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The last penny was minted last week; 232 years after they were first created, the copper coins are no more. In some ways, it makes sense. You can’t buy anything with a penny anymore — even if you happened to use cash and coins to pay for something. The United States Department of the Treasury said it cost more to mint a penny than the penny was even worth. But local artist Heidi Dauphin sees pennies as worth a little bit more. Dauphin has used pennies in her work for decades, and she visited the studio to talk more about it.

In this episode of Professionals on the Rise, Councilmember Angel Encinas highlights two talented local artists who continue to help make Chandler the Community of Innovation. The two interviews focus on how art strengthens community connections, celebrates cultural diversity, and inspires future generations. Featured guests include Miguel Angel Godoy and Ariana Enriquez, each with a unique story about how the City of Chandler has shaped their journey and provided opportunities to grow their craft and passion. Professionals on the Rise is a series dedicated to showcasing the entrepreneurs, innovators, and community leaders who contribute to Chandler’s continued success. By sharing their

In her new exhibit, “Con cariño siempre,” muralist and artist Ariana Enriquez tells the stories of her family in the best way she knows how: Through her artwork. The exhibition is on display Chandler Center for the Arts through November 8, 2025, and is a visual love letter to her family. The exhibit reflects Enriquez’s deep appreciation for the strong women in her family and the everyday moments that shape their shared story. Through her art, she celebrates their courage, connection and legacy, inviting viewers to experience the beauty of familial bonds and cultural roots. WATCH FULL VIDEO

In "Con Cariño Siempre," Ariana Enriquez's giant, colorful flowers and vibrant animals are symbols of family. Ariana Enriquez’s “Con Cariño Siempre” exhibition feels like walking through a garden rooted in nostalgia and Mexican culture. Flowers, birds and people portrayed in the work tell stories about acts of service, kindness and compassion, turning the show into visual love letter to her family. The first solo exhibition by the El Paso, Texas-born artist opened at the Gallery at CCA (Chandler Center for the Arts) in early August and runs through Nov. 8. READ FULL ARTICLE

By Michelle Jacoby "In the heart of downtown Chandler, tucked inside the City Hall complex, Vision Gallery has quietly evolved into one of the East Valley’s most dynamic cultural destinations. With rotating exhibitions, interactive community programs and a deep commitment to inclusivity, the gallery offers a vibrant, ever-changing art experience — one that surprises and delights with each visit." Read full article

By Lynn Trimble "Arizona-based artist Daniel Nez (Diné) translates oral traditions passed down from Navajo elders into expressive visual narratives. Nez uses geometric forms in his “Fractal Lineage” exhibition to embody elements of Navajo cosmology centered around the Four Worlds. Summaries on the artist’s website describe these worlds, each characterized by the introduction of particular beings, each of these associated with a different color. According to Nez’s descriptions, when one world is destroyed, beings escape into a new one, and each successive world is located closer to the sky." Read full review on Visual Art Source

By HIKMET SIDNEY LOE "The decline of the Colorado River through drought and other factors has prompted artists to call attention to this event. Does art have the power, though, to mitigate the crisis? ... The number of individuals and groups engaged in the Colorado River is extensive and growing. While Lin presents one artist’s view through Silver River’s scale, situation, and name recognition, additional representations and interpretations of the river have been in the making. Las Vegas artist and curator Sapira Cheuk has had water on her mind for some time. In 2020, she filmed fountains and water features along

By Srianthi Perera   When Shachi Kale first came to Arizona in 2001, she felt like the fairytale character Rapunzel trapped in her ivory tower. The artist didn't know a soul in Chandler, except her husband, who went to work. The career she had left behind in Mumbai, India, as an advertising and design executive seemed to fade. Kale started doing what she did best - creating art. She also followed a few classes and met a few movers and shakers in the local arts and education arena. "I had to create a new life for myself altogether from scratch," she