Thursday, August 13, 2015
The present U.S.-Mexico borderlands bring documentary filmmaker and author Kathryn Ferguson tremendous melancholy.
A Tucsonan by birth, Ferguson remembers the days when she and her family would drive down to Nogales for even the simplest craves, such as a cup of coffee. There were no walls or armed men in uniform patrolling the frontier; people didn't die as often while trying to cross the desert into the United States; and the cultural exchange wasn't as problematic.
"It was a different world, it is a darker world now," she says. "When I was a girl I would never use the word 'raid,' the word 'deportation.' You would think, raids at 3 a.m., when people are taken out of the homes and put in prison, you would think that was another country you were talking about, not the United States."
But things have also changed in Mexico. For years, she'd travel alone to as far south as Michoacán and Guerrero. And, as a documentary maker, she extensively explored the Sierra Madre in the state of Chihuahua. Michoacán and Guerrero are now two of the most dangerous states in Mexico. "(They are) not very good places. I would think twice about going...and I love Mexico," she says.
Witnessing all those changes throughout her life was what inspired Ferguson to write The Haunting of the Mexican Border, a collection of anecdotes about her and friends on both sides of the border.
The book is split in two: the introduction is on Ferguson's travels through the Sierra Madre, while she worked on a documentary, and the second part takes place once Ferguson returns to Tucson, while also traveling to Mexico back-and-forth. She describes her experience collaborating with a group called the Tucson Samaritans, volunteers who bring water to the desert for migrants to drink. "This is a personal book," she says. "Seeing things that happened to friends, to me, the desert...as a result of politics."
"Nobody really knows what goes on in the border, even though it is on all the headlines," she says. "Everybody is crossing all the borders of the world, and we need to take a look at why that is happening."
Ferguson is having a book party Saturday, Aug. 15 from 5 p.m.to 7 p.m. at the Temple of Music and Art lounge, where she will read excerpts of her work. John Fife, local human rights activist, retired Presbyterian minister, as well as co-founder of the Sanctuary Movement in the 1980s, will be the guest speaker.
Tags: kathryn ferguson , the haunting of the mexican border , temple of music and art , tucson , borderlands
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
For those of you who have been re-watching “This is Spinal Tap” or “Best in Show,” quietly praying that mockumentary king Christopher Guest would return to his forte, rejoice.
Netflix announced today that Guest would be joining their growing list of big time movie folks creating smart, funny and popular originals for their streaming service.
“Mascots” will be Guest’s first directorial project since 2006’s “For Your Consideration,” a film that didn’t really hit well with fans or reviewers. (This is the only film of his that I haven't watched and quoted a zillion times. Once, was enough, though I say that with respect and disappointment.) The new feature will hearken back to what the fans love him for, satirical mockumentaries about funny people in niche worlds. From dog shows, to washed up rock bands and folk performers, this comedy will tell the untold story of mascots. Think of it as, the heart and soul beneath giant animal heads out on the football field or basketball court.
Not much has been released about the film, just a short plot description and promotional poster.
“Welcome to all the drama, intrigue, and occasional excitement of the 8th World Mascot Association Championships, where a group of 'unusual' men and women, with big heads and furry suits, compete to win the prestigious Gold Fluffy Award and be crowned best mascot in the world.”
Though the cast has not been announced yet, I am willing to bet that some of his right hand men and women will be returning with their fearless brand of wit.
Catherine O'Hara and Fred Willard making jokes through big, hot animal heads. Yes, Please.
Parker Posey making some reference to Busy Bee, while maybe in a bee costume herself? I have been waiting for the day.
While no official release date has been announced, I am sure fans are just waiting, ready to dial it up to eleven.
Tags: Christopher Guest , Mascots , Netflix , OMG Where Have You Been Guest! , Movies
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Tucson's 240th birthday is approaching, and you should head to this new exhibit with historic photos, maps and memorabilia of the Old Pueblo to celebrate it.
