One’s destination is never a place, but always a new way of seeing things.
— Henry Miller
Travel with like-minded, lifelong explorers and spend just a day or an entire week discovering amazing things about the world around us. Whether it is a “behind-the-scenes” visit to an artist’s studio, a hike through a southern Arizona riparian habitat in search of elusive warblers, a journey through history following the trail of Spanish missionaries or an in-depth cultural immersion in lands beyond our own, join us and engage the world, you never know what you will find!
Fired, Cast and Blown
Thursday, October 17 | 8:30am-4:30pm | $115 members | $125 general public
Our artists’ studio tours continue with this latest offering, combining three disciplines — ceramics, metalwork and glass. With Curator of Exhibitions James Schaub and Assistant Curator Nicole George, our first stop is the iconic Santa Theresa Tile Works begun in 1986 by Susan Gamble as a studio for creating large scale public art pieces. Over the years, commissions for commercial and residential projects expanded the space and the number of artists involved. Today, with Gamble’s retirement, Santa Theresa is managed by ceramic artist Andree Richmond and continues to offer studio space, classes and personalized, handmade mosaic tiles. Founded by Anthony Bayne in 2001, Metalphysic Sculpture Studio is a fine art foundry utilizing state of the art technologies, like 3-D robotic carving of wax models, in combination with old world craftsmanship in casting and finishing an artist’s piece. At the Sonoran Glass School, Hot Shop Director Paul Anders-Stout began working with legendary Tom Philabaum in 1999 and has been with the School since 2014. Here it’s all about the wonders of glass art. Each year the School hosts visiting artists from around the world, providing exhibition and studio space and teachers classes in glassblowing, torchworking and kiln-fusing. Cost includes transportation, tour/demo fees and lunch at Barrio Brewing Company.
Sonoran Borderlands Day of the Dead
Saturday, November 2 | 7am-7pm | $135 members | $155 general public
Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a centuries-old tradition in Mexico and the Arizona-Sonoran borderlands, a vibrant celebration that is also a time of respect and remembrance. Now that you have enjoyed our exhibit and reveled in our heritage festival of Chiles & Chocolate & Day of the Dead, come experience this holiday firsthand. With Stephen Bernier of South of the Border tours and Greg Scott, Nogales resident and southern Arizona cultural interpreter, we will visit the small “cementario” (sic) in historic Tubac, and by way of contrast, the large Pantéon Nacional in Nogales, Sonora where the spirit and colorful pageantry of the holiday awaits. Families gather to clean and decorate the graves and socialize with friends, while colorful street vendors sell ribbon wreaths, cempasúchiles (marigolds) and amaranth (red cock’s comb). Lunch will be at famed La Roca Restaurant, just across the border. Be prepared for about a mile of walking on uneven surfaces. Participants need to bring a passport. Cost includes motorcoach transportation, guide services and lunch.
Acoma to Zuni and Santa Fe
November 8-13 | $1825 members per person/double occupancy | $400 single supplement
From the “Sky City” to the “City Different,” this special tour blends singular cultural experiences and gatherings with remarkable artists with tasteful meals, luxurious accommodations, artful galleries and exceptional museums.
Our guide for this ed-venture almost needs no introduction. Second-generation Indian art dealer, scholar and uthor, Mark Bahti is a legend in the Southwest having spent a lifetime in the Four Corners. His knowledge and expertise is unsurpassed and provides unique insights into the lives and work of native craftspeople. His thoughtful collections are showcased in his Tucson and Santa Fe galleries.
Highlights of our trip include visits to Zuni Pueblo and the A:shiwi A:wan Museum and Heritage Center and to Acoma Pueblo, their Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum. While at Acoma we will also have the opportunity to meet resident potters and enjoy a lunch of traditional foods at the Yaak’a Café. While in Santa Fe we explore behind the scenes at the Institute of American Indian Arts have planned for visits with artists possibly including George Rivera (sculptor), Roxanne Swentzell (sculptor), Diana Moya-Lujan (straw applique), Art Lopez (retablo and santos), and Lawrence Baca (jewelry/silversmith). There will be receptions at several prominent Plaza galleries including, of course, Bahti Indian Arts. We’ve even built in a free day in Santa Fe for you to follow your fancy – explore Museum Hill, shop Canyon Road Arts District, stroll the Plaza or sample the best of New Mexican cuisine. But, no doubt, the climax of our travels will be our visit to Jemez Pueblo to attend their Feast Day of San Diego on November 12. The local plaza comes alive with hundreds of multi-generational Puebloan dancers as well as vendors selling a variety of crafts, folk art and local food.
