We've Moved!

Please visit Tu Scene's new site at tuscene.com. Be sure to update your RSS feeds and bookmarks accordingly.

Pardon Our Pixeldust

I am in the process of migrating Tu Scene from Blogger to Wordpress to improve the look, feel and technical capabilities based on the suggestions I received at the Launch Party last month. The new platform will feature:

• A more sophisticated, magazine-like design.
  
• A flexible layout that that can eventually allow for other writers to come on board and possible coverage of other arts disciplines.
  
• Free subscription service to Tu Scene posts via email! RSS will be available, of course, for those of you who use Bloglines, Google Reader, etc. But for you less technically inclined readers who don't always remember to frequent the website, you can sign up for a subscription to receive an email every time there is a new post, like a newsletter. (Don't worry, I promise I won't bombard you!)
• Ability to share Tu Scene on personal networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter.
  
• More community-building features like Recent Comments, Wall and other goodies.

So hang tight and look for the new URL to hit early this week!

Kid-Friendly

Here are a couple of openings you can take the munchkins to on Saturday afternoon and early evening.

The Child in Art: Eyes Wide Open
Work by Curt Kiwak and his 4-year-old class from TUSD's P.A.C.E program
Opening: 4:30-6:30pm, Saturday, January 10
The Drawing Studio Gallery
33 S. 6th Ave.
Hours: Tu-Sa 12-5pm
Through January 31

Few adults realize how many of our deeds are imitated by the youngsters around us. The Child in Art demonstrates educator Curt Kiwak's impact on his preschoolers' visual development, and in turn, their impact on him. Kiwak, a local artist, has worked with preschool students in Tucson for over 20 years. His drawings and mixed media images will be exhibited in the gallery alongside drawings by his students from the Southwest Education Center on S. Mark Road.

The PACE preschool program is a federal and state-funded effort to provide a complete educational program four-year-old low-income children and their families in the Tucson Unified School District. The program not only reaches out to children at an early age, but to families as well. Parent education is provided though home visits by teachers, educational parent meeting and participation in classroom learning experiences. Currently there are PACE programs in 16 schools within TUSD. Milk and cookies will be served at the opening.

PIECE
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, January 10
PLAY
276 E. Congress
Hours: Tu-Sa 11am-5pm and by appt.
Through January 31

This opening was postponed from last weekend and was changed to the 10th, which could work out better anyways since more people will have returned to town and recovered from the holidays. PIECE is a collaboration between dozens of artist in which each participant creates his her own puzzle piece. Put it all together and you have a colorful mural measuring 4 ft. x 14 ft. The final work will be donated to decorate a local children's facility to be revealed at the opening.

All Drawing, All The Time

Not one, but two open-invitation drawing sessions are going on this Saturday.

World Wide Sketch Crawl
Saturday, January 10 at 9:30am
Breugger's Bagels
1 W. Congress (corner of Congress and Stone)
Free

Local chapters of Sketch Crawl all over the world will be putting pencil (or pen or ink brush) to paper on Saturday. Tucson's group will meet in the morning at Breugger's Bagels, then go a-sketching downtown for a few hours, and return to at Breugger's at 3:30pm to share work. You can also post your drawings to the Sketch Crawl forum, get feedback and connect with other artists, but you must register on the website in order to do so. For more info, visit the Tucson forum here. Thanks to Kerrie Robertson for passing this along!

TRY IT! (again) Festival
Saturday, January 10, 8:30am-4:30pm
The Drawing Studio
33 S. 6th Ave.
Advance Registration: Adult $20; Youth (9-18) $10
At the Door Registration: Adult $25; Youth (9-18) $15

Here's your opportunity to experiment with something you’ve never tried. Back by popular demand, this festival offered by the very active Drawing Studio will feature four two-hour workshops in drawing. Play with just about any medium you can think of: charcoal, pastel, pen and ink, drawing on clay, graphite, scratchboard, colored pencil, paint, drawing on metal and watercolor pencil. Technical workshops will cover the conveyance of light/shadow and space in drawing. Call 620-0947 or email tds@thedrawingstudio.org to find out how to sign up.

...And we're back!

Good things are worth waiting for. Sidebar calendars will be updated by the end of the week. In the meantime, here are some artistic opportunities and interesting shows to start your new year off all minty-fresh.

Whimsical Works
Blue Raven Gallery
Deadline: January 10
Fee: $10 submission fee for first piece, $5 for each additional piece, maximum of 3 submissions
Artists notified: January 13
Delivery deadline: January 17
Opening: January 24, 3-6pm
3054 N. 1st Ave.

Blue Raven Gallery is accepting applications for Whimsical Works, an exhibition focusing on whimsical or gently amusing interpretations of any subject matter in two- and three-dimensions. A wide diversity of mediums and styles will be considered. Email images, or mail or deliver CDs or photographs of up to three examples of your work that you wish to have considered for this show. Download the complete submission guidelines here, or stop by the Blue Raven Gallery at Many Hands Courtyard to pick up a copy. Gallery hours are Thursdays 1-4pm, Fridays 12-5pm and Saturdays 11am-5pm. Contact Katie Iverson at katie@katieiverson.com or 405-3657 for more information.

El Mexorcist 4: America's Most Wanted Demon
Guillermo Gómez-Peña
Saturday, January 10 at 8pm
Tucson Museum of Art
140 N. Main Avenue

Using stratgically subsersive personae, San Francisco Mission District-based performance artist Guillermo Gómez-Peña addresses art, politics, sexuality, pop culture, and Chicanismo, through border savvy technologies. Why do we continue doing what we are doing against the backdrop of war, censorship, cultural paranoia and spiritual despair? What are the new roles that artists must undertake? Where are the new borders between the accepted and the forbidden? Is art still a pertinent form of inquiry? Who are 'we' and who are 'they'? Front row seats for this performance are $25, all other seats are $12. You may purchase at the door, or guarantee your seating by calling the Tucson Museum of Art at 624-2333 x109.

art, politics, and the soup of change
Dinnerware Artspace
Deadline: January 14 & 15, 9am-5pm or by appointment
Opening: January 15, 5-8pm
Exhibit runs through January 24
Pick up artwork: January 25 & 26, 12 noon-5pm or by appointment
Fee: $5 entry fee per artwork, up to 3 artworks helps pay for the space
264 E. Congress

Artwork wanted whose subject matter deals with any aspect of politics: political candidates, political cartoons, political attitudes, the role that television and the internet played in the campaigns, gender and politics, political satire, sexuality and politics, feelings about politics, persuasion, humor, the power of the poster, the environment, the economy, past, and almost-past, and soon-to-be presidencies, the future of the country, the state, the city. All mediums including video, performance, and music are welcome. Work need not be framed. Deliver your pieces to the gallery on January 14 or 15 between 9am and 5pm.

Soup will also be created by artists and served the night of the opening on January 15. We are looking for artists to participate in making soup for this event. Their soups will require innovative titles. A $5 donation gets visitors all-you-can eat soup and viewing of political art. Donations help raise money for Dinnerware community events, in small bites. Bring your own bowl and spoon. Artist Made Soups will also be served all week at Tooley's on Congress as part of this exhibit from January 17 to 24. $5 for a bowl of soup with a baguette on the side.

Contact David Aguirre at Dinnerware Artspace with any questions at 792-4503 or dinnerware@dinnerwarearts.com.

Holiday Hiatus

Yes, it's been a few days since I've posted an update, and news will continue to be sparse till after New Year's. Despite the Launch Party fanfare, I'm not a flake, I just take my breaks seriously and am enjoying time with friends and family. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Thank you, Tucson!

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Tu Scene Launch Party on Friday! I met so many great people and heard some excellent ideas. Your enthusiasm and support means so much. Special thanks goes to Dinnerware for generously providing a venue and refreshments. I will keep y'all posted on developments for future gatherings/salons/discussions. Something should come together early next year.

It's on!

Tu Scene Launch Party
TONIGHT! Friday, December 12, 7-9pm
Dinnerware Artspace
264 E. Congress

Come have a drink, celebrate a new endeavor in the Tucson art community, and put a face to a name to a blog. Nothing fancy, just festive! Between the stress of holidays and students finishing up the semester, I'm keeping this event pretty casual and laid back, but may put together a more formal Q & A/discussion salon early next year with some other folks as a kind of follow-up to Arizona Commission on the Arts/TPAC State of the Arts panel discussion hosted at Dinnerware couple of months ago. Let me know if you'd like to collaborate on that or have a venue to offer.

See ya!
Rachelle

Good Cheer Overload

More holiday art sales and festivities this weekend!

4th Avenue Winter Street Fair
Friday-Sunday, December 12-14, 10am-6pm
4th Avenue between University and 9th Street

This one's a given. I've already plugged it here (scroll down a bit).

Mercado Holiday Bazaar
December 11-21
Mercado San Agustín
100 S. Avenida del Convento
Hours: F-Su 11am-9pm, M-Th 2-8pm

A feast for all 5 senses! Holiday celebrations and performances from Mexican, Native American and Anglo traditions mix with art, craft and food booths at Mercado San Agustín, Tucson's first public marketplace and part of the Rio Nuevo development just west of IH-10 off Congress. Click here for a complete schedule of events.

Holiday Open House
Saturday-Sunday, December 13-14, 2-6pm
Tucson Clay Co-op
3226 N. Dodge Blvd.

The Tucson Clay Co-op has those ceramic-lovers on your gift list covered. Making a resolution to learn a new artistic skill in 2009? They also offer an extensive variety of pottery classes for adults and kids.

Holiday Art Show and Sale
Saturday-Sunday, Decmeber 13-14, 11am-5pm
Lithic Vision Studio
2222 E. Helen St.

Sculptor Steve Holmes turns plain old rocks, cement, metal and other objects into playful plantscapes. A delight for gardeners or an imaginative addition to anyone's back patio. This weekend, he's offering 10% off all pieces (15% off if you can convince him you're a client). Prices range from $25-$1600.

Wearable Art Fiesta Saturdays
Saturdays through December 20, 4-8pm
Toque de Pasíon Boutique
3000 E. Broadway

To me, fashion and art go hand in hand, and all the more so when it's part of a fun, sophisticated event with Latin-American food, music and dancing. Browse painter/designer Edgar Huerta's art clothes, or have him paint a custom design on any garment starting at $25.

DRAWN Solstice Party and Sale
Saturday, December 13
Member's Pre-sale 6-7pm
Public Sale 7-8pm
MOCA
149 N. Stone
$10 Members, $20 Non-members

This year, MOCA's annual exhibition and fundraiser is devoted exclusively to the medium of drawing. If you've seen DRAWN, you'll know that the works represented range from delicate and realistic, to raw and abstract. The sale gives everyone a chance to be a collector,with prices ranging $10 to $10,000. At MOCA's annual meeting last night, I learned that they hope to refurbish and move into a new, permanant space located in a historic fire station across from the Tucson Convention center by the end of next year, so they really need your help now more than ever to make this goal a reality and give Tucson the fantastic contemporary art space it deserves.

DRAWN 2008 features works by Larry Gipe, Chuck Hitner, Elisa Jimenez, Marguerite Kahrl, Kim Largey, Julia Latane, Bill Mackey, Jeff Parrish, Dave Sayre, James Schaub, Ken Shorr, Mike Stack, Paco Velez, Lee Ann Woolery, Daria Pigg, clamdiggin', Katy Monahagn, Zak Cushing, Albert Kogel and more.

Get Fresh

Winta Fresh Graffiti and B-boy Competition
9am-6pm, Saturday, December 13
Tucson Water Department Parking Lot
301 W. Alameda
$7 admission for spectators
Competition registration info below

Although street art is highly controversial and often confused with tagging, one can't deny its ubiquitous influence in commercial graphic design and fashion. This Saturday, local muralist and art educator Rocky Martinez will host the Winta Fresh Graffiti and B-boy Competition, featuring aerosol painting demos, exhibitions, live music and breakdancing. Each artist will paint a 4-foot-by-8-foot section of a wall in the city parking lot behind the Tucson Water Department at 310 W. Alameda St. The resulting mural will be kept for one year. Martinez will also help judge the graffiti competition, along with California artist Jason Williams, aka Revok. Competitors can register on the day of the event. Cost is $5 for graffiti contestants and $7 for breakdancing contestants. Graffiti artists must supply their own paint. Artists must arrive by 9 a.m., while break dancers should be there by noon.

I highly recommend you read through the reader comments on both the Arizona Star and Caliente articles. Street art in general seems to be a hot button issue with a lot of people. Just because something is influential, does that make it right? Is street art one of the few contemporary art forms that is inventive in both content and medium? Can it help inspire young people to be creative and interact with the world around them instead of being fed culture through mass media? Is it a form of decoration in an otherwise bland urban landscape of mass-produced architecture? Tell me what you think, and go to this event with an open mind.

'Zined Out

'Zine Make
Friday, December 12th, 7pm
Shane House
Call 245-2681 for directions

Maxed Art has been hosting a 'zine bee at various locations once a month. It's B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Supplies), such as scissors, found paper, glue, pencils, pens, markers, glitter, etc. Show up with a willing friend or two, and some refreshments if you're so inclined. Paper will be provided to ensure the pages are all the same size. The content changes theme every 20 minutes, e.g. money; the color red; boll weevils; plastic fork; and the 'zine pages will be bound together as the evening progresses. Writers are also welcome to contribute content on the topics at hand. Last month, about a dozen folks came out. We spent a chill evening collaging to our little hearts' content, listening to music, chatting and eating tater tots from The Grill.

Somewhat unfortunately, the 'Zine Make is also happening on the same evening as the Tu Scene Launch Party at Dinnerware. A couple of doors down, PLAY will be open (I believe they'll be hosting a performance of some kind [their opening last weekend was HUGE! did anyone get any photos?]), and CAG should open, too. Shane House is just a few blocks away, so you can probably do it all, otherwise, make a mental note to come to the next 'zine-a-thon, because there'll only be one launch party! I'll keep you posted.

Drawing Unrestrained

Annual Meeting
5-6pm
Drink with the Artists of DRAWN
6-?pm
Thursday, December 11
MOCA
149 N. Stone

New members and current members in good standing are invited and encouraged to attend MOCA's Annual Meeting. They'll present a state of the institution report for the previous fiscal year and discuss the developments, challenges, and opportunities MOCA faces in the coming year including an update on our search for a permanent facility. If you're not a member, you can probably come in, fill out the paperwork and attend the meeting. It's only $30 a year for students and artists, and you get free or discounted admission to most of MOCA's special events.

After the meeting, Chuck Hitner, Jeff Parrish, Kim Largey, Dave Sayre, Ken Shorr, Lee Ann Woolery, Paco Velez, Larry Gipe, and other Tucson-based DRAWN artists will get you revved up for dropping some coin at Saturday's DRAWN Solstice Party & Sale. Join in a salon-style discussion on the relationship between artists and collectors, talk directly with the creative forces behind the works in DRAWN and raise a glass of good cheer. Sale prices start at $10, so it's not limited to the Prada driving loafer-wearing crowd. The talk is free for MOCA members, $5 for everyone else.

Tonight!

Just caught wind of this.


Skrappy’s Tucson Youth Collective presents the "Build It" Silent Art Auction to raise funds for facility repairs. The center offers after-school activities such as media arts, breakdancing, Capoeira, cafe, silk screening, fashion designing and boutique, music distro, tutoring, civic engagement, computer projects and more, all in a positive, safe, drug/alcohol-free environment. Run exclusively by artists and youth, Skrappy's is a place for young people to give each other the support, acceptance and family structure that may be missing in their lives through engagement with art and culture. For more info, visit Skrappy's myspace. Save Miracles! (wait for the video to start around second 13)

Another Rachelle

Artists For A Cure: Benefit for Dave Dalton
Sunday, December 14, 12 pm-?
Dry River
740 N. Main

Tucson's lovely, flame-haired, vegan Rachelle, not to be confused with moi, Tu Scene Rachelle*, is putti​ng on a benef​it show and celebration of life for her dad, Dave,​ who is dying​ of cance​r.​ The day-long event will be at Dry River​, starting and noon and ending late into the night.

