“I want to be notorious rather than famous. Fame has too much responsibility. People forget you are human.”
– Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia
DeGrazia Music Room at The Gallery of The Sun — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Ted DeGrazia earned two undergraduate degrees — one in music education, one in fine art and a master’s of fine arts. Known as Arizona’s most prolific artist, it is understandable that most people may not be aware of his shared dual passions for art and music. Both helped him pay his way through college, painting during the day and leading his big band at night at Tucson’s Fox Theater.
His love of music was passed on to his son, Domingo DeGrazia, who today has his own band, the Domingo DeGarzia Spanish Guitar Band. We first saw Domingo and his band perform at the annual festival, La Fiesta de Guadalupe at the Gallery of the Sun.
Domingo DeGarzia’s Spanish Guitar Band
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Slideshow — La Fiesta de Guadalupe at the Gallery of the Sun (December 18, 2016)
— Images by kenne
In June of 2019, the Arizona Highways had a special issue, “The Legacy of Arizona’s Prolific Artist,” Ted DeGrazia. And why not, it was Arizona Highways the discovered Ted DeGrazia and put him on stage. His work appeared in more the 60 issues of Arizona Highways. The June issue celebrates the 110th birthday of Arizona’s most prolific artist.
Even before moving to Tucson in 2010, I was aware of and love Ted DeGrazia’s work. We live only a few miles from DeGrazia’s Gallery In The Sun, the campus of which sets up against the Santa Catalina Mountains on Tucson’s northeast side.
Over the last decade, we have visited the Gallery In The Sun several times, this blog has eleven postings.
A Legion Of Saguaros In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Over the years, I have called groups of saguaros everything from a group, grove, and family.
Recently I was told that the correct term is “legion.” So, here you have it.
One of the subjects we teach is geology, how the Santa Catalina Mountains were
formed, and the importance of water in the formation of Sabino Canyon. Twelve
million years ago, the Santa Catalina Mountains were just a range of hills, but the
earth’s crust in western North America was being stretched. What resulted were
huge blocks with steep vaults forming an up-and-down landscape called the
Basin and Range Province.
Naturalist, Kenne Turner with 3rd Grade Students (Sabino Canyon Dam Area) — Images by Teacher
Sabino Canyon is composed of a hard metamorphic rock called “Catalina gneiss.” Gneiss contains rock and five minerals; quartz, mica, feldspar, magnetite, and garnets. Over time water and earthquakes have eroded the gneiss rock carrying smaller rocks and minerals down streams like Sabino Creek. The minerals are deposited along the creek edges, which created a natural laboratory to learn about the minerals by panning for garnets. Need I say, kids love panning for garnets.
Students panning for garnets in Sabino Creek.
“For many Tucsonans, the canyon is an old friend. We are on a first-name basis. On a sunny weekend morning, we say, simply, “Let’s go to Sabino.
— from Sabino Canyon: The Life of a Southwestern Oasis by David Wentworth Lazaroff
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DeGrazia Music Room at The Gallery of The Sun — Photo-Artistry by kenne
A Legion Of Saguaros In Sabino Canyon — Image by kenne
Antelope Canyon On Lake Powell — Images by kenne
Naturalist, Kenne Turner with 3rd Grade Students (Sabino Canyon Dam Area) 
Students panning for garnets in Sabino Creek.
A Morning Hike In Saguaro National Park Hike-East (01/03/20)– Image by kenne
View of Sabino Canyon Dam Area — Image by kenne
