Phoenix-based artist, Amber Linkey, has been making things her entire life. She says, "One of my favorite parts of the process is finding common ground with other people." Linkey relies on her art to share herself with others, and to help others open up to their own feelings and experiences and feel safe doing so. Toward the latter end, she creates escapist ethereal spaces leaning heavily on the influence of music and its tempo as she moves paint around the canvas. Linkey says we all "contain multitudes," and we should not allow our true selves to be boxed in by our own fears or the expectations of others. She says, "I want my work to give people the freedom to escape, be seen, or confront." This beautiful show provides your own opportunity to rest in these otherworldly realms, to shed the feeling of being invisible, and to challenge the expectations placed on you by yourself and others.

Dan Pederson's new show "Pedestrian" is anything but. Every nook and cranny of every piece he creates is unique and imaginative. A love for music led to a love of all things artful for Pederson. In Los Angeles, while pursuing a degree in music performance on the bassoon, he explored the city's excellent, multi-faceted cultural treasures in art, dance, and music. Eventually, fine art painting and assemblage became his primary mediums of artistic expression. Pederson's artworks are inspired by his daily life, which he says is very much like most people's lives, and from which he creates a visual narrative. He says, "I approach my work with an idea, a word, or an image -- sometimes from weeks before. It could be a sock, a duck, or just a pattern. Then, the process of painting or building may change the narrative completely." Each piece is entirely unique and completely captivating. The choice of colors and compositions make for overall cohesive pieces in a style that is uniquely Pederson.