With no formal art education, Avner Zabari began painting—on everything. From canvas to slabs of scrap wood, the budding artist practiced with an indiscriminating brush. “I was fascinated with the temperament of the wood—the way the color would bleed or hold depending on the consistencies of the wood,” he recalls. Zabari soon turned to discarded furniture, resurrecting chairs, tables, wardrobes and more.    He honed his skills, mastering methods of wood-staining and learning the nuances of furniture making. The artist is constantly experimenting with unconventional materials, bringing stone, wood, metal and leather into his repertoire. Adorned with curious compartments, primitive faces and mystical symbols, his furniture adds atmosphere and a sense of fun to a space, along with utility and comfort.    Zabari’s works, as well as vibrantly distinct furnishings by the artisans of Sticks, are showcased in “Extraordinary Art Furniture,” which celebrates the joy and value of “usable” art. Hosted by Lanning Gallery in Sedona, the show opens with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Aug. 7 as part of the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday event, and continues on display through Aug. 16. For more information, visit lanninggallery.com, or call (928) 282-6865.

Adelante Gallery—34505 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, (480) 488-1285. Paintings by Argentine artist Sergio Roggerone are on exhibit Aug. 1-31. His works express an intricate and magical combination of the country’s culture and his birthplace in Mendoza, Argentina. His passionate style incorporating fabrics and textures that define the depth and emotion of his subjects are indicative of Mendocino art.

Arizona Museum for Youth—35 N. Robson St., Mesa, arizonamuseumforyouth.com, (480) 664-2467. “Every Bead Tells a Story: Christy Puetz & Beads of Courage,” through Aug. 9; “Little Lands in Fiber,” through Aug. 9; and “My Favorite Monster,” through Sept. 27.

Arizona Museum of Natural History—53 N. Macdonald St., Mesa, (480) 644-2230. “Mars!,” which is based on new discoveries about the red planet, through Aug. 30.

Arizona Science Center—600 E. Washington St., Phoenix, azscience.org, (602) 716-2000. “Lego Castle Adventures,” through Sept. 6. Grownups can enjoy the center with “people their own size” during a free Adults’ Night Out, which takes place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Aug. 7.

Arizona State University Art Museum—Nelson Fine Arts Center, Tempe, (480) 965-ARTS. “Food: Feasts for the Eyes From the Permanent Collection,” through Aug. 30; “Figuring Prominently,” through Sept. 19; “I Never Saw So Clearly,” through Sept. 19; and “Hits From the ’60s and ’70s,” through Oct. 31.

Bentley Gallery—4161 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, bentleygallery.com, (480) 946-6060. Paintings by Beatriz Ezban and Mirang Wonne are in the spotlight through Aug. 31.

Colonial Frontiers—244 S. Park Ave., Tucson, colonialfrontiers.com, (520) 622-7400.  Amazon utilitarian pottery from the Shipibo Indians of Peru, circa 1960s, is on exhibit through Sept. 30.

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center—30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, Colo., csfineartscenter.org, (719) 634-5581. “The Baroque World of Fernando Botero,” through Aug. 15.

World-renowned for his sculpture of Native Americans, Oreland C. Joe, of Diné and Ute descent, tells the stories of his people in materials such as marble, alabaster and limestone.    His work is showcased in “New Works by Native Artists Shonto Begay and Oreland C. Joe” at Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery in Santa Fe. The show opens with a reception for the artists from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 21 and continues on exhibit through Sept. 18. Pictured is “Desert Wind” by Joe. The piece is made of Portuguese marble and measures 30  1/4" high x 18" wide x 14" deep. For details, visit medicinemangallery.com, or call (505) 820-7451.

Deer Valley Rock Art Center—3711 W. Deer Valley Rd., Phoenix, dvrac.asu.edu, (602) 582-8007. “The Rock Art Paintings of Hueco Tanks,” through Sept. 1, is an exhibition of photographs by artist Clay Martin. The photo essay aims to educate visitors about Hueco Tanks in Texas, a spectacular site with 3,000 pictographs. The center offers Summer Twilight Tours from 7 to 8 p.m. Aug. 8 and 22, focusing on petroglyphs, archaeology, desert plants and animals, and Native American cultures.

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun—6300 N. Swan Rd., Tucson, degrazia.org, (520) 299-9191, Ext. 112. “DeGrazia: 100 Years, 100 Works,” which commemorates the centennial birth date of renowned Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia, is on display through Jan. 15, 2010. Included in the exhibit are 100 significant examples of the artist’s work, arranged chronologically, showing viewers the wide range of mediums and styles the artist worked with throughout his career.

