Goddard Got Art Committee T-shirts for sale

A large number of local artists who may have remained silent in the past are now beginning to speak out and want a change in Arizona leadership. Those I interviewed for this article told me they have become a lot like the fictional character, Howard Beale, in the old movie NETWORK…. “We are mad as hell and don’t want to take it any more!”

They stated to me that all they see coming from the present administration are cutbacks on anything to do with art and arts education. “ All non-profits that have anything to do with the arts are barely hanging on for survival.  Great public facilities like Access Tucson, arts organizations like the Tucson Pima Arts Council are having to cut staff and many programs that have been important to the community for many years,” they said.

To accomplish their mission they will be expressing it through the method they know best….their art. They have formed a Goddard’s Got Art committee, an Arizona political committee, and are soliciting project proposals from artists who wish to participate in their effort to elect Terry Goddard to the office of Governor of Arizona.

The group announced a competitive $5,000.00 fund for the creation and production of new works of art by Arizona artists.  The works are to be commissioned and premiered at an event in Tucson, AZ in October 2010.

Five artists will be granted $1,000.00 each for a political work of art that celebrates, motivates and excites the electorate with the purpose of electing Terry Goddard to the office of Governor of Arizona.

The goals of their program are as follows:

1.To use the works of arts to encourage the electorate to vote for Terry Goddard, a supporter of the arts in our community.

2.To encourage the creative endeavors and professional development of highly gifted Arizona artists.

3.To engage the arts community in the political process in order to build a larger voting base for politicians who support the arts and arts funding in Arizona.

4.To stimulate a broader knowledge of our arts community

For the artists wanting to participate in this event and to apply for the $1,000.00 grant, artists have to submit a proposal by September 1, by 5 PM for a work of art that they would produce to be shown at the Committee’s October event.  Artists who are eligible to vote are required to be registered to vote as a requirement for consideration for these grants.

The works of art can be from one of eight categories: installation, video, music, performance, 2D art, writings, sculpture or an open category, though only five grants will be awarded.  Artists will retain ownership of their work but will grant the Goddard’s Got Art committee and any designee of the committee possession of the work and/or a non-exclusive license of those works through the 2010 election season for use in any way deemed appropriate by the committee (including using images on web sites, posters, etc.).

Anyone wanting to apply or find out more details should go to their facebook site and click info.:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001467502302&ref=ts

They have produced a T-Shirt with the message GODDARD, GOT ART, “Say Goodbye Jan Brewer.”  It will be sold to the public soon.

Chair of the committee, Susan Gamble, artist and owner of Santa Theresa Tile Works in Tucson, says, “The arts community in Southern Arizona is strong and our voice should be heard in this election. Artists are frequently asked to donate their work to causes.  This approach acknowledges the unique role art has in our society and its ability to reach across words and images to activate others,” Gamble explains. “We want to get the word out that artists’ involvement in this election is key to turning around this state.”

Throughout the history of the world artists have expressed themselves and have caused many societies to “wake-up!”  Looks like our Tucson art community is planning on doing that for Arizona. “Terry Goodard has a reputation for supporting the arts and education throughout his career,” they re-emphasized to me.  Sounds like Jan Brewer may have awakened “a sleeping giant.”

Wonderful art of the Yoeme Art Association will be a featured exhibition at the Tucson Birthday celebration at San Xavier Mission August 21. The Pasqua Yaqui  members exhibiting their work at the mission are Rene Alvarez, Marcelino Flores and Louis David Valenzuela.

More information of the Pasqua Yaqui and the Yoeme Art Association can be seen on my previous feature article titled: The Marvels of Pasqua Yaqui Art (June 13, 2010)

It is very easy to see when viewing the art of the Yoeme that their inspiration comes from the heart.  Their culture and traditions are reflected in the creations of these spiritual people. Below are just a small sampling of what you will see at the August 21 presentation and I have included the artist’s statements.

Yoemem-People

Pride, honor, and respect exist among the people and the Yaqui spiritual community is strengthened by stories of our elders teaching pride, honor, and respect in a magical context.

I honor and respect all my elders and their stories by focusing on the human aspect and natural features of our Yoemem and the colors of the festivities.

