Air

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.

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.

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.

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 Marketplace: online

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.

 

Native Seeds SEARCH Indigenous Art Show: online

now – Nov 24 / shopping site

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.

 

Tucson Monuments: Tucson

now – Nov 29, 6pm nightly / U of A campus / free

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.

 

Desert Nights Downtown Lights: Tucson

now – January 10, 2021 / Downtown Tucson / free

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.

 

Working from Home: Tucson

now – Mar 28, 2021 / MOCA / free

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.

 

Picturing 2020: A Community Reflects: online

now – March 2021 / virtual tour / free

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.

 

Exuberance: An Artistic Botanical Experience: Tubac (south of Tucson)

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.

 

Loft Short Film Fest: online + Tucson

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.

 

Black Cartoonists in Conversation: online (Zoom)

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.

 

Art Talk: Art as Activism and Radical Acts of Care: online (Zoom)

Nov 19, 4pm (MT) / free

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.

 

Santa Theresa Tile Workshops: Tucson

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.

SN: Workshops are only available in the studio, but you can buy their specialty tiles online.

 

Pop Up @ Pop-Cycle Saturdays: Tucson

Nov 21 – Dec 12 / Pop-Cycle Shop

Local maker pop-up shops on Saturdays in front of Pop-Cycle, including Monster Booty Threads, Aall Forms of Life, and Juju + Moxie.

 

Gather A Vintage Market: Tucson

Nov 21-22, Nov 28-29, Dec 5-6, Dec 10-13 / 657 W. St. Mary’s Road (next to Eco Gro Plant)

Monthly vintage market, which will be open additional weekends for holiday shopping.

 

Firehouse Artisans’ Market: Tucson

Nov 21-22, 10am–5pm / Historic Firehouse (1030 N. 4th Ave)

Outdoor artisans’ market with participating vendors that include Cactus Clouds Art, Somniative, and Iskashitaa Refugee Network.

 

Cultivate: online + Tucson

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.

 

After 7 Livestream: online

Nov 28, 6pm (MT) / Facebook live event

Livestream concert with original songs and stories from Tucson rock/country/pop band After 7, who we first heard during the Meet Me at Maynards 10th anniversary celebration.

 

Winter Air Holiday Pop-Up: Tucson

Dec 5, 12-5pm / Bhava Wellness patio (southwest corner of 6th Ave. and 6th St.)

Local outdoor holiday shopping experience with a DJ and vendors like Agave Pantry and Sonoran Rosie.

 

Ag to Art Market: Feeding the Body and Soul: Yuma (southwest Arizona)

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.

 

Mercado Flea: Tucson

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.

 

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For Happenings I hear about in between seasonal lists, watch Travelcraft Journal’s Instagram stories!

Last updated 4/6/20.

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3/18/20 UPDATE:

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

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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!

 

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1. Local Art Loves

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!

 

2.  New Zealand Festival of the Arts

STATUS: Completed. This festival managed to skate by until the final day, when the last 3 performances were canceled.

///

Now – Mar 15 / Wellington, New Zealand

New Zealand’s leading arts festival, featuring cutting-edge theatre, dance, music and “art for everyone.”

 

 

3. Cambridge Winter Farmers Market

STATUS: Canceled through the end of the season.

YOU CAN continue supporting local food and farming! CWFM has a list of vendors you can buy from directly or find elsewhere.

///

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.

 

 

 

4. 2019 SECA Art Award Exhibition

STATUS: Museum closed temporarily.

YOU CAN…

• See articles and videos on the #MuseumFromHome page
• Check out Open Space, the museum’s online “hybrid, interdisciplinary publishing platform for artists, writers, et al”
• Find some of the museum’s works online.

///

Now – Apr 26 / SFMOMA, San Francisco, CA / included with general admission

SECA (the Society for the Encouragement of Contemporary Art) celebrates Bay Area artists Kenyatta A.C. Hinkle, Sahar Khoury, Marlon Mullen.

• *Artist-led Tour + Mixer: Mar 5. Free event + free admission to Floor 2 galleries 6–9 pm. Gallery tour 6:30 pm (first come, first served) / Mixer 7:30 pm
• H/T Rena Tom.

 

5. Village Jazz Series

STATUS: Canceled through the end of the season, as are Jazz Nights at Julieanna’s Patio Cafe.

YOU CAN…

• Order takeout or delivery (in Yuma) from Julieanna’s via their special Ziggy’s On-The-Fly menu, which includes family-style entrees for four.
• Hear Yuma Jazz Company on Spotify, watch on YouTube, or buy their albums.
• Find links to other series musicians on the Village Jazz page.
• The summer music series at Lutes Casino is scheduled to start at the end of May.

///

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.

• *Yuma Palms Regional Center’s discounts.
• SN: We saw duo Jason + Elle in a Village Jazz Series concert during a visit to Yuma and had a great time!

Yuma Favorites: Part 1

 

6. Survival Architecture and the Art of Resilience

STATUS: Museum closed through at least May 1. Current exhibitions (including this one) will be extended through the end of May.

