Culture
A preview of this Fall
By Barbara Fenig, Arts
& Culture Director
This has been my first
opportunity to curate Fall
programming. It has been
such a wonderful opportunity
to connect with members
and guests of The J and to
learn about the programs they
would like offered as part of the Adult Classes at
The J. I am grateful to the community members
who made course topic suggestions and who
shared contacts with me.
We have some riveting events that will be offered
this fall. The Welcome The New Year: A Visual
Arts Workshop for Rosh Hashanah is a family-
friendly art making workshop with artist Carolyn
King to celebrate the Jewish new year. The Tucson
Symphony Orchestra: Just for Kids Concerts will
return with a performance by the TSO Woodwind
Quintet following the Rosh Hashanah workshop.
Neva Small, who played Chava in the film
adaptation of Fiddler On The Roof, will delve into
the behind the scenes exploration of the making
of the movie—from its origin as the Tevye stories
by Sholem Aleichem to the filming of the critically
acclaimed and historically important film.
The Tucson J will be partnering with Ballet Tucson
this year and will host two performances in the
Tucson J Sculpture Garden: Putting Your Best Foot
Forward, a family-friendly event where participants
and dancers alike will create their own “art that
moves” and Living Sculptures In The J’s Sculpture
Garden, a performance inspired by the works on
display. The Celebration of Heritage Concert Series
will highlight the music of siblings Felix and Fanny
Mendelssohn and Italian operatic melodies this fall.
The Tucson J’s Demonstration Kitchen is brimming
with cooking classes this semester. The J has
8 July 2017 | J Life Magazine
partnered with the International Rescue Committee
to showcase the cooking talents of refugees living
in Tucson. We held two single-session Syrian Cuisine
Cooking Classes, which were featured on KOLD –TV
Channel 13 and on Arizona Public Media’s Arizona
Spotlight radio program. Both sold out, and Chef
Shahd will return in the fall to teach a four-session
course on her native cuisine. Chef
Samiro will lead a cooking course on
Somali Cuisine. Tucson Community
Supported Agriculture will host a class
on Farm To Table Cooking; gallerist
Yun Gee Park will teach a class on
Korean Kimchi; and Jaime Lawhorn,
Executive Pastry Chef at aka Deli
and Bakeshop, will lead a baking
workshop on Bagel Preparation and
Jennifer Selco, Director of Jewish
Life and Learning at The J, will
give a short presentation on the history of bagel
making in Jewish culture. It will be a tasty season!
It has been such a privilege to engage with many of
Tucson’s nonprofits this spring, and I am excited to
announce that we will be collaborating with the Tucson
Chinese Cultural Center to host an Introduction to Mandarin
course and Chinese Calligraphy classes. We will also be
partnering with the Alliance Française de Tucson and will
offer a Beginner French class. The course registration fee
will qualify participants to become members of the Alliance.
In addition, the Alliance will offer a French Cooking class
in the Tucson J’s incredible demonstration kitchen, which
will feature vegetarian dishes from Provence (including a
personal favorite—ratatouille.)
The Tucson J’s Spanish Language Program continues to grow
and will now include a literature class where students will
read and discuss Luis Lopez Nieves’s The Silence of Galileo.
Beginner Hebrew will be offered this fall in addition to
Intermediate and Advanced courses and the Yiddish group
will continue to meet on the second Wednesday of the
month.
Last but not least, The J will partner with Pima Community
College to offer exciting new courses this fall. Highlights
include: Poker Strategy; Introduction to Floral Design
Techniques; Coiled Basket Weaving; Makeup for Boomer
Women; and Introduction to First Aid.
I hope that you will participate in some of the amazing
classes, programs, and events at The J this fall, and please
be sure to share your impressions with me.
Fee free to call me at 520-299-3000 x236 with your ideas and
feedback. Engagement is encouraged!