For a Good Cause

BY LAURA LATZKO

www.LovinLife.com Art festivals off er a chance to shop local and interact directly with the artists behind intricate pieces. The Tucson Museum of Art’s annual Spring Artisan Market brings artists from around the region to Southern Arizona to share and sell their newest pieces.

In its 29th year, the event will take place from Friday, March 13, to Sunday, March 15, at the museum. Each year, the museum puts on spring and holiday artisan markets. The spring festival was started to feature artists from the museum’s store and grew from there.

Now, the event showcases around 100 artists, who will have booths set up around the museum grounds and surrounding streets.

The artists work in diff erent mediums, including painting, jewelry, sculpture and textiles.

The market’s director, Justin Germain, says the arts festival lets local residents see artwork from a variety of fi ne artists and crafters. “We have a wide reach, so we bring in a lot of wonderful artists from all over the region,” Germain says. “Not just local people but also some really great people that are from other parts of the Southwest, just a huge diversity of diff erent kinds of crafts and art.”

In past years, the market has been held in conjunction with a fl ower festival. Due to museum construction, there will be no fl ower festival.

Germain says this year the event will have more of a focus on the visual artists. To participate, artists must make their own work.

“The No. 1 thing is that it’s handmade—nothing that people are buying and then reselling or manufacturing,” Germain says.

Many of the participating artists work full time at their craft. New artists are chosen through an application process. Some of the participating artists, including Jennifer C. Vigil of Maya Art Studio, says the arts festival lets local residents see artwork from a variety of “We have a wide reach, so we bring in a lot of wonderful artists from all over the region,” Germain says. “Not just local people but also some really great people that are from other parts of the Southwest, just a huge diversity of diff erent kinds In past years, the market has been held in conjunction with a fl ower festival. Due to museum construction, there

Jennifer C. Vigil will display and sell functional and decorative ceramics during the Tucson Museum of Art’s Spring Artisan Market. (Photos by Jennifer C. Vigil)

work in diff erent mediums.

Oro Valley-based Vigil creates decorative and functional ceramic pieces with nature-inspired motifs as well as drawings, sculptures and caustic and cold wax pieces. In her two-dimensional artwork, she explores topics such as immigration and disability. artwork, she explores topics such as immigration and disability.

She says through functional pieces, such as utensil holders, butter dishes, dinner plates, bowls or bells, she is able to bring art to patrons’ everyday lives.

“Everybody has their favorite bowl or their favorite coff ee mug. So, having that dialogue with the people that collect my work by having them use the piece everyday means a lot to me,” Vigil says.

Along with taking part in art shows in Oro Valley and Tucson, Vigil teaches online arts classes and hosts an annual creShe says through

ativity retreat in Florence, Italy.

Vigil is a member of the Southern Arizona Clay Artists, a nonprofi t organization that off ers lectures, workshops and art shows. She says this is a supportive community of artists that learn and grow from each other.

A former professor who taught Native American art history and museum studies, Vigil tried to instill a love of art in her children and encourage them to pursue their passions.

When she started her studio, her children also worked in the space on diff erent projects. They are now all grown up and still work in or incorporate the arts into their professions. Vigil’s parents encouraged her interest in art from an early age. She grew up in Milwaukee with a photographer father, and she took her fi rst ceramics class at 5 years old.

From the time she was young, she dabbled in working with diff erent mediums. “Art has always been a big part of my life. I’ve explored a lot of diff erent media. I’ve enjoyed ceramics and done a lot with that, but I’ve also enjoyed 2-D drawing, painting and sculpture. It’s very easy for me to move between diff erent media, depending on what I’m working on,” Vigil says.

In taking part in the museum’s Spring their passions.

studio, her children also worked in the space on diff erent projects. They are now all grown up and still work in or incorporate the arts into their professions. Vigil’s parents encouraged her interest in art from an early age. She grew up in Milwaukee with a photographer father, and she took her fi rst ceram- Artisan Market, artists such as Vigil are helping the venue in its mission.

Proceeds from booth spaces and donations support the museum’s operating costs. The museum raises money through the two markets, a formal gala and a fundraising party.

During the weekend, admission to the market and museum are free. Each year, the three-day event draws between 8,000 to 10,000 people.

Germain says that the event often brings visitors to the museum for the fi rst time.

“It’s a great weekend for people of all ages to come out, see great artists and support their local museum in the community,” Germain says.

Attendees will have a chance to explore the museum’s galleries.

The museum’s current exhibition, “The Place Where Clouds are Formed,” looks at issues of religion, community and migration within Tohono O’odham land through the lens of poetry by Ofelia Zepeda, text from Martin Zicari and photography from Gareth Smit.

“I’m Every Woman: Representations of Women on Paper” examines the roles for women through artwork depicting females from diff erent time periods and social backgrounds.

Oaxacan and European artwork, as well as ongoing exhibitions featuring Native American, Western, East Asian, Latin American and contemporary artwork, are also on display.

During the event, guests can also explore neighboring businesses in the Presidio District such as La Cocina, a courtyard restaurant with live music, a cantina, a pub and nearby artisan shops.

The Presidio Tucson San Agustin del Tucson Museum will also have an area set up where visitors can learn more about its off erings.

MORE INFO What: Spring Artisan Market When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, March 13, to Sunday, March 15 Where:Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Avenue Cost: Free admission Info: 624-2333, tucsonmuseumofart.org