From Juice Pouch to Purse
"Flower Trouser," part of Trash to Treasures: Recycled Art Show
1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, July 17
Deco: Art for Living
2612 E. Broadway Blvd.
319-0888;
The world—including the art world—is going "green," and at Deco: Art for Living's "Trouser Flower" event, attendees will get a chance to create new flowers out of old trousers.
The event is being held in conjunction with Deco's Trash to Treasures art show, featuring works made from recycled materials including metal, cloth, paper and ... Capri Sun juice pouches?
Yes, one of the participating artists creates purses out of Capri Sun juice pouches. If that isn't recycled art, I have no clue what is.
Deco's Monica Hay-Cook said "Trouser Flower" attendees will experience first-hand how different types of recycled materials can be used to create different types of art.
"The trouser event is designed to be a social event, where people can come out and converse with others and create their own recycled flower. When a person attends the event, they are the artist," Hay-Cook said. "A person has the choice to either take their work home with them, or it can be put on display for others to enjoy."
Deco: Art for Living began hosting these types of events last November, and Hay Cook said similar art workshops are planned for later this year.
"We are fairly new, but most of our openings have been well-attended. The next two art shows will (open) during the months of August and October, incorporating a light show, as well as fiber art," Hay-Cook said. "At this art show, the attendees will have an assortment of material to work from, such as denim, beads, pipe cleaners, cotton and recycled vinyl."
Attendees will pay $5 for one flower, or $10 for three. —D.O.
Sex in Society
The Dirty, by Brandon Shimmel
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, through Wednesday, July 28
Lionel Rombach Gallery
UA campus, southeast corner of
Park Avenue and Speedway Boulevard
626-4215;
Local artist Brandon Shimmel is interested in the sexual dynamics presented to the public through celebrity culture—and his first solo exhibit, The Dirty, examines these themes.
"There are pieces in my show that explore what it means to be famous," he said. "Some of these people are famous because they have done something important, while it seems that others are just famous to be famous. Because of this, it seems we have a culture geared toward telling you that the more attractive you are, the more important you are."
Think of celebrities like Paris Hilton, the Kardashians and others: What have these people done to achieve their mass recognition, other than being physically sexy and living glamorous lives?
Shimmel, 27, has been working on the pieces featured in the show since receiving a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in art history. His website notes that he's pursuing another bachelor's degree, from the UA, in painting/drawing.
He does not want viewers to get the impression that he is imposing his own personal beliefs on his audience.
"There are also a few pieces that are based on my own personal sexual relations," he said, "One is even related to my own habits and history. I want to make people more aware of these things, but I'm not trying to sway anyone's opinion one way or the other."
He said he worries about the constant bombardment of sexual images in our society.
"I want people to know that my work doesn't present an activist approach," he said. "I have no deeper knowledge than others on these issues. I want my work to serve as an objective look at sex in culture, and for people to draw their own conclusions.
Admission is free. —A.L.
Get Rid of the Bad
Ecstatic Dance's "Sweat IT Out!"
7:30 to 10:30 p.m., Saturday, July 17
Rhythm Industry Performance Factory
1013 S. Tyndall Ave.
Ecstatic Dance invites everyone to come together and dance away all of their bad feelings and anxieties at "Sweat IT Out!" being held at the Rhythm Industry Performance Factory.
Ecstatic Dance is a project of Planet Coexist (www.planetcoexist.com), whose mission is "to help facilitate the process toward integrated planetary wellness by serving as a hub, think-tank, organizer and advocate of eco-spiritual ventures worldwide."
The theme "Sweat IT Out!" means two different things. First of all, it's really, really hot out right now; second, dance can serve as a way for people to sweat out all of those bad, tired feelings we feel as a result of the seemingly endless heat, said organizer Karen Smith.
"We offer a unique life approach in which dance serves as a personal expression of meditation and inner peace. And then there are those people who just want to dance until they drop," Smith said. "It is a drug- and alcohol-free event, and we encourage people of all ages to come and truly understand the joys of dance."
The music at the event will be pre-programmed, and will rise and fall—going from gentle sounds and escalating, hitting different paces and volumes. It all serves to keep the dancing fresh and constant.
All people involved with the dance are asked not to wear shoes during the dance.
Admission is a suggested $7 donation; children get in for free. A "guided movement experience" kicks things off, and is followed by open dance. —A.L.
Temporary Beach Escape!
Screening of The Endless Summer
8 p.m., Saturday, July 17
Himmel Park
First Street and Tucson Boulevard
791-4010
Many Tucson residents—with no major body of water to enjoy—quickly tire of the desert heat. Well, to give people a taste of the beach that we so desire, the Pima County Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Program is holding a screening of the famous surfing film The Endless Summer.
Every Pima County Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Program includes a theme, and this year, it's "Make a Splash"—so The Endless Summer is a perfect fit.
The Endless Summer was the first large-scale surfing film, and influenced all extreme-sport documentaries that would come after it. Directed by Bruce Brown, now considered the pioneer of surf film, the documentary follows two surfers, Mike Hynson and Robert August, on a surf trip throughout the world. The film shows the surfers fed up with the inhospitable winter climate in California—which renders the beaches unsurfable—and thus they travel to warmer places in search of the best waves.
The film was shot in California, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Hawaii, and the footage they came up with has stood the test of time.
"Everyone here in Tucson, I think, is longing for the beaches and San Diego and California," said organizer Beth Petrucci. "We want to bring a piece of the beach to the desert."
Families are encouraged to come out and enjoy a picnic while they watch the film. However, pray for a break in the monsoon: The screening will be cancelled in the case of rain.
Admission is free. —A.L.
