KITE by Charles Rogers

Fill up the gas tank in your car, load up your family and friends and head out to one of Tucson’s most popular events. It is the Tucson Open Studios where you will get to meet some of Tucson’s finest artists in their studios and homes this weekend and see their unique creations. The event takes place this coming Saturday and Sunday, April 13 & 14 from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm in over 75 locations with more than 140 artists participating.

It is happening all over Tucson. Expect to see about every kind of art medium you can imagine from oil or acrylic on canvas, glass, textile art, jewelry, ceramics, print making, sculptures in different mediums, photography, and more.

Janet Burner in her studio

Tucson Open Studios event is funded and promoted by the artists themselves as it has been for the past number of years.  This year there are a number of new professional artists that have not been seen by the Tucson public prior to this weekend.

The advantage to viewing work in this open studios format is to see work as it is being created and to be able to talk to the creative person about it.  By just looking at a blank canvas or a bag of clay you realize that without the creative energy and passion of these artists nothing would appear.

“Two Chickens” by Brenda Huettner

Two new professional artists that have studios near mine in Dunbar Springs are Charles Rogers on University Blvd. (painting at top of this article) and Brenda Huettner on 9th Ave.  When visiting Brenda’s display in her Dunbar Springs home be sure and check out the Poo Monkey from the closed Magic Carpet in her side yard. She and her husband had it totally restored.

For participating artists and the location to their studios visit the Tucson Studio Tours website that lists all the artists on tour with a sample of their work and directions to their studios. http://tucsonopenstudios.com

Birthmark by Kyle Johnston

In the printed April issue of  Zocalo magazine a majority of the artists are listed with their locations. This year the event has attracted lots of media coverage in Zocalo,Tucson Weekly,  the new Tucson Happenings magazine, the Arizona Daily Star (Sunday 4/7/13 issue) and on several radio stations. It is obvious this is a much-anticipated event.

I highly recommend you taking advantage of this great opportunity to see great art, meet the creators and buy a piece for your own collection this weekend.

Simon Leach Workshop

YouTube sensation Simon Leach, will be teaching an  intensive two day workshop concentrating on wheel throwing, from bottom to top at the Romero House Potters studio this coming Saturday April 13 and Sunday April 14^th.

You will learn  production techniques passed down through generations of British. Visit YouTube, Keep Practicing with Simon,http://www.youtube.com/user/sleachpots/videos.

Interested students are invited to a free Slideshow Friday April 12 from 6 pm -7 pm at the Romeo House Studio.

For more information http://www.romerohousepotters.org., 624-4287 or contact Brenda Arwood at 465-4004 or barwoodart@hotmail.com.  Register soon—space is limited and spots are filling up!

Location:

The Romero House Potters, Inc,

102 W. Washington Street

Tucson Artist Eneida Colon Sculpting A new Work

The Lacey Jarrell Foundation  will be presenting an exhibition & sale of award winning artwork by National and International artists at the Ward 6 Gallery beginning April 6.  The title to the exhibition is The Melange Art Show. Their opening reception is April 6 from 5-9 pm at the Ward 6 office.

The Foundation was developed in memory of Lacey Jarrell, a young artist who died in a tragic car accident at the age of 16 in Tucson, AZ in 2006.

The Lacey Jarrell Foundation is a 501 3C non-profit organization whose mission is to help aspiring student artists ages 13 –21. The foundation provides support with tuition, book expenses, art supplies and promotes educational lectures in our schools, art classes and other artistic related endeavors. The Foundation also provides up to six pro bono counseling sessions for the artists and their families.

Candela by Victor Navarro

This fund-raising exhibition features work by carefully selected artists from Arizona, Texas, Brazil, Mexico and France. The participating artists come from diverse backgrounds and will present varying styles created in a number of different mediums. All of the artists are participating to benefit The Lacey Jarrell Foundation and artistic culture. The art seen here is just a sampling of the great work available for sale to benefit this important organization. Great art and great prices.

Magia de Jujer by Lucy Cruz

The art exhibition will be on display from April 6, 2013 through May 30^th, 2013. Artists will share their knowledge in creating art in different mediums. Each weekend the event will include special art demonstrations, interactive group projects, music, and other entertainment.

