It begins with the land, a lush palette summoned from nature that celebrates a desert in bloom. Then there are the skies that stretch forever under which various cultures have woven together a vibrant coexistence for centuries. There is little wonder, then, that Scottsdale has become a welcoming oasis for art and art lovers. A stroll along Main Street or Marshall Way, both with their wealth of galleries showcasing everything from Western realism to Soho contemporary, is enough to convince anyone of the city's love affair with art. But Scottsdale's passion for the arts cannot be contained even within the more than 125 galleries found in the city's Downtown Arts Districts.

Scottsdale also brims with displays of fine art found in resorts, parks and promenades, world-renowned festivals, museums and even a shrine of modern architecture, all thriving under the inviting Scottsdale sun. Following are just a few examples showcasing the many colorful experiences that confirm Scottsdale as a masterpiece in the making.

City of Art As early as the turn of the last century, artists began arriving in Scottsdale to paint and create in the serenity and solitude of the Sonoran Desert. With the arrival of even more prominent architects such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri, art and architecture became a permanent fixture in this cultural center of the Southwest. Today, the city serves as a rich repository for art that evokes the special spirit of the region while reflecting its international stature. Those seeking paintings, sculpture, Native American crafts and jewelry and other representations of Scottsdale�s rich cultural diversity will be challenged to leave empty handed.

Demonstrating the region's affinity for the artistic legacy of the area's earliest inhabitants, the nearby Heard Museum is renowned for its vast collection of Native American treasures, painstakingly curated to showcase the intricate works and lifestyles of the region's native peoples. In particular, the world-renowned Barry Goldwater Kachina collection is not to be missed. Another exceptional opportunity to view the art of Native America is at the Heard Museum North, a satellite of the prestigious facility located in the el Pedregal Festival Marketplace. The gift shops and bookstores in both facilities are excellent.

The heart of the art action is Scottsdale's Downtown Art and Shopping Districts. Comprised of Main Street, Marshall Way, Old Town and Fifth Avenue, each area is unique and possesses its own personality, offering distinctive galleries and studios complemented by restaurants and shops. Here, everything from unrivalled collections of Western and Native American art to contemporary collectibles can be enjoyed.

For those seeking the very best in world-class art, Marshall Way is the place offering an exceptional collection of galleries and shops specializing in contemporary art and jewelry. Main Street is the core of Scottsdale's famed art district, where more than 50 galleries and studios showcase something for everyone, from museum-quality Remington bronzes to cutting-edge art and sculpture. Fifth Avenue�s shopping district boasts more than 80 upscale shops, restaurants and salons. And quirky, eclectic Old Town, where it all began more than 100 years ago, is the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind collectibles and gifts.

Celebrating Art Since art is a celebration of life, it deserves its own festive framework. Scottsdale's creative solution is a calendar full (25 and counting) of art and music festivals that put locals and visitors alike on center stage. Feted as one of the West's premiere art events by Art & Architecture magazine, the Celebration of Fine Art is a perennial favorite in Scottsdale, bringing together 100 artists under white tents to display their talents from January through March annually. Other festivals include the Scottsdale Arts Festival (March), Indian Artists of America Show (February), ArtFest of 5th Avenue (February), and the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair and Market (March).

Noteworthy music fests include everything from traditional Native American music to Jazz and classical. The Paradise Valley Jazz Party, Music in the Garden series and the Annual Blue Grass Festival are a few of the favorites. Music can also be found at outdoor venues such as the Desert Botanical Garden, where some of the Valley's hottest jazz ensembles can be found, while evening concerts under the stars beguile listeners at el Pedregal Festival Marketplace.

Scottsdale ArtWalks The art scene in Scottsdale is bursting with so much creative expression that it just cannot be contained indoors! That's why the weekly Scottsdale ArtWalk, spearheaded by the Scottsdale Gallery Association, brings together gallery owners, artists and art fans every Thursday evening as it has for more than 20 years. The country's longest-running art walk gives everyone from casual collector to aficionado a chance to explore the more than 100 galleries found in the Scottsdale Arts Districts in an entirely novel way. During the ArtWalk, visitors are invited back at 7:00 p.m., when galleries reopen and cooler temperatures and starlit evenings set a picture-perfect backdrop for strolling. For the next two hours, pedestrians are encouraged to chat with owners and artists, perhaps catching a live demonstration on brush technique while enjoying a glass of Chardonnay.

