The Special Events Google calendar in the right sidebar has been updated with this weekend’s art events including the Art Safari on Saturday night, the kick-off of the week-long Tucson Sculpture Fest, and slightly more off-the-grid happenings. And remember, you can also add Tu Scene on Twitter or Facebook for more timely advance notice and day-of reminders.

Opening tonight:

Studio Art & Photography Faculty Show
Reception: TONIGHT! Friday, February 5, 5-7pm
Florence Quarter Gallery at The Art Center Design College
2538 N. Country Club Rd. (Country Club just north of Grant)

Selected works from Deidre Argyle, John H. Clarke, Miles Conrad, John Erwin, Ben McCormick, Michael Nolan, SJ Gibson and Gwyneth Scally. *RECOMMENDED*

Sweet Love
Reception: TONIGHT! Friday, February 5, 6-8pm
Hotel Congress Lobby & The Cup Cafe
311 E. Congress

Paintings and drawings by Catherine Eyde.

Four Seasons
Reception: TONIGHT! Friday, February 5, 6-9pm
Stone Dragon Studio
1122 N. Stone Ave. (Stone and Speedway)

Work from members of the U of A Female Art Club and Education. Visit their web page for their artist registry and monthly meeting times.

For the latest updates, add Tu Scene as a friend on Facebook or follow on Twitter. I’m way behind on the Google calendar, but will try to get to it soon. There’s a lot of things to look forward to in February, but considering it’s the end of the month, this weekend is also pretty active.

SHOWS

Industria Studios Open House
Saturday, January 30, 4-9pm
Industria Studios
1441 E. 17th St.
$5 admission

Get a glimpse of Industria Studios’ sculpture facility, including foundry and forge. Heavy industry, indeed. Demonstrations of bronze casting and blacksmithing; entertainment by Flam Chen; live music by Shaky Bones, Still Life with Telescope and Anarchestra; members art show; silent art auction and raffle; food and drink. For more information email industriastudios@gmail.com or call 520-235-0797.

Jerry & Kenzo Closing Reception
Saturday, January 30, 8-11pm
Lulubell Toy Bodega
439 N. 6th Avenue, Suite 187

More like a second opening than a closing reception. Painters/designers Jerry Jordan and Kenzo Butler have created new work created especially for this, only it’ll be your last chance to buy. DJ Sync will be on the decks.

Intuition Closing Reception
Saturday, January 30, 8-11pm
FLOW Gallery
439 N. 6th Ave. Suite 159

New work by Leander D’Ambrosia, Tina Notaro, Craig Wilson and Zach Bloom.

Art Out The Ass House Party Installation
Saturday, January 30, 9pm-2am
602 E. 9th St.

You know all the kids will be at this one. Art house party installation by Eric Fite, Josh Flood and S. Skuzzin. Music from DJ InIt and Zackey Force Funk.

Tucson Fashion Collective First Planning Meeting
Sunday, January 31, 2-4pm
Skrappy’s
191 E. Toole

I know this isn’t art, but a lot of artists I know are into fashion, and I’m sure many photographers check this site too which is why I’m posting it. Maybe there’s room for some inventive collaboration with visual artists too here? There’s only one way to find out… The group will be discussing the early stages of planning, submissions for runway slots and finding sponsors/funding. Fashion week is being planned for the last week of September but the next 9 months will pass by quickly. Bring business cards and portfolios for networking. Food and beverages will be provided. Add Tucson Fashion Week Collective on Facebook for more info.

STREET SCIENCE with Golden Mean
Every Sunday starting at 9pm
Sports
254 E. Congress

Local artists and members of Golden Mean Clothing, Chase Euerle and Dave Carender will be painting/collaborating/creating art live while Dave Wright, Falcotronik, and Metragnome perform.

NEWS

• Kresge Foundation gives $200,000 for Arts, Culture and Community Projects in Tucson
• BICAS wheatpastes in Juxtapoz magazine
• Steinfield Warehouse update
• Tucson Museum of Art Recieves $50,000 Grant from Snoopy (i.e. MetLife Foundation)
• MOCA Gala sold out, after-party tickets still available

DEADLINES

Tucson Sculpture Festival
Load-in: February 4 and 5
Exhibition: February 6-13

Calling all sculptors to participate in the Tucson Sculpture Festival. The festival will take place in the Tucson Warehouse Arts District. Coinciding with the Tucson Gem Show, this is an opportunity to showcase your work to an international group of buyers. Contact Danny Wolverton at (520) 437-7716 or danny@parasolproject.com for info.

