Tucson’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) used to be a fire station. So it has these big, rollup doors full of windows all along the north side of the building.
Normally, they would have been closed, just letting in lots of beautiful natural light.
Now that the museum has reopened, those firehouse doors have too. With the high ceilings and breeze blowing through the spacious Great Hall, you’re practically outside.
MOCA Tucson’s Great Hall
Phillip and I decided to pop in last weekend. There were only a few other people there (all masked) and plenty of room for groups to stay far apart from each other.
I was so grateful for a safe way to get this little art museum fix. I couldn’t help smiling as we wandered around the exhibit.
Lights outside the Tucson Depot patio.
Light
With this Happenings List, I hope to share some light during a dark season.
All the Happenings listed below – art show, film festival, concert, classes, et al – have safety measures in place, like mask requirements, built-in social distancing, attendee limits, being held outdoors and/or online.
Mug made by Crooked Tree Ceramics, a vendor at Cultivate market.
I’ve focused especially on marketplaces where you can buy directly from artists, crafters, and independent businesses. It is, perhaps, more important than ever to support these small-scale shops, to shift some of our spending, and give more power to people. The corporations will be fine. But the handcrafters could use a hand.
Stay safe and shop small!
Happenings
Château de Gudanes in Château-Verdun, France (via Shop the Château).
A new marketplace of antiques, artisan goods, and other treasures from boutiques around the world. It’s curated by the team restoring Château de Gudanes, an 18th century castle in the south of France. Proceeds support both the independent sellers and the continuing work on the Château.
Art show and sale of pottery, basketry, jewelry, and carvings handcrafted by Native artists. Sales benefit nonprofit Native Seeds SEARCH’s mission to preserve indigenous, arid-adapted crops.
Outdoor art installation that projects larger-than-life portraits of 3 “unsung heroes” of Southern Arizona onto trees on U of A campus. View it after dusk from the Centennial Hall patio or Geronimo Plaza. This is the Tucson edition of Australian artist Craig Walsh’s “Monuments” project, which presents an organic, living recognition of community members in contrast to the more traditional, fixed tributes we typically see.
Downtown buildings, trees, and storefronts are decorated with festive lights. Pima County has lit things up early this year, because we could all use a little extra sparkle right now.
Part of the Working from Home exhibition at Tucson MOCA.
Exhibition featuring new commissions from five artists (Miguel Fernández de Castro, Nazafarin Lotfi, Mark McKnight, Nicole Miller, and Rocki Swiderski) and two poets (Dot Devota and Raquel Gutiérrez) connected to the Tucson region and who each have a unique perspective on this moment of pandemic and protest as well as on the local landscape. Since the smaller East Galleries remain closed, the entire exhibition is in the Great Hall.
SN: With the on-site gift shop temporarily closed, support MOCAshop artists directly by shopping on their online stores.
Mural by Lex Gjurasic, whose work is included in the Picturing 2020 exhibition.
Virtual exhibition of work by more than 150 artists from across Southern Arizona depicting their experience of the destabilizing events of this year. Alongside these new works are pieces from the musuem’s permanent collection that resonate with the challenges of the times we’re in.
now – Apr 10, 2021 / Tubac Presidio State Historic Park / Included with entrance fee ($7).
Collection of outdoor art installations by local artists and gardeners on the 8-acre grounds of the Tubac Presidio. Installations will celebrate native plants, sustainabilty, and creative approaches for the garden.
Jessica Gonzales painting her Loft Film Fest 2019 design on the side of the Loft Cinema.
Nov 18-22 / limited time Loft @ Home release: Individual tickets $12 / open air screenings at The Loft Cinema: Individual tickets $15
Festival of acclaimed, award-winning short films from around the world with films premiering live at The Loft Cinema’s outdoor exhibition space, Open Air Cinema, followed by a limited-time online release the following day. The lineup is grouped into Live Action, Documentary, Animation, and Late-Night programs.
Nov 19, 4pm (PT) / Free with advance registration.
Cartoonists Robb Armstrong, Darrin Bell, Keith “Keef” Knight, Elizabeth Montague, and Bianca Xunise discuss the Black experience as told through graphic novels and comic stories, as well as the importance of representation in comics and the comic field. Q+A to follow the discussion.
ColibrÍ mural in Phoenix, which Chip Thomas collaborated on.
Conversation with the artists Chip Thomas and Nicolas Lampert about their recent artwork and how activism and social movements have informed their process, as well as the work they create.
Mural by Donna Stoner, made with Santa Theresa tile.
Nov 21 + Dec 5 / Santa Theresa Tile Works (at the corner of 6th Avenue and 6th Street, behind The Royal Room)
Socially distanced, in-person mosaic and tile decorating workshops using distinctive, handmade in Tucson tiles. Limited class sizes.
Mirror Workshop on Nov 21, 10am–3pm. An artist-instructor will walk you through the process of using tiles to create your framed mirror or other wood-backed piece. No art experience is needed. Fee: $115 (for mirror project, other items may vary).
