Tucson Public Art the Good, the Bad and the Ugly!

- This program is not currently scheduled -

A full luncheon at Susana Davila’s famous Cafe Poca Cosa is included!

Please call Piet & Mary at (520) 887-2340 in Tucson for information and reservations

The Rattlesnake Bridge! You've driven under it...but have you walked across it?

with U/A Professor Alfred Quiroz

Above, Professor Quiroz talks the group through the Chicano world of history, art, religion, conquest, myth and dreams, 

as revealed in the grand mural by David Tineo and Antonio Pazos at the Tucson Museum of Art

This unique learning vacation is co-sponsored by the Arizona/Sonora Desert Museum and Baja's Frontier Tours.

  http://www.desertmuseum.org For over a half-century the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum has fulfilled its mission: to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert. We are proud to provide a part of that learning and inspiration to members, visitors and the community through our learning vacations. Membership is a click away: http://www.desertmuseum.org/members/benefits.html

RESERVATIONS?  QUESTIONS?

Call Mary & Piet at (520) 887-2340 in Tucson, Arizona for more information

Saturday January 14, 2006...Reserving Now

A full luncheon at Susana Davila’s famous Cafe Poca Cosa is included!

It seems that everyone has an opinion about public art – from the rattlesnake bridge over Broadway to the red sculpture Sonora at the downtown library. But, how many of us feel comfortable judging a work of art as good, or not so good, or even just plain ugly? Public art is an important reflection of a community, but who decides? Join this special opportunity to experience Tucson’s public art from an art appreciation perspective, and from an insider’s viewpoint as well. Your guide is University of Arizona art professor Alfred Quiroz, an early and active participant in the barrio mural scene. Working with the Tucson-Pima Arts Council, he has been instrumental in the selection process for a number of the works seen around town. Incisive and provocative, Quiroz raises questions that might not otherwise be asked and considers the often complex and untold social, legal and political decisions surrounding an artist’s work. We’ll visit the oldest and newest barrio murals, learning more about today’s trends in the mural movement. 

Alfred Quiroz, professor in the School of Art at the University of Arizona, has created and participated in many mural projects in his native Tucson since the 1970’s. Quiroz has worked with neighborhood residents, gang members and his students to facilitate the participants’ utilization of their own concepts. “My motivation for mural-making is more toward a community statement. An enhancement of the artificial environment,” says Quiroz. “In 1990 I dreamed and had suggested that Tucson could be the Mural Capital of the U.S. Muralism continues as a way of public visual communication.”  

Join Alfred for this day wherein he shares his passion and some of his favorite and most significant projects. If you’ve enjoyed Barrio Murals with us before, this more-or-less annual program always includes something new, and this year Tucson's public art will be featured. Alfred will add delightfully to your knowledge of Tucson’s public art, the good, the bad, and the ugly! 

Even more, Professor Quiroz dives into every facet of his life as an artist. He knows how to see. And he is very skillful at sharing that essential skill as an art form with his students. Come and be his student for a day. You'll learn a lot about Tucson and its heritage, and a bit about yourself, too. And rest assured, you'll savor every bite of nourishment and every nuance of conversation during our very relaxed and leisurely break for a complete lunch, beverages (non-alcoholic are included) and dessert at downtown’s renowned Cafe Poca Cosa, plus comfortable luxury motor coach transportation from Tohono Chul Park is included. Fully escorted by Mary and Piet, of course, with able assistance from Marcia Quiroz.