Tucson’s Visual Art Season Preview
Museums
University of Arizona Museum of Art
Over at the UAMA, two exhibits will wrap up the fall/winter season in style. First up is An Engagement with Presence: Drawings and Prints from the UAMA Collection, from September 14, 2012 through January 6, 2013. This show features works that explore portraiture, figure drawing and expressive line through drawing and printmaking. Utilizing works from their permanent collection, visitors will experience a new way to interpret artwork. Guest curator Michael Stack, a Pima Community College faculty member, compiled the work in the show with an eye towards work that has a “presence,” and that is unique and compelling. Also on display at the museum through January 27 is In Relief: German Op-Art Ceramics, 1955-75, a first-ever exhibition of mid-century German ceramic work, known as relief-porzellan. This show was born of UA Associate Art Professor Lawrence Gipe’s interest in the work, which he has personally collected for years. His research led to a greater understanding of the history of the movement, an examination of the work as art objects, and the history of their production by individuals. For more information on these shows, visit ArtMuseum.Arizona.edu.
Center for Creative Photography
It may be surprising to many that the Center for Creative Photography, located at 1030 N. Olive Road on the University of Arizona campus, is one of the top photographic museums in the world. With amazing archives and rotating exhibits, this treasure is a Tucson-born institution worth visiting frequently. This season a few special events of note include an artist talk and book signing by famed photographer Richard Misrach on October 18 at 5:30pm, and an artist talk by Magnum photographer Susan Meiselas on October 25 at 5:30pm. Both of these events are free and open to the public. For more information on these events and other info on exhibitions, visit the Center’s website at: CreativePhotography.org
Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
An exhibit by painter Peter Young will open at MOCA on December 14. Young, whose large-scale paintings began while he was working in New York in the mid-1960’s, but have continued since he’s been living and working in Bisbee since the 1970s. His work is in the permanent collection of numerous important institutions including; The Museum of Modern Art, the Guggenheim, the Whitney and the Hirshorn in Washington, D.C. For more information visit MOCA-Tucson.org.
Tucson Museum of Art
The Tucson Museum of Art will present four big shows this season starting with Tucsonan Barbara Rogers: The Imperative of Beauty. Rogers, whose work will be presented as a 50-year retrospective, is perhaps best known for her abstractions which are based on forms and colors of the garden, and is a retired UA art professor. Running concurrently with the Rogers show is The Shape of Things, Four Decades of Paintings and Sculpture, that traces the history of the “shaped canvas” movement that was dominant in the 1960’s. Featuring paintings and sculptures in non-traditional forms, this show is unlike anything you have seen before. Both shows run October 6 through early January. Also on display at the TMA is an exhibit that examines the relationship between art and technology entitled Art + The Machine. This show will draw works on paper and paintings from the museum’s collection, and finally, Henri Matisse The Pasiphae Series and other Works on Paper presents the famous series of linoleum block prints that are based on the Greek myth of the origin of the Minotaur. Both shows will run October to January as well. Visit TucsonMuseumofArt.org, for more information.
Mini Time Machine Museum
Tucson’s newest museum has several exhibits that should be experienced by the whole family this season. First up is HalloWEEn 2012 at The Mini Time Machine Museum of Miniatures. The museum will be decorated for Halloween throughout the entire month of October, adding to the fun of exploring their amazing miniatures collection. Every Saturday in October there will also be a different Halloween themed “Kids Create Project” which will take place from 1pm-4pm, and a docent-led flashlight tour at 4pm. Also this fall is an exhibition entitled No Small Parts: The Role of Scale Models in Theater Set Design, which is on display from September 18-November 11. This exhibit highlights the application of miniatures in theater set design with more than a dozen models from different scene designers, whose masterful maquettes were created for productions by Arizona Opera, the University of Arizona School of Music’s Opera Theater, the University of Arizona Repertory Theatre and the Arizona Theater Company. And finally on November 23, the museum’s annual Wee Winter Wonderland kicks off with special events and décor in honor of the season. For more information on the museum visit the museum website at: TheMiniTimeMachine.org.
Galleries
The Drawing Studio
Located downtown, at 33 S. 6th Avenue, the Drawing Studio is both a resource for artists, with a regular schedule of classes, and, an exhibition space that hosts several shows annually. In October, an exhibit entitled Sanctuary highlights recent works by TDS faculty, and an additional exhibit—Flight, presents a rare collection of prints that were commissioned by the International Rescue Committee in the 1960’s. This collection explores the plights of fleeing refugees and their hope of a new life. Among the artist works included are images by: Miro, Motherwell, Chagall, Calder and others. For more information visit TheDrawingStudio.org.