Overglaze Holiday Ornament Workshop on Dec 5 (in scheduled one-hour time slots). Choose 3 ornaments and decorate them using dropper bottles filled with colored glazes. No art experience is needed. Fee: $30 for 3 ornaments.
Nov 27, 2020 – Jan 3, 2021 / shopping site + Mercado San Agustin Annex
Holiday market focused on allowing you to connect with and support local makers, artists, and small shops. Among 2020’s 20 vendors are Cero, Desert Forager, Little Toro Designs, and Sonoran Witch Boy. Instead of a crowded single-day event, this year’s Cultivate will be spread out over six weeks. In addition to regular hours, you have the option to order ahead for curbside pickup, book a private shopping appointment, or have online purchases shipped to you.
Dec 6, Jan 3, Feb 7, Mar 7 / City Hall (front parking lot) / free
Combined farmer’s market and artist market with local art, fresh produce, and one-of-a-kind gifts. Monthly on the 1st Sunday from 10am to 3pm. Social distancing and other safety measures will be observed.
Dec 13 through May (monthly), 8am-2pm / Mercado District (along Avenida del Convento)
Outdoor market with antiques, collectibles, and other quirky finds held the second Sunday of the month. Booths are spaced out from Mercado San Agustin to the MSA Annex.
Desert Forager at Tucson Meet Yourself, 2019. They will be at this year’s Cultivate.
As Tucson slowly begins to reopen and our weather – even more slowly – starts to cool down, there are some good things going on I wanted to share with you!
The historic Hotel Congress, which had to close its doors the last 3 months due to the coronavirus, re-opens October 1st.
Reopening special $80/night October 1-10. Must call to book.
Club Congress concerts and Soul Food Wednesdays also resume this week with strict safety measures in place. All events will require masks, limit capacity (first come, first served), and have spaced seating.
Cup Cafe has expanded patio seating and added a new all-day menu.
This popular food and arts festival has come up with some creative ways to continue to safely showcase Tucson cultures!
All month: Live online conversations, demonstrations, and performances with folk artists, musicians, dancers, cooks and others keeping the many cultures and heritages alive in Tucson.
All month: Online marketplace featuring works for sale by select TMY folk artists.
Friday evenings: Traditional artists on walls! Video projections on public walls around Tucson of traditional dancers and artisans practicing their crafts.
3 weekends: Oct. 10-11, 17-18, + 24-25 from 11am – 5pm. Three Tucson heritage sites will have vendors selling food-to-go and large LED screens showing performances from long-time TMY performers to watch while you wait.
Oct. 30, 6:30 + 8pm. Renowned Pascua Yaqui performer Gabriel Ayala closes the 2020 festival with an on-screen drive-in concert, following the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers.
For 10 days, locally-owned restaurants across Tucson offer 3-course prix fixe menus for $25 or $35. Part of the proceeds benefit Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.
SN: This spring Sonoran Restaurant Week organized “Tucson To Go” to spotlight local eateries offering takeout while dining rooms were closed for the pandemic. We had excellent meals from Reforma and Tito + Pep! (Photos on Travelcraft Journal’s Instagram.)
Carolyn Niethammer’s cooking demo at Mission Garden.
Book launch party for Carolyn Niethammer’s A Desert Feast: Celebrating Tucson’s Culinary Heritage, which explains the agricultural and culinary history that led to Tucson’s designation as the first “UNESCO City of Gastronomy” in the U.S.
Other Tucson makers, local food system experts, and representatives from the City of Gastronomy project will be present.
COVID-19 precautions will be in place, and there is plenty of room in the four-acre garden for social distancing. Please wear a mask.
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations.
Free admission and parking.
New health safeguards include requiring face coverings, frequently sanitizing high-touch surfaces, and allowing for social distancing with wider aisles and larger vendor booths.
Look for the show program and coupons 10/26.
SN: We went to the Tucson show last year. While there were fewer vendors than at the Phoenix show, it was much less crowded and less hectic.
Tucson Meet Yourself.
Have fun, be safe, and let me know what you’re up to this fall!
The world feels different than it did two weeks ago. It seems like a different place than it was when I published this list of Happenings we assumed would actually… happen.
Even in the few days since I started this update, things have changed rapidly. COVID-19 is on the rise, and things are being shut down left and right to prevent its spread. We’ve learned terms like “community transmission” and “social distancing.”
While we can’t physically gather, we can still be there for each other. We need the artists and shop owners who have poured their hearts into work that is now on hold indefinitely, and they could certainly use our support.
So here is what’s happening with the Happenings, along with ways YOU CAN still connect with events that have been canceled and support the people behind them.
The status updates are under each event title, followed by slashes (///) and original descriptions.
As far as I know, the information here was accurate as of 9am March 18 but, of course, could continue to change.
—S
Maybe it’s because of Earth Day. Or springtime. Whatever the reason, there seems to be some common threads running through the upcoming Happenings.
