Check out past Friday nights at SMoCA:

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November 28th, 5-8pm

Beginning with a one-hour yoga session with instructor (and friend of Mandala Tea Room) Todd Venable, we invite you to relax and detox after Turkey Day. Following the yoga session, enjoy a casual discussion in the Radical Lace & Subversive Knitting gallery with artist, designer, syndicated craft columnist, TV personality, and book author, Kathy Cano-Murillo (a.k.a "the Crafty Chica"), and a performance inspired by the exhibition by Tenisha Baca, who links prose, poetry & drama. Then take pleasure in complimentary chair massages with Parfait Massage; clarivoyant tarot readings by the famed Ozma; and delicious organic snacks provided by the Mandala Tea Room. Come relax and enjoy this fun and rejuvenating night at SMoCA!

Todd Venable Todd's greatest joy is sharing his love of yoga with a wide variety of people. He encourages students to approach yoga as a way of life, to practice with a beginner's mind, with loving kindness and with sincerity. Todd's teaching style finds inspiration from his own life challenges and experiences, which he shares generously from his heart and spirit to guide others to reconnect with their own uniqueness. His classes have the intention to inspire life's journey and allow self discovery that deeply enriches the mind, body and spirit of every student. Breath awareness, asanas (postures) and music bring focus, clarity and serenity; along with healthier bodily functions and increased prana (energy). Todd's teacher training (200 hours) was completed in the beauty of Prescott, Az through Yoga Shala. Each student and every class is important to his practice, always aware and open to ways that offer support for the journey into yoga. http://www.urbanyogaphx.com

Kathy Cano-Murillo of the award-winning site, CraftyChica.com, is an artist, product designer, syndicated craft columnist, TV personality, art instructor, and book author. (She is really just addicted to glitter glue sticks and found a way to making a living off of using them!) http://www.craftychica.com

By linking prose, poetry, and drama Tenisha Baca takes storytelling to a radical and political level. Through humor and heartache, she will showcase the unconventional impact knitting has had on our society through a provocative and thought provoking performance entitled “More than Needles”. http://www.seeyouareable.com

Tammy, native to Arizona and owner of Partfait Massage LLC, recieved her Bachelor’s degree in businees managment before she decided to open her massage business.

Ozma is a visionary who sees the future and past in the magical, ancient symbols of tarot cards. She helps others to see their future(s) more clearly and aids them with difficult decisions to attain happiness and success in discovering their best and highest self.  (*above photo by Bala Raman).

Mandala Tearoom is an urban tea lounge and organic vegetarian kitchen in Scottsdale offering a wide selection of gourmet loose-leaf organic teas (43+), biodynamic teas, and herbal infusions. http://www.mandalatearoom.com

Check out past Friday nights with yoga at SMoCA:

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Photos featured in the slide show by: Claire Warden.

December 12th, 5-9pm

Things are heating up at SMoCA this Friday with a Latin flair. Put on your dancing shoes and take some pointers from premier Salsa dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studios as they perform live throughout the evening. Then, take a walk in the galleries as guest curator, Lara Taubman, and SMoCA curatorial coordinator, Claire Carter, give behind-the-scenes insight on Mexican photographer, Pedro Meyer’s Heresies. And if all this action works up an appetite, RA Sushi Bar Restaurant will be generously providing some tasty hors d'œuvres.

Lara Taubman is a freelance international curator and art critic. She is the Southwestern correspondent for Artnews and Contemporary Magazines. She has curated exhibits at local Phoenix venues such as the Heard Museum as well as the Chocolate Factory. She also creates exhibits worldwide, her most recent project being an exhibit of contemporary Romanian video art entitled “Not Figments of A Madman’s Imagination: the Uncanny in Contemporary Romanian Video Art” which opened last fall at the Florence Lynch Gallery in New York City, traveled to Madrid, Spain and will have its final showing in October 2008 at the Kontainer Gallery in Los Angeles. Her next project will be an overview of contemporary Romanian art at Bennington College in Vermont next October. Ms. Taubman has lived in Phoenix, Arizona for five years.

Before joining the curatorial staff at SMoCA, Claire Carter received her B.A. from Indiana University, majoring in Political Science with a double minor in Art History and Gender Studies. In 2005 she received her secondary education teaching certification in the state of Arizona and recently completed her graduate work in London, a Master of Letters in the History of Art from Christie’s Education and the University of Glasgow.

With nine valley locations in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area and one Tucson location, Fred Astaire Dance Studios have been teaching individuals and couples of all ages to dance for the past 44 years. We specialize in all forms of partnership dance such as Ballroom, Latin, Swing, & Country Western. http://fredastairearizona.com

There's never a dull moment at RA Sushi Bar Restaurant. The music is pumping, the mood is upbeat and the atmosphere is as stimulating as a big bite of wasabi. RA is the perfect place to cut loose with friends, toss back a few, and enjoy the best sushi the ocean has to offer. Come see why it's more fun in the RA! http://www.RAsushi.com

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