Arts

Quilting Divas

Quilting Divas

This group typically meets at the Community/Senior Center on the 1st Friday of each month from 9:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Share the love and joy of quilting through demos, speakers, challenges, community projects, trips and parties.

Arizona Wineries and Vinyards

Arizona's diversity shines through in its people, its experiences and even its landscapes — a choice few of which present the perfect conditions for growing grapes. One of the hidden surprises in Arizona. Arizona boasts more than 120 wineries and tasting rooms across the state. Some fun day trips are possible when you chase the grape!

Will travel for wine? Arizona entered the wine business back in the 1970s and created a wine culture today that honors the agricultural bounty of the state’s high deserts and the dedication of the people who tend the vines at more than 30 wineries in Arizona. Tasting rooms have elevated Arizona’s wine reputation even in areas far removed from the vineyards. Restaurants and bars statewide, in small towns and big cities, have added the flavors of Arizona to their menus.

Wherever your travels take you, cheers to Arizona.

This is a very interesting and informative website offered by the Arizona Office of Tourism. Better yet - take a trip and checkout a couple of wineries!

Arts and Culture

"Although there is no central location for the arts in Maricopa, there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy cultural events in the city. Three dedicated spaces feature artwork from local artists of various media. Musical, theatrical, dance and chorale performances are also a cultural staple in Maricopa and are curated by local artistic organizations."

A January 2020 article from InMaricopa magazine regarding the Arts in the City of Maricopa. A little out of date, but it does provide some insights into the Arts Culture in this city.

Heard Museum

The Heard Museum sets the standard for collaborating with American Indian artists and tribal communities to provide visitors with a distinctive perspective about the art of Native people, especially those from the Southwest.

About the Heard Museum:

Since its founding in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown in size and stature to become recognized internationally for the quality of its collections, world-class exhibitions, educational programming and its unmatched festivals. Dedicated to the advancement of American Indian art, the Heard successfully presents the stories of American Indian people from a first-person perspective, as well as exhibitions that showcase the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art.

Orchestra, Chorus Reschedule Spring Concert

"The Maricopa Music Circle and Maricopa Chorus are fighting their way back to the stage after a difficult spring session that resulted in the postponement of their performance for the first time in their 13-year history.

The orchestra and chorus rescheduled their concert to Saturday, May 6, at Leading Edge Academy, 18700 N. Porter Road."

An article from a May 2023 issue of InMaricopa magazine documenting the persistence of these two groups against all odds to finally perform their joint concert.

Alterra welcomes colorful new residents.

Second batch of wild horses are installed in Alterra!

"Do you see a new splash of color near Alterra?

Three new “wild horses” — equine statues decorated by local artists — were installed at West Alterra and North John Wayne Parkways yesterday morning."

Check out the newest installation from the City Manager's Wild Horse art initiative. This installation is special in that it is a multi-horse installation. Check out the details in a July 24th InMaricopa article written by Brian Petersheim Jr. a Multimedia Journalist.

Maricopa Women in Art

This group only has a Facebook site: (10) Maricopa Women In Art | Facebook

They are an informal social group.

MIM - Musical Instrument Museum

MIM has a collection of more than 8,000 instruments from more than 200 world countries. The galleries reflect the rich diversity and history of many world cultures. The music and instruments also show us what we have in common. This is a thought powerfully expressed in our motto, "music is the language of the soul."

Note from Ron Smith - MIM is on top of my list when I'm recommending places to visit in the Phoenix area. It is a very unique museum that shouldn't be missed if you have the time.

ASU Gammage Theatre - Tempe

ASU Gammage

An architectural landmark, a home for the arts

"I am so proud to be able to lead ASU Gammage and have been fortunate to see our programs grow and audiences grow with us. We continue to present the best of Broadway as well as an array of artists from across the globe in all artistic disciplines through the ASU Gammage Beyond series and our programming at ASU Kerr Cultural Center."

Colleen Jennings-Roggensack
ASU Vice President for Cultural Affairs

Although not in Maricopa, the offerings provided by the ASU Gammage Theatre are not far away and bring Broadway theatre to our doorsteps. Check out their offerings and enjoy some excellent theatre in a remarkable facility! Upper balcony tickets and season tickets are quite affordable!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts

Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts

This group typically meets in the City of Maricopa Community/Senior Center on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month from 9:00 - 1:30 p.m.