First, there is gardening: seed saving (see #12), vegetable growing (#11), and a garden with an environmentally-focused art installation woven throughout (#7). In fact, preservation of the planet is recurring theme in this spring’s art exhibitions from San Francisco (#6) to Scandinavia (#17).
So here is my list of 22 upcoming Happenings, ordered by date. There are also some free or discounted “goodies,” which I’ve asterisked (*) for you. Enjoy!
STATUS: Ongoing. You can keep supporting local art by sharing photos with the hashtag #localartloves! Originally, this was only for February, but indie artists could use the boost even more now!
///
Now – ? / wherever you are / free
Monthlong celebration of local art around the world. Join in by posting photos of your favorite murals and other art from your community on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #localartloves!
YOU CAN continue supporting local food and farming! CWFM has a list of vendors you can buy from directly or find elsewhere.
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Now – Apr 4, Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm / Cambridge Community Center gymnasium, Cambridge, MA
The Cambridge Winter Farmers Market is a program of the Cambridge Community Center, a nonprofit that has been serving the Coast community for over 89 years. The Market strives to promote vibrant local economy, create access to fresh, healthy food, and provide a gathering space for community throughout the winter months with local food, craftspeople, and live music.
*Different weeks include different goodies, like free tote bags, coloring pages and activities for kids.
Now – Apr 23, 6 – 8 pm, Thursdays / Yuma Palms Regional Center, Yuma, AZ / free
Outdoor jazz concert series hosted by Yuma Jazz Company Quartet, featuring local performers, as well as student ensembles and bands traveling in from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix.
Now – May 3 / Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco, CA
An exhibition exploring housing that is adaptable and sustainable to withstand climate change. It showcases architects and artists who have created artistically interpretive solutions and prototypes for emergency shelters.
*Admission is free on the first Tuesday of every month.
Now – May 10 / Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ / Included with admission.
Installation of hundreds of brightly colored animal sculptures along desert garden paths by Italian artist group Cracking Art. Their work is meant to bring attention to environmental sustainability, the problem of plastic in oceans, and the importance of recycling.
*DBG admission: Free on monthly Community Days (second Tuesday) / Discounted during Garden Happy Hour evenings.
SN: I’ve been following Cracking Art’s worldwide installations ever since I spotted their striking red penguins at the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky several years ago. So I was really excited to hear that their day-glo art has arrived in Arizona!
Now – May 31 / Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN / admission $12
California-based artist Heather Day makes uses scraped, smeared, and flooded pools of pigment to create work that is more about sensory experience than the literal represensation of a scene.
The exhibition will be closed to the public March 4-6.
STATUS: Complete. However, two Arizona Opera fundraisers have been postponed. The Bravo Vino Arizona Wine Festival has been rescheduled for November and the Gala Luncheon for a date TBD.
See artist’s spaces in “A View From the Easel” articles on Hyperallergic (an independent, member-supported contemporary art site). In recent editions, the artists also discuss ways being quarantined has changed their work and lives.
Visit the West 25th Street location by appointment. Email info@hollistaggart.com to schedule.
///
Mar 5 – Apr 11 / Taggart Contemporary Gallery at 514 West 25th Street, New York, NY
Two-person exhibition of work by interdisciplinary contemporary artists Suchitra Mattai and Adrienne Elise Tarver, featuring painting and embroidery as well as a large-scale, site-specific installation by Mattai. Both artists use intricate formal approaches to reveal the voices of individuals who have been obscured through oppression and deep rooted stereotypes, engaging with narratives of subjugation that remain relevant today.
Representatives from The University of Arizona Pima County Cooperative Extension present an overview of warm-season vegetable gardening with topics like what vegetables to plant, how to plant them and protect them from the sun and critters, and how to feed and water them.
Murphy-Wilmot Library: Mar 21, 10am. CANCELED.
Kirk-Bear Canyon Library: Mar 22, 1:30pm. CANCELED.
Plan to go to the July 9th workshop at the Miller-Golf Links Branch.
///
Mar 26, 2:00 pm / Joyner-Green Valley Branch, Green Valley, AZ
Native Seeds/SEARCH’s introduction on how and why to save seeds from your garden, basic botany for gardeners, tool and equipment recommendations, and tips for getting the most out of the seeds you save.
Mark your calendar for the fall edition of the Fair September 24 – 27.
Pre-register to be notified of ticket releases and other announcements.
///
Mar 26-29 / Metropolitan Pavilion, New York City, NY / Tickets $20-70
The spring edition of the New York Affordable Art Fair will showcase thousands of original contemporary artworks priced between $100 – 10,000 from over 70 local, national and international galleries. Besides shopping a curated selection of paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures, you can enjoy hands-on workshops, live performances, guided tours, talks, kids’ activities, and a café.
Fiber arts community event taking place throughout Los Angeles County at 18 local, women-owned yarn shops. Each one is committed to education, meeting customers face-to-face, teaching yarn crafts, and inspiring creativity.
*Shops will offer discounts, commemorative totes and pins for purchase, free patterns, and prizes.