Art That Heals
Deadline: February 4
Exhibition: March 11-May 16
Tohono Chul Park Exhibit Hall
7366 N. Paseo del Norte

Tohono Chul Park is seeking submissions by artists from Arizona and the greater Southwest for Art That Heals, an exhibition of artwork that has a healing purpose. Original artwork in all media is welcome for Art That Heals.  Completed works may be submitted in slide, photo, or digital media/CD format. Each artist may submit up to six pieces for consideration. Deadline:  For more information please contact peggyhazard@tohonochulpark.org or call (520) 742-6455 x217. Email submissions or mail materials with a SASE to Peggy Hazard, Assistant Exhibit Curator, Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N Paseo del Norte, Tucson AZ 85704.

Art for Tucson Folk Festival Poster, T-Shirts, and Program Cover
Deadline: February 1
Festival: May 1 and 2

Tucson Kitchen Musicians Association festival is May 1&2.  Win a $250 cash prize, a half page ad in the program and bragging rights while promoting your artwork all over Tucson. Check out poster designs from previous festivals at www.tkma.org/posters.html. For information email artwork@tucsonfolkfest.org.

Valentine’s Day-esque Short Film/Video Show
Deadline: ASAP
Showcase: February 13
The Screening Room
127 E. Congress

Film makers, amateur or not, are wanted to submit short films/videos for review to be shown at an upcoming Valentine’s Day-esque show at the Screening Room on February 13. Any interpretations, allegorical ruminations, celebrations, critiques and enhanced examinations of the loosely defined emotion of “love” are welcome. Queries can be made to amyrude27@gmail.com.

The Warehouse Arts Management Organization a.k.a. WAMO is bringing together and assisting artists and business owners to build an arts district from the ground up, literally. The group plays a key role in keeping City leaders focused on the Tucson Historic Warehouse Arts District Master Plan [13MB PDF download] adopted by Mayor and Council in 2004.  WAMO’s persistence has recently resulted in the City acquiring three district properties—the Steinfeld Warehouse, Skrappy’s, and the Toole Shed via a land swap with ADOT.  The three land parcels will remain City property, but the warehouses that occupy them are to be rehabilitated and preserved for arts uses. WAMO will be competing in the city’s rigorous Request For Qualifications/Proposals (RFP) process for acquisition and management of these properties, scheduled to become City of Tucson easement for the Downtown Links Roadway. A couple of weeks ago, this was nearly struck down in City Council to be opened up to private developers, but the council recanted the following week and voted unanimously to move forward on accepting the RFPs for arts uses only. Mayor and Council also voted to include the Warehouse Arts District portion of Toole Avenue in the zoning overlay that is part of the Downtown Links urban planning.

WAMO is collaborating with other organizations to protect spaces in the Arts District.  Last year, WAMO hired Jim Wilcox as Development Consultant. Jim is the Senior Project Manager for the Curley School Artisan Lofts in Ajo, a project of the nationally acclaimed International Sonoran Desert Alliance (ISDA). WAMO also applied for and received a 2010 Drachman Institute grant that will bring together various colleges within the University of Arizona to provide a hands on experience to students who will create models and plans for the Tucson Warehouse Arts District and provide a variety of in-depth looks at the economic impact of the arts in a city.

WAMO discussions with the Tucson Industrial Development Authority (IDA), have resulted in the IDA’s interest in financing opportunities for Warehouse Arts District property owners that conform to the Master Plan goals. At Solar Culture’s request, WAMO obtained funding from investors and the IDA to purchase the building when it was rushed into auction. Although the auction was won by another bidder, WAMO has continued to advise and support Solar Culture in negotiations with a new landlord for a fair, affordable, long-term lease. WAMO also continues meet with and support private sector investors such as Peach Properties, who support the goals of the Master Plan for the district.

