When the Tucson Gem + Mineral Society held their inaugural show in the 1970s, it was the first of its kind, welcoming both professionals and the public. It continues to be the largest gem and mineral show in the world!
2. TGMS takes place annually in mid-February.
The 2024 show is scheduled for February 8-11.
Show hours are typically 10am-6pm, except for the final day (Sunday), when it closes at 4pm.
Ticket sales for the 2024 show will start January 11, 2024. Purchase through the TCC Box Office (520-791-4101) or Ticketmaster.
3. Regular TGMS admission is $13, but there are discounts!
Single-Day Admission Prices
$13 for adults and teens (ages 15+).
Free entry for youth (ages 14 and under) with a paid adult admission.
Where to find TGMS Discounts…
Coupon: Your best bet is to watch the TGMS page closer to the event date for a flyer that includes a $3 off coupon.
2-day pass: If you’ll be spending a couple days at the show, buying a 2-day pass ($22) will save you $4.
Military + Senior Citizens: There’s a discount day during the show when anyone who is over 62 years old and/or active or retired military receives $3 off admission. (In 2023, it was the Friday of the show.)
These discounts are an either/or situation. They can’t be combined.
On a tight budget? Don’t forget to factor in parking costs! See #9 below to learn about the lowest-cost options and transit alternatives.
Mural by Chris Andrews.
4. A single show has sprouted several weeks of shows!
The Tucson Gem & Mineral Show may be the original, but it’s far from the only show in town! Over the years, more and more shows have sprung up around it, creating an entire gem and mineral show season. In fact, there are dozens that take place from about late January to mid February.
Some shows might specialize in a specific type of gem or minerals imported from a certain part of the world.
Phillip walks through the African Art Village.
To avoid confusion with the original Tucson Gem & Mineral Show [registered trademark], these other shows are collectively known as the Tucson Gem, Mineral + Fossil Showcase or simply the “Gem Show.” Most of them are free, open to the public, and take place about late January to mid February.
One very special show is the African Art Village, which happens on the Mercado District Festival Grounds.
Jewelry designer Aïssatou Bamba Kemoko.
It’s an outdoor marketplace with many different vendors selling artisan products imported from Nigeria, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Morocco, and across the African continent.
Abstract paintings by artist Harouna Ouédraogo.
While some of the items would fit under the “gem and mineral” heading, there is much more variety than that.
Abstract artist Casimir Bationo (“Caszi”) and some of his work.
You can find beautifully carved wooden furniture and figurines, jars of shea butter and black soap, baskets, bags, traditional masks, textiles, oversized necklaces, djembe drums, and even contemporary art!
6. There’s a lot to see in the Mineral District, where it tends to be less hectic.
As you head north of Speedway on Granada/Main/Oracle, you’ll start to see some gem shops and warehouses. This is where you’ll find the 1801 Oracle / Mineral Village Show, Rock Yard Show, and Mineral City Show, which boasts over 100 mineral vendors in one location. Even with all that, these shows tend to be a bit less crowded and easier for more casual shoppers to just pop in and out of.
7. Gem Shows set up in some unusual locations around Tucson.
You can find them outside warehouses, taking over hotel parking lots, crammed into a jewelry store or lobby, on festival grounds, and inside ginormous tent-like structures that are assembled solely for this purpose.
Visit Tucson creates a full listeach year of show dates and locations and which ones are wholesalers-only.
8. Hotel rooms fill up fast.
If you’re coming in from out of town, make sure you have a place to stay well in advance. Hotel rooms, Airbnbs, and all types of lodging get more difficult to find and more expensive as you approach the gem show dates.
In fact, February is the most expensive month to stay in Tucson, according to Google Hotels “When to Visit!”
Currently free to ride – and will be through at least June 30, 2023.
Easily get to the 22nd Street Shows and African Art Village by riding to the western end of the line in the Mercado District.
Also convenient gem show stops at the Tucson Convention Center (where TGMS happens), 4th Avenue, and Main Gate Square.
GemRide Shuttle:
The free shuttles that traveled between gem show locations in past years were discontinued during COVID. I’m not sure if/when this will resume.
Driving:
If you do drive, take it slow! Streets near shows can get congested with sudden stops due to bottlenecks at entrances or trucks loading/unloading. In addition, there are more people walking around and wandering across the street where you wouldn’t expect them to.
Metalwork at the African Village in Tucson.
Where to Park…
Gem Show parking isn’t super expensive, but it is something to factor in if you’re on a tight budget. Or if you just don’t like unexpected costs popping up.
TGMS: Parking at the Tucson Convention Center is $10/day. Other parking options in the area will be around $3-10.
