The Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance (SACCA) has chosen four new board members to help further the reach of the growing nonprofit. Each new director brings extensive community experience to the table, honed from years of success in the business world and in leadership roles with a variety of arts and community associations.

The new board members – Beth Bank, Ben Hawkins, Don Luria and Kimberly Schmitz hail from different backgrounds but now they pursue together a common goal of strengthening the role of the arts in their community.    The organization’s Director Kate Marquez stated:  ”Their experience and expertise should enhance SACCA’s reputation in the community and aid the organization in its effort to expand its programs and offerings throughout Southern Arizona.”

These new board members are extremely active in the community on many levels, from the culinary arts to building construction. In the past, the nonprofit arts group focused its efforts mainly in the greater Oro Valley region, but last summer the group changed its name to the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance, in part to signal a change in direction.

In the months since, SAACA has added events to its schedule and forged new partnerships with outside groups to expand its reach. Later this month (March 27 and 28), SAACA will team with the Arizona State Museum to produce the Southwest Indian Art Fair Benefit at Desert Diamond Casino. Budget cuts at the museum previously threatened to cancel the long-running art fair but with a joint effort of the museum, its board and SAACA They have saved it.

In addition to SAACA’s many longstanding Oro Valley events and programs, the organization this year will produce a concert series in Marana  likely the first of many SAACA events to be held in that community.

“The four newest members of its board of directors should provide immeasurable assistance to SAACA in its ongoing bid to become a regional source of high-quality, relevant arts and cultural programming,” Marquez said.

Beth Bank, Ben Hawkins, Don Luria and Kimberly Schmitz join seven others on the SAACA board of directors, including: President Melanie Larson, Treasurer Maya Dillard-Liddell, Secretary Gregg Forszt, Past President Satish Hiremath, Al Cook, Dale Henson and Gail Munden.

Background of the new board members:

Beth Bank, a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, assists individuals, businesses and not for-profit organizations in creating strategies and achieving their wealth management goals. Bank serves as a trustee for the Arizona Theatre Company, a role that has led her to spearhead for the past two years the company’s annual fundraising gala. She also serves on the theatre group’s development committee. Additionally, Bank is a trustee for Arizona Citizens for the Arts and the Planned Giving Roundtable for Southern Arizona.

Ben Hawkins, a native Tucsonan, first became involved in the community through the construction business he founded and owned. As a 14-year member of the advisory and state boards for the Arizona Builders Alliance, his community work includes repairing run-down facilities devoted to disadvantaged women and children – a program generating hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions for local charities. Hawkins has traveled to Washington, D.C., twice, as part of a coalition to participate in face-to-face discussions between federal, business and public officials, to determine what could be done to enhance federal support for Southern Arizona.

Don Luria holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and master’s in business economics. Now retired, Luria has served as a president on several boards, including the Tucson Museum of Art, Arizona Citizens for the Arts and the Advisory Board of UApresents. Luria also founded Tucson Originals and the Tucson Culinary Foundation. His other associations include the Tucson Symphony, Native Seeds/SEARCH and the Diamond Children’s Medical Center.

Kimberly Schmitz, director of communications and public relations at the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, has served on several boards and organizing committees, including the Tucson Children’s Museum and the Wingspan Classic Golf Tournament. Schmitz’s experience as an event coordinator, network administrator and technical editor/writer has spanned a number of industries, from banking to large-scale mining operations. She has dedicated her professional life to promoting the arts, attractions and events in Southern Arizona.

To learn more about SAACA and its programs, or to become a member or volunteer, go to< http://www.saaca.org> or call (520) 797-3959.

Entries include biographical information about the artists, personal statements from artists about their work (wherever possible) and the location of each piece. This volume also features artwork at Oro Valley’s town government campus, various roadway art displays and several projects completed under the auspices of the Pima Association of Governments Transportation Art by Youth Program. Since Oro Valley adopted its 1% for Public Art Program in 1997, artists have created more than 100 unique works of art throughout the town.

In the following slide show you will see some of our local artists featured within the book.

Slide 1 of 12.
Joe Tyler's "Leaves Unfolding"
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 2 of 12.
Matt Moutafis' "Spirit of Oro Valley"
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 3 of 12.
David Voisard's Stainless Steel Sculpture (close-up)
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 4 of 12.
Steve Farley(tile Mural) & David Voisard(metal sculpture) "Reflections"
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 5 of 12.
Steve Farley's Tile Mural
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 6 of 12.
Susan Gamble, Saint Theresa Tile Works Mural
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 7 of 12.
Gail Munden's "At The End Of The Day"
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 8 of 12.
Carrie Seid's Silk Wall Sculpture
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 9 of 12.
Amy Kyle's "A Day In Havasu Falls"
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 10 of 12.
John Davis' "Sky Ranger"
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 11 of 12.
Mark Rossi at Splendido (Untitled)
Source: Photo by Gail MundenSlide 12 of 12.
Paul Orzech's "Celebration In Blue"
Source: Photo by Gail Munden

In May 2007, the National Endowment for the Arts invited SAACA to tackle a community-focused project. The Alliance received a grant through the “Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Invitational Initiative,” which it used to publish the book. Gail Munden – an artist, Oro Valley resident, and SAACA board member photographed most of the art depicted in these pages, contacted the artists and was responsible for the overall layout and design of “Excellence by Design.”
 
 ”Since its adoption, the town’s public art mandate has resulted in a collection of sculpture and fine art that establishes Oro Valley as excellent by design,” Munden says.

On Wednesday, November 18, the books went on sale at a public introduction in the community room of the Oro Vista Luxury Apartments at 1301 W. Lambert Lane.  The reception had over 20 local public artists attending.

SAACA Executive Director Amanda Kate Marquez says “Excellence by Design” will document for posterity the depth and breadth of Oro Valley’s commitment to the arts. Certainly, when compared to other communities of its size, Oro Valley boasts one of the nation’s largest collections of public artwork. By passing a public art mandate, Oro Valley signaled an ongoing commitment to create beautiful surroundings and enhance the quality of life for all who live or work in the town. This book reflects the success of that effort.”