Tucson Artist Colony Announces Grand Opening

Contact: Susan Alexander
Tel: 520-270-6351
Email: placitadelaluna@live.com

TUCSON ARTIST COLONY ANNOUNCES GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
Tucson Artist Colony Provides Opportunity to Buy Local

TUCSON – 2409 N. Castro at Placita de la Luna – December 13, 2008 – the Tucson Artist Colony celebrates its Grand Opening with a reception from 5-8 pm. Tucson Artist Colony is an unprecedented collection of some of the country’s finest plein-air and studio artists who have come together to work and teach on the grounds of Placita de la Luna in Tucson. Artists such as Phil Starke and Chauncey Homer are instructors at the colony and are offering classes to share their talent and knowledge with the Tucson community. They and the other Colony fine artists are available at the reception to discuss their work and the scope of the classes offered. Examples of their works are on display and are for sale. This is the perfect opportunity to make Holiday shopping relevant by buying local and supporting the Tucson Arts Community. Tucson Artist Colony Gift Certificates are also available for purchase. Aspiring art students benefit from these gifts.

Colony Fine Artists:
v Phil Starke www.philstarke.com
v Chauncey Homer www.chaunceyhomer.com
v Brenda Semanick www.brendasemanick.com
v Sarah J. Webber www.sarahjwebber.com
v Robert Goldman www.robertgoldmanfineart.com
v Martha Braun www.marthabraun.com

The Tucson Artist Colony is the concept of Greg and Susan Alexander who saw a need in Tucson for a place Artists could call their own. While the downtown art community is struggling to maintain studio space these owners of Placita de la Luna have stepped forward to fill the need. Brenda Semanick, who is best known for her watercolors of the Tucson Barrio and large floral canvases and one of the key fine artists involved says, “It’s a perfect location to paint and to teach. Tucson has needed a place like this for a long time.” At a recent Open House held for the students of the Colony, Connie West, a local artist and art collector says, “Tucson has needed something like this for a long time. This is the best kept art secret in Tucson… This is going to be a wonderful thing for Tucson.”
The classrooms of the Tucson Artist Colony are located at Grant and Castro in a rambling building that was originally built as a home in the 1930’s and was constructed with adobe dug on site by the Native Americans of the Pascua Yaqui tribe. This historic property is now called Placita de la Luna (Grant Rd. was once Luna Rd.). Greg and Susan are completely committed to the development and growth of this new Tucson Artist Colony and pledge to set aside the entire complex to the endeavor as space becomes available.

The public is invited to share in the Grand Opening of the Tucson Artist Colony and to
celebrate this exciting development in Tucson’s art community. This event is also a perfect opportunity for the community to Buy Local for the Holidays by purchasing gift certificates for the classes. The enriching experience gained through instruction from the fine artists of the Colony is a gift that lasts a lifetime.

Although the Tucson Artist Colony is not an "Artist Colony" in the truest sense it is a group of some of the best artists in the Southwest. The Colony is committed to creating and providing an atmosphere to foster artistic growth among the artists who choose to work there and among artists who choose to participate in the classes. For more information visit the websites.
http://www.tucsonartiststudio.com/
http://www.tucsonartistcolony.com/