The University of Arizona Libraries' Special Collections Gallery is hosting "Tucson: Growth, Change and Memories" starting Aug. 18—two day's before Tucson's b-day on Aug. 20—through January of next year, with the purpose of showcasing the city's history and growth as an urban community. It's also about reflecting on the many Tucson gems that have been lost as a result of this urbanization (remember the Tucson Convention Center shit show?).
Talking about the TCC, the exhibit will show rare photos of the buildings that existed there, before they were demolished to build the TCC, as well as photographs of other landmarks that are now gone like the Santa Rita Hotel and the El Conquistador Hotel, and other unique materials on loan from the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation.
The show is co-curated by UA librarian, Bob Diaz and Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation board member Andie Zelnio.
The opening event on Aug. 18 will feature guest speaker Thomas E. Sheridan, an anthropologist of the UA's Southwest Center, and author of the book "Los Tucsonenses: The Mexican Community in Tucson, 1854-1914, and other works about the history of the region.
There will also be a second event on Sept. 17 featuring a panel discussion with former city councilwoman Molly McKasson and Pima County Supervisor Richard Elias.
Both events are at at 6 p.m. at the UA's Libraries' Special Collections Gallery, 1510 E. University Blvd.
Tags: tucson growth change and memories , university of arizona , tucson historic preservation foundation , Bob Diaz , andie zelnio , thomas e sheridan , southwest center
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
In the vast and twisted world of the horror gene there is a diverse and potent selection of ingredients to induce a nightmare. From slashers, to the supernatural, to creature features, zombies and all things beyond the grave, horror is a creative insight into the subjective nature of fear. Hell can look and feel like a lot of different things. Most of the monsters and ghoulies and people that scare us do so because they want, will or are currently trying to eat, maul, sacrifice or vamp us. Or else, they represent something inside in the dark bowels of human nature that frightens us of one another.
In the proud and spooky hall of genre icons, one big bad shines out for his kind of intellectual way of enjoying our sweet sufferings.
Pinhead, of Clive Barker’s horror-novel-verse and the Hellraiser film series, has been a staple of horror since he first stepped into this dimension in the 1986 novella, “The Hellbound Heart.”
After watching the rock star of the Cenobites completely tear souls apart with ripping hooks, chains and painful flesh removal throughout his long residency in books, films and comics, it’s hard to remember he was once just a couple of sentences.
Barker has always been open about his own surprise at the Pope of Hell’s journey to fame. He really hadn’t intended “Pinhead” to become a big star but he has sure been living with the monster all these long years. Pinhead was a bit of a puzzle box himself for his creator, Barker becoming synonymous with him above all his other works. ("Books of Blood" is a close second.)
Now, 25 years later, Barker has written one final Pinhead story, the last of the sadomasochistic hell priest in his erotic, twisted canon. “The Scarlet Gospels,” Barker’s long awaited new novel, left readers in a living Hell waiting years for him to write the long promised death of Pinhead. Released May 19, the novel marks Barker’s return to adult fiction and is the first sequel he has actually ever written to his original novella.
In a May article with Rue Morgue magazine, Barker spoke about his long promised plans of killing off his iconic and defining character.
Tags: Pinhead , Clive Barker , Girl on Gore , The Scarlet Gospels
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Tucson is ripe with stories. Important ones, happy ones, sad ones, funny ones and pissed off ones. With a population heavy with creative, humorous types, we are lucky to have skilled hands to take on every one of these tales. For the last 10 years, some of us here in Tucson have looked not to a person, but to a panda. A pissed off one.
Pissed OFF Panda, the brainchild of Tucson transplant Frank Powers, is a comic book character with a big chip on his shoulder. An outlet for his creator to speak on Tucson and life, the character's 13 years in existence have led into the development of a dedicated fan base, merchandise, Comic-Con appearances and now an upcoming, on-going comic series.
Powers says his character wasn’t so much a creation as it was a meeting of two like minds.
