Upfront Gem and Mineral Season International vendors aim to educate guests at showcases BY LAURA LATZKO This time of year, Tucson is in its gem and mineral season, when the city is abuzz with gem, fossil, bead and mineral activity. The annual showcase caters to people of all ages and interests, with educational and retail opportunities. Known as the world’s largest gem and mineral show, the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase brings together vendors from around the world with selections of gemstones, jewelry, lapidary equipment, beads, textiles, apparel, mineral specimens and fossils. Most of the shows fall between February 1 and February 16, in different settings—warehouses, local businesses, hotel event spaces and rooms, and large convention spaces such as the Tucson Expo Center. Visit Tucson’s Director of Convention Services Jane Roxbury says the city has offerings throughout the year, but the winter has a wider selection. “You can always find something in Tucson—a treasure to take home—but this is the time of the year when we shine gem-, mineral- and fossil-wise,” Roxbury says. The show brings 65,000 visitors to Tucson and has an economic impact of $131 million, she says. “It is a terrific experience to see the tremendous amount of growth, not only in the total number of shows but in the economic impact, the number of people coming to the shows, the increased number of vendors and the expansion of shows,” Roxbury says. This year, the event has 50 different shows, with free shuttle service between most of them. Roxbury says because the show has become so large that it is important for attendees to have a plan in place for what shows to see, as well as where to stay and dine. The event started on a much smaller scale in 1955, with one show, put on by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society at the Helen Keeling Elementary School. It has grown, though, to include more ven-
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dors and spaces. As the audience grew, the events did as well. Food trucks are found at some of them. About half of the vendors own a business or building in Tucson. The city also has a growing mineral district along Oracle Road. Some of this year’s shows will take place within this district. Certain shows will have more specialized products or vendors, while others have a wider variety. The African Art Village showcases art from 125 vendors from February 1 to February 16 at 279 S. Linda Avenue. The American Indian Arts Exposition at the Quality Inn Flamingo ballroom, 1300 N. Stone Avenue, will have a rotating lineup of 40 Native American artists as well as art demos and performances. The event runs through February 16. The shows vary in size, with some having only one vendor and others featuring hundreds of vendors. VARIETY OF SHOWS Over the years, it has become common for local shops, such as Kent’s Tools, to put on their own shows. Its owner, Kent Solberg, has participated in shows for 25 years. For the last four years, he has hosted shows at his storefront at 2745 N. First Avenue. Before this, he took part in the Kino Gem and Mineral Show. Although the shop is open year-round, the show runs through February 17. “Once we moved into this permanent location, it was a no-brainer to have our show in our own building, cut down on the overhead, cut down on the staff requirements,” Solberg says. “It is permanently set up. We don’t have to tear down, and we bring in a lot of inventory just for the show.” In his shop, he offers a variety of equipment. Each year, he tries to add innovative products such as specialty pliers and bezel cutters. He started the business after coming into an inventory of jewelry and lapidary equipment. Not long after, his wife Salle
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During the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, vendors will have different types of specimens. (Photos courtesy of Visit Tucson)
Hunter, a textile and watercolor artist, started in the bead and jewelry business after purchasing a storage unit with beads from the Tucson show. “The product line was new to us, so we had to learn about the product line,” Solberg says. “We had to research it. We had to research the value of the tools and machines we got in.” There’s a community within the gem and mineral shows. Solberg says he looks forward to seeing longtime friends and
acquaintances. “The vendors in particular shows tend to form a bond with each other. They are supportive, and they watch over each other,” Solberg says. Put on by the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Avenue, the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show from February 13 to February 16 will showcase more than 160 items from mineral museums and collectors. www.LovinLife.com
