Sometimes good things just keep on getting better. With about 170 working artists to choose from, scattered far and wide across greater Tucson, making the most of this past weekend’s Open Studio Tour was a massive and inspiring challenge. Since I have a number of close friends who are accomplished Tucson artists, I have a pleasant but unfortunate tendency to park myself at a colleague’s studio for half the tour, spend a delightful afternoon chatting and sipping wine, thereby missing out on so much of what the tour has to offer. This year, I was determined to get out, see more and do more, and I did.

On Friday I profiled a few of my favorite local Tucson artists in The Logical Lizard, including Lisa Marie Morrison of Sirocco Design, Suzanne Morrison of Backcountry Photography and photographer Stu Jenks, and much of Saturday was spent visiting with them. On Sunday I made it a mission to meet some new artists, see some new work, and maybe add an original or two to the Logical Lizard’s modest art collection. These were some of my personal highlights:

Artist Chris Bishop and part of the outdoor exhibit at Maiden Arizona

Chris Bishop of maidenarizona.com, is a transplant from New Jersey and her artistic journey to Arizona reminded me more than a little of my own. She is interested in everything from photo mosaics to creative desert landscaping. Chris invited five women artists to help transform her home studio on North Monroe Crescent into a two-day indoor/outdoor art show encompassing watercolors, textiles, mosaics, found-art collage, and other mixed media. She has gathered a fine group of talented people around her and I was particularly impressed by art teacher and fiber artist Jacqueline Bland, and Joanne Pritzen’s colorful mixed media found art collages that somehow managed to happily reminded me of both Roy Lichtenstein and Kurt Schwitters in the same instant (Twosies, a lovely vibrant piece that was featured in the TPAC guide came home with me).

At 2409 North Castro I enjoyed watercolor instructor Bob Goldman‘s beautiful figure work in pen, charcoal, and pastels as well as clasically inspired portraits by Hope Cunningham.

Later in the afternoon I took a long drive down to Pantano and Escalante to view some impressive large works by metal sculptor and blacksmith Jason E. Butler. Jason was at the JCC unveiling a new work, and I was treated to a tour of his workshop by his wife Mary. Jason also teaches metal working at Pima Community College and his sculpture is an intriguing blend of organic and industrial elements.

Metal sculpture by Jason E. Butler

Metal sculpture by Jason E. Butler

Elizabeth Frank is an artist’s artist. Widely admired within the community, she works with fallen aspen branches (collected during an annual pilgrimage to Colorado) and found objects such as discarded tin ceiling plates, vintage photos, keys, hinges and abandoned furniture. The result is a series of magical and whimsical sculptures. Tall, elegant, ethereal figures clustered together on pedestals in her aerie-like space atop the Labor Temple Studios at 267 South Stone reminded me of haunting black and white photos taken in Alberto Giacometti’s Paris studio during the 1960s. After a couple of glasses of chardonnay, I realized I’d fallen hopelessly in love with the delicate and pensive Moonlight Angel, and that piece asked to go home with me too. A venerable Tucson building, the Labor Temple is home to five artists and is a must-see venue on the studio tour.

Tucson artist Elizabeth Frank

Elizabeth Frank studio

"Moonlight Angel" (detail) by Elizabeth Frank

At the 7th Avenue Arts District Studios, sculptor Dana Smith‘s work caught my eye. As a paleontologist and science writer I was fascinated by her large scale ceramic work, inspired by fossil ammonites from Morocco and Madagascar, and ancient trilobites. A lively conversation revealed that Dana and I have a long string of mutual friends in the science world, and I accidentally delivered a (hopefully) short lecture on the history of ammonites—an extinct cephalopod in which I have a particular interest.

Sculptor Dana Smith and some of her fossil-inspired recent works

As usual, I ended the day with my pal Stu Jenks. I was treated to a preview of his gorgeous new fine art photography book, Hoop Dancing: More Journeys Through Nocturnal Photography, Book Two which will be published next week and limited to 300 signed and numbered copies.

