Carolyn's Community

The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus will perform two concerts on Saturday, Nov. 21, with proceeds benefiting the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration’s Preserving Our Heritage campaign.

The popular youth chorus, directed by Dr. Julian Ackerley, will present the world premiere of “Prayers from the Ark” at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Benedictine Sister’s historic monastery chapel at 800 N. Country Club Rd. in Tucson.

St. Benefictine monastery

“Prayers from the Ark” was written by French Benedictine nun Carmen Bernos de Gasztold and it includes 27 poems written from the point of view of the animals on Noah’s Ark, each saying a simple prayer to God in its own voice.

In 1966, renowned conductor and former musical director of the Tucson Symphony Frederic Balazs received the book as a gift, and years later after hearing the Boys Chorus, he sat down to write “Prayers from the Ark” as a fund raiser for the Benedictine Sisters. It took two months to complete. The music Balazs wrote depicts the character of each animal portrayed in the poetry, “attempting to match the underlying warmth and wit. Interwoven are chanting, reminiscent of early church music.” Sounds like this premier will be popular with children who can imagine the Ark’s numerous animals.

Danish pianist Torsten Juul-Borre will join the chorus as a featured performer and will play selections of works by Chopin, Grieg and Liszt.

This promises to be an international evening of music inspired by poetry written by a French nun and sung by a chorus which is based on traditions of a European boy choir, accompanied by a Danish pianist.

“Proceeds from the premiere concert will benefit the Benedictine Sisters’ heritage fund, which is raising $1 million for repair and restoration of their 70-year-old monastery” (built by Tucson architect Roy Place.) They have currently raised more than $350,000 with the help of friends, community organizations and benefactors. Last year I toured this monastery and was duly impressed with the architecture and courtyards, well worth preserving.

Tickets are $50 and available by calling (520) 325-6401. Contact person is Prioress Sister Ramona Varela at varela@bspa.us.

If you care about election integrity in our own Pima County, mark your calendars for Monday, November 16. “Fatally Flawed” premiered at the Loft Theater on September 16, and exactly two months later it will be at the Crossroads Theater, 4811 E. Grant Rd. at 7 p.m. Admission is only $3. See Off the Marquee’s blog about this movie on 9/11.

“Fatally Flawed” by Tucsonan J.T. Waldron documents the investigation spearheaded by the Pima County Democratic Party and their attorney Bill Risner, with the assistance of election integrity advocates John Brakey (Audit AZ) and Libertarian Jim March (Black Box Voting). These three men became obsessed with seeking the truth about the May 2006 RTA Election that authorized a sales tax increase totaling $2 Billion to fund the Regional Transportation Authority. You can read about the events leading up to making of the film at www.fatallyflawedthemovie.com.

“The film allows you watch events as they unfold through the eyes of seasoned lawyer and activist Bill Risner. As the story develops, it becomes evident that what initially appeared to be a public mandate to expand the city’s roads was a likely case of election fraud. At every step of the way, citizens seeking answers are met with resistance from election facilitators, local politicians and even the state’s own attorney general. Persistent unanswered questions generated by the lawsuit and new evidence of wrongdoing on the part of elections division personnel led to an equally suspicious investigation by the Arizona attorney general. This investigation culminated in a recount conducted under conditions that made meaningful public oversight impossible.” (from the movie website)

I sat in on the Tucson Citizen editorial board meeting (as a “My Tucson” columnist) when these three men came to present their findings in 2008, and I saw the movie’s premier on September 16, which was well attended. Many local Tucsonans are seen in this movie, including attorney Vince Rabago, then Chair of the Pima County Democratic Party, activist Mike Hayes of the Campbell/Grant Northeast Neighborhood Association, and Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll at their board meeting fighting for transparency in releasing election data files.

If you can’t attend the movie, the cost of the DVD is $25 online.

movie poster

Seeing this locally produced documentary on the big screen is worth the price of only $3. This second showing is sponsored by an independent Tucson group called Voices of Opposition (to War, Racism and Oppression). The Crossroads 6 Grand Cinemas is located on the NE corner of Grant and Swan, behind the Fry’s shopping center.

If you haven’t been to “The Castle” at 388 S. Stone Ave south of downtown Tucson, then I encourage you to drop by tomorrow November 7, between 7 to 10 p.m. for the monthly reception of WomanKraft (www.womankraft.org), a non profit arts organization. Founded in 1974, WomanKraft’s mission is to “claim, validate, and empower women artists and other under represented groups.”

This November reception will highlight the beginning of their annual Holiday Bazaar–which started in 1986, to provide a venue for Tucson women artists and artisans to sell their “most affordable, original and diverse artworks”. Free & creative gift wrapping for all gallery purchases will be done by Darlene Kirk of Payson, Arizona.

