Et Cetera

It's Tucson Modernism Week

The city's first celebration of all that's mid century modern aims to entertain, educate and inspire.

Tucson Modernism Week has been a long time coming. That's the view of mid century modders in the city, people who've traveled to the likes of Phoenix and Palm Springs for their mid-mod home tours then returned to Tucson and thought: why not here?

This was what was on Elizabeth Przygoda-Montgomery's mind after she returned from a trip to Palm Springs last year.

Elizabeth Przygoda

"I thought 'Why aren't we doing something like that in Tucson?' I spoke to a couple of people here about it before I was put in touch with Demion Clinco at the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation. He took the idea and ran with it," says Elizabeth, co-founder of the event and a Tucson-based landscape designer.

Demion Clinco. Photo by fotovitamina

Demion Clinco, president of the THPF and the event's other founder, has recruited a small army of volunteers to get it off the ground. He admits that they've created a lot of work for themselves; it could have been simply a home tour and an expo, but all of them wanted to push the bar higher.

The result is perhaps a misnomer, as the 'week' only lasts three days. But organizers are packing in about a week's worth of event in that three days, from lectures to film screenings to pop-up shops, a cocktail party and, yes, a home tour. And next year they do intend to stretch it to a whole week.

The geographical focus of the three days will be the stretch of Broadway Blvd between Country Club and Campbell, an area that used to be called The Sunshine Mile. Organizers say not only is it historically significant, with a wealth of period architecture and store fronts, but it's under threat because of proposed widening of that stretch of road from six to eight lanes.

"Broadway Boulevard was the spine of the city and there are mid century modern treasures up and down it. These are assets that we should be celebrating," says Demion. "I would hope that maybe this event can serve as a springboard to re-imagine and  re-envision what this street can be."

Here are our top 3 picks for Tucson Modernism Week:

1. A conversation with Anne Rysdale

One of Ann Rysdale's two-story buildings on Broadway Boulevard. Photo by Jude Ignacio and Geradine Vargas.

If you love The Shelter and The Tucson Inn motel, then you won't want to miss this free event. Anne Rysdale, born and raised in Tucson, was responsible for those buildings and more (including dozens of homes in Winterhaven, Colonia Solana and El Encanto). And she was the only registered practicing female architect in Arizona from 1949 to the early 1960's.

2. Tom Gist: One of a kind, a Tucson modernist

Tucson-born Tom Gist fan Michael Fassett delivers this free lecture on a designer and architect who was prolific in Tucson. Tom built homes out of burnt adobe with a strong inside/outside living theme (sliding doors, large expanses of glass). He custom-made cabinets and installed mahogany woodwork. In keeping with the modesty of the post-war time, his homes were never huge, always affordable, and simple. And he produced detailed typed documents on everything - making Michael's job as de facto Gist archivist all the easier.

Not only does Michael own Tom Gist property in Tucson, his interest in the mid-20th century has led him to become active in the local community. Michael serves on the board of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, and has helped with nominating Gist homes for the National Register. When he's not scouring eBay, Craigslist and estate sales for period pieces, Michael is a Los Angeles-based obstetrician.

 * See Michael's Tom Gist home in our Square Feet section.

Michael Fassett. Photo by Gillian Drummond

3. Coast Modern

This film, tracking pioneers of West Coast modernist architecture along the Pacific Northwest coast line from Los Angeles to Vancouver, opened to great acclaim at Vancouver's Doxa Festival. Tickets are $10 per person. Click here for details.

Calling all mini authors and illustrators

The Tucson Festival of Books is running a competition for young authors and illustrators, and the deadline is looming! Check out the details and encourage your kids to enter by December 1.

A book signing with Bill Carter

The Southern Arizona-based writer and filmmaker Bill Carter will be talking about his books and films and signing copies of Boom, Bust, Boom.

When: November 17, 5pm-6pm

Where: MOCA Tucson, 265 S. Church Ave

More info: 520 624 5019 

If you love koi...

... then you may want to pay a visit to The Southern Arizona Koi Association's 33^rd annual Koi Show and Auction. There will be judging, a vendor fair, auction and raffle. Or you can just gaze upon this graceful, colorful fish.