Photographer Stu Jenks in his studio on North Seventh Avenue

So, after consuming two long days, numerous slices of brie, and almost half a tank of gas, that left about 145 artists I didn’t get to visit this year. I wish I could get everywhere and see everything, but the Open Studio Tour would have to last at least two weeks to make such a thing even possible. But what I did see underscored something I already know well: Tucson is blessed with a diverse, friendly and fabulous arts community.

My compliments to the Tucson Pima Arts Council for organizing another successful event, and also to the supporting sponsors. And if you missed the fall tour this year, don’t worry. Next weekend’s outdoor Tucson Museum of Arts Holiday Craft Market is another excellent opportunity to revel in the beaux arts of Tucson. See you there.

Photographs © by Geoffrey Notkin. All rights reserved. No reproduction without written permission. Artworks pictured are © by the respective artists and reproduced with express permission.

Now that hot weather is only a thing of memory, and all of us art-loving desert rats begin to shake off that summer siesta mindset we suddenly notice that Tucson’s events calendar has become very full, seemingly overnight. Tomorrow and Sunday, and hard on the heels of last weekend’s splendid All Souls Procession, comes the fall Open Studio Tour, organized by the Tucson Pima Arts Council.

The fall Open Studio Tour is one of the highlights of the year and, as usual, TPAC has produced an informative and comprehensive guide to the event. On their website you can view an alphabetical listing of participating artists, download a guide in PDF, or else pick up a complimentary printed map/guide/calendar in person at any of the participating studios.

"Surprise." Photograph by and © Suzanne Morrison.

This year my great friends Lisa Marie and Suzanne Morrison are on the tour for the first time. The sisters are both colleagues and associates of mine and I am a fan of their work. Lisa Marie, the owner of Sirocco Design, is a brilliant silversmith and jeweler and her handmade silver creations are unique, fun and thoughtful in their execution. Suzanne works for my company Aerolite Meteorites as a studio and science photographer and is an accomplished fine art photographer in her own right. She is also the owner of Backcountry Photography and just returned from several weeks on the road working as location photographer for my TV series Meteorite Men. In addition to fine art prints and intriguing silver jewelry, the Morrisons will be offering a selection of handmade clasps, bead strands, findings and pendants, gems, and rock and mineral specimens from around the world at wholesale prices. Two Tucson originals, you can visit both of them Saturday and Sunday at 404 South Cherry (two blocks west of Campbell; three blocks south of Broadway and convenient to all Downtown studios) from 11 am to 5 pm. Oh, and there will be wine!

Lisa Marie and her muse, Vegas Jane, in the Sirocco workshop. Photograph by Stu Jenks.

In June, I profiled visionary photographer Stu Jenks here in The Logical Lizard. In addition to being one of the Southwest’s most gifted and spiritual artists, Stu is a remarkable ambient musician. He’s a fine storyteller too and is sure to make you feel welcome. See Stu’s latest work at the Old Arts District Studios, 549 North 7th Avenue, including some lovely framed pieces bargain-priced at under $200, along with advance copies of his new publication Hoop Dancing: Book Two. Please note: Stu was a last-minute addition to the tour and is not listed in the official guide but he’ll be there live and in person Saturday and Sunday.

"Cradle Rocks." Photograph by and © Stu Jenks.

Another local favorite of mine is Molly of Molly Phoenix Glassworks (I have a Molly Phoenix glass spaceship hanging over my bar). This year, The Silver Palate cookbook inspired her and visiting artist Marion Chubon to prepare “light fare and warm libations to keep you going.” Molly designs and builds a delightful line of stained glass artwork, ideal for gifts or for decorating your sunny Tucson retreat. She writes: “It is uncommon for me to have visitors in my studio. It is one of those sacred places where magical things happen . . . The sun provides warmth and rainbows when it passes through the prisms in the west facing window. If there was room for a comfy chair you can guarantee there would be one in the corner with a half full cup of coffee next to it with a pencil or two hiding under the cushion. This weekend it will be wonderful to share this with you.” Find her at 1315 North 5th Avenue (look for signs near 5th Ave & Speedway, and Stone & Drachman).

And that quick intro covers just a handful of local talents I know and like, out of over 160 working artists who will be opening up their personal studios and workspaces this weekend. Many offer snacks and drinks, along with great deals when you buy artwork directly from them during the tour. Get outside, enjoy the moody fall weather, see some original work, visit a studio, immerse yourself in our kooky and vibrant arts scene. And, if you can afford it, please help support a struggling local artist by purchasing something totally Tucson. Times are really tough for many of our most talented.

