Arizona Illustrated

Foothills Falcon Band Since 1992, when she had only 17 students, Foothills legend Renee Shane-Boyd has led the Catalina Foothills Falcon Band to great personal and team successes. With the help of a school district unwavering in its support for the arts, the program grew to be the largest marching band in the state. Cooling our Neighborhood Prince Elementary in conjunction with Watershed Management Group and St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church is planting a rain garden. The garden will grow trees and shrubs that will cool and shade the school, provide food for pollinators, and help the students learn about ecology and the water cycle. When the students and parents involved bring these lessons and tools back to their homes, this project has the potential to transform the neighborhood. Rituals with Erin Cox The word “routine” resonates with a rigid sense of structure that often monetizes time and prioritizes productivity. In contrast “ ritual’ is an activity that can place a person into a mindset that s more conducive for creativity or just being. This is the 2nd in a series where we spend time with people and learn about their rituals, how they evolved and what sense of meaning they imbue in their lives. Meet Erin Cox, who during the pandemic began the ritual of making still lives. Using beloved ephemera and family relics, the process of making these vignettes allows her to slow down time and pay homage and respect to her loved ones. William Lesch – A Continuous Trail The earth is larger than life. William Lesch’s images are witnesses to this constantly changing living thing we call earth. William Lesch is the photographer of the eternal present of the Sonoran Desert. This story is about his art as well as his philosophy of life.