Chill Out With Music
Summer Concert Series at St. Philip's
2 p.m., Sunday, July 14
St. Philip's In the Hills Episcopal Church, 4440 N. Campbell Ave.
The Friends of Music at St. Philip's In the Hills Episcopal Church kicks off its summer concert series on Sunday with the Ironwood Trio, a traditional group consisting of classical guitar, double bass, organ and piano.
It will be the first of four concerts this summer, with performances by groups ranging from a jazz quartet to the Titan Valley Warheads, a local five-piece bluegrass band.
According to Kevin Justus, a coordinator for the concert series, music has always played an important role in the life of St. Philip's.
"Music is one of the great communicators," Justus said. "In other words, it's a great way of sharing things with people ... but also helping and benefiting the community."
This year marks St. Philip's second full summer season with Friends of Music, whose mission is to "enrich the musical experience of the parish and community through events such as concerts, outreach, education, scholarships, commissions, and support of special musical events at the church," according to its website.
"Music is very important for people here," said Woosug Kang, director of music at St. Philip's, adding that it infuses their spiritual feelings while both inside and outside the church.
The Ironwood Trio concert will feature original works as well as classics from composers such as Vivaldi and Debussy.
"During the summer where there's not many concerts going on," Kang said, "I think it will be a quite refreshing thing to come in and enjoy some culture, meet other audience members who also really enjoy music, and sometimes be challenged by some repertoire that you may not have heard." There is a suggested donation of $15.
—A.D.
The Cowboy Way
"Cowboys and Vaqueros," Education Through Art
2 to 5:30 p.m. (art exhibit and panel discussions) and 6:30 to 10 p.m. (dance), Sunday, July 14
El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St.
While cowboys (vaqueros in Spanish) are icons of the Southwest, some may not be aware of their rich history in the Old Pueblo.
On Sunday, two local nonprofits, Make A Hand LLC and Fostering Arts-Mind Education Foundation, will host a celebration of cowboys' contributions to Southern Arizona culture and their "present-day relevance," according to a press release.
The multicultural event will bring together artists ranging from painters to sculptors to dancers whose works reflect cowboy culture. The event also will include storytelling for children and a ballet folklórico performance.
When "people think of cowboys, they quite often think of a Hollywood cowboy that's, you know, shooting guns and diving off cliffs and doing all sorts of stuff," said Enrique "Hank" Feldman, founder and director of art education at the FAME foundation. "And that's not the real cowboy."
Feldman said there are many reasons to celebrate cowboys, including the values that cowboys stand for. "Integrity, responsibility and compassion and perseverance," Feldman said. "Those four core values are what really defines a cowboy."
A dance following the exhibit will feature recording artist LeeAnne Savage & Her Curveball Cowboys, and Mariachi Corazón De Tucson, whose musicians are as young as 6.
"We're going to see our community through a different lens," Feldman said. "It's going to be a snapshot of Arizona and the Southwest, but from different perspectives." Admission to the exhibit and panel discussions is free. The dance costs $10.
—A.D.
It's a Small World
National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts Exhibit
11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, July 13 and 14
The Hilton El Conquistador Hotel, 10000 N. Oracle Road
If you're looking for a new hobby to delve into this summer, why not take a look at the world of miniatures?
The National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts, or NAME, is holding its annual convention in Tucson this weekend, showcasing dollhouses and miniature furniture and accessories.
Miniatures are made from a wide range of materials, and styles and designs are limited only by the ingenuity of their creators. "It runs the gamut," said Sheila Benjamin, co-chair of the NAME convention. "A lot of people will use household items. They'll use the cap of a soda bottle, and they'll turn it over and that'll become a pie plate."
Benjamin said that first-timers at the convention often are inspired by seeing something they like and realizing that they not only could create their own miniatures, but also do them well. "And then we end up with new miniaturists—which is what we like to find."
According to its website, NAME was founded more than 30 years ago "to promote the craft of miniature-making through the association and friendship of its artisans, craftsmen and collectors."
The educational, nonprofit organization is dedicated to sharing the ideas and experiences of its members.
"It's very satisfying to be able to create something that you dream up in your mind," Benjamin said, adding that the convention exhibits are a great place to get a look at the many different ways miniaturists practice their craft. It's also something that interests people of all ages, she said.
"Whether you collect, or you build," Benjamin said, "it's a very satisfying thing."
Admission to the exhibit room is free. Entrance to the sales room is $5, or $2 for children 12 and younger.
—A.D.
Ignite a Passion
Ignite Tucson
5 to 10 p.m., Friday, July 12
Steinfeld Warehouse, 101 W. Sixth St.
On July 12, 'Ignite Tucson' will be offering a crash course in everything from finger painting for adults to our possible future with robot overlords. Ignite is a nationwide, self-described "geek" event that has been popping up across the country since 2006.
Speakers, armed with a 20-slide PowerPoint presentation, are given a maximum of five minutes to talk. The slides advance every 15 seconds regardless of whether the speaker was finished with the last one. There's no theme for the topics. Rather, presenters speak about their personal or professional passions.
The talks are supposed to "ignite" passion and stimulate thought on, well, whatever the speakers choose to talk about. Jeannette Valencia plans to speak about her Isla Nueve project, which uses DJ music and finger painting as a form of artistic expression, while Kim Bayne will talk about her addiction to social media as an artistic medium.
Bridgitte Blantom Thum, a local stand-up comic, will talk about her life as a serious person. Keith Marroquin will talk about his life as an Arizona outback tour guide and what the outer landscape has to do with his inner landscape.
Susie Cox, a professional astrologer, will speak about what it means to have a moon sign. Mystery speaker "Jen" aims to help you get in touch with your booty, and Christine Scheer will discuss whether robots will take over the world.
A food truck roundup starts at 5 p.m., and the event officially kicks off at 6:30 with a performance by Belly Dance Tucson. The talks start at 7. Admission is free.
—C.G.