Exhibition bringing together seventeen Nordic artists and artist groups, who use their craft, tools, and deep material knowledge to address environmental issues and confront a longing for a deeper connection to the earth. Their work encompasses biology, geology, and cosmology, and challenges our perception of materials, of the natural world, and of ourselves.
Film festival held alongside ClexaCon, a multi-fandom event celebrating positive representation of LGBTQ+ women in the media. The festival will include short films, features, episodics, animation, and music videos.
SN: The film festival is organized by my friend Stacy Calvert, who I met through BlogHer.
Stacy will be screening her new short The Bra Mitzvah during a panel on The Ins and Outs of Making a Short Film, as well as moderating a filmmaker forum.
YOU CAN register online for your tour of choice! The Irish Tourism Group has amended their policies to be more flexible if you decide to postpone a recently-booked tour, but you still need to make changes at least 4 weeks in advance.
///
Apr 22 / Southern Ireland / €2,999
Tour of Ireland that combines seeing the countryside with knitting workshops and meeting local craftspeople. Includes knitting workshops (with yarn and patterns), accommodations, Irish breakfast daily, sightseeing (accredited guide, transportation, and entrance fees included), and activities like a traditional music show and whisky and chocolate tasting.
The Happenings List is made up of a seasonal events I’ve found for lovers of art, craft, and culture. I typically edit organizers’ event descriptions for length and clarity.
I try to make sure everything is accurate at the time I put the list together, but, of course, changes or errors are always possible.
Use this as your starting point, and then tell me about the Happenings you go to!
To start off your 2020, this Happenings List includes 20 arts, craft, food, and cultural events worth taking note of.
They come from different corners of the globe – Arizona and Argentina, Australia and Astoria, Massachusetts and Milan, Wellington and Wisconsin, Southwest Ireland and the San Francisco Bay – and there’s at least one you can join in wherever you happen to find yourself at this dawn of a new decade!
I’ve listed events by date and added a few comments marked with “SN” for Steph’s Note.
Happy New Year!
Artwork by Patricia Pittman via East Gippsland Art Gallery.
Now – Feb 23 / Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, NY / $15 adults, $9 youth (ages 3-17)
Exhibit exploring the character design process for The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a new Netflix series, which is a prequel to the 1982 Jim Henson and Frank Oz film (The Dark Crystal). The exhibit features a selection of concept art, models, puppets, and behind-the-scenes images.
SN: I remember being absolutley riveted by The Dark Crystal when I was a kid. I haven’t started the new series yet. I think I’m due for a re-watch of the original before I dive in.
Now – May 10 / Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, AZ / Included with admission.
Installation of hundreds of brightly colored animal sculptures along desert garden paths by Italian artist group Cracking Art. Their work is meant to bring attention to environmental sustainability, the problem of plastic in oceans, and the importance of recycling.
SN: I’ve been following Cracking Art’s worldwide installations ever since I spotted their striking red penguins at the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky several years ago. So I was really excited to hear that their day-glo art has arrived in Arizona!
Jan 4, 10 am – 1:30 pm / Handcraft Studio School, El Cerrito, CA / $110
Workshop in Hungarian Written Embroidery, a folk style that originated in Transylvania, Romania in the late 18th century. Instructor Sarah Pedlow demonstrates how to stitch a heart or tulip design, as well as sharing her knowledge of the culture and history of Transylvanian textiles and her travel experience in Hungary and Romania.
Includes take-home materials to create another embroidery project, along with resources on Hungarian needlework and patterns.
Jan 4 – Apr 4, Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm / Cambridge Community Center gymnasium, Cambridge, MA
The Cambridge Winter Farmers Market is a program of the Cambridge Community Center, a nonprofit that has been serving the Coast community for over 89 years. The Market strives to promote vibrant local economy, create access to fresh, healthy food, and provide a gathering space for community throughout the winter months with local food, craftspeople, and live music.
Jan 4, 5 – 9 pm / Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center, Las Vegas, NV / All ages.
Presentation by the Las Vegas Astronomical Society followed by an outdoor star tracking lecture. No registration necessary – just be sure to arrive before the park gates close at 5pm.
Jan 9, 6:00 – 7:30 pm / The ARTery at the Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, WI / Ages 14+ / free
Monthly book club with a hands-on component. For January, read The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, and then engage with the book further by joining in the art making and discussion at The ARTery. Art supplies are provided.
Jan 9 – Apr 23, 6 – 8 pm, Thursdays / Yuma Palms Regional Center, Yuma, AZ / free
Outdoor jazz concert series hosted by Yuma Jazz Company Quartet, featuring local performers, as well as student ensembles and bands traveling in from Los Angeles, San Diego, and Phoenix.
SN: We saw duo Jason + Elle in a Village Jazz Series concert during a visit to Yuma and thoroughly enjoyed our evening!
Jan 11, 5 pm – 12:30 am / Asociación Japonesa de La Plata – Colonia Urquiza, La Plata, Argentina
Traditional festival of Japanese dance that has been celebrated annually in La Plata since 1999, as a way to share the culture, food, and customs of Japan with the local community.