Quarterly themed ArtWalks match important works from various genres with special extras, such as live bands and regional food sampling. Some of the Scottsdale area's biggest events are incorporated into these anticipated themed ArtWalks, including the Fiesta Bowl ArtWalk (January), the Bon Appetit ArtWalk (May), the Summer Spectacular ArtWalk (July) and the Western ArtWalk (October). No matter which ArtWalk a visitor chooses to participate in, they are a wonderful way to meet area artists, gallery owners and locals, making anyone feel like they are part of an extended family of art lovers.

Icons of Architecture One of modern architecture's most enduring shrines, Taliesin West, is Frank Lloyd Wright's opus in the desert. It also has become one of Scottsdale's most popular attractions, drawing everyone from architecture buffs to the merely curious. Wright began building his collection of visionary structures here in 1937, which sparked a new cycle of creativity in his work. Visitors today can walk the grounds, which flow in harmony with the surrounding desert, and explore buildings that still serve their original purpose as an educational facility and architectural firm.

Depending on their interests, visitors can choose from a wide variety of tour experiences at Taliesin West. Options include everything from the Panorama Tour, which is a one-hour overview, to the three-hour Behind the Scenes Tour, which offers an in-depth look at the many facets here that mark Wright's genius, from furniture design to the structures themselves. Other tours include Desert Walks (winter only), which showcases the structures' relation to the natural environment; a shelter tour of the imaginative dwellings created by Taliesin West apprentices and the Night Lights on the Desert Tour, which treats visitors to the magical view of Wright's desert masterpiece lit from within. The effect rendered is the transformation of the buildings into oversized sculptures framed by dramatic views of the city shimmering below.

The desert also sparked the imagination of Paolo Soleri, the internationally-renowned architect, artist and ceramicist, who studied for a time under Wright. Still living and working at Cosanti, the studio he built 50 years ago, Soleri continues to create his evocative wind bells, a favorite collectible of Scottsdale visitors. Art Seen With great foresight, the City of Scottsdale has made an incredible investment in public art, making it a dynamic part of the cityscape. The result is a masterpiece of urban aesthetics including distinctly Southwestern motifs that accent freeway walls. Today, magnificent sculptures, murals and other works of art are found throughout Scottsdale, beautifying the city, thanks to the combined efforts of the municipality and the private sector.

In addition to public art, area resorts are also a wonderful venue to enjoy Scottsdale's art. Resorts incorporate such fine collections on their properties in order to give their guests a more complete experience, a sense of discovery, and education about the many cultures of the region. At the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch, an international selection of art throughout the hotel and an expansive sculpture garden await guests and visitors. The signature pieces here include the 20-foot high glass and limestone �Stonelith Chorus� by Damian Priour, and evoking the imagery of the Southwest, �Cliff Dweller,� rendered in paper mache over cedar wood by Clyde Connell. The resort's Native American Learning Center also features tribal art, textiles and jewelry. Other resorts noted for their collections include the Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort with various offerings, including the kinetic �Galloping Horses,� and The Phoenician, which showcases museum-quality fine art and antiques from Asia, Europe and the Americas.

Fine Arts Find A Desert Home Scottsdale is a sophisticated center for the professional arts, where everything from classical music to contemporary art finds room for expression. Located in the heart of downtown, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) displays thought-provoking exhibits and tempts with truly unique items in the museum gift shop. Adjacent to the museum, the Scottsdale Center for the Arts presents a year-round performing arts season featuring nationally-touring performances in dance, music and theater. In the cooler months, the Center also features frequent free Sunday A�Fair concerts on the lawns of the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. At the Kerr Cultural Center, operated by Arizona State University, art lovers can enjoy unique, family-oriented musical ensembles and cameo theatrical events year round in a quaint adobe recital hall. The community arts are represented by the Scottsdale Symphony Orchestra, which offers 10 concerts from September through July, and the Stagebrush Theatre, where residents and visilovers have a year-long slate of performances to choose from at The Stagebrush theatre.

And yet Scottsdale is still planning more. The highly anticipated Main St. Plaza Scottsdale development will be a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that blends custom-designed residential units, specialty retailers and restaurants with the area�s heritage as an art and cultural destination. Centrally-located in downtown Scottsdale�s art and shopping districts, Main St. Plaza Scottsdale will add a new museum and central plaza to the city's repertoire. Bravo, Scottsdale.

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Media Contact: Laura McMurchie +1 480-429-2253 LM@scottsdalecvb.com