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Tucson arts and culture / ZOCALOMAGAZINE.COM / June 2016 / no. 75
inside
June 2016
07. Events 12. Arts 19. Performances 27. Art Galleries & Exhibits 31. Poetry 33. Food & Drink 35. Southwest 39. Tunes 44. Life in Tucson 45. Look Back On the Cover:
Rock Martinez puts the finishing touches on his giant mural at 7th Ave. and 6th St., one of 8 new murals from the Tucson Mural Arts Program. Read more about the project on page 13.
Zócalo is an independent, locally owned and printed magazine that reflects the heart and soul of Tucson.
PUBLISHER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR David Olsen CONTRIBUTORS Craig Baker, Andrew Brown, Francisco Cantuú, Jefferson Carter, Sara Cline, Emily Gindlesparger, Carl Hanni, Jim Lipson, Danny Martin, Troy Martin, Niccole Radhe, Amanda Reed, Herb Stratford, Jeff Weber. LISTINGS Amanda Reed, listings@zocalotucson.com PRODUCTION ARTISTS Troy Martin, David Olsen AD SALES: Kenny Stewart, advertising@zocalotucson.com CONTACT US:
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June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 5
www.tucsonbotanical.org
JUNE THROUGH SEPTEMBER
Dog Days
Early Bird Weekends
Twilight Thursdays
Dog Portraits in the Gardens
Dogs welcome every day!
Evening hours and dinner at Café Botanica
Al Fresco Fridays
Evening hours and dinner at Café Botanica
Morning walks and breakfast starting at 6:30am
June 7 and August 2
Summer Classes
Fun classes and camps for adults and children
TOP: WILLIAM WIGGINS, DAVID KISH, JOE FORKAN; BOTTOM: LESLIE WARDL AW, DAVID F. BROWN, DUSTIN LEAVITT, DOUG SHELTON
J U N E 7 T H R O U G H AU G U S T 27, 2016 O P E N I N G R E C E P T I O N : S AT U R DAY , J U N E 11 135 South 6th Avenue | P: 520.624.7370 | T-S 11am - 5pm & By Appointment | EthertonGallery.com
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Illustration by Ruben Moreno
Fri 24 El DĂa de San Juan Fiesta
A traditional start of Tucson’s summer, Dia de San Juan celebrates the coming monsoon rain season and honors St. John the Baptist (patron saint of water). Highlights include a ceremonial procession and the blessing of an altar--the public is welcome to join in the procession. Activities include a charreada (Mexican rodeo events), performances by mariachi bands and folklorico dancers. Mexican cowboys and trick horseriders (charros and escaramuzas) perform on horseback. There are games and activities for children and families, and vendors of food and refreshments for sale and free information. Staged at the corner of Congress Street and Avenida del Convento, west of downtown Tucson.
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Tim Hagyard Susie Deconcini 520.241.3123
Historic Dunbar Spring
c. 1905, Original Adobe, Home and Guest house restored and expanded in 2002, $475,000 MLS # 21524648.
c. 1915 Bungalow, Impeccably Restored, 2bdrm 1ba, $299,000. MLS # 21609234
Barrio Mud Adobe
1043 S. 5th ave. Photo left: c. 1922 Mud Adobe. Restored and expanded in 2009. 2 Bdrm 1 Ba. 1249 sq. ft. Photo right: c. 1926 bungalow. 1 bdrm 1 bath 689. sq. ft. $285,000. MLS#: 21615075
Two homes, one property
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june Sat 4 Chick Magnet Art & Music Fest at 191 Toole
Chick Magnet is throwing their first Art & Music Fest in celebration of the creative sounds and visions of women. Local artist and musician, Lano Terrazas has curated this event to include a wide array of independent artists, bridging the gap between generations, styles, and mediums. Come early to see the art and meet the women who make it. Merch tables will feature female-made zines, prints and more. Musical performances from several local, lady-centric acts and touring artist Adia Victoria (Nashville, TN). Late night dance party will be provided by DJ Ladyfingers. “Chick Magnet was inspired by the urge to grow myself and my creative community. Art is often an isolating, internal, and transformative process, it feels necessary to come together to share what we’ve poured into, and in a context that is bigger than our separate stories. There’s a fierce power in the voice of women and there’s a great deal to be heard; ultimately our reach is more powerful when we come together,” says Terrazas.
Sat 04 National Trails Day/Moonlight Hike Celebrate National Trails Day by walking one of Tucson’s many beautiful trails, whether it is a trail at Mt. Lemmon, Saguaro National Park, Sabino Canyon or another favorite. If the sun is too harsh during the day, join the Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department for a nighttime hike at Catalina State Park Discounted entry to some parks upon mentioning National Trails Day. For more information on National Trails Day and the night hike visit NationalTrailsDay.org
Concert at Catalina State Park Head to Catalina State Park to enjoy the beautiful Tucson sunset, and once the sun goes down listen to the smooth sounds of rhythm and blues and soulful Latin music at the First Saturdays Concert at the state park. Standard park admission, $7 per vehicle and $3 per bike/ individual. The concert is from 7P.M. to 9P.M. Catalina State Park, 11570 N. Oracle Rd. For more information visit AZStateParks.com
Smokin’ Showdown
Think you’re an expert in BBQ? Put your taste buds to the test at the battle for the best BBQ at Southern Arizona’s Smokin’ Showdown. Try BBQ from the BBQ masters, indulge is tasty sides from the Cup Café, sip on fresh brewed beer and in the end vote for the BBQ that you think is the best. The 21 and older event begins at 6P.M. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door. Proceeds benefit Steele Children’s Research Center. Hotel Congress Plaza, 311 E. Congress St. For more information and tickets visit HotelCongress.com
Sat 18 Summer Art Cruise
Immerse yourself in an evening of art with a self-guided tour and reception at galleries all around downtown Tucson. Free admission. 6P.M. till 9P.M. For maps and schedules visit the Davis Dominguez Gallery. For more information visit CTGATucson.org
Sat 11 2nd Saturday
A night filled with music, vendors, street performers and more. The event is held every second Saturday of the month. Free admission and street parking is free. 5 P.M. to 10:30 P.M. On Congress Street from Toole Avenue to Church Avenue. For more information on the event and the performances visit SecondSaturday.wpEngine.com
Tue 14 Ted DeGrazia’s 107th Birthday Celebration Celebrate the 107th birthday of acclaimed artist,Ted DeGrazia! Stroll through the 10-acre gallery grounds of DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, admire his art and architecture and eat cake. The event is 10A.M. to 4P.M. Admission is $8 per adult. DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Rd.
Fri 17-Sun 19 Pima County Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show Learn about the latest trends, tech-
Mexican Food Festival
Indulge in Tucson’s “best 23 miles of Mexican food in America,” a Mexican food festival hosted by Visit Tucson. The festival focuses on food from a 23-mile area that includes downtown Tucson, midtown and the City of South Tucson. Tickets are $45 in advance and includes food samplings from 30 restaurants, beer and tequila sampling and of course live mariachi music.. The event is from 6:00 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort & Spa, 3800 W. Starr Pass Blvd. For more information and tickets visit saaca.org/Tucson23.php
Arizona Bacon Fest
Is bacon your favorite food? If so don’t miss the annual bacon-lover event! The 21 and older event has food from local restaurants, exclusive beverages, entertainment and of course lots of bacon. Tickets range from $45 to $125 per person. The event is from 5P.M. to 9P.M. Kino Sports Complex, 2500 E. Ajo Way. For more information and tickets visit BaconToday.com
Brew at the Zoo
For this visit at Reid Park Zoo leave the kids at home and come drink craft beer, listen to music, observe the animals and even take home a recycled beer bottle glass. Proceeds from the event will help fund the building of a new health center for animals at the Zoo. Tickets are $45 per person and $20 for designated drivers. The event is from 6:30 P.M. to 9:30P.M. Reid Park Zoo, 1100 S. Randolph Way. For more information and tickets visit ReidParkZoo.org
niques, products and money saving tips for your home, garden and lifestyle at the Pima County Home, Garden & Lifestyle Show. Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. For ticket prices, times and more information visit AmericanShowsInc.com
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fri 10 The Yacht Rock Party at La Cocina $5 cover, 21+ For seven years, Kitty Katt (aka Jared McKinley) and local magician and sommelier Magic Kenny Bang Bang (Kenny Stewart) have been throwing their celebration of summer with the Yacht Rock Party. Enjoy a constant stream of smooth tunes, provided by DJs Ben Beshaw and E_Rupt. Live performances by Silver Fox and The Kevin Dowling Fitness Hour. As always, there will be a photo boat with a mural backdrop provided by local artist Joe Pagac, to help you immortalize your debauchery. The audience is encouraged to dress up in nautically inspired, sleazy 70s, slick early 80s attire. The cover is just $5, 21+. See Facebook for more information.