One-day workshop offering makers from every background a step-by-step process for incorporating metal leaf into mixed media collages and compositions on paper, wood, stone, and other materials. Advance registration required.
Jan 16 – 19 / Fort Mason Center for Arts + Culture, San Francisco, CA / General admission tickets (advance) $25
Design and art fair featuring 48 leading international galleries and a series of panel discussions with notable figures working in art, design, and technology. All programs are included with admission.
SN: Fort Mason Center is where I went to Re:Make. It’s a really cool combination of historic, museum, and art spaces right on the edge of the Bay.
Monthlong celebration of local art around the world. Join in by posting photos of your favorite murals and other art from your community on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #localartloves!
Feb 7 – 9 / Hance Park, Phoenix, AZ / Free admission.
Annual festival that features the arts, food, dance, entertainment, history and heritage of China. It will ring in the Year of the Rat with performances of folk and traditional dances, music, and martial arts demonstrations. There will also be children’s pavilion activities, a Chinese culture and history booth, arts and crafts booths, and vendors offering a taste of authentic Chinese cuisines.
Feb 7 – 9 / Superstudio Più , Milan, Italy / Tickets €10.50 – €33
The Milan edition of the Affordable Art Fair will showcase thousands of original contemporary artworks priced between €100 – €7,500 from over 85 local, national and international galleries. Besides shopping a curated selection of paintings, prints, photographs and sculptures, you can enjoy hands-on workshops, live performances, guided tours, talks, kids’ activities, and a café.
Feb 8 – 9 / Arizona State Fairgrounds, Ag Center Building, Phoenix, AZ / Free admission, parking fee set by State Fairgrounds.
Annual sale that makes used books available to the general public at reasonable prices, while raising money for charities in Maricopa County.
SN: It seems like I was always hearing about everyone’s great finds at this book sale after the fact and never knew when it was coming. So here’s your heads up!
New Zealand’s leading arts festival, featuring cutting-edge theatre, dance, music and “art for everyone”.
Talanoa Mau: Feb 24 – 25 at Soundings Theatre, Te Papa. Historic two-day gathering of artists, public thinkers, culture makers and visionaries from around the world and Aotearoa to stimulate critical conversations for our time.
Tour of Ireland that combines seeing the countryside with knitting workshops and meeting local craftspeople. Includes knitting workshops (with yarn and patterns), accommodations, Irish breakfast daily, sightseeing (accredited guide, transportation, and entrance fees included), and activities like a traditional music show and whisky and chocolate tasting.
SN: This sounds like an amazing way to see Ireland – especially if you love knitting!
Zwartable Ireland sheep farm via KnittingTours.com.
The Happenings List is my seasonal, handpicked list of events for people who love art, craft, and culture. I may use details from event organizers and edit descriptions for length and clarity. While I do my best to check that information is accurate, there could be typos or changes, so I can’t make any guarantees.
If you go to anything on The List, let me know how it goes!
Enjoy this handpicked list of good stuff going on around the globe! Since we’re approaching the end of the year, this Happenings List is especially packed with holiday craft fairs and concerts, good causes and causes for celebration.
What festivities are you looking forward to this season?
Oct 30 – Nov 2, 11am-5pm
Tlaquepaque Arts + Craft Village, Sedona
26-foot long community mural in the tradition of Dia de los Muertos, which honors friends and family who have passed on. Everyone is encouraged to paint their own tributes and remembrances. Paints and brushes are provided.
Nov 1, 9am- 1pm + Nov 2, 9am- 1pm Smitholator Cookie Shop, Mesa
4-hour class on the fundamentals of baking and decorating sugar cookies with royal icing. (Ages 18+. Teens ages 12-17 may register and participate only if accompanied by a registered adult.) You will go home with sugar cookie and royal icing recipes and 6 seasonal themed cookies you’ve decorated. 6 attendees max. Fee $148
Nov 1-3
Tucson Convention Center, Downtown Tucson
Community-based pop culture convention with a mission statement of “Pop Culture For All!” Full weekend passes: adult (ages 14+) $45 / child (ages 9-13) $10
Nov 2, 10am – 3pm Tempe Plaza Library, Tempe
Annual event to celebrate reading, writing, and a love for books. The festival brings together local authors, publishers, booksellers, panel discussions, youth story times and more!
6. Desert Botanical Garden events
Nov 2-3, 10am – 5pm:Día de los Muertos Celebration. Two-day festival with music, dance, storytelling, Mercado with local and international artists and vendors, and kids’ crafts and face painting. At the end of each day, everyone can participate in a procession through the Garden, concluding with a traditional burning of troubles. Included with admission.
Nov 8-10, 10am – 5pm: Chiles + Chocolate Festival. Showcase for handcrafted Arizona chile and chocolate products with live music and dance performances. Included with admission.
Nov 14, 7-10pm:Garden Mixtape. New event series with local acts and danceable tunes. Tickets $30.