Like-minded quilters gather here for fellowship and inspiration. Learn new quilting skills and techniques while working on charitable projects for the community and fellow local organizations. Beginners and accomplished quilters are welcomed. Please come join them for fun!

Their Facebook link is: (11) Sisterhood of the Traveling Quilts - Maricopa, AZ | Facebook

DSPA Gems. Inc. - Desert Sun Performing Arts

A non-profit bringing the art of dance to the community.

"DSPA Gems was founded in 2009 with the purpose of enriching the Maricopa community with the arts.

Our three main goals include community outreach, dance for special needs children and tuition assistance for families who cannot afford dance education. The Gems have awarded over $20,000 to families of children who wish to dance, held numerous community events including Daddy Daughter Dance, Mother Son Dance, Mother-Daughter Tea, and Sugar Plum Tea."

"In addition, DSPA Gems has been able to reach thousands of Maricopa children in public schools through a free dance class with our community outreach program."

Check out their website and media links to learn more.

United Sound

Our mission: to remove barriers and foster social change through music.

WHY IS UNITED SOUND NEEDED?

3.2 MILLION US STUDENTS HAVE NO ACCESS TO INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EDUCATION!

THE PROBLEM

1. Secondary music teachers receive little to no training
2. No extra time or staffing to devote to a new population
3. Lack of specialized curriculum

THE SOLUTION

1. United Sound provides teacher and student training modules
2. United Sound utilizes peer mentors to create a student led music chapter
3. The United Sound curriculum includes method books, lesson plans, how-to videos, and more!

Our goal is to support individual music educators in creating their own United Sound ensembles through training, support, specialized curriculum, and organizational resources.

Check out this website for more information on how this program addresses an important educational deficiency with a very creative program. Very interesting.

Learn with Aloha LLC

The owners of Learn with Aloha LLC after moving to Maricopa felt the need to teach their culture as a way of giving back to their new community. They desired to teach their culture and keep it alive in their family. See interview in Maricopa Lifestyle Magazine (Quarter 2 - June 2023) with Janelle Gomez.

Their school offers Hawaiian Cultural Educational Classes and workshops including Hula and other related courses.

Maricopa Arts Council

Desert Botanical Gardens (Phoenix)

EXPLORE THE BEAUTY

Think the desert is all dirt and tumbleweeds? Think again. Desert Botanical Garden is home to thousands of species of cactus, trees and flowers from all around the world spread across 55 acres in Phoenix, Arizona.

In 1939, a small group of passionate local citizens saw the need to conserve the beautiful desert environment. One was Swedish botanist Gustaf Stark, who found like-minded residents by posting a sign that read “Save the Desert.”

With the support of social influencers of the time such as Gertrude Divine Webster, the Garden’s presence grew. Nearly eight decades later, thanks to leadership and investments from many individuals, Desert Botanical Garden has blossomed from a dream into a living museum.

Maricopa Music Circle

Maricopa Music Circle

"Co-founded in Fall 2009 by Judith Lang Zaimont, pianist, Genevieve Ehrbright, violin, and Mary Mullarky, cello. Performing primarily within Maricopa and surrounding locales, MMC has since grown from a small ensemble to a conductor less Chamber Orchestra of skilled musicians playing arrangements tailored especially for our instrumentation. Our programs always range widely and include everything from full orchestral works to classical instrumental and vocal solos, along with traditional seasonal music, popular tunes, and great standards from the big-band era to the present."

Check the website for more information.

TikTok chef shares love of food and culture — with millions of fans

"Shortly after their children leave for school, Ana Regalado and her husband, Ricardo, begin cooking and setting up filming equipment in their Maricopa kitchen. Lights and tripods sit on a countertop along with neatly placed décor and ingredients."

"On this day, Regalado prepares potato taquitos and sopa de fideo, a tomato-based noodle soup. It’s a simple, meat-free dish that is savory and filling.