Sun 19 Father’s Day at Tohono Chul Park
This fathers day, take a stroll through Tohono Chul Park with dad. Free admission for fathers all day at Tohono Chul Park, 7366 N. Paseo del Norte.
Fri 24 El Día de San Juan Fiesta
Celebrate the impending monsoon season and honoring the patron saint of water, St. John the Baptist. Participate in the ceremonial procession, attend a charreada, listen to mariachi bands, partake in kid friendly activities or chow down on food. Free Admission. The event is from 5P.M. to 10P.M. Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento.
Ongoing Cinema La Placita Outdoor Film Series
Skip watching a movie inside in a cold dark theater and instead watch a movie outside under the Tucson sky! Each Thursday through August pull up a lawn chair, bring a blanket, nibble on snacks and watch a classic movie. The outdoor movies, after 16 summers at La Placita Village is moving the historic Pima County Courthouse, 115 N Church Ave. Movies start at 7:30 P.M. and cost $3 per person, which includes fresh popcorn. For more information visit CinemaLaPlacita.com
Cool Summer Nights
The Arizona Sonora Desert Museum hosts evening events each Saturday from 5P.M. to 10P.M. Events this month include a World Ocean Night, Lining in Harmony with the Sun, Full Moon Festival and Monsoon Madness. General admission for Arizona/Sonora Residents is $15.50 and $8 for children. The event is at Arizona Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 North Kinney Rd. For a full list of activities, dates and more information visit DesertMuseum.org
Chef at the carriage house
Indulge in the delish cooking of local chefs. The Carriage House hosts the flavorful journey as chefs from Maynard’s Market & Kitchen, El Charro, Boca Tacos y Tequila, and much more come to share their delicious creations. The events take place at the Carriage House, 125 S Arizona Ave. For dates, time and ticket costs visit CarriageHouseTucson.com
Friday Night Live
Friday nights are for dancing to music, relaxing with friends and celebrating the beginning of the weekend. Kick off Friday night with the jazz summer concert series, Friday Night Live at Main Gate Square. On certain Fridays, through August, musicians come to the stage to provide entertainment. The event is Free. It begins at 7P.M. at Geronimo Plaza Courtyard, 814 E. University Blvd. For a list of performers and dates visit MainGateSquare.com
Movies in Reid-Park
When the sunsets it is time to head to grad your popcorn, spread a blanket and watch a movie outside at Reid-Park. During certain Fridays throughout the summer, Cox Communication hosts family friendly movie screenings along with food vendoes, games, music and activities. This month the movies are Finding Nemo and Minions. Admission is Free. The movie begins at dusk at Demeester Performing Arts Pavilion, 920 S. Concert Pl. For more information visit saaca.org
Summer Safari Nights
Reid Park Zoo hosts a night of fun, entertainment and animals each Friday night through July. Each Friday Safari Night has a theme. This month’s themes include, Animal Playground, Buggin’ Out, Hats Off to Dads and GO Grey. The event is from 6P.M. to 8P.M. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children. Reid Park Zoo, 1100 S. Randolph Way. To learn more about the nights and purchase tickets online visit ReidParkZoo.org
Twilight Thursdays
Each Thursday night through September, the Tucson Botanical Gardens hosts an evening of desert beauty. Walk around the gardens to take in the setting sun and exquisiteness of the desert life or dine at Café Botanica. The event is from 5P.M. to 8P.M. General admission for adults are $9 and is free with a reservation at the Café. . Tucson Botanical Gardens, 2150 N. Alvernon Way. For more information visit TucsonBotanical.org
Fri 03, Sat 04, Fri 10, Sat 11, Fri 17, Sat 18, Fri 24, Sat 25 SUMMER IN A BOTTLE Hair gets lighter, skin gets darker, drinks get colder, music gets louder, nights get longer, life gets better! Join Merci every Friday and Saturday night for amazing drinks, bites & beats. Friday 4pm-2am [Happy Hour 4pm-8pm] Saturday 6pm-2am [Reverse Happy Hours 9pm-12am]. $25 Mix & Match Bottle & Bites Specials. Merci Gallery. 630 E. 9th Street. 520-623-2114. MerciGallery.com
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HISTORIC DOWNTOWN BUILDING
128 E. CONGRESS FOR SALE
BUZZ ISAACSON 520.323.5151
June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 11
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Jessica Gonzales’ mural (detail) on Scott Ave. 12 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
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Tucson’s New
“Outdoor Art Gallery” by Craig Baker
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f it’s been awhile since you saw the west-facing wall of the four-story Tucson Warehouse and Transfer Co. building (occupied by Benjamin Plumbing Supply) at the intersection of Seventh Ave. and Sixth St., there’s a good chance that you wouldn’t recognize it. Once a favorite target of local graffiti artists, the building is now host to Tucson’s largest fine art mural, and it’s—dare we say it—a doozy. Designed and created by Rock “Cyfi” Martinez, who is a former Tucson tagger himself, the almost fifty-foot-tall image in acrylic and aerosol is the result of a collaboration between the City of Tucson and the local nonprofit Tucson Arts Brigade (TAB). It’s one of eight large fine art installations going up in downtown Tucson over the last month or so, thanks to a $50k grant from the Tohono O’Odham Nation, and an additional $2k in funding from Visit Tucson. The grant helps the Tohono O’Odham Nation meet a requirement to give twelve-percent of its revenue back to the surrounding community as per the mandates of Proposition 202 from the 2002 local election. Martinez recently relocated with his girlfriend to Minneapolis, MN from his hometown of Tucson, though he says he has been spending the last several years touring the country on a mission to spread the aesthetic culture of the southwest. He says a trip to New York to paint murals “felt really unbalanced,” and that the thing which made him “feel more comfortable was being able to paint desert vegetation on the walls.” He recently gained international press for a Prince tribute mural he was painting in Minneapolis at the time the artist died, effectively turning his tribute into a memorial. Martinez was also selected as the sole representative of the United States in Mexico’s upcoming “Meeting of the Styles,” during which he will paint in three different Mexican cities over the course of three weeks. His new homage to the Aztec female
divinity Mayahuel—who is associated with the agave plant—stands as a tribute to Martinez’s own native lineage and will serve as a “gateway to Tucson” for those taking the projected connection that will be constructed between I-10 and Aviation Highway. And since this is the largest mural Martinez has made in his career to date, he hopes that it—and the others going up around downtown as a result of the Tucson Mural Arts Program (TMAP)—will “inspire people to, not only create, but to step up their game” when they do. The eight teams of artists chosen to represent Tucson for the project were selected by a panel from 58 original submissions, with the wall-owners making the final decision as to what would be painted on their property. The awardees were announced in late April, and each of the murals is projected to be completed by the middle of this month. Each team is making between $2k-$8k for their work, and TMAP Manager Michael Schwartz hopes that this will set a precedent with regard to how working artist should be Jessica Gonzales compensated for their labor and creativity. Schwartz says that “Tucson is bustling with creativity, intelligence, and talent,” but that the amount of work available and the limits on what people are willing to spend on beautification efforts makes it difficult for the community to keep its artists in Pima County. “We don’t want to keep exporting our talent,” he says, “we want to utilize that talent here in Tucson.” Furthermore, Schwartz is convinced that the revitalization efforts of any urban space are dependent on support for the arts. “Arts should be the main course and not the garnish when it comes to development initiatives,” he says. Though they may not be completely in alignment when it comes to the prioritization of the arts for the sake economic development, the City of Tucson seems to agree that the arts will play a role in their efforts to draw people
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Rock Martinez on 7th Ave (see cover) 14 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
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Luis Mena at Pennington and Stone. June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 15
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Isaac Caruso’s mural (detail) at 9 N. Scott Ave.
More of Jessica Gonzales’ mural (detail) on Scott Ave.
Mural by Ignacio Garcia, at 318 E. Congress (visible from 5th Ave) 16 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
arts Z available,” Gonzales says, “hopefully it will spark the fire for a lot of people.” And the City of Tucson, it turns out, is counting on it. Bekat says that the current murals are contracted to remain up with continued maintenance for the next three years, but that the City intends to reapply for the same grant next year in hopes of expanding the program. Rock Martinez can’t help but reminisce on his years spent creating graffiti as he applies the same techniques to an enormous aerosol mural in full view of the public, and in broad daylight. Though his chosen art form appears to have been mainstreamed at least to a degree, Martinez is just happy to be working. “I’d be doing this even if I wasn’t getting paid,” he says, adding that art is an “evolve or die” industry. He says that TMAP provides “an ample opportunity for Tucson to take notice of the talent that exists here,” and he’s not the only one. Suffice it to say, lots of people are taking notice. n For a map to the murals and more information on TMAP, visit TucsonMuralArtsProgram.BlogSpot.com.
