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Posts Tagged ‘University of Arizona’

An Entrepreneur’s Greatest Asset: The Conceptual Artist

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Preliminary Entrance Concept Drawing for Cactus Drive-In Project

Preliminary Entrance Concept Drawing for Cactus Drive-In Project by John Kelly

For every idea a business of any kind has, they need to “sell” their project or product to investors or the customers or the company’s boss. To do this they need a written business plan but equally important they need to SHOW what they envision. To do this the skills of a Conceptual Artist is needed.

Architects often use scale models of their buildings they want to create. Toy companies need prototypes of their toys to show what the finished product will look like after production. Theme parks, playgrounds, visitor centers, traveling exhibits, history museums, science museums, water parks, aquariums, all use sketches done by a Conceptual Artist to convey their visions. The sketches they generate are the fastest way to convey the goals of the project and to build excitement about it.

As many of you know by now, I personally have undertaken a project called the Cactus Drive-In. It is a new concept idea using the giant screen from the closed De Anza Drive-in and relocated to another location in the future here in Tucson. My group’s vision for this project is to have a walk-in, bike-in, drive in created in a style reminiscent of the 1950’s when the drive-ins were the most popular.

Conceptual layout for Cactus Drive-In Project By John Kelly

Conceptual layout for Cactus Drive-In Project By John Kelly

This Cactus Drive-In will be much more than just as drive-in but will become a community entertainment center.  To convey our ideas and interest others, a local artist with the needed skills volunteered to help us.  He and his wife love the drive-ins and believe like I, that it is a unique experience to enjoy and should be available for future Tucsonans. That artist’s name is John Kelly.He has created all the projects stated in the second paragraph above and then some.

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ART AND MUSIC HAPPENINGS THIS WEEKEND! 2/12 – 2/14

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Get up off the couch, get your shoes on and get out the door this weekend as there are lots of art and music happening in Tucson and YOU should be there!

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New exhibition of the Female Art Club/Education (FACE) opens Friday February 5

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

The Female Art Club/Education organization (FACE) of the University of Arizona (http://www.face-uofa.com/) presents their juried exhibition of Contemporary Works by Women Artists at the Stone Dragon Gallery ( on Stone Ave). and The Kachina Gallery (Student Union  U. of A. Campus) from February 3-March 31. The Grand Opening for the Stone Galley exhibition will be held this Friday February 5.

The exhibition is titled FOUR SEASONS and will be featuring  40 women members work. Their art range from student, emerging and professional artist in various media. The objective of FACE is to promote the talents of their women artists. FOUR SEASONS is a theme open for interpretation representing the multi-facets of their lives, personalities and their multi-talents.

The slide show below will show you a sampling of the excellent quality and range of the works exhibited.

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