Desert Artisans’ Gallery—6536 E. Tanque Verde Rd., Tucson, desertartisans.com, (520) 722-4412. “Summer Melange,” through Sept. 13, features works by Tucson-area artists Sharon Bertrand, Myrna Bonaccorso, Al Christensen, Judy Faitsch, Susan Libby and Emely McConkey.

Desert Caballeros Western Museum—21 N. Frontier St., Wickenburg, westernmuseum.org, (928) 684-2272. “Rodeo: A Wild Ride,” through Sept. 6.

De Young Museum—50 Tea Garden Dr., San Francisco, deyoungmuseum.org, (415) 750-3600. “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” through March 28, 2010, features more than 130 important objects from Egypt’s 18th Dynasty, including 50 pieces from the tomb of King Tut.

Duley-Jones Gallery—7100 E. Main St., Scottsdale, duleyjones.com, (480) 945-8475. The gallery celebrates its eighth anniversary with its “Anniversary All Gallery Artists Show,” through Aug. 30.

Etherton Gallery—135 S. Sixth Ave., Tucson, ethertongallery.com, (520) 624-7370. “The Bare Necessity of Art,” through Aug. 31, features paintings, photography and works on paper selected from the gallery’s collection.

Gallery Andrea­­—7019 E. Main St., Scottsdale, artandrea.com, (480) 481-2530. “Ladies With Shoes,” Aug. 1-31, showcases bronze sculpture by Andrea Schwab.

Goldenstein Gallery—390 N. Hwy. 89A, Sedona, goldensteinart.com, (928) 204-1765. “The Color of the Land,” Aug. 7-Sept. 30, features artists whose works capture the magic and depth of the world that surrounds us. Included are pieces by D.J. Hershman, Lynne Rae Lowe, Peter Myerson and Alan Powell.

Heard Museum—2301 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, heard.org, (602) 252-8840. “La Casa Murillo: A Life-Size Shadow Box,” through Aug. 2; “Old Traditions in New Pots: Silver Seed Pots from the Norman L. Sanfield Collection,” through Sept. 30; “Life in a Cold Place: Arctic Art From the Albrecht Collection,” through Sept. 30; and “Mothers & Daughters: Stories in Clay,” through Jan. 24, 2010.

Scott Amrhein was working in the metal-casting industry in the late ’70s when his wife took up stained glass as a hobby. Immediately drawn to the art of glass, Amrhein began designing a few small pieces himself and eventually expanded his creative efforts to making slumped-glass bowls. Slumping is the bending or shaping of glass into or over a mold.    “I want to express not only the fluid, lavalike nature of glass in its molten state, but also the finely polished material that man has created from sand, lime and ash,” he explains. “Since heat and gravity form the bowl, no two are exactly alike. I relinquish my control to nature.” The artist utilizes his metal-casting background for the rim treatment and has designed several bases made from wood and metal, as seen in this elliptical feather bowl of slumped glass on a wood and copper stand. The piece measures 12" high x 22" wide x 7" deep. Amrhein’s work is showcased in “Art Glass—A Desert Reflection,” which runs Aug. 1-31 at Pinnacle Gallery in Scottsdale. For more information, visit pinnaclegallery.com, or call (480) 563-9800.

Heard Museum North— The Summit at Scottsdale, 32633 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, heard.org, (480) 488-9817. “Beyond Face Value,” featuring work by R.C. Gorman, Fritz Scholder, Harry Fonseca, Bentley Spang and Bob Haozous, through Oct. 4.

Heard Museum West—16126 N. Civic Center Plaza, Surprise, heard.org, (623) 344-2200. “Animals in Arctic Art: Selections From the Albrecht Collection at the Heard Museum,” through Oct. 25.

LKG Contemporary—7171 E. Main St., Scottsdale, lkgcontemporary.com, (480) 922-1370. “Drama in Nature,” Aug. 6-27, showcases abstract Contemporary mixed-media paintings by Alexys Henry.

Mesa Contemporary Arts—1 E. Main St., Mesa, mesaartscenter.com, (480) 644-6500. “Androgyny: New Work by Sergei Isupov,” through Aug. 2; “Archaeologica: The Disposable Museum of Jessica Drenk,” through Aug. 2; “Parallel Universe: The Art of Paula Wittner,” through Aug. 9; and “Resurrect: The Art of the Reclaimed Object,” through Aug. 9.

Mesa Historical Museum—2345 N. Horne St., Mesa, mesaaz.org, (480) 835-7358. “Play Ball: The Cactus League Experience,” through Dec. 31, 2010.

