The Sagrado

Aiming to be Phoenix’s Center for Southwest Street-​rooted art.
I photograph the many murals of Phoenix and some in other places I travel, posting them to Panoramio. A grand-​nephew and his best friend like taking time off from the family chores given them, joining me on mural capture breaks. The nephew is the grandson of noted Phoenix/​Southwest Native American community photographer Lee Hyeoma. I sense promise.
January 28, I took them down Grand Avenue to grab two or three Luster Kaboom’s and a Sent Rock during our break. On our journey we met Samuel Gomez and his beautiful family. He invited us into The Sagrado gallery, showed mostly me around while the young men were out taking pics. I was invited to the February 3 First Friday.
February 3, I attended my first Friday, The Sagrado’s Corazon (Heart) Exhibit, meeting the personably friendly Albert Rodriguez. When we could get some time, I was introduced to the gallery’s curator El Moises, Director Jay Olivas, and reconnected with Samuel Gomez.
What is great about this crowd is their effort to create a 21^st Century art scene bringing talented young out of the Tag Scene, creating mentored, legal, maybe paying, artistic expression. On their journeys, they are polishing another facet in Phoenix’s diverse cultural gem, cultivating more personality for our fair city.
The art was cross-​cutting, done in a variety of media priced from thirty to multi thousands of dollars. Free cupcakes and wine! Mexican-​style traditional carved and painted wood. A kinetic Willy Wonka with Eternal Gob-​stopper heart driven by hand-​cut intricate wooden gearing. There’s print and original framed work, multi-​media of lights, glass and mirrors. A garden of many flowers expressing the heart. Perfect for Valentines Day.
The gallery is in an old industrial building refurbed and renamed La Malgosa. People knowledgeable about the Phoenix art scene can write volumes about the couple who’ve been building the Grand Ave scene for many years. La Malgosa is a facet of their Artistic Gem. Friday night, a duo, accompanied by a six-​foot inflatable rubbber duckie, played music in front of Deus ex Machina. Deus ex is a steam-​punkish gallery filled with beautifully crafted, re-​purposed or made from scratch furniture/​cabinetry running video loops of Dei reminiscent of Heironymous Bosch.
Down the hall in another studio cubby I met Mara and some of her finely crafted pottery. Thin walls/​triple firing. Worth a look and a visit.
It was a good visit. I encourage you to visit and expand your horizons or reconnect with old art scene friends. Find Alberto, tell him Chris sent you and he’ll be glad to talk about his corner of the art world. Jay Samuel and Moises welcome you too.