occasions! by design

"Songs of the Sirens" by Arthur Secunda

Thursday September 23rd-26th Weekend Exhibition Opening for internationally recognized artist Arthur Secunda will unveil his new Colorado inspired paintings entitled “Another Chapter”, along with a painting and print selection of five decades of work. Don’t miss the “meet the artist” reception Thursday Sept. 23rd  from 6-9pm only at occasions! by design. 

Western ArtWalk

Thursday October 14th from 7-9pm Western ArtWalk – the 21st annual Western ArtWalk is set to return Scottsdale to “West’s Most Western Town”. You will find plenty of live country music and cool guitar picking spread across eight blocks of the Scottsdale Arts District, Free restaurant samplings, fun prize giveaways and other special doings can be found along the ArtWalk route. 

Taste of Art ArtWalk

Thursday October 21st from 7-9pm Taste of Art ArtWalk The Arts District on Main Street and Marshall Way is hosting the Taste of ArtWalk Event where restaurants and chefs bring their menus to life with tantalizing food tidbits and wine. Amazing food and wine samples paired with equally amazing one-of-a-kind art makes for a terrific event every year. Come out and enjoy the Taste of Art ArtWalk. 

Ball Gown Dress by Marcia Sednek

Thursday November 4th from 7-9pm Wearable ArtWalk Participating galleries will feature one of a-kind jewelry and fiber “art to wear”. Occasions! by design’s folk artist Marcia Sednek showcases her “life size” ball gown hand crafted from vintage tins, wire mesh and found objects replicating her miniature dress series also featured at the gallery.

Thursday December 30th from 7-9pm Fiesta Bowl ArtWalk.This ArtWalk is an artistic preface to the big game at the Fiesta Bowl. Football fans and art lovers stroll the Main Street and MarshallWay art galleries combing their passion for the game and art. Join the fans in the party atmosphere with special artist displays, music and refreshments. 

Please don’t hesitate to call if you have questions regarding the schedule. (480) 423-0506. Thank you!

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"Submariner" by Ray Maseman Printmaking

A print can be made in either two ways. One basic process is by adding a design in ink, oil or acrylic paint to a plate, screen or paper and then transferring it with pressure on to your final paper. This can also be called a monotype or silkscreen.  

The other basic way is by extracting the image from a metal plate or stone by etching or engraving the image onto the surface with fine printmaking tools. Once the image is created ink, oil or acrylic paint is added and then transferred onto a damp cloth or paper, creating your print. This type of printmaking is also be referred to as an intaglio, aquatint and dry point just to name a few.

In order to get to the final printing stage there are many important prepping and rigorous steps to follow in order to create a perfect screen, plate or stone to duplicate from. Treating the stone, plate or canvase and screen with insolvable chemicals, oils and emulsions takes much patience, skill and experience.

As with all art—practice, experimentation, imagination and natural skill allows for experts in their field of printmaking. A print maker has to think in the revers. Almost everything is backwards when it comes to printmaking. The negative space, or the background, is as important as the actual image itself.

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For over ten years occasions! by design has been assisting customers with their broken glassware, dishes, lamps, frames and serving pieces. We have fully restored 50-year old wedding champagne flutes, heirloom lamps passed down for many generations, and priceless collectibles.

We are able to repair all types of glass.

Many repairs look much worse than they really are. With some bonding, grinding, sanding and a little repainting we can have your precious items repaired to their original quality.

Our repair service is offered year round. Just bring in your piece along with its broken parts and we will give you a quote, so that you can get on your way to restoring your favorite items.

Please call or come in anytime, to our new location on Main Street in the heart of the Scottsdale Arts District.

Occasions! by design

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Come see Carolyn Van Housens’s flexible jewelry collection including earrings, pendants and rings only at occasions! by design located on Main Street in the heart of the Scotsdale Arts District.

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Avoid boring and cookie-cutter table settings by mixing dinnerware patterns, colors and style.  Fine china isn’t just for fancy dinner parties or special guests any more; fine china and your best porcelain are some of the most durable types of dishware on the market. Spruce up your daily everyday dinners by mixing fine china with your everyday dishes to create bold and unique table settings.

If you already own a collection of fine china or everyday dinnerware and are looking to update your look with out breaking the bank, consider adding dessert plates. Rosanna has salad/dessert plates in a wide variety of colors with beautiful motifs in unique shapes. When paired with the simple elegance of a solid color Vietri plates of the sophistication of a Versace patterned plates transforms an ordinary table setting to an extraordinary table display.

Mixing plate shapes adds an element of interest to your table setting. 

