Tempe Marketplace presents ASU Night Gallery

Scottsdale is known for the art galleries in Old Town, among other things and now Tempe Marketplace holds its own with the ASU Night Gallery.

ASU has opened a gallery for the community at Tempe Marketplace. The gallery features ASU graduate students, alumni, and faculty invited by sculpting professor, Jim White, to showcase their art.

"Usually a gallery is a destination point for someone, they go to a gallery. But the Night Gallery is there because they (people) have done something else, gone out to eat or the movies. It is exciting for me because those are people that usually don't go into galleries," said White.

Out in the open air with music around and lights in the sky at the marketplace, the Gallery itself was just as inviting.

The gallery is located inside a space next to Barnes and Noble. It is free to walk through. Donations are accepted and purchase minor necessary updates for the gallery.

Craig Randich was the Artist in Residence for this particular gallery; his artwork was widely displayed amongst the front half of the space.

"I explore my forms through repetitive geometric units that transform themselves into spirals or helixes," says Randich

It is clear the artist has not forgotten his architectural background.

Along with Randich's pieces you will find, artwork and photography by many other artists. The Night Gallery is a place where one will find cast iron sculptures, a saddening depiction of the childhood tale "The Three Little Pigs," helixes constructed of basswood; multi-colored stacked paint, and oversized blown up, magnified pieces of what was once a tasty treat.

Marco Rosichelli is the upcoming artist for the Night Gallery beginning March 5.

"I think it is going to be a very popular exhibition. You really ought to see it, it's quite spectacular," said professor White of Rosichelli's exhibit.

The artist himself actually has to take apart his piece in order to move it into the gallery at Tempe Marketplace.

Joe Baker, Director of Community Engagement, is ASU's new edition to the Herberger College of the Arts and comes with much experience including previously being the dean of The Center for Arts and Cultural Studies at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.

"The Night Gallery brings together Herberger College artists, faculty, and alumni with community members in a social space that is a portal for expanding arts awareness, thus creating cultural exchange, I believe that as a conduit between arts students and the Valley arts community, it's my responsibility to be responsive, adaptive, and dynamic," said Baker.