22nd Street Mineral, Fossil, Gem + Jewelry Show makes a big deal about their free admission. But it costs $10 to park there. Which is kind of like charging admission for your car.
Parking for the Mercado District (including the African Village) is $5 during the Gem Show.
Shows in the Mineral City area typically have free street parking.
I haven’t been inside yet, but the newly-opened space has 5 different dealer showrooms, a cafe and bar on site, and promises to be a “perfect setting in which to relax and enjoy a stunning selection of the world’s finest mineral specimens.”
Located: 465 W. Saint Mary’s Rd.
Open: Monday – Friday, 10am-4pm and select weekends (next up: May 12-14, 10am-6pm)
A curated selection of crystals, plants, and handmade plant hangers at the Dunbar Pavilion by the sweet and knowledgeable Drew Berryhill. His shop is outdoors year-round, centered under a large ramada.
Located: 325 W. 2nd St. is the Dunbar’s address. However, you’ll find Drutopia closer to the northwest corner of University and 11th Ave.
Open: Thursday – Sunday, 10am-5:30pm
Mineral Artisan’s work is on the right with Tucson Gallery art on the left.
Home goods made from polished stones and geodes. Their display is the first thing you see as you walk into the merchant collective Proper Shops, which just opened at the end of 2022.
Located: 300 E. Congress St., inside Proper Shops, across from Hotel Congress
While Pantone’s 2020 Color of the Year is Classic Blue, I feel like I’ve already explored that in my 2018 Blues color story. Instead, what’s been on my mind – colorwise, at least – is teal.
It’s a tricky one to define exactly.
Teal resides at the divide between blue and green, undulating from one to the other, like waves over the border between sea and ocean. The side it falls on depends on who is seeing it and how.
You might find dark, dramatic shades of teal in a flowing river, in paint and pottery, in flora and fauna. Maybe it’s made its way into your home.
Teal can feel tranquil. Like a deep breath. Like that time after the holidays but before you’ve completely resumed your regular routine. Like the peace we need more of in 2020.
For now, maybe we can start by simply taking a moment to breathe deeply and take in some gorgeous teal tranquility.
2. Diving kingfisher near Kirkcudbright, Scotland. / One of over 720,000 photographs Alan McFadyen shot during his 6-year quest to perfectly capture the birds’ dive into the water. / via Daily Mail
3. Detail of VisionShift, Sonia King’s mosaic installation for the HALL Arts complex in Dallas.
4. Mudstone font sample. / I’m not sure whether this festival actually exists, but I kinda hope it does. / via You Work For Them
11. Sea lions and pelicans enjoying a sunny day at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California. / I took this photo when we were there in 2012. We stayed in a cute little vintage camper that looked a bit like the lower right one on the tea towel above.
12. Lacinato kale + recipe for kale and sausage skillet via The Rainforest Garden.
14. “You Belong Among the Wildflowers” embroidered Tom Petty lyrics wall hanging by BreezebotPunch on Etsy. (Currently out of stock but you can get on the waitlist or request a custom order.)
15. Abstract sketchbook painting of the Smith River in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park (Northern California) by Heather Day. / Her work is more about sensory experience than the literal represensation of a scene. She camped + painted in a spot overlooking this river in 2017. / via VSCO
16. The Vintage Turkish Over Dye Rug by Cadrys is one of the accessories “Interiors Addict” Jen Bishop selected to help your home feel cozy over the winter. (H/T The Home)
“If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.”
Or so the saying goes. But if March begins with snow in the desert… then what?!
We did indeed get snow here in Tucson late Wednesday night. Also on Valentine’s Day. It’s a strange start to the spring season!
Quijote watching it snow in Tucson the first time.
There wasn’t enough snow to cancel any events, of course, and it turned warm and sunny a day later. So the spring calendar continues to be full throughout the state!
The Happenings List
The Happenings List is my seasonal selection of goings-on for lovers of art, craft, culture(s), and nature.
*Goodies: There are bonus items, freebies, and discounts sprinkled throughout the list and asterisked to make them easier to find.
Events you can enjoy anywhere: Some of the Happenings and Goodies you can participate in from anywhere are listed throughout this List. There will be more in our upcoming newsletter, so make sure you’re subscribed!
Disclosure: I’m not paid to list any of these events. If there is an artist with an Etsy page, I’ll link to it and, as an Etsy affiliate, I may earn commission when someone makes a purchase after following one of my links.
Tell me about it! I can’t make it to as many Happenings as I’d like, so I’d love to hear about any you go to! Send me an email or hashtag social media posts about your experience with #TCJreco.
now – April 2 / Bob’s Spot Gallery at Herberger Theater, Phoenix / Free.
