Las Vegas Sun

April 16, 2024

When we first arrived in Phoenix, stopping to take photos of a billboard bashing President Bush, we came to find Josh playing futbol in a dirt lot with his twin brother as their father welded in his studio. Their father, a metal artisan, showed me and videographer Matt Toplikar an album of his work, which was amazing to say the least. The most impressive piece was a giant, sculpted metal tree that curved upwards of 20 feet with intricate detail work. The father said he shows his work during First Friday, an event much like the one in Las Vegas, where they close this decidedly industrial and dilapidated area of Phoenix for a monthly art festival that lasts until midnight. This road reminded me a little bit of the Charleston and Main downtown Las Vegas area, but with fewer homeless people. <em> - Leila Navidi</em>.

Leila Navidi

When we first arrived in Phoenix, stopping to take photos of a billboard bashing President Bush, we came to find Josh playing futbol in a dirt lot with his twin brother as their father welded in his studio. Their father, a metal artisan, showed me and videographer Matt Toplikar an album of his work, which was amazing to say the least. The most impressive piece was a giant, sculpted metal tree that curved upwards of 20 feet with intricate detail work. The father said he shows his work during First Friday, an event much like the one in Las Vegas, where they close this decidedly industrial and dilapidated area of Phoenix for a monthly art festival that lasts until midnight. This road reminded me a little bit of the Charleston and Main downtown Las Vegas area, but with fewer homeless people. - Leila Navidi.