Begin Your August in Tucson, Arizona with Free & Cheap Things to Do

Below is a list of free and cheap things to do, as you begin the month of August in Tucson, Arizona:

1. DeGrazia's Rodeo Collection of Paintings
Where: DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun at 6300 N. Swan Road, north of Sunrise Drive
When: August 1-31, 2010
Time: 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.
Phone: 299-9191
Admission: Free
The complete 1954 Rodeo Collection of 26 oil paintings done by Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia are on display in his gallery. This collection is based on the annual Indian rodeo on the Tohono O'odham reservation, which is west of Tucson. The studio is filled with Ted DeGrazia's works of art. While you are there, browse through the gift shop too.

2. West and West: Joe Deal
Where: Center for Creative Photography at 1030 N. Olive Road, at E. Speedway Blvd.
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Phone: 621-7968
Admission: Free
21 images that are on display capture the drama of the 19th century Great Plains, spanning the area between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains, and from the Canadian provinces to the Mexican border.

3. "Brushes with Greatness" Exhibition
Where: Desert Artisans' Gallery in La Plaza Shoppes at 6536 E. Tanque Verde Road, near E. Grant Road
When: August 1-8, 2010
Time: Daily: 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.; and Sunday: 10:00 A.M.-1:30 P.M.
Phone: 722-4412
Admission: Free
The artwork of these local artists is on display: Sharon Bertrand, Darlene LeClair, Susan Libby, Emely McConkey, Judith Probst, and Dikki Van Helsland.

4. Contemporary Architectural Landscape Explorations, A journey from Semi-representational to Abstract
Where: Tucson International Airport Lower Link Gallery located at 7250 S. Tucson Blvd.
When: August 1-6, 2010
Time: 24 hours/7 days each week
Phone: 573-8187
Admission: Free
A new art exhibit, Contemporary Architectural Landscape Explorations, A journey from Semi- representational to Abstract, is a series of acrylic paintings done by Judith A. Kramer.

5. Exploring Other Worlds
Where: Tucson International Airport Upper Link Gallery located at 7250 S. Tucson Blvd.
When: August 1-13, 2010
Time: 24 hours/7 days each week
Phone: 573-8187
Admission: Free
A new art exhibit, Exploring Other Worlds, is on display with paintings done by Terry Bustamante and Jennifer Hill.

6. Summer Film Series: Jews Who Rock!
Where: Congregation Anshei Israel at 5550 E. Fifth Street, at N. Craycroft Road
When: Every Sunday August 1-15, 2010
Time: 7:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M.
Phone: 745-5550
Admission: Free
Movies shown will be: August 1st: "When Do We Eat"?; August 8th: "The Impossible Spy"; and August 15th: "You Don't Mess with the Zohan"
Lemonade and popcorn is available.

7. Locating Landscape: New Strategies, New Technologies
Where: Center for Creative Photography at 1030 N. Olive Road, at E. Speedway Blvd.
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 1:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
Phone: 621-7968
Admission: Free
This exhibition traces the effect of newly available technologies such as GPS and Google mapping on today's landscape photography. This exhibition includes work by Christiana Caro, Andrew Freeman, Frank Gohlke, Margot Anne Kelley, Mark Klett, Paho Mann, Adam Thorman, and Byron Wolfe.

8. Still Life In Rwanda, by Eleni Sakellar
Where: Joel D. Valdez Main Library at 101 N Stone Avenue, at W. Pennington Street
When: August 1-31, 2010
Time: Monday-Wednesday: 9:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M.; Thursday: 9:00 A.M.-6:00 P.M.; Friday: 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.; Saturday: 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.; and Sunday:
1:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M.
Phone: 791-4010
Admission: Free
The artist's display depicts the questions and situations regarding genocide in Rwanda.

9. A Summer Indoor ARTmarket at the Tucson Mall
Where: 4500 N. Oracle Road, at W. Wetmore Road
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 12:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
Phone: 795-1566
Admission: Free
Fine art by local arists is on display and can be purchased.

10. UA Museum of Art Exhibition: "Metropolis" Exhibition
Where: UA Museum of Art at 1031 N. Olive Road, at E. Speedway Blvd.
When: now - October 31, 2010
Time: Tuesday-Friday: 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.; Saturday & Sunday: Noon-4:00 P.M.; Closed on Monday.
Phone: 621-7567
Admission: $5.00; Free for museum members; students, children and UA faculty and staff are free
This artists exhibition explores the themes of the 1927 classic silent German art film, "Metropolis" by Fritz Lang. In the film the future is presented as both beautiful and frightening. While viewing these exhibitions, the museum will continuously screen a 90-minute version of the film.

11. UA Museum of Art Exhibition: "Pictures of the Floating World: Life in 19th Century Japan"
Where: UA Museum of Art at 1031 N. Olive Road, at E. Speedway Blvd.
When: now-September 26, 2010
Time: 9:00 A.M.
Phone: 621-7567
Admission: $5.00 Adults; Free for children, students with ID, and Museum members
This is an exhibition of the 19th century Japanese woodblock prints from the Museum's Permanent Collection. The display explores the print-making process, everyday life in pre-modern Japan, and the cultural exchange that took place between Japan and the Western world.

12. Tucson Children'˜s Museum $2.00 Admission First Sundays
Where: 200 S. Sixth Avenue, at E. 12th Street
When: August 1, 2010 & the first Sunday of every month
Time: 10:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
Phone: 792-9985
Admission: $2.00 for children 10 and under
There's plenty of hands-on exhibitions and activities for children to do inside the museum.

13. The 2010 Tucson International Children's Film Festival Presents The Neverending Story
Where: Loft Cinema at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd., near N. Country Club Road
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Phone: 795-0844
Admission: Free
Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. No advance tickets will be given out.

14. People and Places of Saguaro's Past
Where: Saguaro National Park East at 3693 S. Old Spanish Trail, near E. Escalante Road
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Phone: 733-5153
Admission: Free
A park ranger will lead a photo tour of the park's historic past.

15. Sunday in the Park: Bugs!
Where: Colossal Cave Mountain Park at 16721 E. