Tucson Museum of Art Summer Art Classes

If I still had school age children or grandchildren, I would be instantly attracted to the Tucson Museum of Art’s summer art classes for kids. When our grandchildren were still young and being home schooled, my contribution to their worldly education was a weekly field trip. So I was always on the lookout for fun educational things to do with them.

Our website, SouthernArizonaGuide.com, now garners more than 9,000 monthly visitors and one of our most clicked-on sections is Things To Do With Kids. So I assume that you Tucson parents and grandparents will want to enroll your budding painters, sculptors, printmakers, and sketchers in at least one week of art instruction.

Throughout June, the Museum offers art classes for ages 5-13. Classes are arranged by age and taught by local teaching artists and museum educators. Each class is limited to 15 children, so there’s ample opportunity for individual instruction. In addition, the students will discover diverse places and cultures through visits to the Museum’s galleries and historic buildings.

The amount and variety of art lessons is seriously impressive. To view the schedule and description of each session, click HERE.
$100 Members / $155 Non-Members per child per weekly half-day session.
Hours: 8:30 – 5:00.

For more upcoming events, go to SouthernArizonaGuide.com > Events

Most everyone who reads my blog or visits our SouthernArizonaGuide website knows the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is one of our family’s favorite attractions. We’ve been members since we moved here 10 years ago. When our grandchildren visit, it’s the first place they want to go. In the past decade, we’ve taken more than a hundred out-of-town visitors to the Museum, in part because it’s the best place for them to get oriented to our beautiful, biologically diverse desert. It’s a bonus that the Museum’s Ocotillo Café is one of the 2012 Best Restaurants in Southern Arizona.

I know the ASDM is working on a new riparian (river) exhibit area that will be open later this year. One of its purposes is to show what our Sonoran Desert was like before all the ranchers, towns, and cities sucked up most of the water. We used to have surface water and running streams and rivers year ‘round. Hard to imagine, isn’t it?

In the meantime, the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild (SAWG) is holding its 16^th Annual Juried Exhibition in the Ironwood Gallery September 15^th through October 28^th.

Members of the Guild have submitted their works and juror, Kim Johnson, has selected the ones that will be exhibited. In other words, the best of the best in Southern Arizona. Should be a great show!

The exhibit’s opening reception, entitled Fiesta Sonora, will be held on September 15th from 2:00-4:00 PM. Gallery hours for the exhibition are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM daily. As watercolor is Ms. Karen’s favorite medium, I know we will be going.

Did you know?
ASDM offers over 60 art classes and a certificate program in nature illustration. The classes cover a variety of media including watercolor, oil, sketching and photography. For class schedule, click here.

Bonus Video
Southern Arizona Guide specializes in recommending Dining, Lodging, & Things To See & Do in our unique corner of the Grand Canyon State. That said, sometimes I happen across something unrelated, but so special that I have to share it.

Neighbor Mike sent me this video along with this brief caption.

{2006} Stacy Westfall rides a horse that she has trained for only THREE weeks. The song she chose is dedicate to her recently deceased father.   

The horse she is riding is not even hers. She rides without a saddle or halter & bit, employing the method used by American Indians.

 

Sunrise Over Tucson: August 27, 2012; 5:45 AM.

This is what our eastern sky looked like a few minutes ago from our viewing deck. Just thought I should share.

On another note, Ms. Karen & I had Sunday brunch yesterday at Agustin Brasserie in the Mercado just west of Downtown Tucson on Congress Street. What a magnificent interior. The food and service was very good. I’ll do a complete review in a few days after some research.

After our excellent brunch, we headed east perhaps a half mile to the Tucson Museum of Art to see Scott Baxter’s stunningly beautiful B&W photographs of 100 Arizona ranchers. The history of Arizona ranching is written on these faces. If you take a docent-guided tour, you learn more about the stories behind the portraits. Highly recommended.

I think you should pay to see the Museum’s several current exhibits because the price of your admission helps support this important, and always delightful, museum. Nevertheless, I will mention that next Sunday, being the first Sunday of the month, admission is free. At least leave a donation. It’s only fair.

There are several other exhibits in addition to Mr. Baxter’s photos. One just blew me away. It’s a bronze bust of an Indian chief. It’s in the main exhibit area just as you enter. Exquisite!

And if you haven’t been to Cafe’ a la C’art recently, I recommend you do so. I had lunch there this past week with a dear friend, but also had a chance to talk with Judy, the owner in partnership with her son, Mark. She gave me the grand tour of their expanded space. They did a beautiful job of maintaining the integrity of this old building in the Historic District. The food was delicious as always , and the desserts are to die for. Perhaps the best pastries in Southern Arizona.

Speaking of the Historic District, which is adjacent to the Museum, consider taking the tour. The tour of the J Knox Corbett House is particularly interesting. To get the back story of this Snob Hollow mansion, click here to see our video. It’s at our SouthernArizonaGuide.com website along with videos that feature about a dozen other museums that are worth of your time and support, such as the Museum of Miniatures and the Franklin Automobile Museum. Main Menu > Museums.

Several upcoming events caught my attention yesterday. Thought you might like to know about them. Several are things you can do with your children … or grandchildren as the case may be.

Flights of Fancy: Artistic Birdhouses At Tucson Botanical Gardens

Tucson Botanical Gardens

Starting today, our botanical gardens will feature an exhibit called Flights of Fancy, meaning fanciful birdhouses in one of the many gardens.

Then, every 3rd Thursday this summer (6/21, 7/19, & 8/16) TBG will offer live outdoor music performances from 5PM to 8PM. These will feature:

R&P Music Factory & Susannah Castro, Tesoro & Valerie Galloway, El Camino Royales & Patricia Katchur.

Tucson Museum of Art

This Sunday is the final day of the Frida Kahlo exhibit and Ms. Karen & I are going. Also, this will be the last of the exhibit titled Tesoros del Pueblo: Latin American Folk Art.

This Sunday, June 3rd, is First Sunday, which means you can get in FREE. And for the kids, there will be an art class where they can create their own art.

On June 15th, the Museum will host a Members’ Reception from 6PM – 8PM in celebration of the two new exhibits: Tucson Collects: Spirit of the West and 100 Years 100 Ranchers: Photographs by Scott T. Baxter. These exhibits will open officially the next day, June 16th.

I’ve seen several of Scott Baxter’s very large and exquisite prints at Sky Harbor Airport. Highly recommended.

Wine and beer will be available at the cash bar in the lobby of the Museum. Put on your western garb and enjoy a night of music and entertainment inspired by these western exhibits. FREE to members, $10 non-member guests.

Greg Morton Band

MUSIC. Enjoy the Marana Bluegrass Summer Concert Series on the second Saturdays of each month June through September.

When? 6:15 PM
Where? Crossroads at Silverbell Park, 7548 N. Silverbell Road
Price? FREE

Mark & Karen Klay

ART + MUSIC. Hilton Indoor Summer Fine Arts Festival will take place Saturday, June 23 and Sunday, June 24 from 10 AM to 4 PM.

The festival – presenting handmade jewelry, glasswork, mixed media, metalwork, pottery, acrylic and oil paintings and photography – will also showcase the first-class collection of antique Native American baskets and gourd art from Artists Mark and Karen Klay.

Musical entertainment includes piano jazz and Broadway tunes form Mark Willis, jazz vibes from Homero Ceron, folk guitar from Amber Gaia, flamenco guitar from Gabriel Ayala and strolling accordions from Shirley and Jim O’Brien.

Where? Tucson Hilton El Conquistador Golf and Tennis Resort, 10000 N. Oracle Road
Price? FREE

Willie Nelson.
Willie’s coming to the Fox Theater  Wednesday July 11th at 7:30 PM. I’ve already reserved our seats.

Where? Downtown Tucson

Price? Not Free

My film crew and entourage. (left to right) Stella Zhang, the vixen of Ruby; 10-year-old Daniel, ghost town explorer; Dr. Clare Zhang, Ph.D. in Oriental Medicine; Mr. Zhang (aka Parker Antin, UA professor of heart medicine); Bill, my father, born in Tucson on Christmas Day, 1919; Ms. Karen, the love of my life and web designer; Pam, psychologist and snowbird from MN; Ms. Sue, Tucson businesswoman, friend, and fellow feminist.

