Back in January, I wrote a post titled “The Arts and Light Rail” trying to give people an idea of some of the many things there are to do along the upcoming line. Engaging the community in conversation and sharing fun tings to do is something that we really enjoy here at Rail Life. I was fortunate to catch up with “Ms. Herr” recently to get some great insight on how light rail might be enjoyed by some of the people attending the Phoenix Art Museum. As someone very active in the arts community, I was really glad when @MsHerr agreed to write the following guest post for us. Thanks Heather!
A Young Collector on Rail Life
First and foremost, many thanks to Nick for his gracious offer that I guest on the Rail Life blog.
The rail’s opening signifies exciting new opportunities for many in Phoenix, though it will touch each of us in different ways. For some, it will be part of their regular commute to work or play. For others who live and/or work several miles from the closest station, the impact is less intimately tied to daily routine. I’m in the latter group, but I’m still excited because the rail brushes up against one very important aspect of my life: the Phoenix Art Museum.
I’m on the board of the Young Collectors, the museum’s youngest support organization. Literally! We got our start around the time the museum expanded with the Ellen and Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art, and we are geared to the valley’s young professionals. The three core goals behind Young Collectors: support the museum through awareness and fundraising, provide our members with unique opportunities to become patrons of the arts, and contribute the vitality of Phoenix’s community of artists and galleries. What I love about Young Collectors is the desire to accomplish these things while always providing fun social opportunities for existing, new and potential members.
In September, we held our first gala at the museum, a 1920’s themed event complete with dinner, an art auction, and a live murder mystery performance. Like so many Friday and Saturday night gatherings among friends, the gala was only the first event of the night. Many of us, still dressed in our flapper dresses and zoot suits, headed to a local establishment for continued revelry. With a rail station right on the doorstep of the Phoenix Art Museum, how fun would have it been to hop on board (operation hours permitting) as a group rather than splitting up into several different vehicles as we moseyed on to the next hot spot?
Even now, as the person behind @PhxArtYC on Twitter, I think of the occasional impromptu meetups I like to have at the museum. I look forward to parking at the nearest park-n-ride, hopping on the rail, and enjoying a good book while en route to the museum. I also like the thought that the rail makes it that much easier for a visit to the museum to become the rallying stop on a day or evening spent with friends enjoying many of downtown’s great offerings.
So cheers to the thought of many happy rides on the light rail.
For more information about becoming a member of Young Collectors, visit us online. You can also contact us through the website, follow me or @PhxArtYC on Twitter, or email me directly (heatherlynneherr@gmail.com).
Great post, Heather. Like you, I live a bit too far away from the light rail for it to impact my daily life. But I’m very excited to use the rail to make it easier to move about through downtown and along the entire rail line in my personal outings.
I’m too old to be considered a young collector, but I wish such a group had existed when I first arrived in Phoenix. I love the museum, and certainly would have joined a group like that.
I look forward to hearing more about the arts and the light rail in the months to come.