City Week

WINTRY CERAMICS

The folks at the Obsidian Gallery promise that "a wintry, serene black-and-white mood will pervade" their new exhibition.

That's cool. Seeing as there's nothing black and white or serene about Tucson's winters, we could use it. On second thought, Tucson's winters aren't even wintery, or wintry, or however you spell it.

Forgive me; I am rambling. Back to the exhibition, which features ceramics by Texas artist Mary Fischer and Bisbee artist Toni Sodersten. Fisher's works are described as "express(ing) a sense of place and a feeling of mystery. She uses stains and slips on her porcelain slab-built house forms." Meanwhile, Sodersten's works are "more figurative and whimsical. She often combines the clay with forged steel."

And to top it off, the exhibit features jewelry by Reiko Ishiyama, which is described as the Obsidian folks as "the essence of contemporary simplicity. There is movement and dimension in her innovative work."

OK then. Go check it out; the gallery is open from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 11-4 on Sunday. Admission is free.

ORGANIC GARDENING IN THE DESERT

If wintry, serene, black-and-white moods aren't your thang, then head to the library instead to discuss gardening.

While a library seems like an odd place to discuss gardening, considering the distinct lack of, say, dirt or the outdoors there, take note: This workshop will cover the basics of organic gardening, and cover the ins and outs of what you'll need to do in order to prepare for spring planting. And the organizer of the workshop promises "informative hand-outs." Gosh, how we love informative hand-outs!

Admission to the workshop, which will be held in the lower-level conference room, is free.

FIRE! FIRE! FIRE!!!

Let's say you have some free time on Saturday, Jan. 10 at 10 a.m. You're not into wintry, serene, black-and-white moods, and you're not the organic gardening type, either. Well, my fine unfeathered friend, all is not lost! We have the perfect event for you!

It's a seminar called Friction Firemaking. Taught by Danny August, the founder of the Desert People Wilderness School, the class will provide an opportunity for you to learn how to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together.

Really, that's the point of the class. Now, you may mutter: "Why should I pay some dude named Danny to teach me how to start a fire by rubbing sticks together, when I can just go out and rub two sticks together, and teach myself?" Well, to you, we reply: Have you ever just gone out and ignorantly tried to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together? We here at City Week have, and while we didn't get any flames, we did develop a raging case of carpal tunnel.

So there's something to this class. Tuition is $15, and you have to register by calling 954-2004.

CLICK, CLACK, MOO

We here at City Week love children's books. They have some of the coolest themes and titles. Our all-time favorite children's book--which is a real, honest-to-goodness, popular book that can be found at many fine children's bookstores, a book that was even reviewed by Publisher's Weekly--is a work by Taro Gomi called Everyone Poops.

It's a classic with a universal theme.

While they won't be reading Everyone Poops this week at the Foothills Mall Barnes & Noble storytime, they will be reading a couple of books about animals: Click, Clack, Moo by Doreen Cronin, and The Water Hole by Graeme Base.

Admission, of course, is free.

FIRST LADY OF FOLK

Before techno and headbanger music and Eminem and the Dixie Chicks, and even before Lisa Otey, there was music with instruments such as dulcimers and harps.

The Tucson Friends of Traditional Music exist to keep that kind of music alive, and they're presenting a concert by Margaret MacArthur, who specializes in the dulcimer and the harp. But you can call her the First Lady of Folk.

That's what she's called in Vermont, her home state; in 2002, the Vermont Arts Council gave her an Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. She made her first commercial recording in 1961, and has made eight since; she now records with some of her five children, making the family values crowd absolutely thrilled.

But MacArthur has another home of sorts: Tucson. She's wintered here for many years (although as we discussed above, the term "wintered" is somewhat inaccurate). She's performed for the folks at the Tucson Friends of Traditional Music before, and her latest show promises to be a big hit.

She promises an evening of songs, stories, tunes and reminiscences from her 50-year career. A donation of $10 is requested; TFTM members get in for $8. Call 293-3783 for more information.

CAREGIVER SUPPORT

On a much more serious note, it's not easy to be a caregiver to an ill or dying loved one. That's an understatement: It's, at times, gut-wrenching and even lonely.

And as the Baby Boomers march toward old age, this means that more and more of us are going to be caregivers to our elders.

Thankfully, there's a little bit of help out there. The folks at Pima Health System and Services have a Caregiver Education and Support program, which is starting up a series of new classes and support groups.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, they'll offer a class titled Caring for a Person With Cognitive Impairment (Dementia). (They'll also feature the class split into two chunks at Tucson Estates, 5900 W. Western Way Circle, on Jan. 15 and Feb. 9; call for more information.) And on Wednesday, Jan. 14, they'll offer a class titled Understanding Diabetes, at Covenant House Apartments, 4414 E. Second St. Classes are free to Pima County residents who are unpaid caregivers to loved ones age 60 and up.

They're also starting new weekly support groups all over town this coming week. To register for the classes or the support groups, or to ask any questions you may have, call the good folks at 546-4481 or 546-4482.

CARB INFO

The Atkins Diet is all the rage these days. You can't get away from it.

While it's hugely popular, it's controversial in some circles. Sure, it helps you take off the pounds, but with all that fat in the diet, at what cost?

Well, here's your chance to ask some questions. Colette Heimowitz, an Atkins vice president of education and research, will give a talk, followed by a question-and-answer session, at the Low Carb Mall on First Avenue. She promises to present the latest research on low-carbohydrate diets and tell you how to incorporate this information into your day-to-day life.

Free samples and products will be given out as well. Questions? Call 292-1455.