Group exhibit featuring artists’ interpretation – realistic, impressionistic, or abstract – of the Grand Canyon.
Exhibit open Monday through Friday, 12:00-4:30pm and during theater performances.
Enter through the box office.
*Happy Hour specials at Carcara lounge + bar (across the street at Sheraton Downtown Phoenix): $4 draft beers + $6 house wines Tuesday through Saturday, from 3-6pm. Their bar snacks menu looks pretty good too!
March 11, 11am – 5pm / Civic Center Plaza, Surprise
Celebration of the richness and beauty of the diverse cultures existing in and around the West Valley. The one-day event features music, live demonstrations, storytelling, visual arts, and an outdoor market. It will take place next to the new Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in the City of Surprise’s Civic Center Plaza.
Vendors:only Arizona artisans selling their own work
Food + beverage: local food trucks Puerto Rican Pete’s, Carnivore Creations, and Frios Gourmet Pops
Entertainment: live performances by Teri Tobin + Friends, Aaron White + Anthony Wakeman, Ballet Folklorico de Santa Maria, Pretty Precise Step Team, Mariachi Pasion, Chi’Chino Spirit O’Odham Dance Group
March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) + April 21 / Irish Cultural Center and McClelland Library, Phoenix / Ages 13+: $8, 6-12: $5, children 5 and under are free
Monthly Irish social dance, known as ceili. No prior experience is necessary. This is a family-oriented activity with a focus on fun! You can attend an Orientation/Beginners session, and then the instructors will call the dances as you dance.
Ceilis are the third Friday of each month in the Great Hall of the Irish Culture Center.
Orientation at 6:45pm. Ceili begins at 7:30pm.
Entertainment: live music
Food + beverage: cash bar
Book of Kells related Goodies:
*The Book of Kells exhibit. The McClelland Library is home to one of the rare full-color facsimiles of the Book of Kells created in order to increase education and access to the historic work. See it anytime the McClelland Library is open. Free.
*ANYWHERE: Trinity College Dublin has a free digital exhibiton the Book of Kells.
*The Secret of Kells, a delightful animated film that weaves a story from the mythology of the Book’s creation is available on Kanopy.
Fabric selection from Elkhorn Quilt Company, who will be a vendor at Quilt Arizona!
March 23 – March 25 / Mesa Convention Center, Building B + C, Mesa / $5-10 entry fee
Arizona Quilters Guild (ACQ) annual quilt show with many types of quilts on display, including pieced, applique, hand quilted, kit, art, pictorial, and modern. The 2023 theme is “Canyon of Colors.” It features lectures for quilters and about 35 craft-related vendors.
Free parking.
*Membership Special: Sign up at the Quilt Show as a new AQG Member ($30) and receive 3 months free membership, then pay Member Admission Rates to enter the show.
March 6 – March 31 / Sedona Arts Center State Route 89A + Art Barn Road, Sedona / Free.
The largest and longest-running group exhibition of visual art in Uptown Sedona with painting, mixed media, photography, metal, wood, jewelry, and fiber art!
April 14, 7:30pm / Ardrey Memorial Auditorium, Flagstaff / Regular tickets $46-76 + fees
Haydn and Beethoven: Victory in Times of Struggle is a joint performance by NAU’s Shrine of the Ages Choir and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra. They will play Franz Joseph Haydn’s hopeful Missa in Angustiis (Mass in Troubled Times) and Beethoven’s Eroica symphony, which is described as “a twisting journey of tension, beauty and uncertainty that arrives at one of the great victorious resolutions in the classical repertoire.”
Why it made the list: We could use some victorious sounds in these troubled times!
Community science effort to document native and invasive species in the sensitive Verde River habitat systems. To participate, use the iNaturalist app to take photos of plants, animals, birds, and insects along the Verde River, Oak Creek, or West Clear Creek.
Submitting observations through iNaturalist helps to gather important species data from the area.
If you post photos throughout the event, use hashtag #PurdyVerde and tag @friendsoftheverderiver.
Vermilion Flycatcher in a mural by Joe Pagac in Himmel Park, Tucson.
April 27 – April 30 / Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood / $35 registration fee
Annual celebration of nature that brings together experienced and amateur birders to enjoy workshops, expert-lead field trips, and inclusive events in the beautiful Verde Valley.
The 2023 Festival Theme is “Riverside Residents,” and its featured bird is the Vermilion Flycatcher.
*Apr. 29: Free Family Day in Dead Horse Ranch State Park, between the lagoons. A day of family-friendly activities and exhibits, presented alongside the Verde Valley Community BioBlitz.
