Drama Queen by Nikki Westra

The works of , Nikki Westra: Collage, will be exhibited at an artist’s reception October 22 at the Temple Gallery.  Her work features intricate collages using images appropriated from anatomical texts, published between the late 19^th and mid 20^th century.

The artist was inspired by meeting the renowned photographer Frederick Sommer.  Westra cuts up beautifully colored anatomical drawings and then rearranges the delicately veined organs and tissue in new relationships to make her collages. She literally transforms the machinery of  the human body reorganizing tissue and bone to make something new.

Valor by Nikki Westra

For example in Valor, Westra strategically juxtaposes unrelated parts of the body, bringing to life a fantastic new being that resembles a back-to-the-future Roman warrior. By moving pelvis, spinal cord and bony fingers to the surface, she constructs an exoskeleton helmet that protects the figure’s head and the green tracery beneath the skin. The accolades symbolized by the medal of valor, seem like meaningless praise to Westra’s inconsolable figure.

Game Face by Nikki Westra

This theme is also evident in Game Face, in which Westra reverses the position of tissue and bone to form a helmet, and here presents half a rib cage as a shield or perhaps a cape and transforms pieces of bone into an axe. Like Prometheus, who defied the laws of nature and created man, Westra’s transformation of the human body into new, unimagined beings, defies the laws of human anatomy. The effect is eerily beautiful and fascinating, drawing us in to look closely at the work and ultimately, at ourselves.

Nikki Westra returned to the practice of art after a distinguished legal career. Always an avid amateur photographer, early on she became interested in composition and balance. While living in Prescott, Arizona, during the 1990s, she made the acquaintance of photographer, Frederick Sommer whose philosophy of art and life had a profound influence on her work. Westra likes to think that Sommer, who also experimented with collage, would approve of the structure and source material of her collages.

Nikki Westra: Collages will be available for viewing and purchase until November 23, 2010. The Temple Gallery will host an artist reception on Friday, October 22, 5:30-7:30 pm.

LOCATION: The Temple Gallery is located in SoCo (South of Congress) at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave in downtown Tucson.

HOURS: Open Monday – Friday, 10am to 5pm and prior to Arizona Theatre Company performances on Saturday and Sunday.

For information about the exhibition, contact Etherton Gallery, which manages the Temple Gallery at (520) 624-7370 or info@ethertongallery.com. To confirm gallery hours, please call the Temple of Music and Art at (520) 807-8029.

Dr. Jekyll With Patient in shadow

This year’s Halloween Show at the historic Valley of the Moon offers great performances in their production HAUNTED RUINS.   Bring the family to one of Tucson’s rare “child friendly” Halloween plays. You will bear witness to the strange transformation of Jekyll & Hyde, while trying to save the world with Magic. The performance will delight people of all ages and is not so scary for the little ones.

Actress Rochelle at Valley of Moon Benches

This is the 39th annual Halloween Show at this Tucson Treasure fantasy park. As with all the performance at the Vally of the Moon the audience will tour the historic fairyland gardens while getting to know the magical denizens along the way. Don’t be surprised if your children see fairies and gnomes on your venture. This place is enchanted with imagination.

Actress Shelby at The Old Stump

The remaining shows dates are October 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29 & 30. Tours leave the gate every 30 minutes from 6:30PM till 9PM.

$8 for Adults, $5 for 8-13 years, Kids 7 and under are always Free. Food banks nights are Sundays, bring 2 cans 0f food per person for over 50% off admission price.

Wear your favorite costume and join in the fun. This show is a fundraiser for the Valley of the Moon, a non-profit historic district built during the 1920′s by George Legler and dedicated to Kindness to All. Check out their website at www.valleymoon.info, or join them on Facebook. The site will give you a detailed history of this magical fairyland.

GODDARD Painting by Jim Covarrubias

The Goddard Got Art! political committee commissioned five Arizona artists to create works to help elect Terry Goddard the next Governor of Arizona.  Artists featured at this exhibition are Joanne Kerrihard, Jim Covarrubias, Marcus Deleon, Marianne Dissard and Shannon Cain.  They’ have produced paintings, videos and a performance piece.  The art selected was from a juried application process.

Terry Goddard’s long history of supporting the arts was the artist’s inspiration and motivation for their professional contributions . Goddard believes the arts are a critical piece of our economic recovery. Research has shown that places succeeding in attracting and retaining inventive and creative people prosper; those that don’t, fail. More than 50,000 Arizonans are professionally employed in the arts, and tens of thousands more work in related culture and tourism positions.

$300 million in revenue is generated annually by Phoenix-area nonprofit arts projects alone, but public funding for the arts from the state and local governments has decreased significantly. State arts funding now stands at 14 cents per capita; that is the same per capita funding that was available in 1976. He believes we need to reverse this trend now if Arizona is going to attract 21st century businesses – and the jobs they bring – to our state.

Studies have shown that cultural tourists seek what is interesting and authentic in the places they visit.  Arts and cultural activities encourage travelers to stay longer and spend more.  A growing number of visitors are special- interest travelers who rank the arts, heritage and/or other cultural activities as one of the top five reasons for traveling to specific destinations.  People come to Arizona to see what is authentic, including visits to our rural areas, state parks and the cultural centers of our Native American and Latino communities.

The Goddard Got Art! political committee invite the public to come see the unique art on exhibit that includes music, performance art, visual art and video art.  The public will have an opportunity to meet Terry Goddard at 5:30.

Date of Exhibiton: Saturday, October 9

Hours: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM Music and Performances. (Displays open until 10:00 PM)

LOCATION: ONE East Congress ( formerly Centro Lounge)

For more information: http://www.facebook.com/people/Goddard-Got-Art/100001467502302