Shemer Art Center, Phoenix Nov 2-3, 10am–4pm
Two-day holiday shopping event to benefit Shemer Art Center, a not-for-profit art education and community center. One-of-a-kind works and demonstrations from 40 Arizona artists, as well as live music, food and beverage vendors, a silent auction, and a sculpture garden tour. Free festival admission / $5 Kids Zone.
Nov 3
Downtown Tucson
Two-mile long procession to both celebrate and mourn of the lives of our loved ones and ancestors. Leading up to the procession are art exhibits, performances, and workshops. Free. (Donations accepted.)
Nov 7-9 Tucson Expo Center, Tucson
Expo with sewing, quilting, needlework, and craft supply vendors (both local and national), as well as workshops and presentations. Free admission and parking.
Nov 7-14 The Loft Cinema, Tucson
Eight-day showcase of independent, foreign and classic cinema. Film fans can experience hand-selected festival favorites from Cannes, Sundance, SXSW, etc. and meet internationally-renowned artists from the world of independent cinema. Festival pass (for admission to all film screenings) $150.
Nov 9 + 30, Dec 7 + 14 Heritage Marketplace, Downtown Gilbert
70 vendors with items either handmade, baked, brewed, or designed by them personally. As well as local food, coffee, and hands-on activities for kids. Free admission.
Nov 17, 12-3pm Kierland Commons, Scottsdale
Food truck battle to see who makes the best slider with a silent auction and music by Lane Change. The event raises money for the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (AFFCF). $35 admission includes samples of all sliders and 3 non-alcoholic drink tickets.
Nov 22 – 24, Nov 29 – Dec 1
Cave Creek, Arizona
Self-guided tour of open artist studios in the Cave Creek and Scottsdale area with demonstrations and art for sale. Free admission.
Nov 29 – Dec 21 Downtown Mesa
Mesa’s holiday celebration with the City’s official Christmas tree, outdoor ice skating rink, Christmas Market with handcrafted gifts, visits from Santa, and food trucks.
Nov 29, 5-10pm Kick-off and Tree Lighting.
Free parking in all open lots and on-street parking areas in Downtown Mesa.
Dec 7, 14, + 21 from 7-8:30pm: Canal Concert Series at Soleri Bridge Plaza. Free holiday concerts by local talent, such as the Phoenix Girls Choir, Campanillas del Sol Handbell Ensemble, and The Scottsdale Chorus.
Dec 7, 3-7pm: Sugar Plum Avenue on 5th Avenue. Fairytale village with aerial performances, carriage rides, candy land bounce houses, and a tea party in the street.
Dec 12, 6:30-9pm:Gold Palette Artwalk in the Old Town Arts District. Meet local artists in their own studios and at local galleries, while enjoying strolling carolers and refreshments.
Dec 6-8 Rosson House, Phoenix
See the 1895 Victorian Rosson House, decorated for the holidays. Then have Afternoon Tea in The Bungalow at Heritage Square – includes tea, tea sandwiches, scones, and clotted cream served on vintage china.
Dec 6, 6-10pm Medlock Plaza parking lot (behind Frances), Phoenix
Award-winning independent craft fair with local handmade original work, as well as live music and food vendors. Free.
Dec 7, 5-9pm Besh Ba Gowah Archeological Park, Globe
Ruins decorated with more than 3000 glowing luminaries, food and craft vendors, and cultural entertainment by the Yellow Bird Dance Group and Robert Wilson (Apache Flutist). Free admission.
Donations of non-perishable food will be accepted for the Gila Community Food Bank.
Dec 12 + 19, 5-10pm Phoenix Public Market, Phoenix
Inspired by Christmas markets in Germany and Seinfeld’s secular parody holiday (“a Festivus for the rest of us”), Phoenix’s Phoestivus aims to be an all-inclusive December celebration. Free admission.
Holiday market featuring local food and handcrafted gifts from over 200 vendors.
The event also includes a Phoestivus Pole, Pheats of Strength, the Airing of Grievances, Phoestivus Ale (brewed by Phoenix Ale Brewery), a hipster Santa, and baby goats dressed as reindeer.
Dec 31, 6:30pm Symphony Hall, Phoenix
Special performance featuring Strauss waltzes, seasonal classics, and Broadway and contemporary favorites. Includes a complimentary glass of champagne. Tickets $25-$93
Nov 3, 3:30-7pm
Marbella Country Club, San Juan Capistrano
Fundraiser for kitten rescue in Southern California (The Ark of San Juan Companion Animal Rescue). There will be hors d’oeuvres, a silent auction, photo booth, wine and cocktail tasting, cash bar, and holiday boutique. You can even adopt a kitten at the event! All ages welcome. Advance tickets: adults $50 / kids $35
Nov 3, 10am – 5pm Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA), Long Beach
Learn about the cultural traditions of Día de los Muertos through art workshops, live performances, gallery tours, an interactive community altar, face painting, storytelling, an art exhibition (De Generación a Generación: A Subconscious Lineage), and food and craft vendors. All ages. Free admission. Parking $10.