 The Lacey Jarrell Foundation representatives will be available at the front desk for more information. Admission is free for all guests.

EXHIBITION DATES: APRIL 6 – MAY 30, 2013

OPENING RECEPTION: SATURDAY, APRIL 6 FROM 5:00 –9:00 PM.

Location: Ward 6 Office

3202 East First Street

Tucson, AZ 85716

The Shame by Amy Hagemeir

A new art exhibit opens Saturday, April 6th from 6:00 pm to 10:00pm at Industria Studios on 1441 E. 17^th St. This exhibit clearly shows the power that art has in our society.  The art on display is certainly not a pretty picture to go with your sofa but is an excellent demonstration why ART is an important part of our lives. Like it or not, IT will make you think and that is why it is so important.

Nearly a dozen artists from Tucson, Oakland, and New York City will be participating in the exhibition with 3d and 2d artworks as well as a video installation from Favianna Rodriguez, an Oakland based artist and activist.

The show will feature the completed mural from the TPAC PLACE Initiative ‘Painting by Numbers Project’  which directly addresses the issue of women in AZ ICE detention.  The objective of the exhibition is to spread awareness about an invisible segment of our Arizona population and to allow for creative commentary on ICE detention and its meaning and interpretation by various artists.

No Paper No Fear by Julio Salgado

El Desierto by Cristina Cardenas

These artists are striving to acknowledge these practices in their work and express the emotions and ideas provoked by such practices. As Arizona continues to grapple with the issue of immigration reform, artists from this community and beyond are striving to keep a record of the emotional aspect of this reality, and this event will provoke audiences to take inventory of their own reactions.

Detainee Memorial by Pancho Medina

The exhibition was inspired by Wesley Fawcett Creigh’s year-long public art project which focused specifically on the issue of women in ICE detention in Arizona.  She stated; “I wanted to culminate the project with a larger event to showcase how other artists are expressing their feelings about these disturbing practices on the part of ICE and DHS. I wanted to expand on what I was trying to do with the ‘Paint by Numbers’ project which was connect an audience with a political issue through the arts.”

Paint By Numbers by Wesley Fawcett Creigh

Creigh, will be giving a presentation on her year-long mural project entitled, “Painting by Numbers: Women in AZ Detention Centers, Bringing Numerical Statistics to Life”; the finished mural will also be on display at the Industria Studios exhibition.

Shloka M Ettna, a local artist who will be participating in the show sees this exhibit as a way to build a network of people who want to be an active part of the movement towards upheaving the current, dehumanizing system.”

Original painting by Shloka M Ettna

The artist’s believe the current ICE detention practices have created a rapidly growing non-criminal prisoner population throughout the country; these individuals may be held indefinitely and without legal representation. The more recent practice of detaining women on the basis of immigration status has provoked a devastating trend of family separation that remains unresolved by current immigration legislation. Their goal with this exhibition is to give exposure to the unseen detainee population and for us to examine the political and social undercurrents that set the stage for these inhumane practices. These works will also convey artists’ reactions to the issue of immigration detention.

The EXHIBITION OPENING is taking place on Saturday, April 6th from 6:00 pm to 10:00pm at Industria Studios on 1441 E. 17^th St. (entrance on vine between 16^th and 17^th Street, across from Roma Imports)Tucson, AZ.  The exhibition runs from April 6 –April 28, 2013

Thirty percent of all sales of artwork will go toward the Florence Project (a group of lawyers that provide free legal aid to ICE detainees) and Industria Studios, a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Additional donations for the Florence Project can be made at the opening event.

Regular gallery hours are: Saturdays & Sundays 1-5pm 

                                                                                                                                      Exhibition Dates:  April 6 – April 28, 2013

Spontaneous Evolution Poster

The amazing documentary film “An Introduction To SPANTANEOUS EVOLUTION by Bruce H. Lipton, Ph.D. will be shown at the Grand Cinemas 6 this coming Thursday at 7:00 pm. This one night presentation is presented by  MoviesThatMatterTucson.

