Honoring MLK
Virtual events, vibrant murals celebrate King’s legacy
Events are going virtual this year to celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., diversity and arts throughout metro Phoenix.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is Monday, Jan. 18. Annual events such as the Chandler Multicultural Festival and Arizona State University’s MLK March on West will still take place but will be livestreamed and accessible for free online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Regional Unity Walk, which usually takes place at Tempe Town Lake, will be an art walk this year, with exhibits, murals, performances and sculptures available for viewing
Art inspires, transcends and speaks volumes that depict the thoughts and feelings of artists because, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., they too have a dream.
There are several paintings and murals and events across metro Phoenix of King that honor his legacy.
The Millet House, an art gallery in Mesa, will host “Imagine: What Keeps us from Unity” a virtual exhibition of works as part of the Regional Unity Artwalk event taking place across the Valley through January. Artists Jared Aubel and Therosia Reynolds have painted portraits of King that are part of the exhibition.
Beginning Jan. 18, which is the Martin Luther King Day holiday, in addition to the works in the exhibition, participating Millet House artists will prepare 30-minute video clips discussing their work.
Following are some of the paintings of King that you can view to observe the holiday.
‘It was all a Dream (Dream Big)’
Jared Aubel painted this interpretation of a portrait of King donning a golden crown and a Coogi sweater combining the late civil rights activist with a signature look of the late Brooklyn rapper Biggie Smalls.
In a description of the painting, Abel said he painted the piece as a fun but meaningful mashup of the two.
“2020 showed us a grim reality of how racist America still is and the ugly truth about the leaders of our country and our Policing agencies,” Aubel said in the description.
‘More than a Dream’
Known for his passionate speeches, Reynolds’ painting of King captures him speaking
throughout the month across the Valley.
Here are this year’s Phoenix-area Martin Luther King Jr. Day events and how you can participate virtually.
Chandler Multicultural Festival
The 26th annual Chandler Multicultural Festival will be a virtual event on the Chandler Facebook page, with “lively performances, cooking demonstrations and art from around the world.”
According to the city’s website, “The Multicultural Festival is a part of the Celebration of Unity annual events held each January to honor our community’s heritage and diversity, along with the spirit and ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil rights movement.”
The cooking segments will feature recipes for Vietnamese beef pho, saffron rose pistachio cake and challah bread. Musical performances include Arizona Rhythm Connection, Ballet Folklorico Quetzalli, ERA (a Korean pop dance group) and Stilicho (traditional Irish songs).
Details: 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16. Free. 480-782-4329, https://www.chandleraz.gov.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Celebration & Service
This year’s day of celebration and service in Surprise will be shown on the city’s Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as Surprise TV.
Susan Casper, host of “Sonoran Living” on ABC15 and founding member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s Phoenix metropolitan chapter, will emcee. An interview with Andrew J. Young, former ambassador to the United Nations, will air.
Details: 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 16. Free. 623-222-1647, https://www.surpriseaz.gov.
MLK March on West
ASU’s 36th annual celebration includes a virtual march, a live rendition of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech and a presentation on the civil rights movement.
“Participants will experience a visual mix of live presentations and video clips of the historical 1963 March on Washington, D.C., and past MLK Marches on West,” according to ASU’s website.
Register for the Zoom webinar on ASU’s website.
Details: 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. Free.
602-543-5300, https://www.asu.edu/mlk.
Paradise Valley Martin Luther King Celebration
Paradise Valley’s celebration will be livestreamed. This year’s theme is “belief into action.”
Sharon Cini, Scottsdale’s diversity and inclusion program manager, will receive the 2021 PV MLK Diversity Award “for her dedication and service in strengthening diversity and building relationships to bring people and communities together.”
Watch the event at https://www.mlkparadisevalley.org/livestreaming. The video will be available after the program ends.
Details: 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 18. Free. https://www.mlkparadisevalley.org.
Regional Unity ArtWalk: A Visual Journey of Diversity, Culture and Equity
The 17th annual Regional Unity Walk has been adapted into an art walk this year.
“Instead of gathering at Tempe Town Lake, the cities of Chandler, Gilbert, Guadalupe, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe are hosting a Unity ArtWalk,” according to the event’s website. “This year’s Regional Unity ArtWalk will also incorporate economic equity, featuring restaurants along the walk owned by people of color. Get some take-out and enjoy the artfulness of someone’s cooking and have a picnic near an art stop.”
According to Tempe’s website, “Each city has compiled a list of signature art pieces, including murals, photos, performances and sculptures for the community to experience. The majority of the featured art is accessible without going indoors.”
Interactive maps are https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/ 06a7d7600b1747f7a80d7bc248d7c89c.
Details: Through Jan. 31. Various locations. Free. https://www.mesaaz.gov/unitywalk.
Scottsdale MLK Celebration
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The 27th annual Martin Luther King Jr. celebration in Scottsdale is virtual and features E. Nwadike, Jr., also known as the “free hugs guy,” as keynote speaker.
A link and time will be available on Community Celebrating Diversity’s website.
Details: Thursday, Jan. 14. Free. https:// www.ccdarizona.org/mlk-events.