Now – March 19 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Why it made the list: The western genre tends to narrow its narrative to a few archetypes, overlooking the rest of the people who lived in the Old West and were a part of its history. More Than: Expanding Artist Identities from the American West explores a more inclusive interpretation of the genre, centering works of art created by women, people of color, and persons of intersectional backgrounds.
Examples of historic works are creatively paired with contemporary art to make meaningful connections between the past and present.
The exhibition includes poetry by former Tucson Poet Laureate TC Tolbert and texts by local community members.
*Mar. 2: First Thursday. On the first Thursday of the month, TMA offers extended hours (5-8pm), pay-what-you-wish admission, art and gallery activities, entertainment, and a cash bar. Reserve your free ticket online.
“Earth Meets Sky” sculpture by Elizabeth Frank, during a past Sculpture Park exhibition.
now – May / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free.
Why it made the list: We enjoyed visiting the Sculpture Park during its inaugural season! Its current exhibit is all about awakening joy. Since it’s completely outdoors, this would be a really nice time of year to visit!
16 large-scale sculptures.
Mar. 17-19: 2023 Sculpture Festival Show + Sale
“Protective Coding” by Rocki Swiderski at MOCA Tucson.
Now – August / Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson, Tucson / Included with admission.
Incorporating locally-found materials, Chilean artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña arranged hundreds of hanging knotted fibers and into what she calls a “poem in space,” which speaks to the way we are interconnected with each other and our environment.
Why it made the list: This is an exhibition created specifically for the Great Hall of MOCA Tucson, shaped by contributions from the community!
ANYWHERE: Live stream events in the UA Poetry Center’s Spring 2023 Reading + Lecture Series or find them afterwards on the Poetry Center’s YouTube page.
Goodies:
*Outside the museum isMini MOCA, a small artworks exchange in the style of a little free library.
*Discounts for Downtown Clifton Hotel guests: 2 for 1 admission at MOCA, as well as 10% off any purchase in the MOCA Shop.
Community-wide celebration of literature and literacy, featuring author talks and panels, poetry readings, workshops for writers, and Science City.
Vendors/exhibitors: authors, museums, independent booksellers, local media outlets, non-profit organizations, publishers, educational institutions, and other literature-related products and services
Food + beverage: food court with over a dozen local restaurants and food trucks represented
Parking: Free parking TFOB weekend in U of A’s Park Avenue Garage, Highland Garage, and several surface lots. $5 parking in the Cherry Avenue, 6th Street, Tyndall, Stadium and Main Gate Garages.
Transit: Sun Link street car 2nd St/Highland Ave stop.
Entertainment…
For kids: storybook character parade, book nook activity tent, the Bumble Bee singers (Tucson Girls Chorus Kindergarteners and First Graders), Pawdemonium interactive children’s theater, magic show
For teens: young author + young artist competition, author interviews by teens, YA workshops
For all ages: accordion duet, Ballet Folklorico (Mexican folkdance), Literary Circus (The Circus Academy of Tucson’s show inspired by literary works throughout the ages), local musicians, Lion Dance, Scandinavian dance, Klezmer music, Hula group
Inaugural Honor the Earth: Water Is Life Music + Resistance Festival, an Indigenous-led benefit concert. Proceeds will go to funding Indigenous land back, sovereignty, and food and water initiatives by Indigenous People in Arizona. The event will feature local and international Native speakers, art, food, and music.
Vendors/exhibitors: regional artist village, environmental organizations, Southwest Folklife Alliance
Food + beverage: local + indigenous food vendors
Entertainment: performances by Keith Secola, Papago Warrior, Rebel Diaz, XIXA (acoustic), David Huckfelt, Giant Sand, Gary Farmer, Djentrification, One Way Sky, Cihuatl Ce, Humblelianess, DJ Q, Lady Gugu
March 12, 4pm / Riverfront Park Outdoor Grass Amphitheater, Oro Valley / Free.
The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra concludes the Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series with a special performance showcasing their 2022-2023 season.
Why it made the list: These free outdoor concerts give classically trained musicians a monthly opportunity to perform on Tucson’s North Side.
Final concert of the season.
Concerts are 60-90 minutes in length.
Limited seating is provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs.
March 20 – June 1 / Downtown Tucson, Tucson / Free.
Self-guided walking tour of haiku poetry printed on acrylic signage and placed in planters along Congress Street and Stone Avenue. The 20 poems are winners of an annual literary competition, submitted by the public and chosen by Tucson’s poet Laureate, TC Tolbert.
Submissions accepted through the online form until March 9, 2023!
April 1 – September 17 / Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson / Included with admission.