Just as a terminally ill patient can have a spontaneous remission – usually following a profound life change or change in beliefs – human society is now on the verge of a similar healing. In this dynamic illustrated lecture, Dr. Lipton presents compelling scientific evidence that shows how our collective perceptions are contributing to global crises and how, by changing those perceptions, civilization will thrive into the future.  Come see what humanities next great step in evolution is and how it’s coming about!!

Bruce Lipton, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. Stem cell biologist, bestselling author of The Biology of Belief and recipient of the 2009 Goi Peace Award, he has been a guest speaker on hundreds of TV and radio shows, as well as keynote presenter for national and international conferences. Dr. Lipton began his scientific career as a cell biologist. He received his Ph.D. Degree from the University of Virginia at Charlottesville before joining the Department of Anatomy at the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine in 1973.

Dr. Lipton’s research on muscular dystrophy, studies employing cloned human stem cells, focused upon the molecular mechanisms controlling cell-behavior. In 1982, Dr. Lipton began examining the principles of quantum physics and how they might be integrated into his understanding of the cell’s information processing systems. He produced breakthrough studies on the cell membrane, which revealed that this outer layer of the cell was an organic homologue of a computer chip, the cell’s equivalent of a brain.

His research at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, between 1987 and 1992, revealed that the environment, operating though the membrane, controlled the behavior and physiology of the cell, turning genes on and off. His discoveries, which ran counter to the established scientific view that life is controlled by the genes, presaged one of today’s most important fields of study, the science of epigenetics. Two major scientific publications derived from these studies defined the molecular pathways connecting the mind and body.

MOVIES THAT MATTER TUCSON PRESENTS:  An Introduction to Spontaneous Evolution

 Film:                   An Introduction to Spontaneous Evolution

Date:                   Thursday, March 28th

Times:                7pm

Location:            Crossroads 6 Cinema, (NE corner Grant N Swan)

Admission:        $10

Opening Night of the Tucson Sculpture 2013

If you have not had the chance to visit this year’s Tucson Sculpture Festival you have only two more days to visit one of the best sculpture exhibitions in Tucson history.

Unoccupied view of some of the sculptures at this year’s Sculpture Festival

On Friday, February 15, there will be a closing party to celebrate this year’s successful event. Many of the 75 artists that participated this year will be available to answer questions you may have about their work. It will be the last opportunity for the public to view this exceptional collection of local artist’s three-dimensional creations. You may still visit the exhibitions at the Whistle Stop Depot and the Sculpture Resouce Center during the day Thursday and Friday from 11 AM -7 PM. The location for the closing event will be at the Whistle Stop Depot from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

The Sculpture Resource Center will have a happy hour catered by the Tasteful Kitchen, from 5 – 6 pm, on Friday, February 15th.

The Whistle Stop Depot (main venue)  – 127 West 5th STREET (one block west of Stone Ave)

(Note: Lots of parking during open hours, including the adjacent lot on the east side)

The Sculpture Resource Center –  640 North Stone Avenue

Location Map of Tucson Sculpture Festival

Gonzalo Espinosa creating a new sculpture at the Sculpture Resource Center in Tucson

The 4th Annual Tucson Sculpture Festival opens in Tucson this Friday, February 1st at the Whistle Stop Depot (6- 9:30 pm), and the Sculpture Resource Center (8 – 11 pm)(address and directions below the article) The exhibition will be open to the public from 11 am – 7 pm daily February 1 – 15^th.

The openings this year are sure to excite anyone that loves sculpture. Some of the finest sculptural artworks from Tucson will be on exhibition at this year’s event. Here is what to expect at the openings.

Our local internationally recognized Metalphysic’s Sculpture Studio will be showing bronze castings and their unique technology utilized by many fine artists locally and internationally for creating monumental sculptures.

The totally sculptural creation known as Anarchestra will be making music featured at the opening Friday and their instruments will be on exhibition for the duration of the festival. They will also be playing at the closing of the event.

Visitors Friday will witness cutting edge technology with Digital-To-Physical Sculptures  being presented that few have ever known existed. Our local  Xerocraft hackerspace will be demonstrating their 3-D Printers, augmented reality and the online virtual sculptures in OpenSim.  Modern day sculptors now have access to digital tools at this moment like the new 123D Catch, where anyone can make a  digital 3-D object using a digital camera.

