Photo by Sean Stuchen

On September 11, 2001, one of the worst acts of violence on American soil took place taking the lives of almost 3000 Americans.  343 of those that died that day were firefighters. On 9/11/2010 these heroic souls will be remembered in a ceremony created by the Tucson Fire Foundation, a new non-profit 501c3 corporation. Postcards will be available to the public to address a remembrance to the FDNY and will be sent by the foundation to New York.

The event will be held at the Art Gallery located north of Speedway on Stone Ave in an invitation only occasion.  The incredible photographs of Tucson firefighters by local photographer Sean Stuchen will be exhibited and sold at both events with proceeds going to the foundation. Sean will be present for both days’ events.  The special 9/11 happening will be a major fundraiser for the Tucson Fire Foundation created to help firefighters and their families for circumstances beyond the normal coverage provided. For more details visit their website: http://www.tucsonfirefoundation.org

Photo by Sean Stuchen

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The Etherton Gallery is having its first exhibition of the 2010-2011 season, Ojos bien abiertos/Eyes Wide Open opening September 7 and running through November 6, 2010.

It is part of a yearlong celebration of Etherton Gallery’s 30^th Anniversary.  The show features sgrafitto drawings by Alice Leora Briggs, hand-colored gelatin silver photographs by Guatemalan photographer, Luis Gonzalez Palma and documentary photographs by Mexican photographer Rodrigo Moya. Together these artists give the viewer access to intimate moments, insider views and documentary images that challenge the cultural myths and historical understanding that have conditioned our appraisal of Latin America.

Coral by Luis Gonzalez Palma

The Etherton Gallery will host an artist reception Saturday, September 11, 7-10 pm at the gallery. Luis Gonzalez Palma, who lives in Argentina, is traveling to Tucson in one of his few trips to the United States this year, to attend the reception and will speak at the Center for Creative Photography the next day.

Observar en Silencio by Alice Leora Briggs

Etherton Gallery will show new work by Alice Leora Briggs as well as a number of works from Dreamland: The Way Out of Juarez, a collaboration with writer Charles Bowden, which she describes as part “illuminated manuscript” and part “crime blotter.” Briggs’ sgraffito drawings reveal the otherwise untold story of the victims, bystanders, and collaborators in the Juarez drug wars.  Images from a series of postage stamp styled drawings like Silencio make clear that sins of omission are in fact political acts that can have the same deadly consequences as sins of commission, regardless of who perpetrates them. (more…)

Sarah Gonzales & students L-R Katherine, May, Kim Espe, Brianna, Margaret, Jusu, Paul

A showcase of the visual arts created by students involved in an art program Nuestra Voz: Latino Youth Initiative Youth, Art & Activism was presented to the public yesterday.  Almost 40 students participated in the art program creating paintings, photography, sculpture from recycled materials and video. This unique art explored the positive effective ways to express their feelings and commitments as they participate in improving their community. Sarah Gonzales led the arts program.

Our Leaders Are Us by Espe, May, Addriana, Peter, Greg, Iris, Vanessa

The talks and exhibition of student’s work took place Friday, July 16^th at the YWCA Frances McClelland Leadership Center at 525 N. Bonita Avenue. Congressman Raul Grijalva gave a very moving motivational speech to the audience of children and adults.

The presentations during the program allowed the students to talk about their artwork and what they were expressing through it. By viewing the work you could obviously see the healing needed by these unique individuals through their expression from their heart. Each creation expressed adverse effects on their lives the current pending legislation will have on them and their families.

Roots of Knowledge by Margaret, Paul, Syrena, Athena

The YWCA Tucson Racial Justice Program has received a $200,000 grant from the Kellogg Foundation to support our Latino Youth Initiative:  Nuestra Voz/Our Voice.  In the wake of the recent legislation dealing with immigration and the attempt by the Arizona Legislature to ban ethnic studies programs, Nuestra Voz is particularly needed and the YWCA is grateful for this very generous support.

Graffiti Nametags by ALL students in program

Nuestra Voz will build on ten years of effective racial healing work to develop and implement a new initiative for the emerging, too often silenced, Latino youth population in an on-going effort to combat prejudice, intolerance and to work towards racial healing and youth empowerment.  Nuestra Voz will:

• Develop Latino youth leadership
• Heal historical trauma through dialogue
• Promote positive cultural identity through youth initiated community racial healing projects
• Provide training for teachers/administrators to promote a positive healing experience.

Nuestra Voz/Our Voice is one of 119 awarded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to support racial equity and healing and the only grant awarded in Arizona.