• Live music​ by Rudy Corte​se,​ Cocka​lorum​,​ Sunny​ Italy​,​ Eric Wagne​r,​ Starl​ings,​ Lord Loup’​Rah,​ and many more
• Raffl​es all day long with over $500 in prize​s!​
• Home cooke​d vegan​ food avail​able by the plate​​
• Art aucti​on at 4pm

All donat​ions are going​ to Dave Dalto​n.​ Pleas​e come and give your suppo​rt in any way possi​ble.

*We also pronounce our names the same way: rah-shell'

Shop 'til You Drop

Much of the art you'll see during the winter months is like the summer movie season: cheesy, clichéd, and anything but pushing the proverbial envelope. While it's true there's a lot of corny art gifts out there, keep in mind that many self-employed artists, artisans and craftspeople rely heavily on holiday sales in order to sustain their more creative work. When you can, buy from locals to keep the community and culture growing right here in your own backyard. Savvy collectors should keep an eye out for good deals whether purchased directly from the artist or through a gallery, since many folks clean house this time of year to make room for new spring work.

If I've missed anything, please leave your info in the comments.

Shop-a-Do
Saturday, December 6 and 20, 11am-5pm
423 N. Hoff

It's not just a "do," it's a must! Tucson's Banditas Art Brigade and Exchange (B.A.B.E.), recently formed this summer, will be peddling their jewelry, accessories, glasswork, housewares, found object art and other handmade trinkets at a cozy spot just off 4th Avenue, not once, but twice this month. They are also looking for other artsy/crafty people to join their group.

Holiday Bazaar
Reception: Saturday, December 6, 7-10pm
Tuesdays-Saturdays through December 20, 1pm-5pm
WomanKraft
388 S. Stone

WomanKraft's Holiday Bazaar has been going strong since November 1, and they'll be keeping it up all the way through December 20. Shop here and you'll be supporting local artists, and WomanKraft, a non-profit organization that has been serving Tucson for over 33 years. Located in a beautiful historic castle, there's no better place to enjoy warm holiday ambiance and unique, affordable arts and crafts.

Gala Holiday Fair
Sunday, December 7, 9am-2pm
Cat Moutain Station
2740 S. Kinney Rd.

Cat Mountain Station is an eclectic, rustic artisan gift center just west of town near Tucson Mountain Park and on the way to Old Tucson and the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum. There you'll find gallery/frame shop Studio S’Evans, custom iron and woodwork and restoration at RS Furniture, Kathy's Bead Box, and the Cat Mountain Emporium, a store handling a collage of gifts, vintage, furniture, and collectables from all over the world (put this in your submission file: the Emporium does take items in on consignment). There's also Coyote Pause Café serving breakfast and lunch, so you'll won't go hungry either.

Featuring the works of many local artists, the fair will offer a wide selection of reasonably priced fine art and hand-crafted items for those hard-to-find gifts and for your own home décor. Enjoy live music and freestyle dog dancing (think back to that episode of King of the Hill) while browsing original paintings, pottery, stained glass, jewelry and photographs.

Chocolate, Bubbly, Jewels and Art
Sunday, December 7, 11am-5pm
Gallery Row
3001 E. Skyline Dr.

Ah, champagne, my one true weekness. Well, more like one of them, but I think this might be a perfect reason to make the trip up to the foothills and see how the commercial galleries are faring in these lean times, including Mountain Shadow Gallery, The Max Gallery, Wilde Meyer Gallery, El Presidio Gallery, Madaras Gallery, Details Art & Design and others.

4th Avenue Winter Street Fair
Friday-Sunday, December 12-14, 10am-6pm
4th Avenue between University and 9th St.