Sculpture by Susan Kay Johnson

Also at the  Whistle Stop opening Susan Kay Johnson will be giving a live demonstration. She is considered one of Tucson’s finest artists and the original creator of the All Souls Procession. Members of Tucson High School Drumline will parade from the Whistle Stop to the Sculpture Resource  Center before 9:00 PM.  Carl Hanni will be the DJ at the Sculpture Resource Center opening.

Moises Orozco creating a new sculpture at the Sculpture Resource Center

New Sculpture by Gonzalo Espinosa

There will be a wide variety of expressions and mediums, at the exhibitions from paper to bronze, and everything in-between reflecting the diversity of Tucson’s sculpture community.  By clicking on the hot links above you will see why this event is going to be exciting for the Tucson community.  Most all the sculpture on exhibition will be FOR SALE. It is a great time to buy one of these unique works of art.

The locations for the exhibitions and openings are below.

The Whistle Stop Depot (main venue)  – 127 West 5th STREET (one block west of Stone Ave) –  6:00 – 9:30 pm (reception)February 1

(Note: Lots of parking during open hours, including the adjacent lot on the east side)

The Sculpture Resource Center –  640 North Stone Avenue

        — 8:00 – 11:00 pm (reception) February 1.

Location Map of Tucson Sculpture Festival Exhibitions

Romero House Ceramics

If you have ever desired to learn ceramics from some masters of the art, this winter new classes are beginning at Romero House Potters in Tucson. They are located in a very convenient location behind the Tucson Museum of Art. For more information about classes call: 520-624-4286 or visit their website: http://www.romerohousepotters.org.  Classes are for first timers, practicing professionals and younger students.

Winter Ceramics Classes at Romero House Potters

Class Schedule and Fees, Winter 2013

Schedule Sessions

January 5 – February 28 (8 weeks)

March 2 – April 25 (8 weeks)

April 27 – May 23 (4 weeks)

RHP membership

$50 Romero House Potters membership fee (October1 – September 30)

8 week session

$275 non-member, includes class and open studio

$240 RHP member, includes class and open studio

$225 non-member, class only

$175 RHP member, class only

4 week session

$175 non-member, includes class and open studio

$140 RHP member, includes class and open studio

Open Studio / Independent Study:

*Over 35 hours of open studio time available each week. Independent open studio limited to a total enrollment of 6 students.

$225 non-member, per month

$140 RHP member, per month

Prorating – For 8 week sessions that include class and open studio only

$40 non-member, per week

$35 RHP member, per week

Supplies and other information

Tools and clay (cone 10) are the responsibility of the student. Clay (cone 10) may be purchased at the studio.

*We offer a $25 (maximum) discount on the purchase of 2 or more classes of the same length in one session

*All dates and fees subject to change

Class Descriptions, Winter 2013 – 8 week sessions

Instructor: Roy Lizama

Stick Method Handbuilding

January 5 – February 23                               Saturdays 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM                            all skill levels

The stick method of making vessels and sculptures is an alternative to wheel throwing, coil and slab methods. The method employs sticks or dowels pushed through a cylinder of clay in increasingly large diameters. This seamless cylinder can be used to create a wide variety of ceramic forms that are sculptural, decorative or functional. Slips, oxides and underglazes may be applied at any stage to achieve interesting results.

Instructor: Betsy Tannzer

The Wheel Thrown Vessel

January 7 – February 25                               Mondays 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM                             all skill levels

Learn the basics on working on a potter’s wheel with individual instruction at every level. Demonstrations of different techniques for a variety of forms will be given and students will be encouraged to develop their own distinctive styles. Glaze applications and techniques will be discussed.

Instructor: Janet Burner

Wheel, Sculpture and Handbuilding

January 8 – February 26                               Tuesdays 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM                           intermediate

Demonstrations will be given regularly in wheel throwing, handbuilding and sculpture with individual artistic development as a focus. Stoneware (cone 10), low fire, saggar and raku firings are all available. This class will bring together students with varying degrees of experience in clay, who share a desire to be creative using handbuilding and wheel techniques.