Cost includes motorcoach transportation, accommodations (including four nights at La Fonda in Santa Fe), most meals, guide services and other related tour expenses.
Sandhill Snowbirds #1
Thursday | January 23 | 7:30am-5pm | $99 members | $120 general public
No one ever forgets their first sight, nor sound, of quite literally thousands of Sandhill Cranes filling the wide-open skies above Sulphur Springs Valley. These majestic birds fly with their long necks and legs fully extended, chorusing a wild-sounding guttural bugle in flight. The Cranes are winter visitors to the area, “snowbirds” if you will, and gather to feed on corn stubble and other grain waste. On this daylong birding trip with guide Lynn Hassler, we visit Whitewater Draw to meet Cranes coming back from early morning feeding forays, and to check out the local waterfowl. Sulphur Springs is also a good spot for wintering raptors. Cost of the trip includes transportation, guide services and boxed lunch.
Sandhill Snowbirds #2
Thursday | January 30 | 7:30am-5pm | $99 members | $120 general public
No one ever forgets their first sight, nor sound, of quite literally thousands of Sandhill Cranes filling the wide-open skies above Sulphur Springs Valley. These majestic birds fly with their long necks and legs fully extended, chorusing a wild-sounding guttural bugle in flight. The Cranes are winter visitors to the area, “snowbirds” if you will, and gather to feed on corn stubble and other grain waste. On this daylong birding trip with guide Lynn Hassler, we visit Whitewater Draw to meet Cranes coming back from early morning feeding forays, and to check out the local waterfowl. Sulphur Springs is also a good spot for wintering raptors. Cost of the trip includes transportation, guide services and boxed lunch.
Annual Heard Guild Indian Fair and Market
Sunday | March 8 | 8am-5pm | $75 members | $85 general public
Known as the world’s preeminent museum for the presentation, interpretation and advancement of American Indian art, the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market is a world-acclaimed cultural event that draws 15,000 visitors and nearly 600 of the nation’s most outstanding and successful American Indian artists. In booths throughout the grounds of the Museum, you will have the opportunity to meet both established traditional and contemporary artists, as well as cutting-edge younger artists selling their works alongside their relatives. Curator of Exhibitions James Schaub and Director of Education Jo Falls will be along to help navigate the array of vendors, explain things like technique, design and materials and answer your questions. Cost includes transportation and Market admission. Lunch can be enjoyed on your own at any number of food booths or in the restaurants on the Museum grounds. If you have always wanted to attend but the drive to Phoenix and the parking challenge seemed just too daunting, park the car at Tohono Chul and leave the driving AND the parking to us!
Verde Valley in the Spring
April 7-9, 2020 | $785 members per person/double occupancy | $145 single supplement
It’s spring in the Verde Valley of central Arizona and our thoughts turn to the scenic beauty of lush landscapes fed by the Verde River, the flashing colors of migrating song birds, the company of the ancient Sinagua people who once lived here, and, of course, the lure of the valley’s wine trail. Join Lynn Hassler, birder extraordinaire, and Jo Falls, Director of Education and come exploring. We’ve packed a lot into this three-day trip and think we have something for everyone – from birding Tavasci Marsh for waterbirds as well as river otter and beaver, to wine tastings at some of Arizona’s finest vineyards. We will be staying at the Cliff Castle Casino Hotel and dining in up and coming farm-to-table restaurants. The highlight? A first-class afternoon on the vintage Verde Canyon Railroad, a wilderness excursion that follows the curves of the Verde River through a rock canyon of lush greenery, abundant wildlife and ancient ruins. Nesting Common Black-hawks are a specialty here. Cost includes motorcoach transportation, hotel accommodations, all meals, admission fees, tastings, train ride and guide services.