Monday, February 28, 2011
PHOTO FOR THE DAY
Yesterday I was at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun . My sister, Lisa Marie of Sirroco Design, is the artist in residence for the next 2 weeks. The opening of the show was yesterday. I have been in Tucson for the past 30 years and have never once visited the site. Boy was I missing out. It is a wonderful trip back in time to early Tucson; adobe buildings, mesquite fences, kiva fireplaces and a mission. My favorite photo of the visit, and newest fine art print, is the one below of Tucson all weather gear.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
PHOTO FOR THE DAY - TUCSON SNOW
We interrupt the regularly scheduled gem show related photo to bring you a new theme - SNOW! That's right, portions of the Old Pueblo were draped in snow this morning. I spent the first few hours of the day traipsing around town and Southern Arizona shooting photos of snow. Woot! Your first installment will be a traditional one - Saguaros in the snow.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
TUCSON GEM SHOW
I have just survived the 2011 Tucson gem and mineral shows. 3 weeks of pure madness. Good madness, but madness nonetheless. This year my place of employment, Aerolite Meteorites, had two different vendor locations, which spread us a little thin, and I spent most of my time working. Therefore, I didn't get to take nearly as many photos as I usually do, but thankfully, did still manage to get some decent ones. So, take heed now and notice of fair warning...there are going to be many photos in the next few weeks featuring scenes from the show.
For those who have never attended - it is the largest gem and mineral show in the world. Over 2 dozen different venues filled with gems, minerals, rough, cabs, jewelry, fossils, art and, of course, meteorites. It is not possible to comprehend the enormity of the show if you have not seen it. Imagine a large hotel with every room filled with rocks and people from all over the world. In one room, Jade from China. The next, Sugilite from Russia. Banded Iron, Mookaite and Prehnite from Australia. Across the hall, fossil fish from Wyoming. The end of the corridor, Moldavite from the Czech Republic. With each room in between filled with a new wonder. Now imagine 15 different hotels and 23 other locations; buildings, gigantic tents, parking lots filled with tent cities, all over the city. That is the gem show.
A cacophony of different languages. Distinctive styles of dress. Smells of worldwide native foods. It is a world market in our little home town.
It is overwhelming.
Marvelous.
Something I look forward to every year and am sad to see go.
Good bye friends, visitors, vendors, tents, rocks, minerals, amethyst cathedrals, beads, sparklies, and semis loaded with material. I will see you all next year. For now, I will have to be content with the photos and the memories.
For those who have never attended - it is the largest gem and mineral show in the world. Over 2 dozen different venues filled with gems, minerals, rough, cabs, jewelry, fossils, art and, of course, meteorites. It is not possible to comprehend the enormity of the show if you have not seen it. Imagine a large hotel with every room filled with rocks and people from all over the world. In one room, Jade from China. The next, Sugilite from Russia. Banded Iron, Mookaite and Prehnite from Australia. Across the hall, fossil fish from Wyoming. The end of the corridor, Moldavite from the Czech Republic. With each room in between filled with a new wonder. Now imagine 15 different hotels and 23 other locations; buildings, gigantic tents, parking lots filled with tent cities, all over the city. That is the gem show.
A cacophony of different languages. Distinctive styles of dress. Smells of worldwide native foods. It is a world market in our little home town.
It is overwhelming.
Marvelous.
Something I look forward to every year and am sad to see go.
Good bye friends, visitors, vendors, tents, rocks, minerals, amethyst cathedrals, beads, sparklies, and semis loaded with material. I will see you all next year. For now, I will have to be content with the photos and the memories.
Friday, February 4, 2011
PHOTO FOR THE DAY
Sticking with the cold theme for a photo today. I spent all day yesterday outside in 30 degree windy weather manning our gem show tent, which blew down in the winds the night before. I still haven't warmed up. We haven't seen temperatures like this since around 1910.
Tucson actually has had some problems due to the cold. The eastern portion of town had the natural gas, how many of us heat our homes, turned off. Apparently our supply of gas comes from Texas and they are using quite a bit at the moment to combat the low temperatures. We are using higher than normal amounts as well and there is not enough pressure in the line to supply the 14,000 homes on the east side of town that are now without gas, and as a result, heat.
We have also had water pipes burst all over town. Schools have been closed due to the lack of heat and water flooding through the building. Driving home last night saw me splashing through running water coming out of the neighborhood school. As I was wrapping my exposed outside pipes, the next door neighbors were out trying to repair their ruptured pipes.
Thank goodness temperatures will begin to climb today.
Tucson actually has had some problems due to the cold. The eastern portion of town had the natural gas, how many of us heat our homes, turned off. Apparently our supply of gas comes from Texas and they are using quite a bit at the moment to combat the low temperatures. We are using higher than normal amounts as well and there is not enough pressure in the line to supply the 14,000 homes on the east side of town that are now without gas, and as a result, heat.
We have also had water pipes burst all over town. Schools have been closed due to the lack of heat and water flooding through the building. Driving home last night saw me splashing through running water coming out of the neighborhood school. As I was wrapping my exposed outside pipes, the next door neighbors were out trying to repair their ruptured pipes.
Thank goodness temperatures will begin to climb today.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
PHOTO FOR THE DAY
I know the rest of the country is digging out from many feet of snow, so I have no real right to complain. But I'm going to do it anyway.
It is Cold. Cold cold. Freezing. Take your breath away cold. Snot freezing cold. In Tucson.
We pay our dues during the summer, when it is so hot you can hardly stand, and we have perfect winter weather in the 60s- 70s. Not for the last two days. Today is the second day with lows near 15 and highs of 40. Highs. Of. 40. And windy. I want my refund on dues paid this summer.
It is Cold. Cold cold. Freezing. Take your breath away cold. Snot freezing cold. In Tucson.
We pay our dues during the summer, when it is so hot you can hardly stand, and we have perfect winter weather in the 60s- 70s. Not for the last two days. Today is the second day with lows near 15 and highs of 40. Highs. Of. 40. And windy. I want my refund on dues paid this summer.
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