Tucson has been excellent for Soo and I as has been the Bead Shows we've attended. Do to the big slowdown of the economy there have been some irresistible deals. But that is only a small part of what this huge event really is.
The quality of some lampwork bead artists is truly remarkable, worthy of having a paid-to-view show alone which shows how far that art form has evolved, even in one year. I spoke with several young people who have a remarkable willingness to explore new ideas and styles that stopped me in my tracks. I saw the artwork of seasoned lampworkers who have astonishing skills... detailing within the beads that one could view thru a magnifying glass revealing intricacies that had me speechless. I also saw the stunning skills of a true master of blown glass, Beau Tsai [
http://beautsai.com/Gallery.html] whose glass creations belong in museums so amazing they are.
These shows not only bring out suppliers of anything and everything which pertains to beads, including hundred and even thousands of strands of beads worldwide, available huge bead dealers and small beaders like ourselves, but the show includes these artists I mentioned above... folks from all over the world who come to this small city of some 515, 000 people to gather in a shared appreciation and love of beads.
There is also in Tucson during the same time, huge Gem & Mineral Shows which would astound even the most disinterested - again, people from all over the world buying and selling gems and minerals, fossils, plus an amazing assortment of items created from these varied 'rocks' that give than word a fresh meaning to the uninitiated... they really 'rock'. The curious will also find the eclectic items in some way associated with everything else in these shows... Tibetan collectibles, Afghani crafts and collectibles, rugs and even dinosaur skeletons, one I saw which was complete.
It's difficult to fathom the diversity yo can find in virtually every area of the City of Tucson... nearly every motel is rented out to these people who make this show. An array of tents that are as large as the largest circus tents filled with merchandise and merchants from one end to the other, table to table, ready, willing and able to do business.
The greatest impediment to these Super Shows of this magnitude is time... time and energy to make it from one venue to another and not collapse from exhaustion.
Yes, it's overwhelming and more... but so one of a kind of an experience that Tucson puts out a yearly magazine, Tucson Show Guide, to assist the buyer and visitor alike in maneuvering the show... this years Guide is a whopping 428 pages long!
We arrived Friday afternoon and checked in to our room, which was reserved in September... six months ahead of the show, and not even in Tucson but a suburban town west of Tucson, which is completely sold out. We waited until Saturday to begin our buying for the year. This being SooZen's 7th year she has learned to 'put on blinders' to keep her vision focused on our needs and not so much our wants... that helps our pocketbook.
The temptations are way too great and discipline is an absolute must (I'm still learning, being only in my 2nd year, but learning quickly, thank you!). We finished the show today, Sunday, by remaining at one event most of the day - The Best Bead Show at what is called The Kino Veteran's Memorial Community Center... a large complex which has also added two of those huge tents for the sellers and an area set up for live lampworking demonstrations. This one event alone has about 170 sellers of beads and beadworks.
We're remaining here at our motel until Monday, when we will pack up and have a meal before heading back home... another big show under the belt and a pretty large take to organize and utilize for at least one year (if business allows) in our Tent Show. We consider ourselves very lucky to be able to come to this show and be a part of it... even for two days... enough to make it memorable.
[enough]