I’ve been to a few of their receptions over the years, and the crafts on sale include acrylic or watercolor paintings, photographs, sculptures, metal creations, feathery boas, lots of lovely jewelry, notecards, etc.

Another second Holiday Bazaar reception will be held on Saturday December 5, also from 7 to 10 p.m. for more holiday shopping!

Regular hours for WomanKraft (located south of Cushing Street) are Tuesdays to Saturdays, 1 to 5 p.m.

“The Castle” (built in 1918, photo below) houses the art gallery, the School of the Arts, The Sanctuary–an all natural beauty salon–and the Institute for Shamanic Arts. Read more about these programs on their website, or in their bi-monthly newsletter “The Castle Voice”, or call 520-629-9976.

The new Eric Firestone Gallery Exhibition and Event Space will officially open near downtown Tucson with a grand opening tomorrow Friday, November 6th from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight.
Live music by African Soul, and Blackwood and Company will be featured.

“Located in Tucson’s Historic Warehouse Arts District at 403 North 6th Avenue on the northwest corner of 6th Avenue and 7th Street the new Eric Firestone Gallery – Exhibition Space will feature exhibitions of historic and contemporary art and design as well as hosting related performances and events”.

This new Exhibition and Event Space is housed in the newly renovated Old Market Inn building which was originally constructed in 1880. My husband and I dropped by for a recent informal tour, and were pleasantly surprised by the charming exposed brick, large glass windows, and remnants of the old market posters still plastered on the walls in this huge (9,000 sq.ft) gallery space on 6th Avenue, north of the underpass from downtown.

Eric Firestone gallerys, left at River Rd., right at 6th Avenue

The Main Eric Firestone Gallery is at 4425 N. Campbell Avenue, on the NW corner of River Road.

For a preview of their current art exhibition see: www.ericfirestonegallery.com. “Coatings” runs from November 1 to December 13, featuring:

OLIVIER MOSSET | CLIFTON TAYLOR | JEFF BURSEY.

For additional information and images please contact: 520-577-7711 or efg@ericforestonegallery.com.

RSVP requested for the grand opening to stacy@diamongirlpr.com.

Not an extra-martial one, but the Southwest Flair A-Fair, at Plaza Palomino (SE Corner of Ft. Lowell and Swan in Tucson) on October 30 to November 1. The A-Fair benefits Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Tucson, and will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Street address is 2900-2990 N. Swan. Just in time for holiday shopping, plus complimentary gift wrapping for all purchases!

“170 artists will be displaying and selling their hand made creations. 15% of all sales go directly to the Big Brothers Big Sisters agency here in Tucson.”

“Big Brothers Big Sisters has been the nation’s preeminent youth-service organization for nearly a century. Locally, we have provided high quality mentoring services since 1963! We have a proven success in creating lifelong impact through mentoring relationships between adults and children.”

Woodturner Lynne Yamaguchi’s work, featured in Artistic Tucson’s blog earlier this week, will be there for sale at the newly opened Flux Gallery.

2009 postcard, Southwest Flair A-Fair

I was one of the lucky ones who saw a preview last night of “Amelia”, the new Hilary Swank/Richard Gere movie about the life (and death at age 39) of pilot Amelia Earhart.

In the audience were two rows of women pilots from the Tucson 99s, the local chapter of the International Organization of Women Pilots. Amelia Earhart was the founder and first President of this group, and was a leader in aviation education for women in America.

As for the movie, it is based on two biographies of the rise to fame of Ms. Earhart, the first woman pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. She was also the first person in 1935 to fly solo over the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to California. The movie also chronicles her marriage to publicist George Putnam and her extra-marital affair with pilot Gene Vidal, an aviation pioneer.

Amelia Earhart

I grew up on Hawaii Island where there is a beautiful banyan tree in Hilo (on Banyan Drive), planted by Ms. Earhart herself on January 6, 1935, before her disappearance on July 2, 1937. There have been stories circulating for years out in the Pacific about her demise, and today there are still reports of plane wreckage and possible possessions of hers being found on Nikumaroro (formerly Gardner Island).

I recommend this movie about this legendary, courageous woman pilot and feminist, who believed in following her dreams, whose passion was flying. She wrote about the peaceful freedom she gained from flying, way up above the world.

“Amelia” opens in movie theaters tomorrow.

Come ride a tethered hot air balloon near 4th Avenue and University Blvd. on the afternoon of Sunday October 25.

Neighborfest flyer

West University Neighborhood Association and the Trinity Presbyterian Church, along with several other sponsors and neighborhood associations (including mine) are teaming up to host a community event for families and neighbors. I’ve been on the steering committee helping pull this event together for several months. Info: 520-623-2579.

The eight co-sponsoring neighborhood associations are: Barrio Anita, Blenman-Elm, Catalina Vista, Dunbar Springs, Feldman’s, Pie Allen, Sam Hughes, and West University.
These are neighborhoods from downtown to east of the U of A.