Although I'm fairly new to Tucson, it's crystal clear to me that the 4th Avenue Winter Street Fair has attained the status of local holiday institution, or at the least, tradition. Free to the public, the fair brings together 400+ arts and crafts booths, 35+ food vendors, 2 music / performance stages, street musicians, food, jugglers, street performers, “VAN GROW” kids hands-on-art area, face painting, balloons, and tons of other activities, then packs them into three days of celebration.

Artists! There's still time to get a piece of the 4th Avenue Street Fair pie and help out a very worthy cause [via]. The Center for Creative Chaos Art Gallery on 4th Ave. is accepting art work to sell during the fair. Artists will set prices for their work, receiving 70% of the sale price, while 30% will benefit homeless advocacy projects. The center is accepting all artwork. For more information, contact Marcella at 954-5598 or watson.marcella@gmail.com.

Where do I begin?

If you missed CTGA's fall Art Tour in early November, here's your chance to make it up, because there's a veritable plethora of openings on Congress, 4th Avenue, and the 6th & 6th area this Friday and Saturday evening. By the way, I've fixed the link to the full view of Special Events Calendar in the sidebar. Be sure click here for a comprehensive schedule including events outside of the downtown area because there's lots more than the few selections I've listed below. Due to another commitment, I won't be able to attend any of the Friday shows, but look for me out and about on Saturday - and don't be shy, say hi. There'll be a trail of flyers in my wake for Tu Scene launch party next Friday.

FRIDAY

Julie Sasse: Mixed Media
Opening: 5:30-7:30pm, Friday, December 5
Temple Gallery
330 S. Scott Ave.
Hours: M-F 10am-6pm
Through January 13

Rooted in the collage and assemblage traditions of the Surrealist and West Coast Neo-Dada artists, Sasse's work reveals a fascination with the symbolic content of found objects and appropriated images. The artist - also Tucson Museum of Art Chief Curator - says that in her work she tries to "express the human awareness of life and death, the selective memories of our past, and our existential need to mark our place within society." Sasse's recent mixed media work incorporates castoff materials and ephemera with painting and drawing.

Rooted In Place
Opening: 6-9pm, Friday, December 5
Arts Incubator
108 E. Congress
Hours: Sa-Su 12-5pm
Through December 31

In Rooted In Place, photographers Jim Boehme and Leigh Spigelman celebrate the importance of place-making in our communities. It also highlights what place means in Downtown Tucson. A Tucson Main Street website was created to honor the people, businesses and organizations helping define Tucson’s sense of place. The opening reception will feature vignettes by Marlene H. Phillips, Steve Surfaro, and Monica Surfaro Spigelman, music from Beatnik Dream Vacation, an appearance of The Burrito Files, a raffle and more. Sounds like fun, no?

TYP First Fridays presents Monte Carlo; The Art of the Deal
8pm-1am
Tucson Museum of Art
140 N. Main Ave.
Admission: $10 between 8-9pm, $10 all night for museum members, $20 for non-members after 9pm. Receive $5 off when you bring a donation for Toys for Tots

Go glam for an evening and dress up in your most James Bond-esque tuxedo or swankiest frock (don't forget the fur - could get chilly after dark). The museum will be open, and you can enjoy drinks and dancing into the night. The admission price is worth it just for the people-watching.

SATURDAY

Black & White Show
Opening and gallery debut: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
PLAY
276 E. Congress
Hours: Tu-Sa, 11am-5pm

PLAY means business... and pleasure. Come celebrate the opening of Tucson's newest downtown gallery/boutique/community center/performance space. Sustainability is the name of the game: try to support new faces and places as much as you can so they can stick around and create a viable culture.

The Anxiety of Abundance: Shara Rowley Plough M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
Rocket Gallery
270 E. Congress
Through December 20

The Anxiety of Abundance is an installation of paper works. The exhibition uses near life-size recreations of early nineteenth-century toile vignettes to highlight the benefits of thrift. Don't miss this one! I have yet to be disappointed by the risk-taking work highlighted at Rocket.

Celebration of Line
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
Central Arts Gallery
274 E. Congress
Hours: Th-Sa 12-5pm and most Saturday evenings
Through January 31

Stop by to vote for your favorite work in this CAG's always-diverse exhibitions, and find out more about how to connect with this hardworking cooperative of artists in all media and become active in the downtown scene.

