The New Times
Best of Phoenix Awards always seemed to be rather arbitrary things. It’s
not like the Oscars where there’s always a Best Picture category, and
Best Actors and so forth. I mean, how many emporia are ever in the running for
“Best Place to Buy Mexican Imports”? Well, probably lots, but you
know there are far more obscure awards and that awards for “best green
chili burrito” and the like aren’t given every year and that’s
what I mean.
So I don’t generally think too much about them, other than to note them
on the walls of many places. But I will have to start paying attention now because
I’ve noticed a fascinating trend.
It started with my friend Jim Carmody, who impressed a local critic (who shall
not be named here because he once ascribed a Cole Porter song to Irving Berlin)
with a show he (Jim) directed. The show was later given an award Best
Surprise Hit of the Theater Season. Bravo, Jim!
He had the Best of Phoenix edition at his house and I looked up his entry, then
began looking at entries from the beginning. One of them caught my eye: Best
Garden of Eden in the Desert—The Wright House. This is a reception
center conceived and run by Peggy and Michael Wright, and just as fresh and
lovely as can be. Nick Ligidakis (winner of many previous Best of Phoenix awards)
had his daughter’s engagement party there and I verify it is a delight.
But the most interesting thing (to me) was that I knew the owners, having gone
to church with them in Mesa. Bravo, Peggy and Michael, and cool!
I skimmed another couple of pages and found an image I liked. In fact, I liked
it so much that I bought it in lithograph form months ago and it’s hanging
about twelve feet from where I type, with the following message printed in block
letters at the bottom: “TO MY FRIEND AND ‘COBIRA, ‘ JASON
HILL.” Cobira? Now I don’t know if my inscription request was unclear
or if the darling boy just can’t spell, but he certainly does have an
eye. The New Times noticed, too, and named his work “Best
Graphics.” Bravo, Jason!
And shortly thereafter, I put down the magazine because The New Times
is tedious and self-satisfied, and besides Jim might do something interesting.
And I’d already found four people connected with me in it—of what
more interest could it be?
Well, a bit more as it turns out, because less than a yard away from where I
type hangs the work of another Best of Phoenix winner, John Kitts. His 422 gallery
and workspace was named “Best
Framing Store” this year, just about the time I was negotiating purchase
of one of his photographs from Death Valley. It’s a lovely and sensuous
image of a hostile subject with a kick ass frame and the following note just
below the photo, “To my friend—Cobras Nose 422”. (What about
“To my friend and cobra [your name here]” is so difficult?) Anyway,
bravo, John!
And what do these five, count them five, Best of Phoenix 2006 award winners
have in common? I know you’re tempted to say, “They all won 2006
Best of Phoenix awards.” But the common denominator between these disparate
people is…me! I’ve been telling people all year long that I’m
lucky, and I think The New Times just made the case.
I’m certain this is just the beginning. You should all start watching
your mailboxes for Best of Phoenix awards, and if you’d like I’d
be happy to sign them, “From your friend and cobra, Sharon C. McGovern.”