“He lets me vent about everything that I find mind-numbing and hate,” he says. “I didn’t just invent him though, I actually met Pissed OFF when I impulsively flew across the country because I was in love with a girl, wound up in San Diego and went to the San Diego Zoo. Their big thing is pandas so when I was in the gift shop, there was one doll that was sitting on the shelf and sticking out like a sore thumb. He looked mis-stitched and I said, 'Look at him! He looks Pissed OFF!'”
After coming to Tucson, Powers dug into the source material of the city, made up of eccentric characters and the strange, beloved places they inhabit. Pissed OFF’s world is one many of us were part of, the late hours and cups of coffee at the now closed Grill, formerly located at 100 E Congress St.
“I’d always wanted to make a book about Grill to capture all the insanity that the place offered," says Powers. "I have many creative projects, comics and characters and I realized I’d use all the projects as ingredients in one giant, Tucson-centric project. I merged my cartoon characters, life stories, Grill adventures, podcasting and everything into one succinct parody of Tucson. It’s all seen through the eyes of my angry little jerk of a cartoon character, Pissed OFF Panda- whose job is exactly what mine was- working the graveyard shift at Grill, which is alive and thrives in my cartoony-verse.”
Tags: Pissed OFF Panda , Frank Powers , Kickstarter , Comics , Comedy , Art , Tucson is Home of Funny People and Animals
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
On Saturday, June 27, Splash is hitting La Encantada to present a night full of fashion designers, community art projects and a grip of food and drink samples for attendees. This year, the Southern Arizona Arts and Culture Alliance will be featuring 20 local restaurants that will offer up tastes of many different cuisines, some offering colorful cocktail pairings. There will also be eight different brewers serving up drinks to keep attendees interested while browsing the many different pieces of art on auction at the event.
Here are some of the dishes you can look forward to:
Tags: saaca , splash , la encantada , events , tucson , charity , art , auction , restaurants , north , ra , reforma , ermanos , cocktails , beer
Friday, June 19, 2015
Citizens Warehouse, on Sixth Street just west of Stone Avenue, is a hotbed of creativity. Etherton Gallery is celebrating 21 of the artists who use the warehouse as studio space with Citizens Warehouse Artists, a show continuing through Sept. 12. The gallery is throwing an opening reception from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at 135 S. Sixth Ave. More details at Etherton's website.
Thursday, June 18, 2015
It’s pretty hot right now. So, any chance for a laugh, one that isn’t caused by manic dehydration, is to be cherished. Luckily for us, comedian and all around funny lady Jen Kirkman is coming to Congress this Friday.
Kirkman utilizes self-analyzation and observations on society to create stand up that is easily relatable and humble. Her brand of comedy has her put herself completely on the line, giving her ego up to the audience and landing successfully. It works, because many of us are way too consumed with stubborn pride to say what’s on our minds. It feels good to laugh at ourselves with the safety of an entertainer as an outlet.
Kirkman says establishing confidence and respect with an audience plays a big part in making someone laugh.
“They are kind of in your hands, and if you treat them like they’re idiots and you’re rude they won’t laugh at you,” she says. “They want to know that you’ve got this, that they are in the palm of your hands and you are confident. I think there has to be a lot of humility in trying to make people laugh. You can’t think you are doing some big, powerful thing, otherwise people will feel like you’re condescending.”
This rapport with the crowd and her pride free confessions of personal, laughable experiences translates effortlessly to her latest achievement, a comedy special on Netflix called, “I’m Gonna Die Alone (And I Feel Fine).”
The 78 minute special is comprised of everything she has been doing on the road for the last few years.
“I didn’t have to do anything differently,” she says. “One day I showed up and just like any other show there was a camera. I wore a lot more makeup then I would normally wear on stage.”
Netflix was an attractive outlet to Kirkman because it offered her freedoms most cable television couldn’t touch.