She smiles for the camera as she goes through multiple takes pouring the soup, sprinkling cheese and presenting the dish to film a one-minute video for her TikTok channel, Salty Cocina."

Regalado may still be shy to talk, but each week she welcomes 2.5 million subscribers into her Maricopa Meadows home to teach them how to prepare a variety of Mexican dishes. She has gained attention on a local and national scale, finding herself featured on the “Today Show” and in The Oprah Magazine.

This article from a 2023 issue of InMaricopa magazine introduces us to our own TikTok channel celebrity chef who has introduced millions to her food and culture. This is a fascinating story of passion, talent and hard work that has taken on a life of its own! Congratulations! Enjoy. A great story.

"Salty Cocina is a family affair.

It’s usually a team effort,” Regalado said, motioning to her husband. “He does the recording and I do the cooking. It works out really well.”

Quilters Bring Fabric to Life (re. the Quilting Divas)

This group is called the Quilting Divas and they often meet at the City of Maricopa Community/Senior Center.

This is an article from an October 2021 issue of InMaricopa magazine.

Ak-Chin Him-Dak Eco-Museum

"The Him-Dak EcoMuseum was established to collect, analyze, preserve, protect, promote and teach various aspects of the Ak-Chin heritage, culture and communication between generations. Tribal crafts, exhibits and photographs of the Ak-Chin people are displayed. The Museum is distinguished from a traditional museum in that land and territory replace the museum building, and the residents of the area take on the role of curator and public. This museum acts as an exhibit and storage area that reflects both prehistoric and local items from families housed here. It hosts two yearly celebrations: the annual Him-Dak Celebration held in April and the Native American Recognition Day Celebration in September.

Arizona Highways Magazine

I've been subscribing to this magazine for 35 years!

The photography is magnificent! Even if you can't do the trips, the articles and photojournalism will convince you that you have been there! Unfortunately, this idea will cost you an annual subscription fee. Look around on their website for a while and you'll get a decent idea of what they offer.

Note that they also publish several specialized books covering specialized travel that you can buy without have a subscription.

City Manager Arts Initiative

"Our city manager believes that for a community to thrive, the arts and all of its different avenues is a critical component. It is also important to create a place that is worthy of our affection. Having a space where we can showcase the talents and diversity of our community allows us to bring in greater economic development, quality of life, and a family atmosphere that the city of Maricopa has fostered throughout its rich history. All of the hard work to enrich our community goes out to our committees, sponsors, volunteers, and of course, our wonderful local artists."

Maricopa Wild Horses Arts Project

"In celebration of the City of Maricopa’s growth, it is important to honor our roots and look to the future. In the early 1800s horse and mule drawn freight trains would pass through the area carrying goods from east to west. The mid 1800s brought the first continental Butterfield Overland Mail Line providing mail service and was the method used for communicating from coast to coast. The Pony Express were young, hardy riders traveling at great speeds by horse delivering catalogs and goods to the doorstep. In the late 1800’s four and six-horse Concord coaches would provide passenger service to and from Phoenix for those arriving by train. To the South, in the early 1900s horse drawn farming instruments where used by our native neighbors whose 16,000 acre Ak-Chin Farm is one of the most successful farming enterprises today. Entering Maricopa from the North passengers can likely find a heard of wild horses roaming the open fields and are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West. In the heart of Maricopa lives the Heritage District. This unique district is generally defined as the “old part” of town where many “horse properties” still exist today. This is why the wild horse is relevant to the City of Maricopa’s History."

Check the website for more information regarding this exciting project.

Stitches for Love

This is a charity-based group who works locally in Maricopa for groups requiring assistance. Enjoy knitting, crocheting, and sewing projects, such as, hats, gloves, and throws to give to the community.

They meet in the Maricopa Community/Senior Center the 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

We share ideas and patterns and enjoy each other's company as we work together to strengthen our community.

Maricopa Friends of the Arts (MFOTA)

"We’re here to help the Arts thrive in Maricopa

MISSION STATEMENT: The Maricopa Friends of the Arts (MFOTA) mission is to be Patrons of the Arts by fostering, promoting and financially supporting art forms in the City of Maricopa and surrounding areas. Maricopa Friends of the Arts recognizes the benefits and joys that art can bring to one’s life. MFOTA will provide artistic experiences at meetings to further promote the arts."