Mural Locations
....continued from page 13 downtown. Says City Economic Development Specialist Camila Bekat, “The city’s been working really hard to create the really vibrant downtown that attracts various groups of people, and having a vibrant art scene is part of that.” Inspired by a successful mural program in Richmond, VA that adds about twenty murals a year to their downtown, Bekat was part of the team responsible for writing the grant application that won funding for TMAP. She explains that the walls chosen to be painted here in town were ones that had been vandalized a number of times in the past. The hope was that covering them with art would deter future taggers. “So, not only are we creating visual interest and bringing people downtown,” she says, “but we’re also hopefully saving the city money in the long-term on graffiti abatement.” Alongside established local artists like Niki Glen and Luis Mena, the program’s initial call to artists went out state-wide and so TMAP also features Phoenix muralist Isaac Caruso, as well as relative newcomers like Tucsonan Jessica Gonzales. Gonzales once painted a mural for Solar Culture in trade for studio space, though her work there was eventually covered up. Her design for TMAP on the south-facing wall of Wig-O-Rama on Congress is her first major public art installation, as well as the first for which she was personally commissioned, and the first for which she was paid. “I like getting the chance to talk to the public about my work,” says Gonzales of the current project, though she admits that it’s been something of a “learning and growing experience” to paint in front of a crowd. During the day, Gonzales works as the Manager of Tucson Thrift Shop on Fourth Ave. She says that painting in view of the public has helped her to sell a couple of pieces of her original art, though she’s hoping that it might lead to a couple of additional mural commissions, as well. Gonzales grew up in the downtown area and was a graduate of Tucson High. Thus, she says that her image of three women representing new beginnings, nurturing, and growth from left to right are indicative of her personal connection to downtown Tucson. “I feel like, in the community here, support for artists and culture are really strong, so that’s something I really wanted to honor,” she says. Still, Gonzales says that it can be difficult for local artists to find outlets for their work, and it can therefore be fairly easy for overlooked creatives to become burnt out or discouraged. But she says that such obvious commitment to the arts on such a large scale could motivate local creatives to push themselves forward. “I think for artists to see that this kind of opportunity is out there and
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Rock Martinez, 440 N. 7th Ave. Luis Mena, 242 E. Pennington St. Rachel Slick, Tim Schirack and Alexandra Gjurasic, 54 E. Pennington St. Isaac Caruso, 9 N. Scott Ave. Niki Glen, 5th Ave & Toole. Jessica Gonzales, 98 E. Congress St (on Scott Ave). To-Ree-Nee Wolf Keiser, 213 E. Broadway Blvd. Ignacio Garcia, 318 E. Congress (visible from 5th Ave).
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performances Z
Stephen Frankenfield and Shanna Brock in RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN at Live Theatre Workshop
ARIZONA ONSTAGE PRODUCTIONS Broadway, Special Fundraiser June 25, Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave. 270-3332, ArizonaOnStage.org
BLACK CHERRY BURLESQUE Friday June 3, 8pm and 10pm, Surly Wench Pub, 424 N. 4th Ave. 882-0009, TucsonBurlesque.com
FOX TUCSON THEATRE Justin Hayward, June 7, Michael McDonald, June 8, 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org
THE GASLIGHT THEATRE Rise of the Sheik, through June 6, The Freedom League June 9 – August 28, 7010 E. Broadway Blvd. 886-9428, TheGaslightTheatre.com
LIVE THEATRE WORKSHOP Jack and the Beanstalk through June 5, Rapture, Blister, Burn, Through June 11, A Year with Frog and Toad, June 23 - July 9, 5317 E. Speedway Blvd. 327-4242, LiveTheatreWorkshop.org
MAIN GATE SQUARE Friday Night Live Summer Jazz Series - Diane Van Deurzen and Lisa Otey, June 3, Pete Swan Trio featuring Brice Winston, June 17, Music starts at dusk, Geronimo Plaza, Euclid and University Blvd.
NOT BURNT OUT JUST UNSCREWED Improv Comedy Every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:30pm, 861-2986, UnscrewedComedy.com
ODYSSEY STORYTELLING SERIES Wheels, June 2, 7pm, The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress, 730-4112, OdysseyStorytelling.com
June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 19
Luxury Apartment Homes in the heart of Downtown. Now Pre-Leasing. 520 202 7308
PRESIDIO TUCSON
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Art Cubed Genre-bending Art at Baker-Hesseldenz Gallery by Herb Stratford
Scarlet Oracle 6” x 6” x 6”, oil, acrylic and graphite on wood by Kathie Olivas June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 21
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Dancing with the Wolves 6” x 6” x 6”, acrylic and watercolor on wood by Valentina Brostean
Snails3 6” x 6” x 6”, pyography & natural pigments (indigo, tumeric, cochneal, annatto, zinc, fannin, bone char, and malachite) by Fay Helfer
Blush 6” x 6” x 6”, oil and gold leaf on wooden cube by Jaw Cooper 22 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
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his year Baker+Hesseldenz Gallery came up with a unique artistic challenge for their summer exhibition entitled Art3 (Art Cubed), they invited 30 artists from around the world to create work on identical 6” wooden square cubes. What’s remarkable about this artistic experiment are not only the results, but also the gallery-artist interaction that it created—a truly collaborative relationship that has resulted in some one-of-a-kind art objects that must be seen, and in some cases touched. Each of the cubes, made of Baltic Birch, were manufactured by the gallery and came with a small stand to help the artists work on each “face” of the cube. The cubes were shipped directly to the artists who then had 2-4 months to complete their work before sending them back to the gallery. The finished works will be presented on custom shelves mounted to the gallery’s walls, in order to make all sides of the work more visible. But this is also a hands-on exhibition, and thankfully white linen archival gloves will be available for the brave souls who want to pick up the work to look more closely. Mary Anne Hesseldenz feels strongly that viewers should “experience” the cubes in a way that you are not often invited to do. The “interactive nature” of the works is a first for the gallery, and is obviously for adults only. All but one or two of the invited artists ended up working directly on the sides of the boxes, which makes for an additional tactile element thanks to the layering of paint, watercolor or encaustic imagery. Another remarkable and somewhat surprising element of many of the cubes is the way that the artists connected sides of the cubes for more of a continuing narrative. In a way it’s like watching “a painting act like a sculpture” said Hesseldenz. With artists from Japan, Canada, Italy and Australia joining their American counterparts, the show is a real world tour. All of the artists are painters, but some of the
arts Z resulting works take on a more mixed-media appearance in their final iteration. For example one work, by artist Yosuke Ueno features a doll face and wood chips collected in a Japanese forest. Victor Grasso‘s work entitled Carnivore presents meat images on all of the cube surfaces, and a large meat cleaver protruding from the form. Other works of note include the striking pop surrealist cubes by Robert Doucette, Kathie Olivas and Valentina Brostean and the ravishing and haunting work by Hanna Jaeon. What might not be apparent in the initial viewing of the work is the curious collaboration at play with this show. The gallery, leveling the playing field in such a unique way by providing the objects to be worked on, has also become a partner in the endeavor. By asking artists to work outside of their comfort zone, the viewers are forced to reexamine content, style and thought processes along with aesthetic choices. This has also allowed the invited artists to experience their process in a new way, and one of the artists has actually asked the gallery to create an additional series of blank cubes for them to continue working on. One can almost imagine an annual series of exhibitions with different artists working on a rotating collection of forms and surfaces with fascinating results. The finished cubes, which are priced between $450 - $8,000 are all available for sale. It’s easy to imagine grouping several of them together, since they all play off each other so well. One of a kind artist objects are often few and far between, but Baker+Hesseldenz did a great job in selecting artists and providing the perfect medium for a memorable show this summer. n The show is up through early September at the gallery, which is located at 100 East 6th Street in the iconic Tucson Warehouse and Transfer building. Visit bakerhesseldenz.com for gallery hours and more information.
Facets 6” x 6” x 6”, oil, graphite & colored pencil on paper mounted on wood by Mandy Tsung June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 23
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image courtesy of Etherton Gallery
art galleries & exhibits Z
LEWIS FRAMING ARTISTS at Etherton Gallery One of Tucson’s preeminent framing establishments, Lewis Framing Studio, has, over its many years, employed an array of people who have excelled at framing art and objects across the spectrum. Etherton Gallery presents seven of these current and former employees with their own work. David F. Brown, painting; Joe Forkan, painting; David Kish, drawing; Dustin Leavitt, drawing & photography; Doug Shelton, painting; Leslie Wardlaw, jewelry; William Wiggins, painting. Image: “Cactus Brand” by Doug Shelton.