Add a little spice to your dining, visit the well stocked tabletop section at occasions! by design located on Main St. in the heart of the Scottsdale Arts District. Creating the one-of-a-kind look you want takes a bit of effort and trial and error to get the combination just right. Come into occasions! and let our  knowledgable associates help you find your perfect mix of dinnerware for any occasion.

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Captivating, raw, eye catching stones, in elaborate sterling silver and gold settings, Lilly Barrack’s jewelry is artistic in form combining geometric shapes. Her extensive travel and art background resulted in cross-cultural influences with Africa playing a major role.

Lilly Barrack Herkimer and 24k Gold Ring

Herkimer diamonds, luscious green peridots, lavender amethysts and perfect pearls, find them at occasions! by design.

Lilly Barrack_Citrine, Herkimer Diamond and Sterling Silver Earrings

Lilly Barrack Herkimer Diamond, 14K Gold, Sterling Silver Earrings

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Black and Red Glass Pendant

We are pleased to introduce Goldenflow glass lighting pendants. Each lighting pendant is hand crafted, mouth blown, unique, and the perfect fusion of functionality and art.

The swirling pattern created by the fusion of color gives the pendants a unique depth and dimension that will make them a beautiful focal piece even when not lit.

You can choose between the lighting pendants we have in-store or they can be custom ordered to match the color scheme of your home or office.

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Glass Bracelet by Kevin O'Grady

Join us March 11th for the Glass Act Festival ArtWalk, featuring  glass artists; Kevin O’Grady and Elodie Holmes. Kevin O’Grady is known throughout the U.S. and Japan as the most exciting and talented glass bracelet and marble maker today. Kevin’s Pyrex bracelets, marbles and Splash of Glass collections are both high-tech and artisitc. Each piece is a signed, one of a kind, unique work of art.

Elodie Holmes creates sculpture, jewelry, ornaments, and ornamental furnishings such as vases, bowls, paperweights and aroma lamps using a process called Liquid Light. This process involves working molten glass in an intense torch flame of light. Each piece whether a vase, paperweight or ornament has beautiful colors as well as a delicate dancing figure.

Kevin O’Grady will be here Thursday March 11th, to explain his process and technique. Elodie Holmes new line of vases, figurines and paperweights will be on display.

We are open seven days a week at our new location on Main street in the Scottsdale Downtown Arts District. Come join us for the ArtWalk and visit our new location.

Occasions! by design

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Arabian Horse Show Westworld hosts its 55^th year.

February 11-18^th, 2010.  Remember Valentine’s Day!

Showcasing over 2,000 Arabian horses, the event at Westworld brings in enthusiastic crowds from all over the world. Scottsdale Arts District welcomes visitor to enjoy extraordinary pieces of artwork. Occasions! By design offers a contemporary palate and promises to be exciting.

Our sophisticated art style is displayed throughout our Gallery through artwork, jewelry, and tabletop. Featuring for Valentine’s Day Vera Wang gifts, hand blown glass, Philabaum vases and perfume bottles and Kevin O’Grady glass bracelets. Also showcased is our one-of-a-kind watches that have been weathered, oxidized and age gracefully.

We look forward to seeing you! We are open seven days a week. You can reach us at (480) 423-0506.

Occasions! by design

Riley Burnett, Diana Prianto, Fredric Duclos and Lily Barrack

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Jeannie Sellmer "Short Story 1" Oil on Board

Based out of New Mexico, Jeannie Sellmer is an abstract and landscape painter. Her medium is oil on board. When creating her paintings her guiding elements are color, value, shape and texture which evoke both a sense of energy and contemplation. Her paintings invite the viewer to engage in the visual field with a sense of meandering exploration and open interpretation.

The evolution for her paintings is derived from six ideas; color combinations, geometric forms, nature, music, memories and sensations. She brings all of these elements into her paintings through a layering technique. Each layer changes the painting but leave traces of what was originally there.

Her overall approach is to be spontaneous, working the surface while creating an interplay of sublet transitions of color and texture resulting in a complex and nuanced surface of color harmony and balance.

Addie Draper - "Bosque Fall Tree"

A new artist to occasions! Addie Draper who also lives in New Mexico on forty acres of land. Her focus is landscape and after many years of working with pastels she is exploring oils. She is intrigued by the possiblities for texture and expressive movements with oil.

Her inspiration is based from potent moments in her life usually occuring in solitude. She is also inspired by magnificent views of broad landscapes as well as beautiful close ups of a tiny section of the world. The textural qualities of oil paints lead to the beautiful richness of expression that she uses to help translate the experience of a place.

In her work she tries to creat poetry versus a direct representation, suggesting rather than stating. Overall she wants the viewer to take away their own interpretations to create their own narrative.

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