Rene Alvarez Yoeme Artist, 520-312-3204

Suem Return To The Sea by Rene Alvarez

Tampalero by Rene Alvarez

Bwia-Land

Generations have fought to keep the God-given lands of the Rio Yaqui, Sonora, Mexico. The land is a part of the people just as the huya-wilderness can be represented literally and figuratively exist within a branch.

Our desert landscapes are so fragile and majestic; I do my best to cherish every bit of our desert colors, textures, as accented by the life, stories, and culture of the Yoemem.

Marcelino Flores, Story Telling Oil Painter, 520-342-7396,  EMAIL: worldbug@inbox.com

Wilkit Alva by Marcelino Flores

Vovok Brings Rain by Marcelino Flores

Luturia-Our Truth

Our Truth, our traditions, serves as the core and foundation or our artistic views. Colors reflect a way life founded in the beauty of our festivals, emotions, and throughout nature. Our artists, guided by elders and traditional living, are able to expand in mind, body, and spirit.

Every aspect begins by giving thanks to the creator. Honoring your gifts is the only true way to live. Our Truth, Our traditions are one and the same as Itom Luturia.

Louis David Valenzuela, Traditional Wood Carver, 520-850-7180, EMAIL: louisvalenzuela@rocketmail.com

Hand craved Plaque 1

Hand Carved Plaque 2

The location for this Tucson Birthday celebration is located at one of Tucson’s true treasures San Xavier del Bac. The mssion was built between 1783 and 1797 by the Tohono O’odham tribe, under the direction of Spanish Franciscans. The mission opened Tucson’s first public school in Nov. 7, 1864.

Address and contact information.

Mission San Xavier del Bac

1950 W. San Xavier Road,

Tucson, AZ 85746-7409

520-294-2624

info@sanxaviermission.org

The Mission is located just off of Interstate-19 at Exit 92, on the San Xavier Indian Reservation, 6 miles south of Interstate-10 in Tucson  It is one of the oldest and most well preserved missions in the southwest.

NOTE: If you are unable to attend the August 21 exhibition the Yoeme Art Association will be exhibiting at the Indoor Art Market, TUCSON MALL, August 28 & 29.

Filmmakers Levi And Alma Interview a Brown Beret

Tucson youth have a lot to say about what is happening in their communities. From topics as diverse as SB1070 to skateboarding and drug abuse, 10 Tucson youth will screen their video shorts and participate in a discussion on local issues and filmmaking.

On the evening of Thursday, August 12 the Screening Room will host the youth in a program that is free to the public. All of the short videos are the result of Pan Left’s summer youth media program, Make Your Movie! Pan Left Productions, a Tucson-based nonprofit media collective, specializes in putting the tools of media production into the hands of people who are not equally represented in the mainstream media.

Levi is one of the filmmakers. He is also the son of one of the police officers suing the State of Arizona over SB1070. In his timely documentary, Levi explores how the passage of the law has affected his family and his neighborhood. On the day the law is scheduled to take affect, Levi is there with the camera to personally document the response from a personal and intimate point of view—spending the day with his dad.

Another filmmaker is also exploring issues through family ties. Kareem’s grandfather is Pinki Vargas, known in Barrio Viejo as a baseball legend. Using old photographs and interviews, Kareem documents his grandfather’s achievements and the discrimination he faced as one of the first Latino baseball players trying to make it into the major leagues in the United States.

“All of the youth are exploring large issues in a personal way,” said Mary Charlotte Thurtle, Executive Director of Pan Left Productions. “To shoot the skateboard trick tips video we needed to find a quiet, not crowded, yet still legal place. The youth making the video didn’t think that existed in our community.”

“Youth are often the target of media messages, yet many lack the skills to construct effective media messages on topics that are important to them” said Thurtle, “Make Your Movie! was designed so that youth voice can be a bigger part of civic dialogue.” Make Your Movie! was made possible through a grant from the Kresge Tucson Innovative/Tucson Pima Arts Council and sponsorship by the University of Arizona School of Theater, Film and TV and the Screening Room.

The screening starts at 6:30 pm and will go until 8:30 pm. The Screening Room is located at 127 East Congress Street in downtown Tucson. For more information, contact Pan Left at panleft@panleft.org or (520) 792-9171.

[