ARTIST STUDIO COOP Andrea Mendola is on view for the month of June with
ETHERTON GALLERY The Artists of Lewis Framing opens Jun 7th through Aug
an opening reception on Jun 4th from 6-9pm. Hours: Sat 12-4pm. 439 N. 6th Ave. Suite 179. ArtistStudioCoop.com
27th with an opening reception from 7-10pm on June 11th. 135 S. 6th Ave. 520-6247370. EthertonGallery.com
ARTSEYE GALLERY
Curious Camera 8th Annual continues through Summer 2016. Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm. 3550 E. Grant Rd. 520-325-0260. ArtsEye.com
IRONWOOD GALLERY 14th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration:
BAKER + HESSELDENZ FINE ART Art Cubed opens with a reception on
JOSEPH GROSS GALLERY
A Hunt Institute Traveling Exhibition is on view to Jun 4th to Aug 28th. Hours: Daily 10am4pm. 2021 N. Kinney Rd. 520-883-3024. DesertMuseum.org
June 4th from 6-9pm. Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-4pm, Sat 10am-2pm or by appointment. 100 E. 6th St. 520-760-0037. BakerHesseldenz.com
Rachel Bess: The Painting Process is open until Sep 2nd. Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm. 1031 N. Olive Rd. 520-626-4215. CFA.arizona.edu/galleries
CONTRERAS GALLERY Tucson is on view from June 4th to 25th with an opening
MERCI GALLERY
reception on June 4th from 6-9pm. Hours: Weds-Sat 10am-4pm. 110 E. 6th St. 520398-6557. ContrerasHouseFineArt.com
DAVIS DOMINGUEZ GALLERY Small Things Considered – 24th Small Works
Merci, Merci Me is on view until Aug 30th. Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-4pm. 630 E. 9th St. 520-623-2114. MerciGallery.com
MINI TIME MACHINE A Model View of Tucson’s Mid-Century Modern Architecture
Invitational is on view to June 27th. Hours: Tues-Fri 11am-5pm; Sat 11am-4pm. 154 E. 6th St. 520-629-9759. DavisDominguez.com
featuring models built by artist Dirk Arnold is on view Jun 7th to Aug 7th. Miniature Military Figures by Joe Seibold will be on view through 2016. Hours: Tues-Sat 9am-4pm and Sun 12-4pm. 4455 E. Camp Lowell Dr. 520-881-0606. TheMiniTimeMachine.org
DEGRAZIA GALLERY IN THE SUN DeGrazia After Dark featuring nocturnal
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART Tucson 3 Ways: A Foray Into Digital
paintings by Ted DeGrazia and The Way of the Cross are on view to Aug 24th. Hours: 10am-4pm daily. 6300 N. Swan Rd. 520-299-9191. DeGrazia.org
Alchemy, Christofer Churchill, Steven Parrino and Gardens of the Pure | Kitty Brophy, Emma Kohlmann, Alice Mackler all open on Jun 18th with a Members’ Preview from 7-9pm and continue through Sep 25th. Hours: Weds-Sun 12-5pm. 265 S. Church Ave. 520-624-5019. MOCA-Tucson.org
DESERT ARTISANS GALLERY Sonoran Sizzle continues to Aug 7th. Meet the Artist series with Dikki Van Helsland “Batik to Dye For!” on Jun 18th from 11am-4pm, free to attend. Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-1:30pm. 6536 E. Tanque Verde Rd. 520-722-4412. DesertArtisansGallery.com
PORTER HALL GALLERY Staff Show is on view Jun 1st to Jul 14th with an artists’ reception Jun 9th from 5-7pm. Hours: Daily 8:30am-4:30pm. 2150 N. Alvernon Way. 520-326-9686. TucsonBotanical.org
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art galleries & exhibits Z
“Curious Camera” at ArtsEye Gallery, through summer 2016. Photo by Diane Fenster.
SOUTHERN ARIZONA WATERCOLOR GUILD Sum-Sum-Summertime is on view Jun 7th to Jul 15th with an opening reception on Jun 10th from 5-7pm. Hours: Tues-Sun 11am-4pm. Williams Centre 5420 East Broadway Blvd #240. 520-299-7294. SouthernAzWatercolorGuild.com
TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART
Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals / Zodiac Heads: Gold is on view to June 26th. Into the Night: Modern and Contemporary Art and the Nocturne Tradition is on view to July 10th. Continuing exhibitions include: La Vida Fantastica: Selections from the Latin American Folk Art Collection; Big Skies/Hidden Stories: Ellen Wagener Pastels; Waterflow: Under the Colorado River Photographs by Kathleen Velo; String Theory: Contemporary Art and the Fiber Legacy. Hours: Tues-Wed & Fri-Sat 10am-5pm; Thurs 10am-8pm; Sun 12-5pm. 140 N. Main Ave. 520-624-2333. TucsonMuseumofArt.org
UA MUSEUM OF ART The Lebowski Cycle By Joe Forkan is on view through Sep 25th with an opening reception on Jun 2nd from 5-7pm. Mapping Q is on view until Jul 31st, Modernist Intersections: The Tia Collection is on view until Oct 9th and McCall At The Movies: Selections from the Archive of Visual Arts is on view to Nov 6th. Hours: Tues-Fri 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun 12-4pm. 1031 N. Olive Rd. 520-621-7567. ArtMuseum.Arizona.Edu
UA POETRY CENTER Ways of Looking: Thirteen Artist Books Inspired by Wallace Stevens is on view to Jun 20th. Hours: Mon & Thurs 9am-8pm; Tues, Weds, Fri 9am5pm. 1508 E. Helen St. 520-626-3765. Poetry.Arizona.Edu
WILDE MEYER GALLERY
Group Show is on view from Jun 2nd to Jul 2nd with an opening reception on Jun 2nd from 5-7pm. Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-5:30pm; Thurs 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-6pm; Sun 12-5pm. 3001 E. Skyline Dr. 520-615-5222, WildeMeyer.com
WOMANKRAFT ART GALLERY Sticks and Stones are Nature’s Bones is on view Jun 4th to Jul 30th with a reception on Jun 4th and Jul 2nd from 7-10pm. Hours: Weds-Sat 1-5pm. 388 S. Stone Ave. 520-629-9976. WomanKraft.org
YIKES TOYS AND GIFT-O-RAMA
Bewitched: Valerie Galloway is on view through Sep 5th with an artist reception on Jun 18th from 6-8pm. Hours: Mon-Sat 10am5:30pm; Sun 10am-3pm. 2930 E. Broadway Blvd. 520-320-5669. YikesToys.com
June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 29
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poetry Z
From: (Capital)
Tucson, AZ news reports an escalating threat of facility destruction and metal theft in public parks. Rains sweep washes with gully washers. Jon calls and we assure each other drunkenness has not ruined our friendship. I ride my Schwinn on a twisting footpath at the rim of a residential wash through cacti and palo verdes. Newly developed plumbing fixtures will keep faucet handles behind walls. Huey Lewis and the News sing “The Power of Love” on the iPod mini. Rabbits and lizards race. The city installs warning signs where washes meet the road. A large bird flaps, but isn’t. It’s javelina charge, halt, stamp, charge, halt, and threat. There is no way to outride it. “No,” I yell, “no!” like at the neighbor’s dogs. It stops, stares. On the residential road “The Power of Love” sounds like a theme park ride crashing through a parking lot next to a small grove of dusky pines. I feel ma, the space between.
--Michael Rerick
Michael Rerick graduated from the MFA program in Poetry at the University of Arizona, worked as the Events Coordinator at the UA Poetry Center, taught at Pima Community College, and was a board member of the POG collective. Currently he teaches in Portland, OR.
WHAT THE TOURISTS MISSED WAS YOU, MISS TANGERINE Some years later, when these grasslands are torn up and planted with machines, they’ll find your dress, dropped off the night we loved and moved by the wind, where it caught, snagged on thorns; your raven called me rascal, your crow would call me knave. Your hair was the talk of the valley, and I could see it, miles off, through the train’s window that I left on in fall; what the tourists missed was you, miss tangerine, and the fire on the leaves under your father’s trees was a fine goodbye. ---Paul Malanga
Paul Malanga is a Tucson native who started writing poetry and playing rock guitar in the early 60s, later teaching at Pima College West for many years.
Zócalo invites poets with Tucson connections to submit up to three original, previously unpublished (including online) poems, any style, 40 line limit per poem. Our only criterion is excellence. No digital submissions, please. Simultaneous submissions ok if you notify ASAP of acceptance elsewhere. Please include the following contact information on each page of your manuscript: mailing address, phone number, and email address. Ms won’t be returned. Notification of acceptance or rejection by email. Zócalo has first North American rights; author may re-publish with acknowledgment to Zócalo. Payment is a one year subscription. Address submissions to Zócalo, Poetry, P.O. Box 1171, Tucson, AZ 85702. The poetry editor is Jefferson Carter.
