Color of light shines at the "Made in the Shade" event

PHOENIX - May 8, 2014 - PRLog -- Most colors are muted in the shade, but they'll come to life in "Made in the Shade," the closing reception for the art exhibition "Elevation" at Shade West, located in the lobby of the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel at 50 E Adams St. The free reception will be held Saturday, May 24 from 2 - 5 p.m.

Yes, locals and visitors have one more place to find refuge as summer descends upon the desert. The show features the oil paintings of Cyndy Carstens, renowned for her use of color in light, and the soaring and often surprising sculpture of Kevin Caron. Shade West is a gallery space curated by Justin Germain, art program director of Shade Projects, which oversees the space in the heart of downtown Phoenix.

"We'll definitely be having fun out of the sun," says Germain. During the reception, Carstens will paint an 11-inch x 14-inch original oil that an attendee can win by participating in an accompanying lighthearted "contest" by Caron. The sculptor, whose work can be seen in public and private places from coast to coast, will bring some of his more unusual tools and let attendees guess what they are for. "As a multidisciplinary artist with an unconventional background, I use a lot of different tools," he explains. "I can't wait to hear some of the creative answers to what some of these tools are for."

The winner of the painting will be chosen from the tool game participants. "I know we'll have a great time," says Carstens, whose career in fine art has spanned three decades.

Shade Projects headquarters is located in the monOrchid at 214 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix.  Learn more about monOrchid and Shade Projects at www.monorchid.com . See Carstens' work at www.cyndycarstens.com and Caron's work at www.kevincaron.com