Calling itself Neighborfest 2009, this second annual festival will feature free trolley rides, community booths, food, free music, activities for children, a rock climbing wall and jumping castles, and the BIG draw, that aforementioned hot air balloon ride. It’ll be first come, first ride to get tickets for the balloon, so don’t delay, weather permitting of course for the balloon.

Information booths will be available on community resources and volunteer activities.

Music schedule:
1pm: Chronically Gone (smooth listening)
2 pm: Ice 9 (folk music)
2:30 pm: University of Arizona Pep Band
3 pm: In Accent (Guitars and vocal harmonies)

Neighborfest’s goal is “to build community among the residents within and among the neighborhoods around the University of Arizona, Pima (Downtown Campus), Fourth Avenue and Downtown.” It will be from 1 to 4:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the Trinity Presbyterian Church on University Blvd., west of Time Market, east of 4th Avenue.

Come one, come all.

Be scared… at “Magic Carpet Chaos at the Haunted Ruins”, billed as 13 Nights of Halloween at the Valley of the Moon. This is their annual Halloween fundraiser for George Phar Legler’s fantasyland built in the 1920’s.

The 13 Nights are October 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, and 30 (not Halloween itself) from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Shows will leave the gate every 30 minutes.

event poster

Admission: $7 adults, $5 (kids 7 to 13), free for age 6 and under. Community Food Bank (CFB) nights are on Wednesdays– reduced admission of $3 for adults, $2 for youth, if you bring 2 cans of food for the CFB.

Valley of the Moon is located at 2544 E. Allen Road in Tucson (north of Prince Rd, east of Tucson Blvd.), phone 520-323-1331, email is valleymoon1@yahoo.com.

Be very scared, Halloween is coming– and even earlier at the Valley of the Moon.

For those of us “born free” in America, we have a limited understanding of what it means to crave freedom. The German Studies Department at the U of A recently showed in a class the 2001 film “The Tunnel” (”Der Tunnel”) on September 10. I missed it but my native born West German husband saw it and encouraged me to rent the DVD. He grew up an hour west from the Wall (two barbed wire fences separated by landmine fields, & guard towers every 200 meters ) that used to separate East and West Germany. The department is celebrating the twenty years since reunification happened. (The Berlin Wall came down on November 9, 1989).

movie poster

This is a true and extremely gripping story of East Berliners trying to escape into West Berlin in 1961 as the Berlin Wall was being built. Harry Melchior, East Germany’s swimming champion defects (using a false passport), and then starts digging a tunnel 145 meters under the border to help his sister and husband and their daughter escape. He enlists the aid of other German political refugees who want to save their family members as well.

Growing up in a free country, we normally only hear of what it was like to live in a fascist country where one can be imprisoned for exercising free speech or criticizing the government. That point is well made in this movie, as well as the desperate attempts others made to cross the border wall. Some got shot trying to run for freedom.

Casa Video (www.casavideo.com) at 2905 E. Speedway, my favorite video store for foreign flicks, has this DVD “The Tunnel” (in German, with English subtitles) in stock. It will really make you appreciate just being born free, and not having to flee a country with only what you can carry with you.

Coming up this Thursday October 8, as part of an undergraduate class is “Trace of Stone” (”Spur der Steine”), a 1966 movie about “living and working conditions in the GDR (German Democratic Republic- East Germany) of the 1960’s”, including a love story of a construction foreman. This movie will show at 7:30 p.m. at the Integrated Learning Center (ILC) 150 and the community is invited to join the class and discussion.

It’s that time of year again, for the huge, annual community event downtown of Tucson Meet Yourself, October 9, 10 and 11, 2009. Check it all out at www.tucsonmeetyourself.org, sponsored by the Cultural Exchange Council. Or if you prefer the print media, locate a copy of the October issue of Downtown Tucsonan, which has five pages devoted to this event downtown.

October issue of Downtown Tucsonan

This multi-cultural, mega-event runs Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at El Presidio Park and Jacome Library Plaza. This celebration of the “richness and diversity of the living traditional arts of southern Arizona’s folk and ethnic communities” is in its _________year.*

There’s even a Get Moving Tucson 10 miler/5K race and walk on Sunday October 11, at 8 a.m.– so it’s now a fitness event as well.

New this year – a Festival Marketplace (in front of the Main Library) will feature handmade folk art demonstrations and the artists will offer their crafts for sale. What fun.

I have gone in the past and sampled Japanese, Chinese, Thai, German, Austrian, Swedish, Hawaiian, Jamaican food and watched dances/performances from those ethnic communities as well. And there’s so much more to experience every year.

*Trivia question: does anyone know which annual year is this 2009 Tucson Meet Yourself? Reply below. I know the answer, but I just wanted to challenge you readers.