Black & White: A Group Show
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
The Gallery at 6th and 6th
439 N. 6th Ave.
Hours: Tu-F 11am-5pm; Sa 11am-4pm
Through January 31

Not to be confused with the other black & white show going on, The Gallery at 6th and 6th presents a mixed media group exhibition featuring Carson Fox, Mark Pomilio, Sal Sirugo, Tim Diggles, Ralph Iwamoto and others.

Jen Calento, Jessica McVey and Jessie Skriner
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
Lulubell Toy Bodega
439 N. 6th Avenue, Suite 187
Hours: Tu-Sa 12-6pm
Through December 31

Lulubell never fails to impress and inspire. Calento is a longtime musician and artist who combines textures, color and dimensions to make unique paintings and frames for her pieces. McVey has re-emerged with a savory collection that explores contemporary issues of self-control and consumption in modern-day society: She infuses sugary imagery and mod colors. Skriner has her own company called the Samaria Project, which produces soft, plush pieces made out of recycled materials, including old T-shirts and jeans. She is also known for restoring everyday items and making kid-friendly pieces.

Holiday Spectacular IV
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
Zoe Boutique
735 N. 4th Ave.
Hours: M-S, 11am-7pm; Su 1-5pm
Through February 15

Head over to 4th Avenue and check out art from nine local artists, snack on tasty treats from the B-Line (one of my favorite cafés) and enjoy the sweet sounds selected by Giovanni Dominice.

Relative Geometries II: Joanne Mattera, Tracey Adams, John Dempcy and Robert Moya
Momentum and Melody: Emilia Arana
Opening: 6-9pm, Saturday, December 6
Conrad Wilde Gallery
210 N. 4th Ave.
Hours: Tu-Sa 11am-5pm
Through December 27

Conrade Wilde doubles up shows this Friday. Relative Geometries II includes work by nationally renowned artists Joanne Mattera and Tracey Adams along with emerging artists John Dempcy and Robert Moya. Drawing upon the minimalist tradition of grid compositions, these artists use organic, non-righd forms to create paintings of breathtakingly lush colors and depth of surface. Pianist Emilia Arana's abstract works exlpore a range of emotion inspired by music and art history.

Tu Scene Launch Party Next Week!

TU SCENE LAUNCH PARTY
Friday, December 12, 7-9pm
Dinnerware Artspace
264 E. Congress

Dinnerware has been gracious enough to provide a wine and cheese reception for the launch of Tu Scene. Come out, meet me, Rachelle Diaz, and tell me your hopes, dreams and fears for the Tucson art community as a continuation of the Emerging Leaders Creative Conversation that took place a couple of months ago, and let's figure out how to help each other. Plus, many other galleries will be open on Friday, December 12, including Central Arts Gallery, PLAY and others, so make a night of it!

I am so grateful for the support of many Tucson artists, particularly PLAY, one of the first emerging artist groups that I met here, and also Molly McClintock, Julie Ray, Liz Carballo and David Aguirre of Dinnerware who sought me out. Seriously, this could never happen anywhere else, even so-called "magical" places like Austin, where I'm from. Take my word for it as a seasoned veteran. This is why I say things could NEVER happen here without YOU. So whether or not you've already thought about starting an art blog or what, stay where you are, right here in Tucson, and keep being The Best Damn Artist You Can Be... and, not just that, but give yourself some freakin' credit and TELL THE WHOLE WORLD ABOUT IT! It's OK! Because ultimately, it's not about ideas or who thinks of them first vs who executes them first, or what. At. All. In emerging arts scenes, all I can say is that it's truly first come, first serve. But if you get your P.O.V. and your art out there, you can't complain, in the long run. Starting a flame together is not about competition, but about collaboration and, at the very least, communication. I truly feel that the right ingredients are coming together at this very moment, to make Tucson an Art Destination (more on that soon), to put us – that is to say, YOU! – on the map, within the next year or two. I am so honored and looking forward to meeting and promoting many more emerging artists/venues/endeavors that Tu Scene can help support in some – any! – way. Stay tuned for a cohesive Tu Scene media sponsorship package to learn more about what services we can exchange.

