Description
This week on a special Bisbee episode of Arizona Illustrated: discover the Artemizia Foundation, an art collection that is becoming a global destination; see how residents are organizing to create a safer, more connected community for cyclists; learn how Bisbee is helping dispel the mysteries of recycling; and don’t leave hungry, meet the chef behind some of Arizona’s best Vietnamese food at Thuy’s Noodle Shop.
Artemizia Foundation – A Global Art Destination
Founded in 2019 by artist, entrepreneur, and collector Sloane Bouchever, a native New Yorker who made Bisbee his home in 1990, AF is more than an art space; it is a living, breathing encounter with the restless spirit of artistic expression. Rooted in the raw energy of graffiti and street art, AF celebrates the courage to create beyond boundaries, to transform walls into declarations, and to turn the overlooked corners of our visual world into places of wonder, resistance, and possibility. Here, art refuses to remain silent. It speaks in bold colors, unexpected forms, and powerful visual narratives that challenge convention, question authority, and reveal the many ways we inhabit and imagine the world.
At AF, each space opens a door into another way of seeing. The work invites us to linger, to question, to feel, and to reconsider the familiar through the eyes of artists who dare to imagine differently. It is a place where creative voices converge across cultures and experiences, where the personal becomes political, and where beauty can emerge from rebellion, vulnerability, and the courage to be seen. Through artists such as Corie Mattie, the Los Angeles-based artist known as the LA Hope Dealer, whose socially conscious street art transforms public spaces into messages of hope, compassion, and human connection, AF embraces art as both a visual language and a force for change. The work of photographer and artist David Rose brings another dimension to this encounter, inviting viewers to look more closely at the world and discover the stories, emotions, and unexpected beauty that might otherwise escape notice.
Together, these artistic voices embody the restless, searching spirit at the heart of AF: a belief that art is not merely something to be observed, but something to be experienced, questioned, and carried with us. It can unsettle us, awaken forgotten feelings, expose uncomfortable truths, and remind us of our shared humanity. It can offer hope where there is uncertainty and create moments of connection between strangers, across generations, and beyond cultural boundaries.
In the historic, creative landscape of Bisbee, AF stands as an invitation to encounter art without hesitation or preconceived expectations—to enter with curiosity and leave with a changed perspective. Its evolving collection celebrates the freedom to experiment, the urgency of self-expression, and the extraordinary power of artists to reshape the spaces we inhabit and the stories we tell. Every visit offers the possibility of a new discovery, a fresh provocation, or a moment of unexpected recognition. At its heart, AF is a celebration of art as a vital human impulse: irreverent, intimate, fearless, and alive—a reminder that creativity can challenge the world as it is while helping us imagine the world as it might yet become.
A New Path Forward
The City of Bisbee, Cochise County, the Arizona Department of Transportation, Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (a mining company) and other organizations are working on a protected shared-used path around the city’s former open pit copper mine (the Lavender Pit) for bicyclists and pedestrians. Led by the grassroots movement, Bisbee Bikeways, residents have been able to raise millions of dollars for the first phase of a construction project that dreams of creating 36 miles of safer paths from Bisbee to Naco, Arizona on the US Mexico border.
Recycling is no mystery in Bisbee
The City of Bisbee has been running a recycling drop-off program since 2006. This story shows viewers what that process looks like while also testing peoples’ recycling knowledge on the street.
Starting From Scratch-Thuy’s Noodle Shop
Tucked into the colorful heart of Bisbee, Arizona, Thuy’s Noodle Shop offers a warm and fragrant taste of Vietnam. In this family-owned gathering place, the aroma of simmering broth mingles with the brightness of fresh herbs, vegetables, and carefully prepared ingredients. Their renowned pho is a comforting centerpiece, accompanied by delicate fresh and crispy vegan rolls and an inviting selection of flavorful vegan dishes. With its generous hospitality and intimate atmosphere, Thuy’s feels less like a restaurant than a place to pause, gather, and savor the simple pleasure of a good meal.