Arts &
Culture
Barbara Fenig
Former Director of Arts & Culture
THE TUCSON J FINE
ART GALLERY hosted
nine exhibits in 2017, which
showcased the works of local
and international artists. The
exhibitions ranged in subject
and medium from photographs
of Nepal’s landscape by Aryen Hart, to works in clay,
glass, on canvas, and on fabric by Tucson’s incredible
artist collectives—the Many Harts Artist Cooperative,
the Tucson Artist Co-op, the Contemporary Artists
of Southern Arizona, Art Trails, and Heart of Tucson,
to Arizona portraits by acclaimed local artist and
arts advocate Moira Marti Geoffrion. The J’s Fine Art
Gallery continues to be a hub for artist expression,
community gatherings, and J life.
THE TUCSON J’S SCULPTURE GARDEN
The Sculpture Garden is an initiator as well as a venue
that spans all age groups at The J. The Early Childhood
Education children look to the Sculpture Garden
for inspiration; it is now integral to our First Day
Training program; and a variety of groups tour the
garden each month. We have held events that engage
our community, such as the ECE Purim and Literacy
parades; a Sukkot Concert with Billy Jonas; and a
celebration of Leslie Schwartz, Holocaust Survivor,
in partnership with the University of Arizona and the
Arizona Opera Guild performance.
ADULT CLASSES & EVENTS
In 2017, our department expanded our collaborative
efforts with the greater Tucson community. We
partnered with community organizations such as
The Chinese Cultural Center, The Alliance Française
de Tucson, the International Rescue Committee,
Thrive & Grown Gardens, Tucson’s Community
Sustainable Agriculture initiative, the Loft Cinema,
Pima Community College and many more. We have
increased program offerings: language classes in
Italian, French and Mandarin; launched a cooking class
program with local non-profits and local instructors
and chefs; and added a host of concerts celebrating the
talents of Tucson’s musicians and performers.
2017 was a very successful year and we are excited to
exceed expectations in 2018.