Juried exhibition that showcases innovative and diverse new works being created in the state. For emerging artists, this exhibition provides an opportunity to exhibit their art in a museum setting and to introduce it to the public. It will be on view in the James and Louise Glasser Gallery and Chann Gallery at Tucson Museum of Art.
For each biennial, a new juror from outside the state is selected to review the works of hundreds of artists and create a cohesive exhibition that becomes an overview of artistic creativity in Arizona.
This year’s juror is Taína Caragol, Curator of painting, sculpture, and Latinx art and history at the National Portrait Gallery. (She led the portrait commission of former President Obama by Kehinde Wiley.)
April 6, 5:30 -7pm at TMA: Arizona Artist Spotlight. Join Arizona Biennial 2023 artists as they discuss their process, share insights on their works in the biennial and discuss how they relate to their larger body of works. / $5
*March 12 + April 9, 10am-5pm: Second SundAZe Family Day. The second Sunday of every month TMA features art-making, performances, and Pay-What-You-Wish Admission.
Emily Pratt, who learned macrame from Jessica Melrose, arranges plant hangers in their shared market booth.
Workshop on how to make your own macrame plant hanger by expert maker Jessica Melrose. All materials are provided, including different yarn color options. You can take home written instructions and a video, so you can try making another one on your own.
Registration fee also includes a mimosa and a tamale!
April 19 – April 30 / Downtown Tucson area / Tickets TBD. (Last year: $8/individual film admission.)
The Arizona International Film Festival is a venue for independent filmmakers in search of an independent audience. Screening locations this year include The Screening Room, MSA Annex, Hotel Congress, and UA Main Gate.
The Selection Committee will be announcing the finalists for the 2023 Festival by March 16.
April 22, 10am-4pm / 6th Street + 6th Avenue (in front of the Firestone Building), Tucson / Free.
Created and run by local artisans, DAM is a popular popup market that aspires to be a day of joy and connection! This spring’s market will be held on Earth Day and a portion of vendor fees will be donated to a local conservation non-profit.
Tucson Poetry Festival (TPF) is celebrating 40 years of poetry in Tucson! The schedule for TPF XL: Poetry and Presence includes workshops at the UA Poetry Center, a featured reading at the Temple of Music and Art, and a Sunday morning open mic brunch.
April 27 – April 30 / Tucson / Includes both paid and free events.
Sustainability-focused celebration of the agave plant, the culture surrounding it, and the spirits made from it. Events include workshops, traditional agave pit roasting demonstration, spirit tastings, heritage dinners, a Mezcrawl, and an agave fiesta.
Does anyone else feel like arriving at 2023 is a kind of milestone?
Back when the pandemic first hit and events were being cancelled or postponed to as late as Summer ’22, those dates seemed impossibly far away. I couldn’t imagine where we’d be at that time, much less beyond it.
And now, here we are. This year feels like stepping into new ground. Like perhaps we can really get down to the business of creating that “new normal” that everyone’s been talking about. Or recognizing that there really is no “normal.”
So here’s to 2023 and whatever mix of good, bad, and utterly unexpected it may bring! May the year be kind to you. More importantly, may we be kind to each other – and ourselves.
–S
Bus of the Let’s Be Better Humans Project.
The Happenings List
The Happenings List is my seasonal selection of goings-on for lovers of art, craft, culture(s), and nature.
Events you can enjoy anywhere are listed after the Arizona category, so if you live outside the state, keep scrolling down. There’s good stuff for you too!
*Goodies: There are little extras and bonus items sprinkled throughout the list and asterisked to make them easier to find.
Artwork by Ed Mell.
Fill Me In!
I’m not in charge of any of these events or paid to list them. They’re just things I thought you might be interested in.
That said, I can’t go to every single one and would love to hear about any of these Happenings you’re able to participate in! Send me an email or hashtag social media posts about your experience with #TCJreco.
Arizona
(Remember, if you’re not planning to be in Arizona anytime soon, just scroll on down to the Anywhere section!)
January 16, 9am / Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to Hance Park, Phoenix / Free.
Why it made the list: It’s a community celebration of Dr. King’s Legacy, organized by the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee, whose events are “designed to encourage all ages, ethnicities, cultures, races and genders to participate and to focus on fulfilling a dream.” The day begins with a commemorative march from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (near Jefferson and 16th Street in Phoenix) and ends with a festival at Margaret T. Hance Park.
9am: March from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church to Hance Park.
January 25, 7-7:30pm / Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix / Free.
Why it made the list: Dancing in the museum! Preview performances from the upcoming Breaking Ground 2023 Contemporary Dance Festival will take place in Phoenix Art Museum galleries, providing a sneak peek into the world of contemporary dance.
The Breaking Ground festival seeks to present a diversity of movement, subject matter, and multidisciplinary collaborations.