June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 31
photo courtesy of Desert Harvesters
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food&drink
Screwbean, velvet, and honey mesquites pods
The Mesquite Harvest It’s So Much More Than Just Milling Flour by Craig Baker It’s summer time again and, as many of you already know, that means it’s also mesquite harvesting and milling season in Tucson. And where including mesquite flour in your diet is a great way to add some diversity of flavor to your favorite culinary staples, Desert Harvesters Co-Founder Brad Lancaster would like you to know that the production and cultivation of native wild foods here in Tucson goes much, much further than simply whetting the appetites of local foodies. “We’re trying to get everyone to see the whole picture,” says Lancaster, “so the harvest is way more than just the pods.” Our current agricultural system, says Lancaster, is based on “using imported plants, imported water, and imported fertilizer,” all of which, he points out, takes a major toll on our environment. But the plants that are native to the Tucson area—and that sustained life here for thousands of years before we were tapping the Colorado River as our primary water source—require no such interventions. The native wild food producing plants like the mesquite and ironwood trees, and the cholla and saguaro cacti, he says “are plants that can not only survive here, but thrive here with no imported water or fertilizer.” That’s why Lancaster says that Desert Harvesters is “looking at how we can use what we already have for free in a way that doesn’t deplete the ground water, doesn’t deplete the surface water…but reinfuses our ground water and reinfuses our rivers with water while reducing flooding.” And, Lancaster says, planting native wild food plants “where we live, work, and play,” while incorporating what he calls “water harvesting earthworks” helps to do all of these things while 32 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
simultaneously improving our city’s landscape, as well as the habitat for local wildlife. For this reason, though he says that local landscapes are currently dominated by non-native mesquite species that were largely selected for their tendency to grow quickly, Desert Harvesters focuses its efforts on the three types of mesquite tress native to the region—the screwbean, velvet, and honey mesquites. Not only are the local trees more consistent in taste and texture than imported varieties, but Lancaster says that they are also more beneficial to a number of native birds and insects. He says that a native mesquite will attract over sixty different native pollinators, whereas a non-native tree only attracts about a dozen. Thus, birds like the Wilson’s warbler have adjusted their migration patterns to coincide with the blooming cycles of native mesquites, and have therefore come to depend on those cycles in order to fatten up before the annual trip to their summer range about two-thousand miles north. In support of their mission to increase the abundance of native wild food plants growing in and around Tucson, Lancaster says that Desert Harvesters is planning at least one seed-gathering expedition to look for native mesquites that taste great, ripen pre-monsoon (to avoid the growth of toxic, invisible molds that begin after the rains), and produce dense pod clusters for ease of harvesting. The group intends to harvest the seeds of these tress to sell at their events. That way, interested parties can be sure that they are planting native trees that not only provide summer shade and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities year-
food&drink Z round, but will also provide them with a few pounds of naturally sweet, glutenfree flour every summer to utilize as they see fit. Lancaster says that some of his favorite uses for mesquite include making crackers, pie crust, and pizza dough, or using it to mix with or make coffee. He says it can also be cooked down and made into a syrupy sweetener that actually slows the body’s intake of sugar, making mesquite an ideal food for people who suffer from hypoglycemia or diabetes. Lancaster says that mesquite beans produce a wide range of flavors, from “sweet, to nutty, to sweet-and-sour, to kind of lemony,” and that each and every tree is unique in its flavor profile. Thus, he says it’s important to sample from a number of trees when trying to find your prefect pod for harvest. He says that, when sampling from a mesquite, you should be sure to actually pick from the tree and not from the ground, and that “the pod should be dry enough that, when you bend it, it immediately snaps in two.” It should also be completely yellow, without any green left on it. You can gently work the bean with your teeth and tongue to extract the flavor when sampling, then spit it out. But be careful, as Lancaster says that the seeds are hard enough to crack a tooth. The hammer mills they use to turn the pods into flour, however, are strong enough to grind those seeds right along with the rest of the pod. When sampling mesquite beans, Lancaster says that you will not only want to taste for the presence of any one of the four “bad flavors,” which are “bitter, burning, chalky, or drying of the mouth or throat,” but that you should also look for beans that are particularly good-tasting to you. And it’s not enough to decide simply based on the initial flavor experience, says Lancaster, but that you should also wait for the aftertaste before making a final judgment. “It doesn’t matter how good of a cook you are,” he says, “you can’t take a bad flavor out of a bad-tasting pod.” The mesquite-harvesting events this season kicked off with a fundraiser at La Cocina on May 31 which featured live music, along with food and drinks made from local wild ingredients, and they will continue throughout the month of June. For those looking to learn how to harvest native wild foods for themselves, Desert Harvesters will hold guided native food-harvesting walking and biking tours beginning at the Santa Cruz River Farmers’ Market at Mercado San Augustin on June 16 (tickets are $10). A concurrent demonstration at the market will showcase ways to turn those harvested ingredients into a range of culinary delights. The following week at the same location, June 23 is the 14th Annual Mesquite Milling and Wild Foods Fiesta, to which you can bring your clean and sorted mesquite pods to be ground into flour on site for a small fee. For reference, Lancaster says that it takes about five minutes to grind five gallons of harvested pods into about one gallon of flour. Other events include a mesquite seed collecting workshop, a happy hour fundraiser at Tap & Bottle, and a saguaro fruit harvesting workshop. More details are available on the Desert Harvesters website, the address to which is provided below. Though Lancaster doesn’t expect to turn all Tucsonans into expert harvesters of wild food overnight, he says that the work of Desert Harvesters serves the greater purpose of “trying to shift how people see agriculture, and to (encourage them to) practice it in a way that does not degrade our environment, but enhances it.” For this reason, the Desert Harvesters events are “meant to be a full hands-on, mouth-on experience; we want people to not just get the theory, but to actually experience it,” Lancaster says. This kind of immersion, he says, is the only way to fully grasp the connection that already exists between the people that live in Tucson and the historic, natural agriculture of the region they call home. “We’re trying to deepen people’s engagement and relationships with these plants,” says Lancaster. And once you begin to harvest from the abundance that occurs naturally around you, Lancaster says you’ll likely find that, not only is it better for you, and better for the environment, but it’s ultimately “easier than going to the store.” And cheaper, too. What could be better than that? n For more information on the Desert Harvesters-sponsored mesquite milling and wild food harvesting events taking place this month, visit them online at DesertHarvesters.org.
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photo: Craig Baker
Greg Denker of American Bee Control 34 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
photo: Craig Baker
southwest Z
Badass Bees May Mean Healthier Hives by Craig Baker When he opened the first two hives, the reaction of the bees was measured enough—probably less than what the average person would expect in response to disturbing of a colony of defensive, stinging insects. A few-dozen ascended to investigate, though they seemed pacified by the aluminum smoker and they weren’t stinging. Greg Denker, bee breeder and founder of American Bee Control, was even able to brush congregations of insects gently off of their combs in order to display and then collect the frames, which he took to his headquarters in southeast Tucson that afternoon to harvest. The third hive, however, was what Denker would call “hot.” He rates bees on an aggression scale of one-to-five and these, he says, were a four. To me, though—since this was my first time being attacked by “killer” bees—I would have put it closer to a fifteen. There were thousands of them, maybe tensof-thousands, many of them hurling themselves against the black veil of my borrowed bee suit. Denker says that, when in attack mode, the bees will target your face by seeking out the carbon dioxide in your breath. And there were stings. Hundreds of them; all over the suit, the cotton gloves, and especially on my dark-colored camera strap. Bees are apparently attracted to dark colors. The noise was deafening and, despite the protection of full-body coverage, the effect in that moment was one of genuine, jaw-clenching fear for those unprepared. Denker owns and manages more than a thousand colonies of bees peppered throughout the area surrounding Tucson, every one of which is occupied by thousands of individuals of the subspecies Apis mellifera scutellata, also known as Africanized “killer” bees. A. m. scutellata made their way to the Americas in the late 1950s after escaping from experimental breeding colonies in Brazil and spread to the United States by the 1990s. Though he says that most of the beekeeping community prefers to work with the traditional Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) due to their decidedly more agreeable temperament, Denker thinks that there are advantages to working with A. m. scutellata that beekeepers simply can’t get from the bees of European origin. Namely, Denker says that his bees are some of the healthiest in America, and he appears to be right.