Instructor: Janet Burner

Wheel, Sculpture, Handbuilding and Glaze Techniques

January 8 – February 26                           Tuesdays 6:00 PM- 9:00PM                              advanced

The stick method of making vessels and sculptures is an alternative to wheel throwing, coil and slab methods. The method employs sticks or dowels pushed through a cylinder of clay in increasingly large diameters. This seamless cylinder can be used to create a wide variety of ceramic forms that are sculptural, decorative or functional. Slips, oxides and underglazes may be applied at any stage to achieve interesting results.

Instructor: Nick Tranmer

Wheel

January 9 – February 27                               Wednesdays 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM                       all skill levels

The basics of throwing will be covered as well as form, surface, glazing, inspiration and analytical skills. More advanced techniques will be dealt with as necessary, including handles, spouts, lids altering and throwing larger and multi-part pieces.

Instructor: Nick Tranmer

Wheel

January 9 – February 27                               Wednesdays 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM                       all skill levels

The basics of throwing will be covered as well as form, surface, glazing, inspiration and analytical skills. More advanced techniques will be dealt with as necessary, including handles, spouts, lids altering and throwing larger and multi-part pieces.

Instructor: Nick Tranmer

Handbuilding

January 10 – February 28                               Thursdays 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM                       all skill levels

This class will cover the fundamentals of handbuilding techniques for both sculptural and functional work. Form, surface and content will be discussed, as well as historic and contemporary ceramics.

Special Class – 8 week session

Instructor: Nick Tranmer

Clay, Glazes and Firing

January 10 – February 28                               Thursdays 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM                       intermediate and advanced

Learn how to make your own clay and glazes and problem-solve material issues in your work. This course focuses on the understanding of materials and the composition of clays and glazes as well as the basics of kilns and firing. Weekly lectures and hands-on clay and glaze mixing are involved. Some ceramics experience is preferred. Materials for clay and glaze testing included (see special fees below). Class requires a total minimum enrollment of six students.

$300 non-member

$265 RHP member

Youth Class Schedule and Fees, Winter 2013

4 week session 

Instructor: Elaine Isner

Introduction to Handbuilding for High School Students

February 7 – February 28

Thursdays 4:30 AM – 7:30  x                           beginning and intermediate

Students will create clay forms without the use of the potter’s wheel! This class will cover the three basic methods of handbuilding: pinch, coil and slab. Students will treat the surface of their work with texture, sgraffito, sprigging or glaze.

$175 non-member

$140 RHP member

PORCELAIN WORKSHOP Instructor: Joe Zeller

4 Fridays

January 18, 25, February 1 and 15, skipping Feb. 8

9:30 – 1:00

Porcelain: Materials, Processes, Decorating and Glazing, One potter’s perspective

Participants will receive instruction from lectures, demonstrations, individual instruction and insights 

Session 1. History and tradition, slides, clay bodies and glazes and basic forming processes.

Session 2. Advanced forming and assembly, surface decoration and narratives.

Session 3. Completion of ware, discuss slips and engobes as surface enhancement.

Session 4. Glazing and Firing.

Each session will have slides as illustrations of the potential and the history of processes in porcelain.

Each session will involve hands-on participation and a question and answer dialog by participants.

Limit: 15 participants __ Registrations after the first 15 will be put on a waiting list. RHP has nine electric wheels and five kick wheels (two are motorized).   RHP can accommodate more wheels, so potters who wish to bring their own are invited to bring them.

Workshop Fee includes open studio

$275.     Non-member

$255.     SACA member

$200.     RHP member

Joe Zeller has been a potter, professor and practitioner of ceramics for 45 years. MFA Alfred University, BFA

University of Illinois. Zeller has taught at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Ohio University, West Virginia University, the University of Kansas and the University of Idaho. He was Visiting Faculty at Staffordshire University, Stoke on Trent, UK and the Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute, Jingdezhen PRC. Zeller’s work is in scores of private collections and notably in the permanent collections of the Butler Institute of American Art and The Nora Eccles HarrisonMuseum.