If you want to help spread the word, feel free to use the graphic above, just leave a comment with the URL so I know where you've placed it. It's available for download in various sizes here.

Weekday Soirées

Oh, yes, indeed, there is stuff to do on Monday and Tuesday! Read on...

7 UP Performance Art Night in honor of World AIDS Day
6pm, Monday, December 1
Hotel Congress
311 E. Congress
Free

Entertainment and art activities will be going on from 2 to 11pm throughout Hotel Congress outdoors and in, in honor of World AIDS Day. Performing at 6pm for a special World AIDS Day 7 UP are Neil Diamente, Dave and Sluk, Denise Uyehara, Carl Hanni with Chris Black, Oracle Art Ensemble, Jodi Netzer, Gwen Ray and the Acro Yoga group. In 7 UP, seven performers get up to seven minutes to perform in this unjuried event. An installation of ribbons painted by artists affected by AIDS will be on display in the lobby, and students will be doing art demonstrations using recycled materials.

While my focus in posting this event is primarily concentrated on the visual art components, you might also be interested to know that there'll be smorgasboard of music and dance performances spicing it up including comtemporary African percussion from the Key Ingredients of African Soul, Odaiko Sonora, Ballet Folklorico Destino, The Human Project, Vaudeville variety troupe Cabaret Boheme, gender-bending burlesque from Boys R Us, Tom Walbank, Marianne Dissard, Garboski, AIDS Free and many more. Come in your best retro garb for the evening's '80s-themed party.

For more information about Tucson World AIDS Day, visit the event's myspace page.

Mildred Lachman-Chapin: Paintings and Drawings
Opening: 6-10pm, Tuesday, December 2
Contreras Gallery
110 E. 6th St.
Hours: Tu-Sa 11am - 5pm
Through December 27

Abstract paintings and drawings by former dancer Mildred Lachman-Chapin call to mind the poetic movements of both body and spirit. Lachman-Chapin writes a haiku after completeting each of her "Visual Haiku" paintings.

Launches and Rumors of Launches

I know what I'll be doing tomorrow after some much-needed time off: getting my submission(s) together for the opening party of Tucson's newest downtown art space. PLAY's Black & White show will be an exhibit of primarily black and white pieces visually stitched together to form a larger datum on the walls of the gallery, as illustrated below.

Call (520) 904-8898 or email info@playarts.org, and read their submission guidelines for more information. Finished pieces must be turned into PLAY by December 2 by 5pm, so hop to it! The gallery opens with a bang on Saturday, December 6 from 6 to 9pm. They are also accepting proposals for gallery shows, performances, music and boutique merchandise.

Speaking of launch parties, there just might be a launch party happening sometime in the next couple of weeks at a downtown location TBD for this very blog! Yes! I would love to personally meet Tucson's visual artists and art enthusiasts, listen to YOUR take on the local scene and discuss how we can help each other. I'll definitely keep you posted as the details are solidified.

Enjoy It While You Can

Not much going on after Thanksgiving, so don't feel like you're missing out on anything. Just do whatever you need to do to get over your turkey and pie hangover, whether it's extra time and the gym or extra time asleep. Either way, rest up and stay tuned, because there's going to be a lot of openings and events next weekend!

But if you do feel like heading out – and I'm a bit late in posting this – there's a 20% off (almost) everything sale today only (Friday) at Bohemia. So you still have about 3 hours left to head over to their awesome artsy-giftsy store at Broadway and Country Club. Other specials include deep discounts on Vy & Elle's colorful and eco-conscious messenger bags, duffels, purses, wallets and more, all made from recycled billboards [pictured]. Plus, local soap and scent maker Belly Buttons is offering free gifts with a purchase of $10 or more of their sweet stuff through November 30. These well-priced, beautifully colorful and whimsically scented soaps, bath salts, shower gels and lotions make ideal office or hostess gifts, stocking stuffers or a "one for me" buy. I'm about to head out there right... NOW!