Oct 24, 7-9pm:Día de ls Muertos Exhibition reception in the MOLAA Lobby. Meet the artists and get personal insight on the altars and artwork on display!
Oct 30, 3:30-5:30pm:Community Workshop: Virtual Altar Project in the MOLAA Lobby. Drop-in workshop constructing a Día de los Muertos altar with Los Angeles based artist Rosalie López. Bring a photo of a loved one. Ages 10+.
Nov 1, 3:30-5:30pm:Community Workshop and Performance in the MOLAA Lobby. Hands-on art making activities followed by a Folklorico performance. All art supplies will be provided.
Mission San Juan Capistrano, downtown San Juan Capistrano
Dec 8 – Jan 6, 2020
Holiday celebration with 30 days of festive programming and a nightly tree lighting. Tickets $10
Nov 1, 9am: Tickets go on sale.
Nov 18 – Jan 6, 9am-5pm: Serra’s Pantry Food Drive. Drop off a donation of food or hygiene items (toothpaste, soap, etc.), to the Mission Gate House or upon entry for Capistrano Lights.
Dec 7: Capistrano Lights Opening Night. Tickets $13
There will be no Capistrano Lights Program on December 24, 25, or 31.
Dec 19, 2019 – May 3, 2020 Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco
An exhibition exploring housing that is adaptable and sustainable to withstand climate change. It will showcase visionary architects and artists who have created artistically interpretive solutions and prototypes for emergency shelters.
Nov 2, 9am – 3pm Denver Botanic Gardens
Observance of Día de los Muertos with indoor screenings of Disney’s Pixar film Coco. Included with admission to the Gardens.
Dec 6, 6:30pm Foothills Art Center, Golden
Community caroling walk from Foothills Art Center to the Golden Visitors Center. Hot beverages and cookies will be served at the top and bottom of the hill. Free to join the walk. Candles and glow sticks available for purchase for $1 each.
Dec 7-8, 11am-5pm The Cable Center, Denver
Celebration of art and cats that raises funds for non-profits. There will be art, music, presentations by vets and other speakers, kitty yoga, workshops, comedy, a cat cafe and lounge, and a new Snowcats After Dark festival. One-day general admission tickets: humans $20 / cats $10.
Nov 17 Jacksonville
Self-guided tour of artist studios and personal work spaces in 8 buildings with over 70 artists in the CoRK District (Corner of Rosselle + King) participating. See artist demonstrations and purchase original artwork.
Dec 4-8
Ocean Drive and 12th Street, South Beach, Miami
International, curated art fair that focuses on balance and integrity across all disciplines of contemporary art.
Now – Nov 16 Lyndon House Arts Center, Athens
Celebration of Athens-area artists who earn wages working in the service industry when not producing in their studios. Artists in the exhibit include Lucy Calhoun, Toby Cole, Chris Collins, Kayla Cox, Jess Dunlap, Alexei Gural, Anna LeBar, Maximos Salzman, Elinor Saragoussi, Jessica Smith, Vernon Thornsberry, and Robyn Waserman.
Three-course communal dinner along with 3 different wine pairings chosen by the resident sommelier. Learn the origin, history, and flavor profile of each one. To make a reservation, call the Restaurant Coordinator at 706.467.7059.
Nov 13 at 6pm: dinner featuring Flowers Vineyard and Winery.
Dec 11 at 6pm: dinner featuring Champagne Laurent-Perrier.
Now – Jan 12, 2020 The Art Institute of Chicago
The transformative impact of six visionary artists and designers who lived or worked in Mexico between the 1940s and 1970s. The work of Clara Porset, Lola Álvarez Bravo, Anni Albers, Ruth Asawa, Cynthia Sargent, and Sheila Hicks has never been shown together before. Included with museum admission.
Now – Jan 5, 2020 Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago
The largest architecture and design exhibition in North America. The theme of the 2019 edition is #AndOtherSuchStories.
Oct 25 – Dec 1 Heaven Gallery, Chicago
Exhibition of objects that attempt to bridge the space between the world as it is and as we desire it to be and that allow for alternative ways of interpreting our environment.
Nov 12, 2019 – Mar 1, 2020 The Commons (2nd floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art), Chicago
Chicago-based, socially-focused design studio blkHaUS studios brings together Chicago community members and local museums to assess patterns of collecting and take part in dialogues around collecting, archives, and museum practice. At the end of the project, the artists share their findings with representatives from the MCA and other local museums to provide tools for museums to better reflect their communities.
Nov 21 + Dec 19:Adler After Dark. Themed evening event for adults (21+) offering full access to museum exhibits, unlimited sky shows, special guests, hands-on programs, and live entertainment every third Thursday of the month from 6–10pm. $20 advance / $25 at the door.
Nov 22, 7pm + Dec 20, 7pm: Doane at Dusk. Monthly telescope viewings and discussions with Adler Astronomers after museum hours. Free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting. No tickets are needed.