I am a great fan of the Open Studio Tour. When I relocated to Tucson some years back, and hardly knew anyone here, I thought going on a self-guided weekend tour of 100+ artists’ work spaces would be a good way to meet some of the movers and shakers in the Pima County arts scene. I was right.

Sitting alone in my car on a hot, sunny, Saturday morning outside the old Toole Shed artists’ workshop collective, I pored over a brochure that listed all participating tour artists, trying to decide where to begin. A green SUV pulled up and parked immediately in front of me. It had a well-used look that broadcasted: “Here is somebody doing something with his life.” And it bore a custom license plate that read, simply, “SPIRALS.” A tall, somewhat dashing guy with close-cropped hair and glasses, got out and walked decisively into the Toole Shed. He looked, at once, both adventurous and intellectual. I concluded that if this intriguing character was heading into this particular collection of artists’ studios there was cetainly something of interest to be found inside. So I took my little map, and headed in to explore.

"Great Salt Lake #9" Photograph by Stu Jenks © Stu Jenks

Some time later, and mostly by accident, I navigated my way down a narrow staircase into that rarest of Tucson architectural features—a basement. The old walls were formed of hand hewn stone blocks; lovely, gentle ambient music played in the background; a stunning collection of photographs basked in soft, low light on the walls and tables. Standing there, talking enthusiastically with another visitor, was the man from the SUV. The basement was his hidden retreat, and his name was Stu Jenks. I spent half the day down there under Toole street, talking with Stu about landscapes, rocks, cameras, darkrooms, printing techniques, music, and travel. We have been friends ever since.

"Signal Hill #1" 2009. Photograph by Stu Jenks © Stu Jenks

One of my favorite artists is the great Robert Smithson, of Spiral Jetty fame. Athough Stu’s work is amazingly original, when I first looked at his majestic landscapes; beach, dune and forest images; and the meticulously engineered stone spirals and circles that inhabit his work, I couldn’t help but be happily reminded of Smithson.

With an expert eye for composition and the beauty of the natural world, Stu’s photographs are moody, thoughtful, and magical. He is also an entrepreneur and innovator. While one wall of his studio might display a massive self-printed triptych of pines and mountains, another will delight the visitor with its collection of diminutive prints, cards, and refrigerator magnets—all bearing Stu’s trademark imagery. Stu’s work is also shockingly affordable. I often tell him that he needs to start charging more for his prints, all the while building up my own collection of Jenks originals.

"Pine Forest Spiral #8" 2008. Photograph by Stu Jenks © Stu Jenks

My favorite piece is Megan’s Circle, a slightly sepia-toned image, printed full-frame from a large format negative, with the number “18″ visible within the border. In the foreground we see a delicate stone circle with a line drawn through its center. In the distance, rocky hills north of Tucson hunch and shamble up and over the horizon. From talking to Stu, I know that the piece is a remembrance of a former sweetheart. Megan’s Circle is wistful, lonely, grand, and little sad: an old romance lost in the landscape of memory. It resides permanently on my living room wall and is frequently admired by visitors.

Intrigued by what Stu might come up with in a somewhat different genre, I hired him to shoot a series of rock ‘n’ roll portraits of bands I played with at the Great Cover Up shows in 2006 and 2007. He also worked as my location photographer while I was filming the How the Earth was Made documentary series for the History Channel. The results were outstanding; Stu is every bit as comfortable on a commercial project as he is on an exploration of spiritual imagery.

"Cradle Rocks Spiral #1" Photograph by Stu Jenks © Stu Jenks

In the past few years Stu has presented solo shows at Hotel Congress, Endicott West Art Foundation and Tohono Chul Park, and Bohemia art emporium on East Broadway carries his work. Stu authors a wonderful photography blog at Typepad, and maintains an extensive website at StuJenks.com—both projects rich in beautiful images. Stu is a towering talent and one of the most accomplished photographers working in the Southwest today. Look him up online, or on the next Open Studio Tour, and I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if you ended up with a Jenks original on your wall too.