The massive bee die-off that began about ten years ago coincided with a rather mysterious occurrence called Colony Collapse Disorder (CDC). Jay Evans, the Lead Bee Researcher at the US Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service in Beltsville, MD, explains that worker bees were essentially abandoning healthy queens by the thousands, causing hives to disappear overnight. He says that incidents of CDC now seem to have leveled off, but that bee numbers are still dropping at alarming rates. According to Evans, winter losses for beekeepers last year were between thirty and forty percent— historical losses prior to 2006 often measured in at about five-to-ten percent. And there are other issues facing America’s bee population, as well. Evans says that diseases, parasites, drought, and exposure to pesticides have all been indicated as causes for bee death. At least one study points to climate change, saying that global warming is gradually reducing the honey bee’s natural range. Still, Evans says that different populations of bees are impacted by their own unique set of circumstances. “What’s important in one region doesn’t always seem to reflect what’s going on in another area,” he says. There is one issue, however, that appears to be running rampant in the beekeeping community—a parasitic mite called the Varroa which was introduced to the US from Asia in the 1980s. About 1mm in diameter, Varroa mites are large enough to be seen by the naked eye and, though they look small to us, these little bloodsuckers cause enormous damage to the bees they use as hosts. “Imagine you had a tick the size of a kitten attached to your stomach,” explains Denker. And not only do they suck the blood of their hosts, thereby weakening them and shortening the bees’ lifespans, the Varroa mites also carry diseases like Deformed Wing Virus which they can pass on to the bees. The Varroa mites have become so prolific that Evans says they affect “right around one-hundred percent” of managed colonies in the United States. “There’s almost no population of any size that doesn’t have Varroa mites and, by association, the diseases they carry,” he says. Beekeepers have a number of pharmaceutical treatments at their disposal for use in treating the problem, but medication has become so commonplace that most bee colonies are now dependent on such interventions. “The mites are bad enough at this point
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for local bees that quitting cold-turkey would be really devastating to the beekeepers,” Evans says. And that would no doubt be devastating to the $17 billion in agricultural products that depend on bees for pollination, as well as the $150 million honey industry. Denker, for his part, says he refuses to medicate his bees, and he insists that the pharmaceutical remedies available to him as a beekeeper can lead to other problems within a colony. But he says that his reliance on Africanized bees has meant that he doesn’t need to medicate. A. m. scutellata, says Denker, are more aggressive in defending each other against the mites than A. mellifera. And since the Africanized bees develop a bit quicker than Western honey bees, Denker says that the mites are less developed themselves and are thus easier to contend with when the bees emerge from pupation. Evans points out that the Brazilian government made a policy decision in the 1980s not to combat Varroa mites with pharmaceuticals and that, today, “the Africanized bees in Brazil are super-resistant to parasitic mites.” He says this may have something to do with environmental pressures faced by the African subspecies historically, coupled with that decision not to treat for mites. Still, bees in Brazil “don’t suffer from (Varroa mites) in the way that bees everywhere else in the world are suffering right now,” says Evans. While most beekeepers are losing bees in record numbers, Denker’s apiary is growing; just the week before his interview for this story he says his live bee removal service added another 23 colonies to his collection, all of them perfectly healthy. And, he says, contrary to popular belief, most Africanized bees don’t display the unpredictable aggression for which they’ve become known. On one end of the spectrum, Denker says he’s seen Africanized bees that were even approachable without the aid of a smoker. “The great majority 36 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
photo: Craig Baker
Z southwest
of the Africanized bees are just wonderful, fine bees,” Denker says, “but at least one-in-ten or two-in-ten are the ones that are newsworthy, in terms of that they’ll kill people.” Still, Denker points to a 2006 genomic study published in Science magazine which concluded that A. millifera—the European variety—actually had its origins in Africa, and that it has likely hybridized with the African subspecies at least twice again. Thus, Denker believes that he can selectively breed a new bee that combines the best traits from both worlds. “I think it’s entirely possible to derive a strain of bees that are productive, manageable, and ultra-intolerant of parasitic Varroa mites,” says Denker, “I’m confident of that.” And it seems he’s at least got a running start on the rest of the industry in that regard. n For more information on Greg Denker’s bee removal services or the honey produced by his bees, visit AmericanBeeControl.net and WagonWheelRanchArizona.com, respectively. If you see a swarm of bees, Tucson Fire Department Public Information Officer Barrett Baker says to stay clear. “The best case obviously is to avoid them and to minimize your expose to the bees,” he says. If the bees are on your property, keep your animals indoors and avoid running noisy equipment. If they don’t move on within a few hours or they appear to be settling into a cavity, call a bee removal specialist. If you are attacked “the biggest and most important thing is to try to get to cover,” Baker says. Protect your face and get inside, even if some of the bees follow you. If you can’t get inside a building or vehicle, the only option is to outrun them, says Baker, as even going under water will not deter them. “Just turn around and get away as quickly as possible,” says Baker.
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38 ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com | June 2016
Photo by Yvonne Madrigal.
soundalternatives Z
Full-Length Recordings Still Alive and Well by Jim Lipson Ice-9 The fact that Steve Grams and Danny Krieger’s most recent CD, The Best? has been out for almost two years, does not diminish how this collection of recycled, re-recorded tunes, remains an essential part of any contemporary and original blues collection. (Notice we left out the word local as a modifier.) To many, Gram’s and Krieger are primarily known an acoustic duo. If you’re a purist, you’ll find plenty of Krieger’s trademark acoustic picking and slide guitar work to go along with Gram’s acoustic double bass. “Make Up Your Mind” and “Never Been to New Orleans” are two of the songs they’ve rerecorded, each one showing how a strong argument can be made for keeping it simple while posing the question, why even bother to play electric or involve other people? Ditto for “50 Days” “Chingaso” and “Blues all Day,” all great songs with a similar feel and from previously released CDs no longer in print. “Push’ll Come to Shove,” which comes at the tail end of the album was actually the first of the tunes to be re-recorded in 2013. The biggest surprise here is Krieger’s work on the piano. Sounding so at ease and on point, his licks are surprisingly reminiscent of Billy Payne’s playing with Little Feat. Who knew? He adds more piano and organ on “Lay Low” and “Chilly Side of Town” two of the “new” songs with a decidedly electric feel pushed by a big rhythm section with lots of grit, and featuring Ralph Gilmore on drums. In a town that can boast having so many good drummers, Gilmore, a frequent compadre and companion to G&K on stage, may arguably be the best of the best. He, along with guitarist Richie Cavanaugh are also featured in a generous helping of tunes from the legendary Fluffingtons project which also offers a couple of Krieger’s more adventurous arrangements in “Where are You Now” and “I Waited Up for You.” Other treats include “Yep,” which may best reflect Krieger’s somewhat irreverent sense of humor (occasionally displayed in his Facebook posts) as well as Grams’ “You’ll Be Gone” a truly great song with a vocal so pure it transcends the genre. And then there is Arthur Migliazza’s special guest appearance on “Train Beat Boogie,” tearing it up on the grand piano and then trading licks with Krieger on electric guitar. Without really knowing them, these two dudes are probably as different as night and day. Given instruments and any excuse to play however, these guys complement each other in ways that might best be described as one wild and whacky but functional marriage. Go figure.