What kind of place do you think the Tucson Historic Warehouse Arts District could be? Imaging a vibrant Arts Walk along Toole Avenue with renovated facades and streetscape; a densely populated center for the Arts alive with open galleries, music, performance, cafes, and bookstores; an artists community launchpad for innovative collaboration and critical discussion; a prominent and permanent platform for Tucson’s internationally acclaimed All Souls Procession;  a centralized home for the Open Studio Tours (Spring/Fall) as well as new arts events.

WAMO is kicking off a campaign asking for monetary donations to help with operating expenses of all these ideas (and yours!), to defray costs of possible future building purchase down payments with the mission of brining individual tenants, managers and owners together to build a cohesive arts district. For a great grassroots artist-owned and finished out (well, at least it looks finished out to me) warehouse space, check out Rhythm Industry Performance Factory (in the warehouse area just south of Barrio Brewery on Tyndall and 20th), owned, managed and utilized by performing arts groups of all kinds. Wouldn’t it be great to have a place like this for visual artists?

Tucson Artists’ Open Studios
Registration deadline: Saturday, February 6
Fee: $30
Event dates: Saturday-Sunday, March 13-14 , 11am-5pm both days

Be sure to sign up for the spring open studios! This is a grassroots, artist-run event so your money goes directly to promoting the event. Let’s make this the biggest and best tour yet, and show the city how great of an art scene Tucson has, and how much it impacts our local culture and economy. The Tucson Artists’ Open Studios will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 13  and 14 from 11 am until 5pm each day. The city-wide guide map will appear in the March issue of Zócalo Magazine at distribution points citywide. Artist pages on the web site will feature detailed listings with zoomed-in google maps for easy printing. The registration fee is still only $30. This year, you can pay online using PayPal. Register online here. You can also become a fan on Facebook.

Pasting the Tucson Pima Arts Council’s (TPAC) most recent email news update.

TPAC STRATEGIC PLANNING REQUEST: PLEASE RESPOND TO OUR SURVEY BY JANUARY 26

Shelley Cohn has been contracted to work with TPAC on its strategic planning process. As the former director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts, she has a long history of working with the arts community in Tucson.

These are definitely challenging times for the arts, particularly knowing that the TPAC budget for the next 18 months has been substantially reduced. The budget changes are so deep, they will profoundly affect the way that TPAC connects and supports the community.

The board and staff are revisioning the organization in light of these changes. Please recognize that these budget changes will change the face of the organization in drastic ways. Please help us identify what programs and services you value most.

Please take about ten minutes to respond to the online survey so that the TPAC board and staff have a deeper understanding of what programs and services you use and what services you value. Your guidance will instruct TPAC as they move forward with the most challenging strategic and programmatic decisions it has ever had to make.

In this brief survey, be sure to rank BOTH what programs you use and what programs you value.

TO RESPOND TO THE SURVEY, GO TO THIS LINK: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZG8KG3Q

If you have any questions contact 520-624-0595 ext 18 or email reuben@tucsonpimaartscouncil.org

2010 GRANTS FORUM: The Future of Grantmaking for the Tucson Pima Arts Council

Thursday, January 28
4–8pm
The Rogue Theatre in the Historic Y Building
300 E. University Blvd. (Just west of 4th Avenue)
Please RSVP to reuben@tucsonpimaartscouncil.org

On January 12, 2009, Tucson’s City Manager, Mike Letcher, recommended a 60% reduction in the City’s allocation to outside agencies to the Mayor and Council for the remainder of FY2009/2010. The City of Tucson, like all other municipalities across the state, is experiencing tremendous budget challenges and this is affecting staffing, programs, and services at all levels. This measure was approved by the City Council and the impact on TPAC’s resources is a loss of approximately $150,000 for the remainder FY09/10 with the certainty of further reductions in funding in the coming year(s). In order to address the challenges and opportunities of these changes in our allocation, TPAC is developing new strategies to refocus our vision for the future.

We cannot do this without your guidance ….

Please join us and your fellow grantees in revisioning the future of this program. As stakeholders in this process, we encourage all grantees* to contribute to this discussion. Recommendations taken from this process will provide direction for this program in the immediate future and in the coming years. A vision for the course of this program can only be crafted with your participation in this process. Facilitation will be lead by consultants Vicky Stromee and Elizabeth Burden.

*I think any interested parties and individual artists should be present at this forum.