YOU CAN…

• Do at-home projects based on the museum’s exhibitions via their new MCD@Home library!
• See some of the work on exhibit on their Instagram + #OnViewNow highlights.

///

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.

 

 

7. Wild Rising Installation by Cracking Art

STATUS: Closed. As of March 20, the Desert Botanical Garden (including this installation) is closed until further notice.

YOU CAN flip through DBG’s online publications like trail guides and Sonoran Quarterly.

///

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!

Museum Day in the Garden

 

8. Woolgatherers: Paintings by Heather Day

STATUS: Museum closed through at least April 20. Events canceled.

YOU CAN take a virtual tour from home.

////

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.
• *Free general admission every Thursday 5-8pm.
• Virtual museum tour.
• We featured Heather Day’s work as part of our teal color story post.

 

Color Story: Deep Teal

 

9. Riders of the Purple Sage Opera

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.

YOU CAN donate online.

///

Feb 28 – Mar 1 / Phoenix Symphony Hall, Phoenix, AZ / Tickets $35-145

The return of Arizona Opera’s first commissioned opera, based on the novel by Zane Grey.

• Tucson Music Hall: Mar 7 – 8 / Tickets $25-120
• *Arizona Opera Bold Card: People under 40 can get 6 tickets for $100.
• SN: We really enjoyed seeing Riders when it premiered in 2017!

 

Riders: A Novel Approach to Opera

 

10. Vail Food Truck Rally

STATUS: Uncertain. The March 2 event was canceled due to the weather, and I couldn’t find an update regarding future events.

YOU CAN watch their Facebook page for updates.

///

Mar 2 + Apr 6 (first Monday of the month), 4:30-8pm / 13260 E. Colossal Cave Road, Vail, AZ

Half a dozen (or so) local food trucks set up shop for an evening in a parking lot in the town of Vail, south of Tucson.

 

11. History Reclaimed: Suchitra Mattai and Adrienne Elise Tarver

STATUS: Closed until further notice.

YOU CAN…

• Watch the Taggart Time series on Instagram Live.
• 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.

 

12. Master Gardeners Presentation: Warm-Season Vegetable Gardening

STATUS: Events canceled and libraries closed until further notice.

YOU CAN…

• Access digital media with your library card.
• Check out the awesome gardening resources on the Native Seeds/SEARCH site!

///

March and April / Tucson, AZ

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.
• Mission Library: Mar 26, 12pm. CANCELED.
• Oro Valley Public Library: Apr 3, 1:30pm.

 

Poetry in Planters

 

13. Basics of Seed Saving

STATUS: Canceled.

YOU CAN…

• Find seed saving information on the Native Seeds/SEARCH site.
• 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.

• *Can’t be there? There is also seed saving information on the Native Seeds/SEARCH site.

 

14. The Affordable Art Fair

STATUS: Spring Fair postponed until 2021.

YOU CAN…

• 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.

• *Free admission Friday from 6pm – 8pm.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alexandra | Ypsi (@wildhuntdesign)

 

15. L.A. County Yarn Crawl

STATUS: Postponed. New dates TBD.

YOU CAN…

• See a list of participating yarn boutiques and shop their online stores.
• Check out Wild Hunt Design’s excellent list of ways to “support your local yarn store during this stupid pandemic” for more ideas! (H/T to participating shop The Knitting Tree, L.A., who re-posted it.)

///

Mar 26 – Mar 29 / L.A. County, CA

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.

The Yarnover Truck mobile boutique will be stopping at these shops:

• 3/26 at The Altered Stitch, Valley Village
• 3/27 at Alamitos Bay Yarn Company, Long Beach
• 3/28 at The Knitting Tree L.A., Inglewood
• 3/29 at Make One Yarn Company, La Verne

 

16. Bollywood Boulevard

STATUS: Postponed until the fall.

YOU CAN take a virtual workshop from the show’s choreographer Rohit Gijare. $5/class

///

March and April

Stage show inspired by Hindi cinema with dance, live music, and storytelling.

Select dates:

• Mar 27: Albuquerque, NM
• Mar 28: Chandler Center for the Arts, Chandler, AZ
• Mar 29: Fox Theatre, Tucson, AZ
• Mar 31: High Point, NC
• Apr 9: University of California, Berkeley, CA
• Apr 17-18: Irvine, CA
• Apr 23: Fayetteville, AR

 

17. Earth, Wind, Fire, Water – Nordic Contemporary Crafts

STATUS: Postponed. New opening date TBD.

YOU CAN see photographs online from the “Eyes as Big as Plates” project by Riitta Ikonen and Karoline Hjorth.

///

Mar 28 – Jun 14 / Galleri F 15, Moss, Norway

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.

 

18. ClexaCon Film Festival

STATUS: Postponed until late 2020.

YOU CAN…

• Follow the Festival’s filmmakers on social media to see what they are up to in the meantime.
• Watch Festival film trailers.
• Go to Creator Camp in Nashville in September.

