Tag: events

interview: krysta + joel of TOPAZ

October 25, 2012 |

OK. This might just be me, but y’know those sort of projects—be they restaurants, artistic creations, street festivals, zombie poodles, what have you—that make you think, Wow, who the hell was cool (or crazy) enough not only to come up with this idea but actually pull it off?  Now, I’m not claiming they’re up there with Calexico or equals to Christo and Jeanne-Claude (yet) or that they’re half as genius as whoever discovered that putting Mentos in Diet Coke makes the whole thing explode, but Krysta and Joel—the couple behind Topaz—are pretty damn awesome.

(Photo credit: http://www.topaz-tundra.com/sample-page/)

In case you haven’t stumbled across it yet, Topaz is the unassuming-yet-totally-rad arts venue situated on a bare stretch of St. Mary’s Road just east of the freeway. I covered one of Topaz’s shows a while back, and earlier that same day I was lucky enough to get to sit down with Krysta and Joel for an interview. I was curious to find out what inspired the creation of an arts venue as eclectic and unique as Topaz. How did it all come together? I ask them. Krysta and Joel exchange glances and then Krysta explains, almost sheepishly: “It happened by accident, pretty much.” So the story goes: Krysta was looking for a studio where she could work on her photography, and Joel needed space to store the vintage clothing he collects (and now sells—on Topaz’s second floor, known as Zia Vintage). “It was only once we’d found this particular spot that we realized, Hey, we could do shows here,” says Krysta. “It was very much the physical space itself that inspired us.” As Topaz illustrates in its very existence, a willingness to embrace instability, random strokes of insight, and fortuitous accidents can be a spectacular asset.

They were enthusiastic, but Krysta and Joel weren’t sure what sort of reception Topaz would get in the Tucson arts scene. Accordingly, they were thrilled when they found “a lot of respect, no drama, no pressure,” explains Joel. “If we’d done shows and no one’d come, we would’ve done something different. But there was support from the start,” and lots of people were eager to collaborate.

“We think of Topaz as a creative platform, so we love it when people approach us with ideas. We don’t have an overarching vision,” Krysta explains. “Or, rather, our vision is open-ended.” Topaz is primarily a music venue at the present moment (with 100% of profits going to the bands they host), but Krysta and Joel foresee an expansion into more polished art shows, poetry readings, literary events, and film screenings, among other projects.

So if you’re one of the many people in Tucson who would love to see the art scene of this city thrive, check out Topaz. It’s one of those crazy/cool ideas come to fruition that can inspire and enrich us all. And don’t forget to check the Zocalo Hannah blog for more Topaz updates—I’ll be keeping them on my radar, for sure!

música: tom walbank @ che’s

September 23, 2012 |

L to R: Connor, Jake, and Tom at Che’s Lounge on Saturday, September 22nd.

I’ve seen Tom Walbank play at Café Passé a few times — he does a solo show every Friday evening for “Blues Under the Trees” on the Passé Patio (the opening act is Roman Barton Sherman, a kid — literally, like, nine years old — who frickin’ busts out some old man blues music. It’s nuts!). But it was really fun to see him play at Che’s Lounge last night, where he drew a fatty crowd and rounded out his sound with the addition of drumz (Jake Sullivan) and gee-tar (Connor Gallaher). Wherever he happens to be singing and guitar-ing and harmonica-ing his heart out, Tom — an Englishman who calls Tucson his real home for real — can blues it up like no other, and I highly recommend checking him out. More about the spectacular Mister Tom Walbank at ze MySpace and his website. Peep it, yo.

i’ll see you at… party at popcycle!

September 20, 2012 |

Popcycle reminds me of my absolute favorite shop from back home in Portland, Maine (if you ever go to Portland, check out Ferdinand on Congress Street). I haven’t been in Tucson long enough to develop the love affair with Popcycle that I did with Ferdinand, but I’m definitely stoked enough about the shop that I’m planning on hitting up their 4th birthday party, happening this Thursday from 6-8pm (with a sale that lasts through Sunday). Cold beer, 20% off sale, and awesome upcycled goods? Um, yes please. See you there! Tweet me @zocalohannah if you’re gonna hit it up.