Grams & Krieger In addition to weekly appearances with the Bad News Blues Band, Wednesday nights at the Chicago Bar, and other assorted gigs around town, Grams & Krieger will be headlining the opening night of the Bisbee Blues Festival at the Bisbee Royale on Friday, September 9. In a stark contrast to Grams & Krieger who average triple digits when it comes to live shows per year, Ice-9 can usually count the number of times it plays out annually on one hand. Well, maybe two but that’s in a busy year. What’s even more remarkable is that given the lack of work, or more to the point, a lack of interest in work, is how the nucleus of this band, guitarist and songwriter Mike Tanzillo and harmonica player Richard M, have kept this enterprise afloat through the better parts of four decades. But that hasn’t kept Tanzillo from writing, and in Magic, Ice-9’s third CD, he, Richard and their longtime bassist Slim Rost have delivered 14 original tunes that are a seamless blend of blues with elements of folk, country, a little gospel and in one case swing. OK, let’s get to the swing. Five tunes in, after some easy going blues (Won’t Let You Down”), a clever will we or won’t we relationship duet with Nancy Lynn Bright, a few borrowed riffs from Riot in Cell Block #9 (“Cold War”), and a country blues (“No Other”) Magic takes a sharp turn into swingland with “Anything You Please.” Because it’s so different and has a bit more of a kick to it, it’s hard not to sit up and take notice. At this point it’s also clear how prominent the work of their two stellar side players, Mitzi Cowell on guitars and dobro and Nick Augustine on drums has become. While Richard’s signature harmonica work, played through an amp, has always defined the sound of this band, the strength of his playing is in the rhythmic fills he provides throughout the verses. As expected he also gets to take several nifty solos and occasionally he gets to trade licks with Cowell whose guitar, so tasteful throughout, is all over this recording. Her subtle dobro work with Richard’s harp on the Woody Guthrie like “My Religion” is but one of Magic’s many memorable moments in an album that will grow on you with each additional listening. n Ice-9 and company will play a CD release show at the Boondocks Lounge, 3306 N. First Ave, on Sunday, June 12 from 5:30-8:30 PM. June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 39
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tunes Z
What’s Live…Downtown by Jim Lipson
There’s a certain mythology that states when summer hits—and make no mistake about it, June is the hottest month—everything that makes this town such a rich potpourri of music and art, dries up as does our humidity depleted desert habitat. As you can see from even the following limited entertainment guide to what’s live and playing downtown, this mythology is simply that, more imagined than real. In fact there is so much more going on downtown in June, than we have space for in this particular article. And so with apologies to Leon Russell, Stephen Marley, Junior Brown, Los Lonely Boys with Sisters Morales, James Taylor and Squirrel Nuit Zipper (and their promotors)--all of whom are playing in June, we offer a slightly more detailed look at three different shows for your consideration. With all that in mind, pick your spots, get a babysitter if necessary, and go out and enjoy! Justin Hayward – Fox Theatre, Tuesday, June 7 – This is the second big tour that Hayward, guitarist, writer and one of the principle and instantly recognizable voices behind the Moody Blues, has gone out on for a mostly acoustic tour featuring songs from his most recent studio release, Spirits of the Western Sky as well as stripped down arrangements of several of his tunes from the Moodys. At 71 no one would begrudge Hayward for not hitting all of the big notes and really pushing the melodies so much associated with such well-worn classics as “Tuesday Afternoon,” “Question” and any number of tunes that, if you are of a certain age and hung with a certain crowd, are now a part of your musical DNA. But the truth is he still sounds great and hearing those tunes without all the excesses of a big band is a welcome shot of fresh air for these classic pieces. This configuration also works well for presenting the new tunes for which many of these songs were written. He’ll be a trio for this tour backed by Mike Dawes on guitar and Julie Ragins on keyboards and vocals. If you liked the idea of Peter Frampton’s acoustic tour, you will also love and appreciate this presentation. Michael McDonald – Fox Theatre, Wednesday, June 8 – Sometimes it’s hard to believe that he was a member of the Doobie Brothers during their mid-1970s Bay Area hey-day, when most of them had hair falling down to their butts, or
so it seemed. But as a primary mover/shaker within the Doobies at that time, he was writing and belting out tunes like “Takin’ it to the Streets,” “Minute by Minute,” and “What a Fool Believes.” So whatever you think of the “blue eyed soul” or soft jazz label he’s been saddled with, it’s worth mentioning he was also a member of the early Steely Dan before the Doobies. And in a relatively recent 2013 recording, he’s found keeping company with the great blues guitarist Robben Ford so he’s got plenty of good street cred. With Ford, McDonald is featured in full voice and singing the shit out of everything from blues to funk to a beautifully crafted Latin tune. He has since recorded a reunion album with the Doobies, Southbound, and is now fronting a seven piece band on this current tour. Should you make it out, this is be one of those shows that will be extremely memorable with first time McDonald goers being especially impressed. John Mayall – Rialto Theatre, Friday, June 17 – If your first thoughts go to something like, “hey, is he still alive?” don’t feel badly. He’s 83 freakin’ years old! But this master, who helped apprentice so many blues guitarists and bassists who went on to rise to their own legendary status—people like Eric Clapton, Peter Green, John McVie Jack Bruce and Mick Taylor to name a few--is still going strong. And his role as apprentice was only fitting given how a young Mayall was originally encouraged and given opportunities to play in sessions led by folks like John Lee Hooker, T-Bone Walker and Sonny Boy Williamson. Talk about paying it forward… Now with a new producer and label, Mayall is touring in support of 2014’s A Special Life as well as 2013’s Find a Way Justin Hayward to Care, the latter being an album where he plays lots of keyboards in addition to harp and guitar. And damn, he’s still bringing it vocally along with a kickass band that any octogenarian would be proud to be seen on stage with. Local blues prodigy (and this is maybe the last time I get to say that), Roman Barten-Sherman and the Interstellar Blues Orchestra opens the show. n Visit rialtotheatre.com and foxtucson.com for more info on tickets and times. June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 41
Photo curtesy foxtucson.com.
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Justin Hayward Presents Stage Door at Fox Theatre Tuesday, June 7.
Al Perry appears at Cafe Coronet Thursday, June 30.
LIVE MUSIC Schedules accurate as of press time. Visit the web sites or call for current/detailed information.
2ND SATURDAYS DOWNTOWN Congress Street, 2ndSaturdaysDowntown.com Sat 12: Please see web site f
BOONDOCKS LOUNGE 3306 N. 1st Ave. 690-0991, BoondocksLounge.com Wed 1: Nancy & The Scarlet Lettermen Sun 5: Heather Hardy & Lil’ Mama Band Mon 6: The Bryan Dean Trio Sat 11: The Coolers Sun 12: Ice-9, Mitzi Cowell, Nick Augustine and Bright & Childers. Mon 13: The Bryan Dean Trio Fri 17: Johnny Ain’t Right Sat 18: Heather & Li’l Mama Band Sun 19: The Last Call Girls Mon 20:The Bryan Dean Trio Fri 24: Anna Warr & Giant Blue Sat 25: Frank & Friends Mon 27: The Bryan Dean Trio
BORDERLANDS BREWING 119 E. Toole Ave. 261-8773, BorderlandsBrewing.com Fri 3: Tiny House of Funk Sat 4: Bufflegrass Sun 5: Kevin Pakulis Sat 11: Tortolita Gutpluckers
CAFE PASSE 415 N. 4th Ave. 624-4411, CafePasse.com Thursdays: Jazz with Glen Gross & Friends
ches lounge 350 N. 4th Ave. 623-2088, ChesLounge.com For information please visit the web site.
CLUB CONGRESS 311 E. Congress St. 622-8848, HotelCongress.com/club Wed 1: Tammy West & The Culprits, Michael P. & The Gullywashers, Mitzi Cowell Thu 2: Bogan Via & Belinda Esquer Fri 3: Bob Schneider Sat 4: Madeaux, Danh, Bob Really, Sndrew Shuta, Sid The Kid Sun 5: Pigpen Theatre Co., The Morningsiders Tue 7: Amped Up! Open Mic Wed 8: Ohioan, The Myrrors, Sunf*cked Thu 9: Optimist Club: Prayers, Drab Majesty, E_Rupt Sat 11: Bidi Bidi Banda (Selena Tribute Band) Sun 12: Natasha Leggero & Moshe Kasher Mon 13: Architecture EP Release, Digital Persuasion, The Rifle Tue 14: Gondwana Wed 15: Humming House, Carlos Arzate & The Kind Souls Thu 16: Optimist Club: Summer Cannibals and Billy Changer Fri 17: King Woman, Wax Dolls Sat 18: Underwear Party V Sun 19: Jaill, Lenguas Largas, The Desert Beats Mon 20: Never Shout Never, Hundered Handed, Me Like Bees Tue 21: Jess Williamson and Mirror Travel, Ziemba, The Wanda Junes, Jess Matsen
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Fri 24: La Inedita Sat 25: Dustbowl Revival, Birds and Arrows Sun 26: Good Old War, Empty Houses Tue 28: Holy Wave, The Myrrors, Daycones Wed 29: Naytronix Thu 30: Bad Suns, Groves
Cafe Coronet 402 E. 9th St. 222-9889 CafeCoronet.com Wed 1: Dan Stokes Thu 2: Christina Antipa Sun 5: Hank Topless Tue 7: O Ryne Warner Wed 8: T.S. Henry Webb Thu 9: Ryan Chavira Sun 12: Kyklo Tue 14: Natalie Pohanic Wed 15: T.S. Henry Webb Thu 16: Kevin Pakulis Band Tue 21: Moss Orion Wed 23: Mariah McCammond Tue 28: O Ryne Warner Wed 29: Jamie O’Brien Thu 30: Al Perry
LA COCINA 201 N. Court Ave. 622-0351, LaCocinaTucson.com Wed 1: Miss Lana Rebel & Kevin Michael Mayfield Thu 2: Freddy Parish, Miss Massive Snowflake Fri 3: Greg Morton & Friends, Scatter Gather Sat 4: Nathaniel Burnside Duo Sun 5: Mik and the Funky Brunch Wed 8: Miss Lana Rebel & Kevin Michael Mayfield Thu 9: Louise Le Hir Fri 10: Greg Morton & Friends
Sun 12: Mik and the Funky Brunch Wed 15: Miss Lana Rebel & Kevin Michael Mayfield Fri 17: Greg Morton & Friends, Cold Sweat Sun 19: Mik and the Funky Brunch Wed 22: Miss Lana Rebel & Kevin Michael Mayfield Fri 24: Greg Morton & Friends Sat 25: Kitchen Sync Sun 26: Mik and the Funky Brunch Wed 29: Miss Lana Rebel & Kevin Michael Mayfield
CUSHING STREET BAR & RESTAURANT 198 W. Cushing St. 622-7984, CushingStreet.com Fridays & Saturdays: Cool Jazz
DELECTABLES RESTAURANT 533 N. 4th Ave. 884-9289, Delectables.com Fri 3: Adara Rae Sat 4: Don Armstrong Fri 10: Leila Lopez Sat 11: Eb Eberlein Fri 17: Adara Rae Sat 18: Puca Sat 25: Mitzi Cowell
Ermanos 220 N 4th Ave, 445-6625 ermanosbrew.com Thu 2: Adam Townsend Band Thu 9: Band of Angels Thu 16: Leila Lopez Band Thu 23: Real Love and The Counterfeits
FLYCATCHER 340 E. 6th St. 798-1298, TheFlycatcherTucson.com Thu 2: Katterwail, Krab Legz, Dread Cat & The Transitional Wave
Photo courtesy rialtotheatre.com.