*These preview performances happen during Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesday, so you can enter the museum free (or with an optional donation) anytime after 3pm.
February 4-25 (Saturdays), 9:30am – 12pm / Boyce Thompson Arboretum (BTA), Superior / Course fee: $169
Why it made the list: A beautiful place to learn watercolor techniques, surrounded by BTA’s fantastic variety of plants! The 4-week class will meet Saturday mornings in February.
Pack drinking water and art supplies and wear your walking shoes.
*Jan. 3 + Feb. 7: If you can go during the week, check out BTA’s First Tuesday free admission day! Tickets are limited, so advance registration is highly recommended.
Tea pots at Kimberly Ann’s Tea Room in Downtown Glendale, Arizona.
February 4, 11am – 8pm / Murphy Park, Glendale (Phoenix area) / Free.
Why it made the list: Over 100 artists and musicians will come together to create a unique local experience in the heart of the downtown with an artisan market, pop-up performances, and interactive art. Like an antidote, this indie artist and small business focused-festival happens the week before a certain very commercial, overhyped Big Game kicks off in another part of Glendale.
The festival culminates in a performance art installation from 6-8pm.
*Local First Arizona is creating a savings passport to help the community stay engaged with local businesses after the event.
Why it made the list: A retrospective of unparalleled film score composer John Williams. Conducted by Music Director Tito Muñoz, the orchestra will play selections from the music of some of his most beloved movies, including Star Wars, E.T., Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and Saving Private Ryan.
February 24-26 / Clark Memorial Clubhouse Auditorium, Clarkdale (Sedona area) / Free.
Why it made the list: If you don’t get your fill of gems and minerals from Tucson’s big showcases (see below) or if you’d just prefer a smaller show, this sounds like a fun one! Vendors will be selling agates, fossils, beads, crystals, geodes, rock slabs, polished gems and minerals, handcrafted jewelry, carvings and other unique gift items. You can enter daily raffles, see demonstrations on geode-splitting and wire-wrapping, and bring in your mineral specimens to be identified.
Kids’ Corner with free minerals for children 12 and under.
The Mingus Gem + Mineral Club holds their Gem and Mineral Show and Sale every February and September.
Clarkdale is located between Cottonwood and Jerome, about 30 minutes outside Sedona.
*Interactive map showing trails, bike lanes, public lands, etc. in the Clarkdale-Cottonwood area.
Now – March 19 / Tucson Museum of Art (TMA), Tucson / Included with admission.
Why it made the list: The western genre tends to narrow its narrative to a few archetypes, overlooking the rest of the people who lived in the Old West and were a part of its history. More Than: Expanding Artist Identities from the American West explores a more inclusive interpretation of the genre, centering works of art created by women, people of color, and persons of intersectional backgrounds. Examples of historic works are creatively paired with contemporary art to make meaningful connections between the past and present. The exhibition includes poetry by former Tucson Poet Laureate TC Tolbert and texts by local community members.
*First Thursdays: On the first Thursday of the month, TMA offers extended hours (5-8pm), pay-what-you-wish admission, art and gallery activities, entertainment, and a cash bar. Reserve your free ticket online two weeks before the event.
Jan. 5:More Than: + poetry experience
Feb. 2: Enduring Legacies + panel discussion at 5:30pm
Upcoming talks related to the exhibition:
Jan. 5, 5:30pm – 7pm: More Than: Words. Immersive poetry experience curated by TC Tolbert, featuring queer, trans, and BIPOC poets. (Part of First Thursday.) / $5
Jan. 13, 11am – 12:30pm: Curator Spotlight: Art of the American West. Exploration of how TMA is redefining the art of the American West in ways that both celebrate and scrutinize it. / $5
now – May / Sculpture Park (in Brandi Fenton Memorial Park), Tucson / Free.
Why it made the list: We enjoyed visiting the Sculpture Park during its inaugural season! Its current exhibit is all about awakening joy. Since it’s completely outdoors, this would be a really nice time of year to visit.
January 5 – February 16, 7:30pm / The Loft Cinema, Tucson / $11.50 for 35mm screenings, regular admission ($10.50) for all others.
Why it made the list: I’ve heard that many filmmakers cite Japanese director Akira Kurosawa as a major influence. Thursday nights in January and February, The Loft will alternate screening Kurosawa** films from the 1950s and ’60s with some of the Hollywood movies they inspired.
Date bruschetta at Imperial Date Gardens near Yuma.
January 7, 10am-9pm / Historic Downtown Main Street, Yuma / Free.
Why it made the list: Dates are delicious, and we’ve enjoyed visiting a couple date farms near Yuma! The festival will include free samples, live music, celebrity chef demonstrations, and community performances. Save the date!
