Art

Philabaum Studio & Gallery
Glassblowing at Philabaum Glass Studio & Gallery
Witness a craft dating back 2,000 years at Philabaum Glass Studio & Gallery. The glassblowers will describe the process as they shape the fluid glass, reheating, spinning, blowing, torching, cooling and reheating all over again. Watch the art unfold from seats inside the hotshop-close enough to feel the heat of the two furnaces and see the steam rise. At any time tour guests may stroll through the gallery to shop the array of contemporary glass art from around the country.

Attendees: 15 min./40 max.
Length: 1 hour
Times: Tues.-Thurs. 10:00 a.m.  
Reservations: At least two weeks in advance with 50% nonrefundable deposit. Philabaum Glass reserves the right to cancel due to changes in studio operations, in which case the deposit is refundable.
Contact: Martha Pately

Philabaum Glass Studio & Gallery 
711 S. 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 884-7404
philabaumgallery@qwestoffice.net, www.philabaumglass.com  

Meet the Artist at Madaras Gallery
Experience the romance of the desert Southwest through the eyes of one of Tucson's best-known contemporary painters, Diana Madaras, with two tour options. Tour the Gallery-Madaras Gallery serves as the anchor of Gallery Row at El Cortijo, a high-end fine art complex located in the Santa Catalina Foothills. The gallery features original paintings, prints, art tiles, art calendars, and many other fine art gifts. Meet the Artist-Diana will speak about the exciting life of an artist and the fascinating journey that led to her success today. She also will share a few little-known facts about painting techniques.

Attendees: 10 min./100 max.
Length: 1 hour
Special Offer: Each guest who spends $30 or more during the gallery visit will receive a complimentary $30 print (you must mention the MTCVB or this ad to receive this offer). 
Contact: Diana Madaras, Owner

Madaras Gallery 
3001 E. Skyline Dr. #101, Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 615-3001
diana@madaras.com, www.madaras.com

Santa Theresa Tile Works
Tour and Keepsake Tile
Santa Theresa Tile Works is a working ceramics studio, where unique and colorful tiles are made daily by artisans on-site. The tour begins in the showroom, so you can see the end product. The tour continues to the production studio, where you can see the tiles being designed and fired, as well as any custom projects in progress.  The tour concludes back in the showroom where attendees receive their customized tile that can include the company name as well as dates and any other information that will fit.  The custom tile is done by hand in Santa Theresa's own style; thus, exact replicas of logos cannot be included.

Attendees: no min./25 max.
Length: 45 min. 
Reservations: A 30-day advance notice is required to make custom tiles.
Contact: Leslie Gamble

Santa Theresa Tile Works 
440 N. 6th Ave., Tucson, AZ 85705
(520) 623-8640
leslie@santatheresatileworks.com , www.santatheresatileworks.com

Sonoran Glass Art Academy
Blow Your Own Ball
Ever wonder what it would be like to blow glass? The Sonoran Glass Art Academy offers a quick taste of glassblowing and gives you a chance to step up to the furnace and watch the process up close. Under the guidance of an instructor, visitors design a unique holiday ornament (or year-round suncatcher) and assist in the process of turning molten glass into a one-of-a-kind keepsake. No prior glassblowing experience necessary.

Length: 1½-2½ hours, depending on the size of the group.
Reservations: At least two weeks in advance with 50% deposit.
Special Instructions: Glass ornaments take one day to cool down. Finished ornaments can be picked up any day following the experience or can be shipped anywhere in the United States for a small additional charge.
Contact: David Morden

Sonoran Glass Art Academy 
633 W. 18th St., Tucson, AZ 85701
(520) 884-7814
info@sonoranglass.org , www.sonoranglass.org

Warehouse Arts District
Tour the Galleries
Artists are everywhere in Tucson. It's not uncommon to see a young artist on a bike, toting a canvas with his latest creation. Downtown Tucson is host to hundreds of artists and performers. For a glimpse into this thriving creative scene, take a tour of Tucson's eclectic Warehouse Arts District. Begin the tour at the Citizens Art Studios and see the studios of some of Tucson's most exploratory artists. The Citizens has grown to become one of the premier contemporary art centers in the district. Bicycle Inter-Community Art & Salvage (BICAS) occupies a 5,000-sq.-ft. basement in the Citizens Art Studios where bicycle recycling enthusiasts produce amazing wheeled products. Walk nearby to the Mat Bevel Institute Warehouse where Mat Bevel shows off his large kinetic machines. The tour continues on to Ron Nelson's art studio, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Lulubell's, Santa Theresa Tileworks, Solar Culture, and Small Planet Bakery.

Attendees: 5 min./35 max.
Length: 1½ hours
Contact: David Aguirre

Warehouse Arts District
(520) 792-4503
dinnerware@dinnerwarearts.com

Morning Star Traders
Opening the Doors to the Treasures of Tucson
Established in 1972, Morning Star Traders offers an extensive selection of antique and contemporary Native American jewelry, pottery, basketry, fetishes, and Navajo rugs. Morning Star Antiques specializes in museum-quality Spanish colonial furniture and old Mexican wrought iron, and decorative arts spanning a range of time periods. Hear history of the native people of Arizona, and learn how they make their baskets and how the first silversmiths were inspired. See a large array of older weavings made by the Navajo tribe and pottery from the New Mexico pueblos.

Attendees: 10 min./30 max.
Length: 1 hour lecture on one of the above topics. Allow 1½ hours for shopping.
Reservations: 2 weeks
Contact: Mary Beth Rosenthal

Morning Star Traders
2020 E. Speedway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85719
(520) 881-2112
www.morningstartraders.com

More Art Ideas:

Center for Creative Photography (CCP) is located on the University of Arizona campus. The center is an archive, museum, and research facility dedicated to photography as an art form and cultural record. The collection includes more archives and individual works by 20th-century North American photographers than any other museum in the nation.

DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun displays the unique Southwest artwork of Ted DeGrazia. The gallery is a unique adobe construction with rooms exhibiting DeGrazia originals. Elsewhere in the gallery are a movie room, original bronzes, ceramics, enamels, and a gift shop.

Old Town Artisans is in Tucson's El Presidio Historic District. The 150-year-old restored adobe buildings contain distinctive shops and galleries featuring contemporary and traditional art and fine crafts from hundreds of local and national artists.

Tubac, Arizona, was established in 1752; this artist colony features unusual craft shops, galleries, and an art center.