Louis Carlos Bernal Gallery/PCC West Campus
The art gallery at Pima Community College is named after former photography teacher and well-known local artist Louis Carlos Bernal. The gallery presents a rich and diverse range of exhibits featuring local and nationally recognized artists annually. Three highlights in the upcoming season include; P.O.V: Interpreting the Human Figure, with work by Bailey Doogan, Judith Stewart, Tiffieny Yazzie, Luis Caballero, Vincent Desiderio and Keith McElroy. This show runs from October 22 – December 7, 2012. Also of note is REARRANGING THE SANDS: Joe Dal Pra, Ben McKee, Barbara Penn along with a video screening “The Shadows of Men” by Jason Stone which runs January 28 – March 8, 2013. Finally, the annual STUDENT JURIED ART EXHIBITION, which will be on display from April 1 – May 3, 2013 features student work from all of the PCC campuses. For a schedule of opening events, lectures and other special events visit Pima.edu/community/the-arts/louis-carlos-bernal-gallery.
Tohono Chul Park
The galleries at Tohono Chul Park, located at 7366 E. Paseo del Norte (Ina & Oracle), continue to host unique and interesting exhibits that compliment and enhance any visit to this community gem. Highlights include; Contemporary Ceramics (through October 21), Water: An Exploration in Prints (through November 11), Horse Country: Horses in the Southwest (October 25–January 20) Mayan Calendar (Nov. 8–Feb. 9) and Holiday for the Park (Nov. 15–Dec. 9). For more information visit TohonoChulPark.org.
Sacred Machine
The third annual Santa Muerte Music and Arts Festival takes place at Sacred Machine, located at 245 East Congress, Suite 123, from September 1 through November 4. The festival elebrates the folklore of the southwest, along with underground music and work from a variety of artists. The event will host 18 musical performances, most of which are free and open to the public, along with artwork from 27 different artists from around the globe. For a full calendar of music performances, and a look at some of the art that is on display during the festival, visit SacredMachine.com.
Philabaum Gallery
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the studio glass art movement, Philabaum Gallery will present an exhibit entitled Glass Pioneers. The show, on display from October 6 through November 30, features work from a number of influential glass artists from around the country. The gallery is located 711 South Sixth Ave. PhilabaumGlass.com
University of Arizona Galleries
The two galleries at the University of Arizona’s School of Art continue to present cutting-edge work that is both thought provoking and engaging. Some highlights of the coming season at the Joseph Gross Gallery include: Subdivision #3 by Cheryl Molnar, currently on display through January 9, Language of the Land: Popular Culture within Indigenous Nations and the New Wave of Artistic Perspectives by Chris Pappan and Ryan Singer from January 14 to March 29 and, the annual Master of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, which presents the final work of the school’s master of arts degree candidates from April 8 through May 14. At the Lionel Rombach Gallery, highlights include: The Hydro-Aesthetics of Water Works, An Art History Think Tank and Exhibition, from October 1—10, followed by It’s Always Ourselves We Find In The Sea, by Dan Cheek and Neal Galloway, and the Annual Fall Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition from November 13—January 16.
Contreras Gallery
In October the Contreras Gallery presents Bestiario/Bestiary, with works from Martin Quintanilla and Marcy Miranda Janes. The show features representations of creatures, both real and fantastic in cut paper by Janes, and paintings and prints by Quintanilla. The show runs October 6-27, and is followed by an exhibit entitled The End of Days? by muralist David Tineo, from November 3-24. Finally, a themed Desert in Winter group invitational, is on tap from December 1-29. The gallery is located at 110 E. Sixth Street, and their website is ContrerasHouseOfFineArt.com.
Tucson Jewish Community Center Gallery
In the fine art gallery at the JCC, located at 3800 E. River Road, two exhibits are currently on display. Sparks, which features watercolors by Jeanne Hartmann, runs through October 17. In the Jewish Heritage Center, watercolors by another artist, George Nadler, will also be on display through October 17. Next up, Celebrations, features paintings by Faigee Neibow and is on display from November 11 – December 12. A show by the Fiber Artists of Southern Arizona is set to run from December 14 – January 2, 2013. For more information visit the JCC website at TucsonJCC.org.
Obsidian Gallery
Obsidian Gallery, in the historic Downtown train depot, at 410 N. Toole Avenue, has four interesting shows scheduled this season. First up, from October 20 – November 25 is Faces Down The Tracks, featuring the work of four artists who have studios in the nearby Citizen’s Warehouse; Titus Constanza, Nick Georgiou, Laurel Hansen and Alec Laughlin. Artists Robert Winokur, Lynn Cornelius and Rowenea Brown will be featured in a show entitled Home For The Holidays that runs December 1 through January 6 and, a untitled two-person ceramic show featuring the work of Hirotsune Tashima and Thaddeus Erdahl is paired with unique jewelry by Jude Clarke and others from January 12—March 10. The final exhibit of the year is a group show, entitled It’s All In Your Head with artwork by Curt Brill, Ted Fish, Gary Swimmer, James Tisdale and others. Obsidian-Gallery.com.