January 12-22 / Tucson Jewish Community Center, Tucson / Single ticket $12, full festival pass $120
Why it made the list: We want to make it to this festival one of these years! It helps that it’s now available online, as well as in person. The lineup includes full-length films, shorts, and several post-film talks and Q+As.
ANYWHERE: stream via the Eventive platform from January 12-31.
*Buy 5, get one free with a Festival 6-Pack. Mix and match 6 in-person or virtual film events for $60.
January 13-22 / Multiple venues downtown, Tucson / Ticket prices vary by event.
Why it made the list: Top jazz musicians stage a smooth takeover of Downtown Tucson for a week of cool concerts in a wide variety of styles. Even if you’re kind of blue, swing on by! Live music is good for the soul.
A few highlights:
Jan. 14, 12-5pm: All Star Jazz Jam. Jazz professionals from all over the country will play in different combos to channel the spontaneity that is the essence of jazz. / Hotel Congress Plaza / $39
Jan. 16, 11am-5:30pm: Downtown Jazz Fiesta. Annual day of free performances, featuring Swedish singer, dancer + multi-instrumentalist Gunhild Carling. / Hotel Congress Plaza / Free.
Jan. 19, 7:30pm: Samara Joy in concert / Playground Bar and Lounge / $39
Jan. 21, 7:30pm: Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour. / Fox Theatre / Tickets $55-96 per person, including fees
January 14, 10am – 4pm / Sahuarita Lake Park, Sahuarita / Free.
Why it made the list: Celebration of creativity in a city just south of Tucson. Interactive art activities include a community chalk mural competition, performance art, street painting, local artwork for sale, a wine and beer garden, food trucks, and live music.
January 14, 11am – 3pm / Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, Tucson / $5 admission at the door, children 11 and under are free
Why it made the list: As the Lunar / Chinese New Year becomes more widely recognized in North America, why not go to the source and see how people in your town with roots in these traditions mark the occasion? Tucsonans have the opportunity to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit while enjoying Chinese cultural performances. At the celebration, there will also be gifts, food, and drink for sale.
“Protective Coding” by Rocki Swiderski at MOCA Tucson.
January 27 – August / Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson, Tucson / Included with admission.
Why it made the list: This will be an exhibition created specifically for the Great Hall of MOCA Tucson, and the shape it takes will depend on contributions from the community! Incorporating locally-found materials, Chilean artist and poet Cecilia Vicuña will arrange hundreds of hanging knotted fibers and into what she calls a “poem in space” that will speak to the way we are interconnected with each other and our environment.
In fact, poetry is such a big part of the artist’s work that the exhibition is being presented in partnership with the University of Arizona Poetry Center.
Jan. 27, 7-9pm: exhibition opening. Poetry reading by the artist, plus music, a food truck, and beer by Barrio Brewing.
Jan. 28, 12-1:30pm: readings by poets Cecilia Vicuña, Rosa Alcalá, and Daniel Borzutzky, followed by a conversation and the debut of Vicuña’s new publication. Free.
ANYWHERE: Live stream events in the UA Poetry Center’s Spring 2023 Reading + Lecture Series, including this one. After the event, video will be available on the Poetry Center’s YouTube page.
Goodies:
*Outside the museum isMini MOCA, a small artworks exchange in the style of a little free library.
*Discounts for Downtown Clifton Hotel guests: 2 for 1 admission at MOCA, as well as 10% off any purchase in the MOCA Shop.
Call for contributions: Cecilia Vicuña invites Tucson community members to collect debris from their surroundings for inclusion in Sonoran Quipu!
Materials should be lightweight and small-scale, such as seed pods, dried plants, twigs, broken jewelry, natural or synthetic fibers, plastics, bits of metal, small pieces of wood, and remnants from things you’ve made.
Collected items may be dropped off at MOCA during regular hours (Thursdays – Saturdays: 11am-6pm, Sundays: 11am-4pm).
*Visitors will receive free admission to the museum upon donation.
January 28, 12-3pm / Tucson Botanical Gardens, Tucson / General admission tickets $100.
Why it made the list: I love a food festival, and this one focuses on Southern Arizona’s culinary arts with over 50 of the region’s excellent chefs, wineries, breweries, local foods and restaurants! And it’s happening among Tucson’s gorgeous Botanical Gardens!
January 29, 1 pm / Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson, Tucson / $20 class fee
Why it made the list: Rather than being stuck in a classroom, this workshop includes time to walk through the Gardens after you learn about haiku. Since the iconic Japanese short poem often revolves around seasonal topics and nature, this seems like the perfect place to reflect on what you’ve heard. Finally, the afternoon wraps up with an informal discussion about everyone’s impressions.