Last Saturday was First Saturday in Arivaca, a small village 25 miles west of I-19 at Amado. I was invited by local resident Paula Perino to check out their First Saturday festivities for my Southern Arizona Guide. Paula arranged for me to conduct several on-camera interviews with the local VIP’s and enjoy lunch at Arivaca’s new restaurant, Sweet Peas Cafe, before we headed on down the road to the ghost town of Ruby. There we were scheduled to do an on-camera interview with Howard Frederick, one of the partners who own Ruby.

The road from Amado to Arivaca winds through rolling, mesquite-covered hills. It’s obviously very popular with cyclists, motor and otherwise.

Just before we arrived in town, we came to the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge where, by appointment, we met and interviewed Richard Conway, a local geologist and Mary Scott, a seasoned birdwatcher and wildlife photographer. Given the quantity and diversity of wildlife here, the BANWR is a worthy destination. Walking the trails in the Cienega and Refuge is a walk back in time before the Spanish, then Mexicans, then Anglos settled here.

Next, it was a less than a mile to town where lots of people were walking all over the place from one booth and activity to

Arivaca First Saturday Festival - March 3, 2012. Arivaca is an eclectic collection of ranchers and farmers, mixed with old and young hippies.

another. We visited the Artist Co-Op, the Farmers’ Market, and La Gitana Cantina, according to Esquire Magazine, one of the 100 best bars in America.

Here we met Maggie Milinovitch, one of the Cantina’s owners. She also publishes (1) the local newspaper Connection; (2) a visitors guide to Arivaca and vicinity; and (3) a popular book on local wildflowers entitled Wildflowers: A Field Guide to Flowering Plants of Arivaca & Southern Arizona. This attractive book is a fountain of information with over 400 great color photos of 204 plant species.

Then it was back up the hill a short ways to check out the Gadsden Coffee Company and interview roastmaster, Bradley Knaub. The place was packed inside and out. Obviously, it’s an important stop-over for the many cyclists who were out enjoying a Chamber of Commerce winter day. The delightful aroma from the various coffee blends permeated the air.

Lunch at Sweet Peas Cafe - Arivaca, AZ. Very Good!!!

By now, it was noon, time to feed my hungry film crew and entourage. Sweet Peas Cafe is not in the village, but off the main road a short distance just east of town. Driving west from Amado on Arivaca Road, Sweet Peas has a sign before you enter the village with an arrow pointing left. As a restaurant critic, I wasn’t expecting much. I figured Sweet Peas was going to be just another ‘Mom’s Diner’ in the country.

Right off  we met owner Jenni Kelly Stern (aka Olive Oil), a friendly, hardworking gal. She showed me her plans for outdoor dining behind the restaurant and told me that she expected to have her beer and wine license soon. She’s also had a catering business in this area for many years, and her loyal catering customers have followed her to the restaurant. All that was interesting, but what about the food?

My father, Bill, had a very substantial turkey sandwich and declared it excellent. Ms. Karen and Parker each had a bowl of chili chowder – also excellent – although I did notice Ms. Karen adding a little salt. But then she adds salt to most dishes. Her blood pressure is so low that the habit is not a threat to her health.

Dr. Clare devoured a hamburger almost half her size, while her son, 10-year-old Daniel, managed to spread ketchup on everything he ate. He rated the ketchup “Very Good” until we explained that Federal food guidelines allow ketchup to contain up to 10% bugs. At that point, Daniel seemed to have some concerns.

Feed Store In Arivaca

Ever-aware that I am on a very strict diet to lose weight, I ordered a Quiche Lorraine with veggies freshly picked from their garden and hoped for the best. Calories aside, I was not disappointed. It was, in fact, the best quiche I have ever had. Not sure I will ever have quiche at Mimi’s again.

Sweet Peas is not fancy. But it’s a pleasant place with friendly, efficient service. And the food is very good, indeed!

Following lunch, it was off to find a ghost town. Ruby is about 13 miles further on past Arivaca, about half on pavement and the final half on a well-maintained dirt road denoted FSR-39. Take a paper map. Do not rely on Google Maps or GPS. My GPS told us, “You have arrived at your destination.” at least 5 miles before we arrived at our destination.