Check out this website to learn more about the Maricopa Friends of the Arts.

Huhugan Heritage Center

How many times have you driven past this museum on SR 347?

This modern cultural center highlights the ancestral, historic and current cultures of the Gila River Indian Community, made up of two tribes – the Akimel O’otham and the Pee Posh. Our mission is to ensure our Akimel O’otham and Pee Posh cultures flourish for future generations.

The Huhugam Heritage Center was built in 2003, fulfilling our Community vision to create a place for Community, culture, land, tradition and spirit: a place to honor and preserve our Him dak (our way of life).

Come experience our unique and calming architecture. The Center stairsteps up out of the desert, the building silhouettes designed to blend in with the nearby mountain ranges and hills.

In our state-of-the-art collections repository, we care for Huhugam, Akimel O’otham and Pee Posh treasures from our ancestral lands' boundaries of the Huhugam (also known by the archaeological name Hohokam), master artists, farmers and crafts people of our desert home.

Collections which include large archaeological project holdings including the Snaketown, Gila River Cultural Resources Management Program and Bureau of Reclamation Central Arizona Project Collections, an outstanding collection of nearly 500 O’odham baskets, an exquisite Pee Posh pottery collection, the trombone and memorabilia of renowned Akimel O’otham jazz trombonist Russell Moore and the Blackwater Store & Trading Post and Arts and Crafts museum collections.

Sap eth tha:thak em ñei

(We are happy to see you)

Creative Sisterhood

Creative Sisterhood

This group is open to women 55 and older in Maricopa, AZ. We meet at the Maricopa Community Center, 41614 West Smith-Enke Road, Maricopa, AZ.

We are a craft group that meets on Wednesday mornings from 9 am to usually 1:00 pm. We do all kinds of craft, visiting, community projects, sharing of ideas and teaching each other.

Come join in on some creative activities, learn a new skill or share your skill!

Their Facebook site is: (1) Creative Sisterhood, Maricopa, AZ | Facebook

Maricopa Community Theatre

Maricopa Community Theatre was formed on January 23, 2010, as the baby of Artistic Director, Carrie Vargas. It stemmed from the desire to direct a local production of “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

She knew that Maricopa had abundant talent, and that being nestled in its location, there is a distance for the community to travel to see quality theatre. It is from that knowledge and experience, that Maricopa Community Theatre was created. MCT has established partnerships with the City of Maricopa Parks and Recreation Division, DSPA Gems, Inc and Maricopa Music Circle, among others, to broaden the scope of theatrical performance in Maricopa.

In 2017, the company shifted into a nonprofit corporation and reimagined what theatre could bring to the community. Through grants, donations and lots of blood, sweat and tears, MCT brings multiple opportunities for theatrical performance to the area. Board members, past and present, as well as community members, and cast/crew, have made Maricopa Community theatre what it is today.

And we look forward to many years of producing quality theatre in Maricopa!

Check out the following website for details on the Maricopa Community Theatre including upcoming performances.

Poll: Readers value the arts as quality-of-life amenity in the community

"In a poll that generated the closest results in recent memory, our weekly reader poll asked, “How vital are the arts to a growing community like Maricopa?”

The votes were nearly evenly divided among our three responses, with just 4.3 percentage points separating them, although responses to the first two questions indicate that 68.8 percent said they appreciate the arts as an amenity in the community."

A January 2023 poll in InMaricopa magazine breaks down the results of a recent resident poll regarding their support level for the arts in the community.

Public arts could be step toward uplifting civic pride, council agrees

"Maricopa City Council gave city staff approval to explore creating a public arts initiative that could yield physical displays and performance arts.

City Chief Financial Officer Matt Kozlowski noted many cities across the Valley also recognize the value of art in creating unique community identities."

“This is so exciting because we have an active, passionate art community in Maricopa of all ages, from our little ones up to our seniors who are engaged in arts,” Councilmember Amber Liermann said. “I see this as a sustainable support for the arts in our city and I’m super excited about this.”

This October 2022 article from InMaricopa covers Council support for the value of community art in the City of Maricopa.