///

Apr 16 – 19 / Tropicana Hotel, Las Vegas, NV / Ages 12+ / free

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.

 

The Pinball Hall of Fame

 

19. Bookworks: An Artist’s Book Fair

STATUS: Postponed. Rescheduled date TBA. SFCB will be closed through at least April 7.

YOU CAN shop their online store for books, merch, and enamel pins.

///

Apr 17 / San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA / free

Social event for local book artists and artist’s book collectors – especially beginners – to connect over cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres.

 

20. 7-Night Southwest Ireland Luxury Knitting Retreat (2020)

STATUS: On.

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.

• 9-night Wool Lovers Tour of Ireland Knitting Tour (2020): May 31.
• SN: This sounds like an amazing way to see Ireland – especially if you love knitting!

 

 

 

21. Biennial of Contemporary African Art in Dakar (Dak’art 2020)

STATUS: Postponed. New dates TBD.

YOU CAN see work from past Dak’art Biennials on their Instagram.

///

May 28 – Jun 28 / Dakar, Senegal

Cultural and artistic event that has been taking place in Senegal for the past 30 years. The 2020 theme is “Ĩ ‘Ndaffa / Forging / Out of the Fire.”

• AfroEats Festival – highlighting and promoting African cuisine.
• Cinema Museum – bringing mobile film screenings into the nooks and crannies of Dakar.
• Art education workshop for children with renowned illustrators.

 

 

22. Boston Stitch Party

STATUS: Registration open through June 15. Organizers are monitoring the COVID-19 situation to see if event plans will need to change.

YOU CAN join the EGA Stitch-a-long Group and start a new project!

///

Sep 4 – Sep 8 / Sheraton, Back Bay Boston, MA

Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) National Seminar with over 60 classes, including some region-sponsored mini classes.

• Registration opens March 14.
• You can purchase a name tag kit in advance to embroider and personalize.
• *Free tutorials online from Needle Arts Magazine.

 

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Post originally published February 28, 2020.

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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!

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1. Animal Dreaming

Now – Jan 31 / Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place, Bairnsdale, Australia / free

First solo exhibition of painter Patricia Pittman, who creates aboriginal art in Bairnsdale, Victoria.

 

2. Creatures from the Land of Thra

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.

If you can’t be there, check out the musuem’s online archive!

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.

 

 

3. Wild Rising Installation by Cracking Art

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! 

 

4. Hungarian Embroidery Level I

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.
• If you also register for Sarah Pedlow’s Embroidered Flowers of Portugal workshop at the same time, you’ll receive a $20 discount.

 

5. Cambridge Winter Farmers Market

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.

 

6. Astronomy in the Park

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.

 

7. Book to Art Club: The Starless Sea

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.

• Not in Sheboygan? Host your own Book to Art Club!

 

8. Village Jazz Series

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!

 

 

9. Tucson Jazz Festival

Jan 10 – 20 / Downtown Tucson, AZ / Ages 12+

10-day destination festival with world-class jazz musicians.

• Mavis Staples: Jan 19, 7pm at Fox Tucson Theatre. $35-65
• Downtown Jazz Fiesta: Jan 20 (MLK Day). The final day of the festival features free performances on 4 stages in downtown Tucson.

 

10. Bon Odori de La Plata

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.

 

11. Contemporary Gilding on Paper + Mixed Media
Jan 11, 10:00 am / San Francisco Center for the Book, San Francisco, CA / Fee $170

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.

 

12. FOG

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.

 

13. Local Art Loves
Feb 1 – 29 / 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!

 

14. Phoenix Chinese Week’s Culture and Cuisine Festival

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.

H/T Scottsdale Fashion Square’s Lunar New Year celebration.

 

15. Dine With Your Dog Brunch

Feb 8 / Monterra at WestWorld, Scottsdale, AZ / Single tickets $150 (includes 1 human + 1 dog)

Dog-friendly brunch to support animal-assisted therapy at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

 

16. The Affordable Art Fair

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.

• New York Spring Affordable Art Fair: Mar 26-29 at Metropolitan Pavilion

 

17. VNSA (Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association) Book Sale

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!

 

18. New Zealand Festival of the Arts

Feb 21 – Mar 15 / Wellington, New Zealand

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.

 

19. Riders of the Purple Sage Opera  

Feb 28 – Mar 1  / Phoenix Symphony Hall, Phoenix, AZ / Tickets $35-145

The return of Arizona Opera’s first commissioned opera, based on the novel by Zane Grey.

• Tucson Music Hall: Mar 7 – 8 / Tickets $25-120

SN: We really enjoyed seeing Riders when it premiered in 2017!

 

20. 7-Night Southwest Ireland Luxury Knitting Retreat (2020)

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.

• 9-night Wool Lovers Tour of Ireland Knitting Tour (2020): May 31. Book before Jan 10 to receive 10% off per person.

SN: This sounds like an amazing way to see Ireland – especially if you love knitting!

 

 

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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!