Regardless of culinary and dietary differences, TMA’s collection includes turkeys we can all enjoy. Study our stately birds and you’ll be ready to lead the conversation at your socially-distanced-no-guests-stay-at-home-Zoom-with-family-reheated-takeout dinner this Thanksgiving.
This is probably not how you had planned to spend your day. Museum staff feel the same way, so we’re focusing on the gratitude aspect of the holiday. TMA has a lot to be thankful for this year—having a collection of artworks that make us smile (we’re looking at you, turkeys), think, wonder, appreciate, admire, contemplate and aspire is just the beginning. Read on for a list of the top 10 things we are thankful for right now.
- The museum is open. We don’t take this for granted, as so many of our peers in harder-hit communities and other types of arts organizations are unable to do the work they love right now.
- Our community is behind us. Since the day we reopened the doors to the public, visitors have expressed gratitude for the opportunity to look, reflect, ponder, examine or just stroll in the galleries. Folks are willingly following the new ticketing and safety protocols, experiencing a little inconvenience so we can all be a lot more safe. Thank you.
- Art! The respite and refuge provided by the arts is invaluable. Thanks to the generosity of donors, TMA’s art collection continues to grow. Check out our annual report to read about six important additions to the collection in the last year.
- The medical community. Healthcare workers are our heroes. Nobody is working harder or making a bigger difference right now, with greater personal risk.
- Growth and renovation. In January we opened the renovated Alice Chaiten Baker Center for Art Education. In July we dedicated the new Kasser Family Wing of Latin American Art. And we had no idea when the plans were drawn up how grateful we would be that these campus improvements also include renovated outdoor spaces perfect for the era of social distancing.
- Generous donors and loyal members. This summer our Board of Trustees and many others stepped up during a successful matching gifts campaign that offset some of the challenges of the pandemic. Through all of the uncertainty and change of the last eight months our members have stuck with us, offering enthusiasm and encouragement. We’ve even gained new members. We love you guys!
- Downtown Tucson Partnership. They provide security, sanitation measures, communication and community, and so much more. Best neighbors ever.
- Chocolate bombs. We’ve turned to chocolate in many forms during these stressful times, but chocolate bombs from Cafe a la C’Art are still the favorite. For the best stress-eating, we recommend eating out of their pastry case.
- Great weather. When the safest socializing and restaurant dining happens outdoors, Tucson’s fall and winter weather makes us feel like we won the lottery.
- Amazing Arizona artists. Being part of the arts in Arizona is incredibly rewarding. Thanks to Arizona Biennial 2020 we’re enjoying a lot of new creative output, and have reconnected with many artists while meeting (virtually) new ones. Visit the exhibition through January 10 to see work by many of the best artists working in Arizona.
Jaime Santiago, La Unión, Oaxaca, Mexico, Turkey Pair, 1986, wood, pigment. Collection of the Tucson Museum of Art. Git of Shepard Barbash and Vicki Ragan. 2018.22.360.1-2