Mountain Artists Gallery—228 N. Alarcon St., Prescott, mountainartistsguild.org, (928) 776-4009. “Spotlight Show on Chris Saper,” through Aug. 14, features a series of portrait paintings titled, “Glorious Skin Tones,” showcasing the beauty of ethnically diverse individuals; “High Desert Discoveries Art Show,” through Sept. 12, exhibits paintings, jewelry, ceramics and glass works by local and national artists; “Spotlight Show on Bob Duncan,” Aug. 14-Sept. 11, presents paintings of varied subjects and media on a two-dimensional surface; and “Bedazzled Fine Art Show,” Aug. 15-Sept. 16, showcases colorful and beautiful expressions of functional, wearable and visual arts by Judd Lotts, Amari Magdalena and Thomas Restifo, with a reception for these artists from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 28. 

Museo Alameda—101 S. Santa Rosa St., San Antonio, thealameda.org, (210) 299-4300. “Becoming American: Teenagers and Immigration,” through Aug. 30; “American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music,” through Sept. 25; and “Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray,” through Dec. 6.

Museum of Indian Arts and Culture—710 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, indianartsandculture.org, (505) 476-1269. “Native American Picture Books of Change,” through Jan. 2, 2010; “Native Couture: A History of Santa Fe Style,” through Feb. 21, 2010; and “A River Apart: The Pottery of Cochiti and Santo Domingo Pueblos,” through June 6, 2010.

Museum of International Folk Art—706 Camino Lejo, Santa Fe, internationalfolkart.org, (505) 476-1200. “Writing With Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities,” through Aug. 16; “A Century of Masters: The NEA National Heritage Fellows of New Mexico,” through Jan. 1, 2010; and “Dancing Shadows, Epic Tales: Wayang Kulit of Indonesia,” through March 14, 2010.

Museum of Photographic Arts—1649 El Prado, San Diego, mopa.org, (619) 238-7559. “Jo Whaley: Theater of Insects,” through Sept. 13; “Ansel Adams: A Life’s Work,” through Oct. 4; and “Picturing the Process: The Photograph as Witness,” Aug. 1-Feb. 6, 2010.

New Mexico Museum of Art—107 W. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, mfa-santafe.org, (505) 476-5072. “Intertwined: Contemporary Baskets From the Sara and David Lieberman Collection,” through Sept. 6; “Georgia O’Keeffe’s Legacy in New Mexico,” through Sept. 9; “Gustave Baumann: A Santa Fe Legend,” through Sept. 9; “American Impressionism: Paintings From the Phillips Collection,” through Sept. 13; and “How the West is One: The Art of New Mexico,” through April 20, 2010.

Palace of the Governors—105 W. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, palace-ofthegovernors.org, (505) 476-5100. “Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe,” through Oct. 25, offers a photographic history of Santa Fe.

Named for the sounds Chicago-based artist Nick Cave’s creations make when worn, the shimmering mixed-media “Soundsuits” are in the spotlight as Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art presents “Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth,” through Nov. 29.    Reminiscent of African and religious ceremonial costumes as well as high fashion, these multilayered wearable sculptures are made using scavenged materials.    The “Soundsuit” pictured measures 94" high x 35" wide x 35" deep and was created from appliquéd knitted and crocheted fabric, metal armature, and painted metal and wooden toys. For more information, visit scottsdalearts.org, or call (480) 994-ARTS.

Palm Springs Art Museum—101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs, Calif., psmuseum.org, (760) 322-4800. “Impressionist and Modern Masters: Nature and Light,” through Aug. 30; “Modern Moments: Recent Gifts in American Photography,” through Nov. 8; and “Selections From the Permanent Collection,” through Nov. 29.

The Phippen Museum—4701 Highway 90 North, Prescott, phippenartmuseum.org, (928) 778-1385. “Treasures of the Phippen Collection,” Aug. 8-Sept. 20, represents the finest in traditional Western art. The exhibit includes many new acquisitions to the museum’s collection, as well as works that have not been exhibited for some time.

Phoenix Art Museum—1625 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, phxart.org, (602) 257-1222. “Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement,” through Sept. 20; and “Tony Foster, Searching for a Bigger Subject: Watercolor Diaries From Everest and the Grand Canyon,” through Oct. 18.

Prescott Fine Arts Association Gallery—208 N. Marina St., Prescott, pfaa.net, (928) 445-3286. “Don’t Stop With Dali,” through Sept. 6, focuses on the imagination of artists as they explore free association, dream analysis and the unconscious.

Pueblo Grande Museum—4619 E. Washington St., Phoenix, pueblogrande.com, (602) 495-0900. “Pieces of the Puzzle: New Perspectives on the Hohokam,” through Oct. 4.