Photo courtesy hotelcongress.com.
Humming House appearing at Club Congress Wednesday, June 15.
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Los Lonely Boys perform at The Rialto Theatre Saturday, June 11.
Thu 23: Chiefs, The Stalins of Sound, Methra, The Erudites Fri 24: Asian Fred, Ne-Hi, Macaulay Vulcan
FOX TUCSON THEATRE 17 W. Congress St. 624-1515, FoxTucsonTheatre.org Tue 7: Justin Hayward Presents Stage Door Wed 8: Michael McDonald Fri 10: Rumours—The Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute
HACIENDA DEL SOL 5501 N. Hacienda Del Sol. 2991501, HaciendaDelSol.com Nightly: Live Music on the Patio For information please visit the web site.
The Hut 305 N. 4th Ave., 623-3200 huttucson.com Sundays: Acoustic Open Mic, with Cadillac Mountain Fridays: Sunset Soul with Kelsey St. Germaine Saturdays: Mike & Randy’s 420 Show with Top Dead Center
MONTEREY COURT 505 W. Miracle Mile, MontereyCourtAZ.com Wed 1: Nick McBlaine & Log Train Thu 2: Tony Furtado Band Fri 3: Kevin Pakulis Band Sat 4: Heather Lil Mama Hardy & her band Sun 5: Nancy Elliott & FriendsSunday Brunch Performances, Michael Moynihan Quartet - CD Release Tue 7: Nancy McCallion & Danny Krieger w/guest Heather Hardy
Wed 8: Tucson Songwriters Showcase Thu 9: Corey Spector Fri 10: Amber Norgaard Band Sat 11: Ronstadt Generations Tue 14: Brian Keith Wallen Fri 17: John Coinman Band with special guests – A KXCI Fundraising Event Sat 18: ROH Sun 19: Wild Women – Diane Van Deurzen & Lisa Otey Tue 21: The Tucsonics – Western Swing Wed 22: Don Armstrong & Friends Thu 23: Touch of Grey Fri 24: Rhythm Jax Sat 25: Off the Ground Sun 26: Silk and Soul Thu 30: Kind Buds
PLAYGROUND TUCSON 278 E. Congress. 396-3691, PlaygroundTucson.com Sundays: The George Howard Band
Plaza Palomino 2990 N. Swan Rd., 907-7325 plazapalomino.com Sat 18: Santa Pachita Band
RIALTO THEATRE 318 E. Congress St. 740-1000, RialtoTheatre.com Wed 1: Ice Kream Man Tour with Ginuwine, Karlos Farrar, Kevin & Tanishia Hamilton Thu 2: Chase Rice Fri 3: Leon Russell Sun 5: Stephen “Ragga” Marley Tue 7: Junior Brown, Hank Topless Band Thu 9: Dillon Francis, Neo Fresco Jun 11: Los Lonely Boys, Sisters Morales
Sun 12: Curren$y: Cruis’n USA Tour, Greedy Green, Tommy Will Mon 13: Los Van Van Tue 14: Gregory Porter, Kandace Springs Wed 15: Rogue Wave, Floating Action Fri 17: John Mayall, Roman BartenSherman and the Interstellar Blues Orchestra Sun 19: Buckethead Wed 22: Jaquees—Mood Tour Thu 23: Moonshine Bandits Fri 24: Local Love Metal Fest VIII— Tridon, Infinitely Zero, Ashbury, Push, Slow Truck, Tribulance Wed 29: Squirrel Nut Zippers
Royal Sun Lounge 1003 N Stone Ave (520) 622-8872 BWRoyalSun.com Sun-Tue: Happy Hour Live Music Sundays: Ivan Denis
The Screening Room 127 E. Congress (520) 882-0204 screeningroomtucson.com Fri 3: Straight Villain, Jeremy Michael Cashman & His Wooden Hearts, Mike P. Nordberg & Joel Ford Fri 10: The Rifle, PIPELiGHTS, and Earth Won Fri 17: Los Guapos, Hey Bucko!
Sea Of Glass--Center For The Arts 330 E. 7th St., 398-2542 TheSeaOfGlass.org Visit web site for information.
SKY BAR TUCSON 536 N. 4th Ave, 622-4300. SkyBarTucson.com
Wed 1: Open Mic Thu 2: Fire & Gold Belly Dance, mantra Love, Miss Massive Snowflake, Daycones, The Desert Beats Sat 4: Theory Room, The Desert Beats, PIPELiGHTS Sun 5: Yarss, Wrtch, Ryan Chavira Tue 7: Tom Walbank, Mik & Scott Wed 8: Open Mic Thu 9: Riley Grey and the Vibe, The Blank Trio, Coltron Fri 10: Cirque Roots Sat 11: The Receiver, Macaulay Vulcan Tue 14: Tom Walbank, Haboob Wed 15: Open Mic Thu 16: Lauren Crosby, Things That Aren’t Words Sat 18: IOTA, Emory, Thomas Rex Tue 21: Tom Walbank, Zak Taylor Duo Wed 22: Open Mic Fri 24: Cirque Roots, The Mission Creeps Sat 25: Belinda Esquer Tue 28: Tom Walbank, Haboob Wed 29: Open Mic
SOLAR CULTURE 31 E. Toole Ave. 884-0874, SolarCulture.org Visit web site for information.
Tap & Bottle 403 N. 6th Ave. 344-8999 TheTapandBottle.com Thu 2: Sunduster Thu 9: Infinite Mercies Thu 16: Rich Hopkins and the Luminarios Thu 23: Leigh Lesho Thu 30: Billy Sedlmayr
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Z tucsonstreetportraits by Andrew Brown / @aemerybrown
Brad and Stephanie at Presta Gil
Cristina Perez untitled
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lookback Z
by Jeff Weber / @loljeffweber
Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Jae Tilt performing at the Tucson Museum of Contemporary Art summer opening concert. (5/21/16); Gallery Azul and Artist Studio Co-op open studio weekend - Artist, Kelly Linebaugh (5/22/16); Gallery Azul and Artist Studio Co-op open studio weekend - Artist, Tori Oswald (5/22/16); 8th Annual Agave Fest at Hotel Congress (5/7/16)
June 2016 | ZOCALOMAGAZINE.com 45
SIZZLING SUMMER SHOWS! Live Music, Classic Films & More! 2016 - 2017 Season SPONSOR
The Crown Jewel of Downtown
Fox Summer Film Series Moody Blues Icon
JUSTIN HAYWARD JUN 7 | 7:30 PM
Fleetwood Mac Tribute
RUMOURS JUN 10 | 7:30 PM
Doobie Brothers Legend
MICHAEL MCDONALD JUN 8 | 7:30 PM
John Denver Tribute
JUN 25 | 7:30 PM
JUN 18 | 7:30 PM
JUL 16 | 7:30 PM
JUL 23 | 7:30 PM
CHRIS COLLINS JUL 8 | 7:30 PM
*More films being added soon to the summer line-up! Check our website!
2016 2017 Singer/Songwriter
CHRIS ISAAK JUL 26 | 7:30 PM
SISTER’S SUMMER SCHOOL CATECHISM AUG 5 | 7:30 PM
SEASON SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT June 3rd @ 12 Noon
MEMBERS ONLY PRE-SALE June 7th @ 12 Noon thru June 14th PUBLIC ON SALE June 14th @ 12 Noon
Become a Member
Rumba/Flamenco Favorites
GIPSY KINGS AUG 17 | 7:30 PM
A Van Morrison Experience
DOMINO AUG 20 | 7:30 PM
Tickets at FoxTucson.com
($75 or more) before 6/14 to secure the best tickets and enjoy all the other benefits of a Fox Tucson Membership!
Box Office 17 W. Congress 520.547.3040
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1668 E Forgeus, $178,000
3458 E Bellevue, $168,000
921 S. Meyer, $559,800
736 S Herbert, $158,000
217 E 21st, $148,000
990 S. Meyer, $331,800
The Flash, $475,000
LAND in the Barrio from $68,000- $180,000