joan Miró, and a traditional Navajo rug.

Previously, the works on display had been scattered throughout the five-floor library building – including in tucked-away spots like the rare book room.

Reshelving Books

Since the unexpected shutdown, staff and programs have been on intralibrary loan to other branches. Many items are back in circulation thanks to a “pop up” library in a mall basement.

The temporary Phoenix Public Library branch in the lower level of Park Central Mall has books, computers, The Hive (co-working space), culture passes, a seed library, and lots of free parking.

It’s a way to provide services for downtown patrons until Burton Barr can be opened again, hopefully, sometime this summer.

– More Info –

Gallery @ Phoenix City Hall

Free admission.
Open to the public from 10am to 2pm, Monday through Friday.
200 W. Washington St., Phoenix, ground floor, just to the left of the metal detectors at the main entrance.
Light rail: Washington/Central
Parking: Street parking (metered) or 305 parking garage at 305 W. Washington St. ($4/hour)
Pick up some free Phoenix public art postcards after you see the exhibit.

Phoenix Public Library @ Park Central

Open Monday through Saturday 9am to 5pm (or later), 1-5pm on Sundays.
3110 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, basement level. Take the elevator beneath the big outdoor clock (between Jimmy John’s and Jamba Juice) down, and you’re there!
Light rail: Indian School/Central
Parking: free lot.