I’m starting the week with snaking out a drain for the Tooley’s expresso machine. Expresso coffee grinds can indeed plug a half inch pipe. It’s cleared now, but coffee stains the hands, and wearing my clean, light colored, clothes wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve done in preparation of this Anaconda wrestling match.
Last Saturday evening, a good time was had on the 200 block of East Congress. Live band in front of Tooley’s, 4 art galleries open plus Metropolis Beauty Salon. Kids were running around with newly painted faces creatively designed by Danielle, Cathy, and Caitlin from The Shane House.
Recently Club Crawl consumed the eastern blocks of Congress. In response, last Saturday, there was a Cupcake Crawl. Cupcake Crawl was more fun, in my opinion. There was also a Pumpkin Carve-A-Palooza with about a dozen scary pumpkins as a result. What a fun mess.
People bought in cupcakes which were decorated in Dinnerware. Probably a hundred cupcakes were decorated followed by artistic admiration, then consumption.
The second Saturday of the month is going for a test drive on the 200 block of East Congress, maybe to become the new Downtown Saturday Night, which will have three basic components: music, arts, and a pedestrian interactive experience. In other words a block party that adults and kids can all enjoy.
There was also a fabulous artist reception for 55 artists who responded to the theme “Luminous Landscape”, at that sliver of an art space called The Rocket Gallery. The name “Rocket” is meant to convey up-and-coming exhibiting artists. The gallery was packed with art, floor to ceiling. The artists, spouses, and significant others, hung out together, with appropriate amounts of chardonnay, celebrating their accomplishments of surviving the experience of making art, then exhibiting such. Many of those artists met other Tucson artists for the first time.
Next Thursday, October 15th, 7pm is Dinnerware’s Art Auction, 264 E. Congress. Chris Stevens will provide acoustic tunes beginning at 6pm. There’ll be wine, Brooklyn Pizza, Tooley’s treats and a fun social environment.
At 7pm, Arthur Smith will start the live auction.
Tucson artists are among the most generous beings in our community. They donate their work, frequently make little money themselves, have more than one day job, but they see that Dinnerware performs an important mission that reverberates through the artistic community.
At this year’s auction, a variety of works will be sold, and if you thought that buying art was too expensive, come to this auction. Sales will range from $10 to $100 on up. It’s free to participate. As with any auction, you have to be there to see what that special handcrafted artwork is going to sell for. I like the adrenalin of a live auction, myself. It’s all about the drama. And if that’s too much for you, try your hand at the silent auction.
There might even be some cupcakes around.