Led by award-winning haiku poet Yukihiro Ibuki and Yume Cultural Director
Paul Amiel.
Space is limited. Purchase your ticket in advance to reserve your spot.
Display at the UArizona Alfie Norville Gem + Mineral Museum.
February 9-12 / Tucson Convention Center, Tucson / Single-day admission $13, children 14 + under are free with a paying adult.
Why it made the list: As I understand it, this is the show that invented the concept of a gem and mineral show. It’s a pretty big deal around here.
Jan. 28 – Feb. 12:Tucson Gem, Mineral + Fossil Showcase. While the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show® is the original event, there are now dozens of smaller shows around town leading up to it! It makes it feel like a whole gem show season.
February 18-26 / Tucson Rodeo Grounds, Tucson / General admission tickets start at $18
Why it made the list: I really enjoyed digging into the history of Tucson’s Rodeo and think it’s a neat link to the city’s past. The nine-day Fiesta has been elevating real-life ranch skills and cowpoke culture in Tucson since 1925. Its events include bull and bronco riding, barrel racing, roping competitions, junior rodeo events, and a big parade.
Parking at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds is $9 per vehicle.
Feb. 23: Rodeo Parade. Grandstand tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children (ages 3-12). Or watch from the curbside for free (no tickets required).
*Discounted room block for Tucson Rodeo visitors at Desert Diamond Casino + Hotel February 13-28, 2023. Room block rates start at $139 + tax. (Without the discount, rates during the rodeo start at $159-$209, depending on the date.)
February 19 – March 12, 4pm / Riverfront Park Outdoor Grass Amphitheater, Oro Valley / Free.
Why it made the list: These are free outdoor concerts that give classically trained musicians a monthly opportunity to perform! Also, I didn’t want to leave out the Tucson area’s north side.
Concerts are 60-90 minutes in length.
Food will be available for purchase from food trucks onsite.
Limited seating is provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a blanket or chairs.
February 23-25 / Yuma Art Center + other venues around Historic Downtown Yuma, Yuma / Standard registration $190, student registration $95.
Why it made the list: During one of our Yuma visits, we were able to chat with one of the symposium’s co-founders and hear all about how it started. In the early days, artists would literally camp out in her backyard! Now it’s a much larger affair, bringing together both veteran and emerging artists from a variety of disciplines to give demonstrations, lectures, and presentations, while enjoying a sense of community. Other activities include an exhibition of artworks by presenters, student show, silent auction, team metalworking competition, pin swap, and closing night dance.
*Feb. 23: YAS @ Arizona Western College. Four symposium Presenters will give previews of their presentations free to the public.
Part of the poster for Fiddler’s Journey to the Big Screen documentary. Via JCC Facebook.
January 12-22 / online + Tucson / Single ticket $12, full festival pass $120
Online access to a festival celebrating Jewish history and values. The lineup includes full length films, shorts, and several post-film talks and Q+As. All films will be available to stream January 12-31, so you can watch any time of day – sunrise, sunset, whenever.
January 12 – May 13 / online + Tucson / free
Livestream of University of Arizona Poetry Center’s Spring 2023 Reading + Lecture Series. It will include readings by nationally-known and Arizona poets, lectures on poetry and literature, interdisciplinary performances, and outreach events. After each event, the video will be available on the Poetry Center’s YouTube page.
You don’t need to sign up to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service. Wherever you are, you can set aside time to help improve your community. Pick up trash, plant a garden, help a neighbor, volunteer at or collect needed items for a food bank, refugee organization, or homeless shelter.
Some international organizations looking for volunteers:
Yume @ Home Virtual Membership: Includes Yume Japanese Gardens of Tucson Online garden visits, a member’s newsletter, and exclusive offerings with insight into the arts, customs and traditions of Japan / $35
Since my recent autumn and indigo color palette article received such a great response, I thought I’d keep up the color-themed posts with a more wintery entry this time.
Currently on my mind is the combination of vibrant greens (from kelly to forest) paired with softer golds – think mercury glass, champagne, heirloom jewelry, candlelight.
Cake table via Elizabeth Anne Designs (photo: Jacque Lynn Photo)
While this combination could go modern, I particularly love it as a complement to rustic decor. It looks fabulous with natural materials like birch bark, adding just enough sheen to make it all feel chic and festive.
For a woodsy vibe, you can bring in the classic evergreen boughs and pinecones or whatever’s growing outside your door. Twigs, olive branches, rosemary sprigs, eucalyptus leaves, berries, potted cacti, or mossy driftwood could all work well.
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