Original Art by Carloyn Leigh

This year 222 artists have joined together to celebrate the vibrancy of Pima County’s creative community and welcome you to share in the joy of this local treasure. The Open Studio Tour welcomes collectors, residents and tourists to visit artists working in virtually every medium in their creative spaces – from downtown barrios to foothills studios and open-air desert sanctuaries.

Susan Gamble creating ceramic mural

The Open Studio Tour artists are a diverse blend of culture and ages, prominent and emerging artists and young students of art working in a wide range of media –bookmakers, sculptors, photographers, ceramic artists, fiber artists, metal smiths, glass blowers and painters to name a few. The event is family-friendly, casual, full of fresh air, tasty treats, original work, and always the chance of seeing old friends also out and about and new techniques in art making.

Sponsored by TPAC, this free self-guided tour provides an opportunity to dialogue with artists about their philosophies, inspirations, and the nuts and bolts of making art.  Now you have the chance to find answers to questions that come to us when we see art hanging in museums or commercial galleries such as “What does it mean” or “How did she do that?”

This celebration began with a preview exhibition, a visual feast hosted by the Jewish Community Center at 3800 E. River Rd., on view from Oct. 28th through Nov. 11th. The exhibition concludes with a ‘meet-the-artist reception’ from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday Nov. 11th.

The tour of studios takes place this weekend November, 13 & 14. Studios are open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This year the Tucson Mountain Artisans, a new group of diverse artists, will be part of this season’s tour. They offer a unique setting in the West Central Tucson Mountains. Visitors can explore their picturesque studios and experience first-hand the desert beauty that inspires their creativity in multiple dimensions and mediums. Light refreshments will be served at each studio. Watch for javelina, coyote or mule deer crossing your path on this scenic drive between studios.

Ursela Gurau & sister at their Star Bear Studio

Roses In Her Hair by Melissa Miller

*****ADDED Celebration this year! ***

WAMO (Warehouse Artist’s Management Organization) is celebrating its recent acquisition of three historic warehouses : Steinfeld, Toole Shed & Citizens.  Those attending will have the opportunity to  meet the artists, planners, developers, and elected officials working to preserve the historic warehouse arts district. Learn about the past, present and future of the downtown warehouses. View art on display by its members that have been working tirelessly and without compensation for over 6 years to create an affordable arts district.

WHEN:  Saturday November 13 from 5-7 p.m.

LOCATION: The Market Inn at 403 N. 6^th Ave. (6^th Ave and 7^th St.)

A detailed program of participating artists and maps to their studios is posted for the public on the TPAC website at www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org. Also available on the site is information on demonstrations and more.  Look for a free printed program in the November issue of Zocalo magazine on news stands everywhere.  Contact Sally Krommes at skrommes@tucsonpimaartscouncil.org. or at  520-624-0595 #16.

These  special organizations have helped support the Artist’s Tour this year:

Sarnoff’s Art Materials

WAMO (Warehouse Artists Management Organization)

Benjamin Plumbing Supplies

Tucson Lifestyle Magazine

COX Communications

Tucson Jewish Community Center

The Loft Cinema

Zocalo Magazine

City of Tucson

Arizona Commission on the Arts

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.”

Visit the downtown historic arts warehouse district and you will see revitalization in action. On July 1, The Warehouse Arts Management Organization (WAMO) started major progress in downtown Tucson when they took over management of the Citizens Art Studios.  Over forty artists and arts supporters showed up early July 1 to clean-up and beautify one of the properties they are now managing.  The other WAMO properties are also scheduled for major changes in the near future.

Slide 1 of 10.
Titus Castanza Citizen Studios Artist
Source: Photo by Elizabeth BurdenSlide 2 of 10.
L-R Tom Harrington & Joe Hatton Citizen Studios Artists
Source: Photo by Elizabeth BurdenSlide 3 of 10.
Judy Dare WAMO Board member
Source: Photo by Charles SpillarSlide 4 of 10.
L-R Susan Gamble & Natasha Winnik WAMO Board Members
Source: Photo by Elizabeth BurdenSlide 5 of 10.
Marvin Shaver WAMO Board President
Source: Photo by Elizabeth BurdenSlide 6 of 10.
Clean-up Day at Citizen's Art Studios
Source: Photo by Charles SpilarSlide 7 of 10.
Kylie Walzak & John Salgado BICAS At Citizens
Source: Photo by Charles SpillarSlide 8 of 10.
Kylie Walzak BICAS at Citizen's
Source: Photo by Charles SpillarSlide 9 of 10.
Diana Rhoades City Council Staffer for Regina Romero
Source: Photo by Charles SpillarSlide 10 of 10.
John Salgado BICAS At Citizens
Source: Photo by Charles Spillar

WAMO was formed in 2004 as an outcome of the Tucson Historic Warehouse Arts District master planning process. They have been working tirelessly for six years; thousands of man-hours without compensation, to accomplish their goal of a vibrant downtown arts district where the artists can still afford to maintain a studio. Below is the Mission Statement from the WAMO website and explains why they are so important for the revitalization of downtown Tucson. The organization has created a 3-D model of the historic arts district available for viewing at 403 North 6^th Ave. here in Tucson later in the week. (Former Eric Firestone Gallery)

MISSION STATEMENT:

WAMO’s mission is to cultivate and manage Tucson’s Historic Warehouse Arts District into a center for incubation, production, exhibition, education, and management of the arts, to make a significant contribution to the local and regional economy for the benefit of the public at large.

WAMO continues and develops the work of artists and related individuals who have helped to create Tucson’s Historic Warehouse Arts District as an active and varied center and community for the arts, within a downtown community that includes working artists, galleries, museums, nonprofit arts organizations, and supportive retail and residential interests.

Primarily through the active management of properties and other resources, including ownership and development of properties, WAMO guides the District so that it continues to foster the arts and the community into a vibrant future.

WHY SHOULD WE SUPPORT ARTISTS EFFORTS? WHAT DOES AN ARTIST REALLY DO?

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