Zeller has lectured at over 100 colleges, universities, art centers and professional societies. He is a past board member of National Council on Education in the Ceramic Arts and past trustee of the American Ceramics Society where he is also a Fellow. His former students are represented as faculty in major universities across the USA, in prestigious galleries and as studio potters.

This community event is to bring together youth from the Tohono O’Odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Akilmel O’Odham Tribe, Chicanos and Elders from each respective indigenous communities to share, to teach and promote respect for being indigenous, for our indigenous ways, beliefs and traditions. This event will empower and motivate youth to stand up for our Indigenous rights and human rights.

Festival to include: Poetry Slam, Story Telling, Contemporary Music, Live Graffiti Display and performances by Shinning Soul (Phoenix New Times Best Anti-SB 1070 Hip-Hop Group-2012 for son “Papers), DJ ALias with Progreso, The MEZ, TOP NAX and Poet Raul Alcaraz.

Teach – In workshop topics to include: Indigenous History – Culture – Traditions- Rites of Passage-Indigenous Rights – Immigrant Rights- Arizona State SB1070 and HB 2281- Radio as a Tool for Community Social Change – Border Injustice

Presenters to include: MECha, UNIDOS, Hiaki High School, TYLO, elders and traditional teachers from the Tohono O’Odham Nation, Chicano Community, Dulce Juarez Immigrants’ Rights Project Coordinator of ACLU of Arizona, Mary Rojas, Maestra Cobb, Brenda Robertson –Akimel O’odham, Tony Collins – Salt River Indian Community,  Simon Ortiz, Rosemary Tona-Aguirre -Pascua Yaqui, Joesph Joaquin –Tohono O’odham, Raquel Rubio Goldsmith –Mexican American and Francisco Flores

                                                                                                                                               YOUTH BORDER ACTION FESTIVAL & TEACH-IN

Saturday, November 17^th 

10am to 8pm

John Valenzuela Youth Center

 1550 S. 6^th Ave. South Tucson, AZ

If you would like more information, please contact Jose Matus at 520-979-2125 or email alianzaindigena@gmail.com

WEBSITE: http://www.indigenousalliance.org

Poster for Authentic Productions Event

A local Tucson motion picture production company, Authentic Productions, will be presenting their “best of 2012” films to the public Friday November 16 at the Crossroads Cinema in Tucson. Authentic Productions plans to establish themselves as one of the key production companies in Tucson. This screening will also be a fundraiser for the company.

Aside from commercials, infomercials and documentaries, Authentic Productions also produces short films, mockumentaries and now comedy sketches. They sorted through their best projects for the year and will screen them in Tucson, Arizona for a second straight year in a One-Night-Only event at the Grand Cinemas Crossroads 6 located at 4811 E Grant Road.

Prior to the screening there will be a Red Carpet Mixer, where the audience, will be able to meet the cast and crew responsible for their projects. The shorts that will be playing will be “Dead Night,” a story of vampires roaming the streets and terrorizing their prey, psychologically and physically.

Screen Shot from DEAD NIGHT

“Abby,” the music video/drama short takes a look into a destructive outcome of a failed relationship that ends in a horrendous fashion. “Sportscasters: Out To Lunch” will make it’s big screen debut on this night and is also the main feature of the night.. The mockumentary/comedy follows several sportscasters claiming to be professional journalists in the field, yet are completely clueless of any sports.

In between each film will include several promos for upcoming projects including one “Diced,” a cooking show promoting healthy cooking. Peanut Butter Hour will also make it’s debut with several short comedy sketches, including, The World’s Worst Chef, Angry GPS, and 2 Thugs: How To Eat Cereal. This will be the first time these sketches are shown to the public.

Peanut Butter Hour Cast

There will be a Question and Answer session after the film presentations for the audience to ask questions of the actors and filmmakers involved.  Due to language/drug use/sexual content in some of the films the audience is for ages 16 and up.

Purchase tickets at Brown Paper : http://ap2012screening.brownpapertickets.com or at the Grand Cinemas box office window.

Location:

Grand Cinemas Crossroads 6 Theatre – Grant and Swan

4811 E. Grant Road #150

Tucson, AZ 85712

Directions:

NE Corner of Grant and Swan