Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008 - (Page 12)

Vital Signs Harboring the Artistic Community V i t a l t o t h e Wa r e h o u s e D i s t r i c t by Lee Allen usan Gamble, the newly-elected leader of waMo (warehouse arts Management organization), says she discovered her interest in art at an early age “probably arranging my building blocks in a symmetrical pattern.” another of her early artistic efforts came after watching a newsreel of the opening of disneyland followed by the re-creation of a jungle ride in her backyard complete with water-filled trenches. this desire to make things has translated into a lifelong career, initially teaching art in the sunnyside school district before founding and running santa theresa tile works, 440 n. 6th avenue. “I didn’t want to have to earn a paycheck during the day and have to make my art in the evening, so I figured I’d better come up with something to make my living in the art world and ceramics became my main media.” now, in addition to making a living as an artist, she is spearheading the effort to develop the tucson Historic warehouse arts district as “a center for incubation, production, and exhibition of the arts with artists at its heart.” the plan under consideration is a product of intensive community planning efforts involving artists, arts organizations and public officials dedicated to preserving and growing the district. “whatever the ultimate Barraza-aviation alignment decision, this district will be impacted. there are publicly-owned buildings, privately-owned structures, vacant parcels and decisions to be made on all of them. “there are those of us who have built up businesses here (like her gallery of hand-cut, one-of-a-kind, mosaic-style art tiles) because we want to be in this creative atmosphere near the artists. with things like the art walk, this whole area has started to develop and we want to help move it further along.” Gamble says the actual game plan to accomplish those goals is currently being formulated and will be made public during her term in office which ends in november. “our master plan is item number one,” she says. “we’re revisiting and updating the call for an arts district here that fits with other plans like the tucson Pima arts council’s desire for more space dedicated for studios and performances. our plan fits with tREo’s blueprint concerning the creative economy, the necessity of having artists and venues for A conversation with Susan Gamble, Warehouse Arts Management Organization S galleries, entertainment, performances and the like in a revitalized downtown area. our concept also fits with the town Hall report that acknowledges the importance of artists in tucson’s culture. we fit right in with everybody else’s plan and my top goal is to pursue the best path to establish such an arts district.” toward that end, Jaret Barr (assistant to the city Manager) recently toured the area to keep city staff up to date. and waMo is establishing 501c3 tax-exempt status to further assist the ambitious plans. “number two on my list of to-dos involves the status of some of our area buildings,” Gamble said. “we know there have been improvements made and we want to offer the artistic community technical assistance to ensure the facilities are recognizably safe. the buildings were reviewed by an architect eight years ago and we’re talking about updating that review. we’re hoping sometime in the first quarter of 2008 to have these things in place and be able to visit the city council with our game plan for review by staff. we’re not seeking funding, just acknowledgement of our efforts so we can move forward.” not only do they want to be recognized and acknowledged, they’d like to be taken seriously. “what domino is going to fall first? who’s going to step up and move head? we’re a benefit to every one of the currently existing plans and a viable means of helping to develop downtown. this is a vital area filled with vitality and it needs to be incorporated into the overall downtown purview as a district of interest.” Recognizing that there is strength in numbers, Gamble wants to expand the waMo name recognition by doubling the size of the group, bringing more gallery and business owners into the organization, and by tooting its own horn through increased marketing and promotion things like a branding project with identifying street banners for the dissusan gamble trict. “we’re in the middle of what has been termed the Golden triangle between the university of arizona campus and the heart of a downtown under revitalization. It’s a great place for those who know it’s here and can seek it out. Geographically we are an easily walkable destination from any downtown spot. It’s our job to let people know that we’re here and getting more attractive every day.” 12 downtown tucsonan.february.08 http://www.downtowntucson.com/lunchtime_music http://www.downtowntucson.com/lunchtime_music

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008

Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008 Contents From the Editor Downtown Lowdown Vital Signs Downtown Restaurants & Cafes Downtown Live Arts Galleries Performances Film Events Museums Historic Downtown Downtown Travelogue Billboard Classifieds

Downtown Tucsonan - February 2008

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