In this episode we feature Julio Morales, artist, curator, and the Executive Director of MOCA Tucson. Julio takes us on an exploration of his personal life, recounting his upbringing in Tijuana, where he was deeply immersed in the border culture and surrounded by a family of creatives. Julio Morales' artistry is not only a reflection of his talent but also an embodiment of his multicultural upbringing. In this episode, he shares fascinating anecdotes about his family life, where creativity flowed freely among his relatives, instilling in him a deep passion for self-expression and the power of ..read more

Join us as we dive into the world of art and community with the talented Anna Flores! In this episode, Anna takes us on a captivating journey through her life, art, and exciting projects, like Open Studio Tours. Anna shares her story about growing up in Nogales, Arizona, a border town that has shaped her perspective as an artist. Her unique upbringing has influenced her creative process and fueled her passion for art, something she has in common with her colleagues and Artistories' hosts, Jenea and Ammi. Flores reveals the inner workings of the renowned Open Studio Tours program by the Arts Fo ..read more

In the latest episode of Artistories we dive deep into the artistic journey of filmmaker, sound producer, and borderlands advocate, Prudence Katze. Prudence begins by describing her her path as a filmmaker, her inspiration and struggles behind her documentary The Iron Triangle, her adventures in the borderlands during Covid times, and her eye-opening experience filming Una Linea—a film that explores the desert communities of Sonora, MX, and Arizona, USA and how it is being affected by politics. Katze's artistic journey takes an unexpected turn as she finds herself drawn to the borderlands afte ..read more

In the latest episode of Artistoires, we hear from Iranian-born artist Nazafarin Lotfi. We go back in time and learn of Nazafarin's introduction to the arts through moments in her childhood in Iran experiencing architecture, anthropological sites, and the literary arts. She shares what inspired her to study the arts and how her introduction to the gallery/museum world began in college. Nazafarin shares her perspective on moving to the Southwest in 2017 during a tumultuous time for immigrants at the start of the Trump era, and we learn how the Hamrah Arts Club, a creative mentorship progra ..read more

We are thrilled to announce the next episode of Artistories featuring the talented Alejandra Trujillo, an artist, muralist, and teaching artist based in Tucson, Arizona. In this upcoming episode, Alejandra shares her journey as an artist, revealing how the Sonoran Desert fills her with inspiration and the artistic influences she drew from her family that shaped her passion for the arts. Alejandra discusses her excitement in participating in Open Studio Tours for the first time, an event that brings together artists and art lovers alike to explore the creative spaces of Tucson. She also talks a ..read more

In this episode, we have the pleasure of speaking with Coley Curry, a Filipinx dancer and creative currently based in Tucson, Arizona. Coley shares with us her journey from Chicago to Tucson, and how a transformative residency in the Philippines, her mother's birthplace, reinvigorated her art practice. Her art takes many forms, including storytelling, facilitation, collage, craft, and film. In her movement, she aims to create spaces for community, ritual, healing, and taking ownership of personal history and cultural narratives. Coley's shares sties of her artist trajectory including a recent ..read more

In this episode, we feature Barbea Williams, a renowned Dance maker, Entrepreneur and Cultural Practitioner. She is the founder and artistic director of the Barbea Williams Performing Company, a dance troupe dedicated to sharing ethnic dance, theatre and visual cultural traditions that derive from Afrika and the Afrikan Diaspora. In our conversation, Barbea shares her inspiring journey of discovering her passion for the performing arts. She talks about growing up in a family of artists and the moment she felt her ancestors calling her to pursue a career as a creative. Barbea also talks about t ..read more

In this episode, we feature Barbea Williams, a renowned Dance maker, Entrepreneur and Cultural Practitioner. She is the founder and artistic director of the Barbea Williams Performing Company, a dance troupe that celebrates African and African American culture through their performances. In our conversation, Barbea shares her inspiring journey of discovering her passion for the arts. She talks about growing up in a family of artists and the moment she felt her ancestors calling her to pursue a career as a creative. Barbea also talks about the exciting projects she is currently working on  ..read more

In this episode, we sit down with Benjamin Lucero, AKA Halsero - a multi-talented music producer, community organizer, and DJ. He takes us on a journey through his experiences growing up in Mesa, AZ, and finding his creative community in Tucson, AZ. As a dedicated member of his community, Halsero shares his inspiration as a creative who values and serves those around him. For artists looking to make it in the local music scene in Tucson, Benjamin offers advice and insights based on his own experiences as a community organizer and leader. Join us for an inspiring conversation with Benjamin Luce ..read more

In this episode, we feature Pricilla “Nefftys” Rodriguez, Hip Hop Artist/Rapper, Writer, Community Organizer, and Arts Visionary. The episode starts with Nefftys explaining the inspiration behind her stage name, which is derived from the goddess Nephthys, who inspired Neffty’s stage name, a symbol of creativity, darkness and transformation in Egyptian mythology. She talks about growing up in Ambos Nogales, a city split between the US and Mexico, and how the early 2000s saw the rise of the Internet and the influence of hip-hop music in popular culture. Over time, Neffty’s career as a rapp ..read more