“I was lucky that I knew Netflix was interested," she says. " I always knew that I wanted to do a special that was not going to be on the kind of cable that has commercials, that doesn’t let you be in control of the editing. That’s why I wanted to work with them. I feel like comedy, when you’re doing it in a night club or comedy club, you can swear, there’s no commercial break and it’s about having a great time. It’s sort of a place where grownups talk about things you don’t talk about in high society. When comedy specials are on television they are all cleaned up and nice and I don’t really understand why that’s funny.”
Tags: Jen Kirkman , Congress , Comedy , I'm Gonna Die Alone(And I Feel Fine) , Laugh Riot , Ladies of Comedy
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
The Tucson Museum of Art is planning out the 67th year of its Arizona Biennial exhibition and the 33 artists that will be featured in the 2015 show have been selected. The juried exhibition was vetted this year by guest juror Irene Hofmann, Director and Chief Curator of SITE Santa Fe. Hoffman had her work cut out for her too, selecting 50 pieces from the 1,490 that were submitted in total and contributing to the oldest running juried exhibition featuring exclusively Arizona artists.
The museum event is meant to showcase up and coming, new and unique works from the state's artists. This year's exhibition will feature 33 artists in a range of media including painting, sculpture, photography, video and installation art. The artists selected for the Arizona Biennial 2015 are David Emitt Adams, Elizabeth Burden, Carlton Bradford, Curt Brill, John H. Clarke, Jeffrey J. DaCosta, Jeff Dodson, Abigail Felber, Denis Gillingwater, Jennifer Holt, Alan Bur Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Carolina Maki Kitagawa, Carolyn Lavender, Ellen McMahon and Beth Weinstein, Brooke Molla, Katherine Monaghan, Anthony Pessler, Emmett Potter, Rembrandt Quiballo, Robert Renfrow, Prima Sakuntabhai, Patricia Sannit, Steven R. Schaeffer, Mike Stack, Lauren Strohacker and Kendra Sollars, Novie Trump, Zachary Valent, Kathleen Velo, Grant Wiggins and Angie Zielinski.
You can catch all of those artists at the Tucson Museum of Art, located at 140 N. Main Ave., beginning July 25 and running until October 11. The public closing night event will offer up auctions of selected works, food, wine and live music by Crystal Radio, with Amelia Poe and Daniel Martin Diaz. Tickets are $40 in advance, $30 for CAS members and $50 at the door. For more information on that event, e-mail [email protected].
Tags: arizona biennial , tucson museum of art , juried , exhibition , artists , chosen
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Spend enough time in Tucson’s music scene and you will start to hear the term “the Tucson sound.” It comes straight from the musicians’ mouths, from the fans, from the reviews and is embedded in our long history of musicality.
What does it mean exactly? Well, like any other classification or genre identifier, there is no one right answer. Tucson sound, is maybe best described as music which embodies the preserving spirit of dwellers in a desert environment, which from the start appeared so inhabitable. Maybe it speaks to a certain mysticism that permeates beneath the hot sands. Maybe it is influence drawn from country, Latin music and desert rock.
Though the answer is subjective, many of Tucson’s die hard music enthusiasts can speak to what this sound has meant to them. Nostalgia is a reoccurring theme.
Club Congress, 311 East Congress St., has long cultivated a space to showcase the unique voice of Tucson artists and kind of stands as a museum documenting the search for this “sound.” The historic venue will take that niche and turn it literal with their upcoming “Tucson Rock n Roll Museum” exhibit.
The vision for the collection is to pay tribute to Tucson’s music history over the past half century, through the help of the community who was a part of it.
Congress is reaching out to this city’s musicians and fans for rock and roll memorabilia to include in the community driven museum. The guidelines are light and they are welcoming posters, photographs, newspaper clips and videos which help tell the story of “the sound.”
Tags: Club Congress , Tucson Sound , Tucson Rock , Music , Community Museum , I got an old ticket stub somewhere
