The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus Tucson chapter celebrated the holidays and the victory of most of their endorsed, pro-choice candidates tonight at the home of attorney Sherry Teachnor. In previous years this party was held at Sherry’s former Galeria La Sirena on Broadway/Country Club which closed in January, 2010. Sherry still has some of the Caribbean & Latin art (paintings) at her home studio for sale.

Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC) President Pat Weidhopf welcomed the thirty women & men in attendance and said that the holiday event was to celebrate the victories of their endorsed candidates, to honor the great campaigns, and to encourage pro-choice women to “advance their convictions.”

Speaking tonight were elected officials:
–Pam Simon, Outreach Coordinator for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (CD8)
–Olivia Cajero Bedford (LD 27 Senator-elect, current LD 27 House Rep.)
–Linda Lopez (LD 29 Senator)
–Paula Aboud (LD 28 Senator)
–Sally Ann Gonzales (LD 27 House Rep.-elect)
–Patti Noland (Clerk of the Superior Court, and the only endorsed Republican)

Also speaking were the candidates who did not win their elections:
–Pat Fleming (LD 25 House Rep.)
–Nancy Young Wright (LD 26 House Rep.)
–Cheryl Cage (LD 26 Senate candidate)
–Mohur Sidhwa (LD 28 House candidate, lost in the primary)
–Andrea Dalessandro (LD 30 House candidate)

Many of these officials and candidates spoke of the help they received from the AWPC, saying that the Caucus was their “backbone”, “anchor”, “sense of sanity.” Many encouraged their supporters to continue their hard work and to monitor the upcoming State legislature, especially in terms of issues pertaining to education and families.

Also attending tonight were F. Ann Rodriguez, Pima County Recorder and Justice of the Peace (Precinct 4) Carmen Dolny.

10% of tonight’s sale of art goes to the AWPC girls’ leadership project, and another 10% to Haiti relief efforts. If interested in purchasing colorful, authentic Latin and Caribbean art, contact Sherry Teachnor at 520-319-1262.

Not attending tonight were statewide endorsed candidates Felecia Rotellini (for Attorney General) and Penny Kotterman (for State Superintendent of Public Instruction).

For my previous blog on AWPC prior to the General Election (click here).

Caribbean art poster

Galeria La Sirena, 2905 E. Broadway (just west of Country Club) is closing on Saturday, January 30. The gallery specialized in Latin and Caribbean art, and started 9 years ago with co-owner Sherry Teachnor promoting Haitian art due to her friendship with assassinated Justice Minister Guy Malary. She had served as a peace corps member in the Dominican Republic, and fell in love with art from that region as a consequence.

And the gallery has been a venue for free community groups and events over the years.

A special “Remembering and Thank You show” will be held on January 30, from 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Drop by the gallery (open Tuesdays through Saturdays) as there are still many lovely, colorful paintings available, as well as wooden and glass fish objects. For more information call 520-319-1262.

After February 1st call Sherry and her husband/co-owner Michael McCrory at 520-327-3527 for remaining art & framing.

I’ve been to a number of the art shows at Galeria La Sirena over the years, and have blogged about them for this paper in September about an Ecuadorian tapestry exhibit. We will miss this special gallery’s contributions to the art community of Tucson.

Adios, Galeria La Sirena!

Mirian is currently First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the U.N. and will be the key note luncheon speaker for the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, a non-profit research and educational institution affiliated with the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. Mirian will be speaking at 6 p.m.at the gallery about what the U.N. is doing in the field of indigenous peoples’ and women’s education.

Her father Rudy is a tapestry maker and his lovely art work will also be on display at the gallery.

one of Rudy Masaquiza's tapestries

The National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade is “dedicated to developing the legal infrastructure to build trade capacity and promote economic development in the Americas. The Center was founded in 1992 and has worked closely with the public and private sectors on legal reform and development of best business practices in a number of substantive areas, including (but not limited to) the following: alternative dispute resolution, banking, bankruptcy, business formation and associations, competition law and policy, customs, electronic commerce, environment, family law, intellectual property, investment securities, judicial reform and training, labor, products liability, real estate, securitization, secured transactions and transportation.”

Refreshments will be appetizers based on native Tohono O’odham traditional foods.

For more information call Sherry Teachnor, Esq., proprietor of Galeria La Sirena at 319-1262.
This unique gallery (which features Latin and Caribbean art) is west of Country Club, on the north side of Broadway.

Another event at this gallery will an art opening on October 17, 5 to 7:30 p.m. of the work of Peruvian artist Chunga, and an annual tribute to Dia de los Muertos.