Burrito Files Receives Tucson Pima Arts Council Grant!

Burrito Cart Sketch


The Burrito Files was awarded an artist mini-grant by the Tucson Pima Arts Council! The funds will support the construction of a mock burrito cart that will promote the project in downtown Tucson. I worked with artist Titus Castanza on purchasing the supplies and building the cart on August 20th and 21st. We agreed on the specs and he did the work - I assisted where I could! Here are some pictures from the process.

Materials Loaded Onto Titus's Truck


Cutting the Wood


In Progress


Almost Done!

Downtown Geographical Expedition #2 - Reports from the field - Part Two

Our final exercise was a guerrilla installation at the Ronstadt Transit Center. We posted signs with the themes of "Lost," "Found," and "Wanted" - what is missing from downtown and what resources we already have here. We had a great, unanticipated response from people hanging out at the bus station, especially young people. Many approached us, curious to find out what we were doing and how they could participate.

I went back the next day (Sunday)and most of the signs were still posted (over 24 hours later). There were even a few comments written on the signs! There were even a few up on Monday morning. Here are some photos from Sunday. Pictures of the installation itself will be coming soon.

Downtown Geographical Expedition #2 - Reports from the field - Part One

The second Downtown Geographical Expedition on May 31st bore much creative fruit. Here are some of the memory maps created by the participants. Click on each map for a larger view.

Debra's map

Amy's map

Brad's map

We did a great photography exercise using historic photos of downtown Tucson. We each picked a photo and wrote a response using prompts. We then had to go to that location and take 3 pictures:
1) the same shot as the historic shot
2) a detail that reflects the historic shot
3) an image that reflects our vision for downtown

Here is one of the examples:

6th and Congress - facing north - 1941


1) The same intersection on May 31st


2)Detail



3)Vision

We then did a piece of writing about that spot.

Downtown JUNE Happenings!

There are lots of downtown events happening in June. Check them out!

SUMMER ARTS CRUISE - Saturday, June 7th

A self-guided tour of 10 Downtown galleries, with receptions between 6 and 10 p.m. at the following:
Conrad Wilde Gallery, Davis Dominguez Gallery, Dinnerware Artspace, Philabaum Glass Studio and Gallery, Platform Gallery, Raices Taller 222 Gallery, The Drawing Studio Gallery, The Gallery at 6th & 6th and Central Arts Gallery.

designcoop-open-studio- thursday, june-12/">design*coop open studio @ MOCA - June 12th


Arts Space & Community Design - a conversation with Greg Esser - Thursday, June 12th

Tucson Digital Arts Community meetup at Dinnerware - Thursday, June 19th

the BURRITO files - DAVID

Are you a Tucson native? No. I'm from San Antonio.
What are you doing downtown today? Waiting for the trolley.
Describe downtown in 3 words or less? deep, colorful, magic
If downtown Tucson was a burrito what would be in it? The most delicious colorful burrito would be inside the burrito and inside the inside burrito would be a delicious tasty burrito and inside that burrito would be the most delicious burrito you can imagine and inside that burrito...
Have any significant events in your life happened in downtown? I grew up there.

the BURRITO files - ANNA

Are you a Tucson native? No, from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.
What are you doing downtown today? I'm on a job interview.
Describe downtown in 3 words or less? dead, dully, really-badly-designed
If downtown Tucson was a burrito what would be in it? my ideal downtown Tucson burrito would have guacamole, tomatoes, wider sidewalks, really big trees and rainbows.
Have any significant events in your life happened in downtown? Yes, I got my first volunteer experience at Dinnerware Artspace.

the BURRITO files - ROCKY

Are you a Tucson native? Yes
What are you doing downtown today? I'm a graffiti artist. I own a shop/gallery on Congress called Art Terrain.
Describe downtown in 3 words or less? under construction
If downtown Tucson was a burrito what would be in it? mix burrito
Have any significant events in your life happened in downtown? My shop is now on Congress and I've gotten a lot more business. I started the Rialto project (mural on 5th Ave. between Congress and Broadway). I met Chris Rush downtown. I got a TPAC grant which I never thought I would get. Literally it's a family down here.