Tomorrow, I’ll tell you about our amazing discoveries at Ruby. Stay tuned. jg

Tohono O'Odham Baskets

Neighbor Roy and I took off yesterday late morning to soak up some local culture. Hence, we went to the SAACA sponsored Classic Car Show, Blues Fest, and BBQ at the Oro Valley Market Place, and then headed south to the University to check out the Native American arts and crafts on the lawn in front of the AZ State Museum.

Neither of us was impressed with the “art” at the Southwest Indian Art Fair. In general, the arts and crafts were mediocre and overpriced. Tons of jewelry for sale and I didn’t see anything that looked particularly original or unique. I did spot a beautiful bronze sculpture of a mother and child about 30 inches tall and weighing about 90 pounds. I would have bought it but I didn’t have $12,000 in my pocket.

There was one booth displaying Tohono O’odham baskets. The baskets were exceptionally fine, but fine art at the Indian Art Fair was the exception.

The Classic Car Show in Oro Valley was a big hit … very well attended. However, the vast majority of the cars on display were not “classic” in the sense that they had been lovingly restored to their original condition. Almost all of the cars were “custom”… having been chopped, souped up and re-purposed.

We didn’t hear much Blues. We didn’t eat any BBQ. But we certainly enjoyed seeing the cars of our misspent youth. Here are a few photos to give you the sense of the event.

Amazing what one can do with an old Ford

Lincoln Continental. I had forgotten how huge these cars were. Riding in one was like floating on a cloud.

Serious Hot Rod

Chevy Truck Restored

'57 T-Bird. My buddy's mom had one and we thought she was really cool.

'57 Chevy. I had one, but it was not a convertible.

I was just checking my events calendar on my Southern Arizona Guide website and realized that this coming weekend is going to be really busy.

• Saturday February 18: Oro Valley Classic Car Show, BBQ & Blues Fest. Oracle & Tangerine. 10AM to 3PM.
• Saturday & Sunday February 18 & 19: Southwest Indian Art Fair at the Arizona State Museum on UA Campus.
• Saturday February 18: The Rodeo starts and goes through Sunday the 26th.

Then the Rodeo Parade is Thursday, February 23. Take off work if you have to.

Depending upon your persuasion, it’s time to put on your cowboy boots or Indian moccasins, gather up the kids, and have a good time.

What did I forget? Doesn’t much matter. I’m sure Carolyn of Carolyn’s Community will let us all know. That woman does get around. jg

Last week I shared my videos about two of the best attractions in Southern Arizona that hardly anyone knows about. These were:

1. Titan II Missile Museum
2. Mini-Time Machine: Tucson’s Museum of Miniatures

If you missed them, you will now find both on my Southern Arizona Guide website.

Today, I want to share another attraction that I only discovered recently and found totally worthwhile. It is the Franklin Automobile Museum, a fine collection of beautifully restored classic cars located near mid-town Tucson. Let me know what you think.

A Painting From The Sacred Machine Downtown Tucson

On the remote chance that you have not made plans for this weekend, be aware. There are great events happening today and tomorrow.

As Carolyn pointed out a few days ago in her blog Carolyn’s Community, all downtown museums will be open and FREE today (Saturday). Of the nine, there are actually 5 downtown museums that I have not yet visited and Neighbor Roy and I will correct that omission this afternoon (Saturday).

We will venture downtown in the midst of the Centennial Celebration and experience:

1. The new Science Downtown museum.
2. The Sacred Machine. I viewed their website – seriously weird. But we are going with an open mind.
3. The Jewish History Museum.
4. La Pilita.
5. The Museum of Modern Art.

Neighbor Roy will be pushing me around these venues in my wheelchair, so if you see us, come up and say “Hi”.

Also this weekend is the Southern Arizona Arts & Culture Alliance festival at Four Corners. The four corners in this case border the intersection of Campbell and Skyline. This event is today and tomorrow, but as we will be celebrating downtown this afternoon, we will go to the Four Corners Fest tomorrow. Admission is FREE unless you want to sample the food – $20.

On a future note, Monday I will post #3 of my videos about the Five Least Known Best Southern Arizona Attractions. It’s a beauty.