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

Filmmakers Levi And Alma Interview a Brown Beret

Tucson youth have a lot to say about what is happening in their communities. From topics as diverse as SB1070 to skateboarding and drug abuse, 10 Tucson youth will screen their video shorts and participate in a discussion on local issues and filmmaking.

On the evening of Thursday, August 12 the Screening Room will host the youth in a program that is free to the public. All of the short videos are the result of Pan Left’s summer youth media program, Make Your Movie! Pan Left Productions, a Tucson-based nonprofit media collective, specializes in putting the tools of media production into the hands of people who are not equally represented in the mainstream media.

Levi is one of the filmmakers. He is also the son of one of the police officers suing the State of Arizona over SB1070. In his timely documentary, Levi explores how the passage of the law has affected his family and his neighborhood. On the day the law is scheduled to take affect, Levi is there with the camera to personally document the response from a personal and intimate point of view—spending the day with his dad.

Another filmmaker is also exploring issues through family ties. Kareem’s grandfather is Pinki Vargas, known in Barrio Viejo as a baseball legend. Using old photographs and interviews, Kareem documents his grandfather’s achievements and the discrimination he faced as one of the first Latino baseball players trying to make it into the major leagues in the United States.

“All of the youth are exploring large issues in a personal way,” said Mary Charlotte Thurtle, Executive Director of Pan Left Productions. “To shoot the skateboard trick tips video we needed to find a quiet, not crowded, yet still legal place. The youth making the video didn’t think that existed in our community.”

“Youth are often the target of media messages, yet many lack the skills to construct effective media messages on topics that are important to them” said Thurtle, “Make Your Movie! was designed so that youth voice can be a bigger part of civic dialogue.” Make Your Movie! was made possible through a grant from the Kresge Tucson Innovative/Tucson Pima Arts Council and sponsorship by the University of Arizona School of Theater, Film and TV and the Screening Room.

The screening starts at 6:30 pm and will go until 8:30 pm. The Screening Room is located at 127 East Congress Street in downtown Tucson. For more information, contact Pan Left at panleft@panleft.org or (520) 792-9171.

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Twenty-five individuals and teams will receive awards from the Tucson Pima Arts Council at its 25^th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 19. The event will be held at the Mercado San Agustín in the Menlo Park neighborhood of downtown Tucson.  “These influential people represent the past and the future of arts and culture in greater Tucson,” said Roberto Bedoya, executive director. “They’ve laid foundations and influenced transformed lives with their passion, creativity and commitment.”

Commemorative medallions will be presented to this esteemed group of performing and visual artists, writers, arts administrators, arts advocates, arts supporters, volunteers and visionaries. The 25 honorees are:

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