Tucson Botanical Gardens
One of Tucson’s hidden gems is the Botanical Gardens, located at 2150 E. Alvernon Way. With multiple places in the gardens to experience nature, there are also excellent spaces to see art, and the staff always manages to program a great selection of shows. Some highlights of the upcoming season include the Bellos Adornos exhibit now through November 6, and the Dancing Skeleton Exhibit, in the gardens from October 1 through November 4. The Porter Hall Gallery at the gardens will host monthly exhibits with a variety of artists including: Quetzally Hernandez Coronado, from March 23—April 27, The Pima Community College Photography Department from June 3 -28, Holly Swangstu and David Kish from August 3—28, and, Tucson favorite Janet Miller from August 31—Sept. 30. TucsonBotanical.org.
Davis Dominguez Gallery
This year the gallery celebrates its 37th year in Tucson, and has a few excellent shows on tap for 2012—2013. Located at 154 E. Sixth Street, the season starts with a group landscape exhibit entitled Take Five Interpreting the Landscape. Featuring the works of Philip Melton, Charlotte Bender, Diane Meyer, Tom Chapin and Duncan Martin, the show runs through November 3. Next up is an exhibit of abstract expressionist paintings by Josh Goldberg, paired with realist landscapes by James Cook and wildlife bronzes by Mark Rossi. This show is set to run from November 8 through December 29. From January 3 to February 9, the gallery will showcase David Pennington and Amy Metier’s abstract work along with sculptures by Steve Murray. Susan Conaway’s “magic realist” paintings and John Davis’ abstract sculptures will be on display February 14 – March 23, and finally, from March 28 to May 4, works on paper and abstract paintings by Katherine Justin will be at the gallery in a one-person show. DavisDominguez.com
Etherton Gallery/Temple Gallery
Etherton Gallery continues to serve up stellar exhibits at their two spaces downtown during the 2012—2013 season. At the main gallery, located at 135 S. Sixth Avenue, a show entitled Seeing Silver, will feature the work of acclaimed black and white photographers Ralph Gibson and Harry Callahan along with work by John Loengard who is printing famous negatives of other photographers from October 20—January 5. Next is a three-person show with artists Alice Leora Briggs, Holly Roberts and Joel-Peter Witkin from January 8—April 6. Closing the season is a three-person show by painters Jim Waid, Robert Cocke and Jane Abrams from April 20—June 8. At the Temple Gallery, located at 330 S. Scott in the Temple of Music and Art, photographs by Valerie Galloway will be on display from November 30—January 8, Drawings from David F. Brown from January 11—February 26, Photographs by Kate Breakey from March 1—April 2 and work by Simon Donovan and David Longwell from April 5—June 4. EthertonGallery.com.
Raices Taller
The gallery, located at 218 E. Sixth Street, is hosting Dia de los Muertos 2012 from November 2 – November 17. It is their 16th annual homage to Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead, and features a cultural celebration in the tradition of the Hispanic southwest. The free and open to the public celebration, on Friday, November 2, 2012 from 6—9 pm will includes a Yaqui blessing of the space followed by pot-luck reception, music and children’s activities. December 3 – January 7 the gallery will host Poco A Poco, which will feature affordable small works by 30 different artists, to help holiday gift-givers spread art to their family and friends. raicestaller222.webs.com/
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun
A few interesting exhibits of note are scheduled for the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, located at 6300 N. Swan. First up is a show entitled Portraits of DeGrazia, which features different works by fellow artists capturing artist Ted DeGrazia over the years. It runs through January 20. The Bisbee Years, on display through February of 2013, highlights DeGrazia’s years in the town and the people he interacted with. Way of The Cross will highlight specific works relative to the artist’s faith, and will run January 25—May 15, and, DeGrazia Watercolors will run from January 25—July 31. DeGrazia.org
Tucson Pima Arts Council
In the Pioneer building downtown, located at 100 N. Stone Avenue, the Tucson Pima Arts Council programs a community gallery on the first floor. Each year rotating shows highlight a wide range of artistic disciplines and genres by emerging and well-known artists in group shows. A few highlights of the upcoming season include; Kevin Barbo, Archie Sutton, Michelle Rouch and Bob Kray II from October 13 – January 13, Kyle Johnston, Jonathan Bell, Elizabeth Von Isser and others will have work on display from January 2 – April 13. A final show of the season runs July 13 – October 13, and will include work by MF Dondelinger, Diane Fairfield, Tracy Lopez and Lynn Rae Lowe. www.tucsonpimaartscouncil.org
Category: Arts
