Opening The Link: Harold Schifman

July 23, 9:47 PMPhoenix Travel ExaminerJay Hammond

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The desert holds extraordinary colors and textures, even if visitors tend to see only a sea of sameness from cookie-cutter neighborhoods in Phoenix to the baked dry monochrome of summer when all the world seems to hide from the light of day. Few artists provide a glimpse of the Arizona that captures the imagination and hearts of residents, the way Harold Schifman does. And nowhere illustrates the dichotomy of the desert and urban Arizona than the Link, the new gallery on the lower level of the merz project, the offices of a firm dedicated to architecture, interiors and urban design.

On Friday, July 24, 2004, The Link opens its doors from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for their very first exhibit “Harold Schifman: 40 Years of Painting in the Desert”. Schifman, a long-time resident of Tucson, moved to Paradise Valley (part of the Phoenix metro area) in 2001. The vistas from his studio on Mummy Mountain inspired his most recent works which unite the vibrancy of the big city with the essence of the Sonoran Desert in a way that is ideal for the opening of Phoenix' newest art space.

Examples of the work of the merz project abound in the Valley. From residential spaces like The Victor condominiums which has been called “honest, modern architecture at its best” to the “anti-tract homes” of the Galleries at Turney, this young firm brings a modern, edgy attitude to the challenge of living and building green in the desert to create a new Southwestern sensibility that is as livable as it is inspiring. This sensibility isn't confined to residential properties, either. The merz project is also the creative force behind the Modern Food Market in downtown Phoenix, the Show Low Public Library and even the Nigerian International Center, a hotel/conference center/business park in Abuja, Nigeria.

Make plans now to attend the opening night of The Link on Friday night. Admission to the opening night event is FREE. The exhibit continues through August 15, 2009.

The Link is located at 1427 N. 1st St., Suite 103 in Phoenix.