Nov 22 + 23 Magnificent Mile, Chicago
Two days of free, family-friendly activities lead up to our famous tree-lighting parade to kick off the holiday season – plus special offers from businesses around The Magnificent Mile!
Nov 23: Tree lighting parade on North Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street to Wacker Drive.
Outside Chicago: If you can’t be at the festival, check if it’ll be on t.v. where you are. It typically airs in 90% of the U.S.
Makimasa Imai, ceramic, Crane shaped container via Society of Arts and Crafts
Now – Nov 10 Society of Arts + Crafts’ Seaport gallery, Boston
To commemorate the 60-year Sister City pairing of Boston and Kyoto, Japan, more than two dozen artists from Kyoto’s revered Kogei crafts collective Kogei-Kyoto bring exquisite items to the Society of Arts + Crafts’ Seaport gallery. Featuring both traditional pieces, and innovative new works made with traditional methods, this wide-ranging exhibition marks the first Kogei group show in the US. Pieces from multiple mediums including ceramics, lacquer, woodworking, and fabric dyeing will be on view in this stunning exhibition. Free admission.
44. Griffin Museum of Photography Events
Nov 3, 4-6pm:Yoga, The Secret of Life: Yoga Class with Beryl Bender Birch and Book Talk with Francesco Mastalia. $10 – $50
Nov 17, 1-3pm:Allowed to Grow Old: Unity Farm Sanctuary Tour and Book Reading with Isa Leshko. Join photographer Isa Leshko at Unity Farm Sanctuary in Sherborn, MA for a reading of stories from Isa’s newly released book, Allowed to Grow Old, and a tour of a very special farm sanctuary. $10 – $40
Nov 15, 7-9pm The New Art Center, Newton
Enjoy a relaxed evening creating art in a maker space guided by a local artist. All materials provided. Tuition includes one drink with beer and wine available for purchase. Registration required. Event is for ages 21+. $40.
Nov 30 + Dec 1, 10am-5pm Old Town Hall, Salem
Organized by the Salem Arts Association, this festive artists’ market in downtown Salem will feature artwork, artisan products, and live music.
Dec 7 + 8, 11am-7pm Industry City Factory Floor, Brooklyn
Two-day celebration of DIY culture, featuring over 150 purveyors of handmade goods, including a wide array of eclectic handmade and vintage vendors from all over the United States, as well as amazing DJs, delicious food, creative cocktails, fantastic prizes, and DIY activities for all ages.
Dec 16, 6:30-8:30pm Brooklyn Museum
Tasting event celebrating the best and most creative potato pancakes to raise funds for The Sylvia Center, a nonprofit organization that focuses on teaching cooking in underserved communities. Tickets $75
Nov 9-10, 10am-5pm Charlottesville
Central Virginia artisans open their studios to the public for self-guided tours for one weekend every November. For this 25th anniversary, 25 studios will show the work of 46 Virginia artisans. Crafts on display and for sale include pottery, furniture, weaving, fabric design, jewelry, stained glass, wood turning, and quilting. There will also be artisan demonstrations, opportunities to learn about the working processes in each studio, hands-on experiences, and locally-sourced refreshments. Free.
Nov 22-24 Main Street Station, Richmond
Museum-quality show that aims to showcase the finest in contemporary craft. See work in the categories of ceramics, precious metals, glass, wood and recycled materials, contemporary design, innovative use of traditional craft materials, and fiber from over 150 artists from across the country. The event will take place at Main Street Station’s newly renovated train shed. $10 general admission / $90 weekend pass
Nov 22-23 Wirrina Cove Holiday Park, Wirrina Cove, SA
Festival for hearing, playing, and sharing acoustic music from the Bluegrass, “Old Timey,” and other related traditions, including workshops and performances by world-class musicians. Weekend passes: Adults $85 / Youth (ages 13–17) $30
Nov 8-10 Conexus Arts Centre, Regina, SK
Thousands of skillfully hand-crafted works by new and returning local artists. Saskatchewan-made food products available for purchase. Adult (ages 12+) admission $5.
Nov 16-17 The Pipe Shop Venue, North Vancouver, BC
Market showcasing independent businesses and seeking to connect the community and grow the local economy.
Oct 31 – Nov 2 Meath and Louth counties
A new festival celebrating Ireland as the birthplace of Halloween with music, film, storytelling, and light installations.
Hoveringham Village Centre, Hoveringham
One-day workshops in Jane Lightfoot’s home studio or nearby locations. Includes instruction and a homemade lunch. Workshop fee: £58 + materials.
Nov 15, 9:45am-4pm: Heirloom Christmas decorations.
Dec 12, 9:45am-4pm: Christmas Table Runner.
Event descriptions are based on information provided by the organizers. I fact check as much as I can and edit them for length and clarity. Of course, things can change and typos can happen, so be safe out there!
See captions for photo credits / sources. Uncredited photos are by Phillip Liebold or Stephanie Liebold.
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