DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, Tucson, Arizona, Two Visits, 2014, 2018 The Fire Separates Them

Copyright 2018, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

In December 2014 during our stay in Tucson we visited the DeGrazia Gallery in The Sun.  We visited again this last week, 2018.  In between, about September 2017 they had a tragic fire in the chapel.  This post will show first, some photos from our first visit, second, some photos from this past week, showing the damage.

Gotta love the whimsy.

The chapel.

Original art work by DeGrazia.

Outside, again, loving the whimsy.

2018:  

Note the charred wood at the top, over the doorways and the beams.  It was a bit difficult to get photos as they have blocked access to the doorway during this sad time.

The altar, the seats, totally blackened.

Altar, via Sony zoom. 

Again, note the charring of the wood and some blackening of the wall art/paintings.

Outside, the evidence, again, black chars.

Close up of that window, showing the damage.

They are restoring/repairing the chapel.  Time frame to finish unstated.  Decisions about the destroyed and/or damaged artwork are still being made.  Some are opposed to having the paintings themselves replicated by another artist.  We wish them all the best in this undertaking, this is such a special place in Tucson, beloved by so many.

* DeGrazia maintains a web page, and a Facebook page. 

.

Tohono Chul Botanical Garden, Tucson, Arizona:: Winter Sojourn 2014/15

Copyright 2018, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

2014

YES, early December 2014, during the Winter Sojourn 2014/15 tour.

Yes, I am still 4 years behind in my trip posts.  

During our stay in Tucson in December 2014 we visited the botanical gardens at the Tohono Chul.  (They have a web site, and currently seem to have a presence in many social media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter.)

It is a delightful place and well worth a visit when you are in the area. 

A blast of color as we enter:

This is a rather large hunk of copper ore with azurite and Malachite, a donation to Tohona Chul.  Love the turquoise color.

There were a number of artistic renditions of local creatures, adding a bit of whimsy to the gardens.

This is a bronze, titled "Reclining Coyote", by Mark Rossi.

This is "Horse", materials are reclaimed metal, artist, Kioko Mwitiki.

A lovely gate - - 

Every garden needs a bird feeder, or two.

A stairwell, and plants, and ahhhhh - - 

If you look closely, you will see, yes, a hummingbird.

A truly delightful afternoon.

.

THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Mission San Xavier del Bac, The White Dove of the Desert

Copyright 2013, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

January 10, 2013

Our visit to the Mission San Xavier del Bac will be our last activity while in Tucson. The mission is about 9 miles south of downtown Tuscon just off of 19.

While reviewing and researching the Mission I located this Statuary Guide.  You might try to match up some of the statuary I photographed with the guide.

Restoration of the mission is ongoing, as you can tell from studying the photos.  Photos taken with natural and available light only, no flash.  Post editing was used to lighten and enhance.

A cactus wren sitting on the cross at the very top of the dome on the left side.

The interior of the church, looking toward the sanctuary.

The East Chapel, one of the side seating areas for services, off to the right of the sanctuary (refer to photo above).

From the museum displays, it was encased in a glass enclosure:

From the West Chapel.

Also in the West Chapel:

We planned our arrival time so that we could participate in a docent led tour, we can endorse the docent tours, well done!  We toured the church, some museum type rooms with artifacts and other areas, including a fascinating succulent garden that had several different types of pricky pear (nopal) all growing in a small area.    

For history and beautiful samples of restoration, the Mission San Xavier del Bac is hard to beat.  If you are ever in the area you will not regret a visit.




.

THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Sabino Canyon, Tucson Arizona :: Today Was All About Water In The Desert

Copyright 2013, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

January 9, 2013

Sabino Canyon is located northeast of Tucson.   The canyon is a hiker/walker/photographer's dream, mixed liberally with saguaro, mountain peaks, water and really neat geological rock stuff.  (How's that for techy, neat geological rock stuff!  LOL)  There is a tram that leaves the Visitors Center and will take you up the canyon.  You either ride up and back or walk, or ride part of the way, you can jump on and off the tram at any of the nine posted stops.

After a quick informative visit at the Visitors Center we determined that we would ride the tram, scout out the "stops", which were all numbered, and then, walk part of the way down.  It was a good plan, the road is paved, easy walking, but, a constant grade UP if you walk up and a nice stroll if you walk down.

Here is a tram, note how narrow the bridges are.  Personal vehicles are not permitted.

This is at the bottom, near the Visitors Center, many walkers/hikers were enjoying the park.  The weather turned out to be perfect, sunny, and temps moderate.

We rode the tram to the top to stop number 9.  We stayed on the tram as it started back down.  We got off at stop number 8.  This is a shot taken from the tram just before we disembarked.  This rock formation is called Gneiss.   There is a nice article about Gneiss in the Arizona Daily Star.

About 7 to 10 days before we visited, the water started flowing strongly from Mount Lemmon.  There had been considerable snow and it melted.  And, we got water and waterfalls and babbling brooks and PURE DELIGHT!!

Looking down the canyon from this vantage point, yellow and red showing in the trees, water, rock, beauty!

Carol to Man, "Is it cold?"  Man to Carol, "Oh YA!"  Carol to Man, "Well, it is melted snow pack."  Both Carol and Man proceed to chuckle, child like delight.

Another shot down the canyon, yellow, red, and some gneiss rock.  (Yes, it is pronounced NICE.  Some nice rock for sure!)

Further down the canyon:

Closer thanks to Sony Too, a small water fall:

OK, look up for a moment, saguaro, rock structures, yellow trees (sorry not sure what they were).

Just screamed panoramic, so, I did one:

Back to water, this yellow tree does appear to be some kind of cottonwood.

The water was incredibly clear, see the rocks in the water.  Yes, that is a balloon down there too.  This was down a way, thanks to Sony Too for the close up to show off clear water.

Looking down the canyon again, when I look at this photo, I feel peace of soul:

Water was the star of the day, so I will end it with a reflection and water and the blue sky, ya, that blue on the bottom left was a reflection of the sky.  Ya, I loved this photo!

There is a nice article here on Sabino Canyon.

Our time in Tucson is growing short, we were all delighted we had time to visit and enjoy Sabino Canyon.




.