Rosson House Museum—113 N. Sixth St., Phoenix, rossonhouse-museum.org, (602) 261-8063. “Water and the Roosevelt Dam,” through April 1, 2010, examines the importance of water and the effects of the Roosevelt Dam on the inhabitants of the Salt River Valley.

San Diego Museum of Art—1450 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, sdmart.org, (619) 232-7931. “Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power,” through Sept. 6; “In the Company Manner,” through Sept. 27; “Toulouse-Lautrec at SDMA: The Baldwin M. Baldwin Collection,” through Oct. 18; “Oceanic Art,” through Jan. 3, 2010; and “New Light on the Old Masters,” through Jan. 3, 2010.

San Diego Natural History Museum—1788 El Prado, San Diego, sdnhm.org, (619) 255-0189. “Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds 2 & the Brain—Our Three-Pound Gem,” through Oct. 4.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art—7374 E. Second St., Scottsdale, scottsdalearts.org, (480) 994-ARTS. “At the Crossroads of American Photography: Callahan, Siskind, Sommer,” through Aug. 9; “Collecting/Exhibitions: Ten Years of Acquiring Art Through Exhibitions,” through Oct. 1; “Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth,” through Nov. 29; “Visions: Juxtapositions,” through Jan. 23, 2010; and “Unexpected Wegman,” through Jan. 24, 2010.

Sharlot Hall Museum—415 W. Gurley St., Prescott, sharlot.org, (928) 445-3122. “Paint! Breaking the Buckskin Ceiling,” through Nov. 15, 2010, showcases American Indian artwork by Jesse T. Hummingbird (Cherokee), Judith Durr (Choctaw), Baje Whitehorse Sr. (Navajo) and Michael Kabotie (Hopi). Individually and collectively, these Arizona artists challenge and expand the meaning of “Indian art.”

Hailed by many Native Americans as a “messenger for the Indian people,” painter JD Challenger is said to capture the soul of a nation in his original oils and limited-edition giclées, which are on exhibit in “Powerful Portraits,” Aug. 1-31, at Exposures International Gallery of Fine Art in Sedona.    Fascinated by the culture of Native Americans since his youth, the artist paints the story of a people rich in traditions. He takes his role seriously but modestly declines credit for his gift.    “The thing I do best is paint. I prefer to look at it as ‘not me’ doing it, I’m just the instrument—the Creator, the brush, the paint, and then me.” Pictured is “Fancy Dancer,” a mixed media on canvas that measures 50" high x 50" wide. For details, visit exposuresfineart.com, or call (928) 282-1125.

Shemer Art Center—5005 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, (602) 262-4727. “Shemer Student Biennial Exhibition,” through Aug. 4; and “Permanent Art Collection Exhibition,” Aug. 17-Sept. 4.

Smoki Museum of American Indian Art and Culture—147 N. Arizona Ave., Prescott, smokimuseum.org, (928) 445-1230. “Images of the Past, 1886-1930,” through Aug. 31, showcases photography by C.S. Fly, Edward S. Curtis and Kate Thompson Cory.

Tempe Center for the Arts—700 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, (480) 350-2867. “Read Me a Picture: Arizona Children’s Book Illustrators,” through Sept. 19. Artists featured in the exhibition participate in a panel discussion about their work in “Paper Cup Exchange: Children’s Book Illustrators,” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 6.

Tucson Museum of Art—140 N. Main Ave., Tucson, tucsonmuseum-ofart.org, (520) 624-2333. “Arizona Biennial ’09,” through Sept. 26, “DeGrazia: A Modernist Perspective,” through Oct. 25; and “Han and Beyond—The Renaissance of China: Antiquities From the James Conley Collection,” through Dec. 31, 2010.

West Valley Art Museum—17420 N. Avenue of the Arts, Surprise, wvam.org, (623) 972-0635. “Asia III: Island to Continent—Asian Art From the Permanent Collection,” through Aug. 23; “Chaos on the Canvas: The Art of Hilario,” through Aug. 30; “Celebrating Art of the West Valley: Juried Show of West Valley Artists,” through Sept. 6; “Meshworks: Abstract Work by Cathy Breslow,” through Sept. 20; and “Painters View,” a juried exhibition by members of Arizona Plein Air Painters,” Aug. 28-Nov. 15.

Confirm information before making plans by calling the listed number. Information for inclusion in Gallery & Museum Events should be submitted at least 10 weeks before the first of the month it is to be published. Send information to: Judy Harper, Calendar Editor, Phoenix Home & Garden, 8501 E. Princess Dr., Suite 190, Scottsdale, AZ 85255; jharper@citieswestpub.com or fax to (480) 664-3962.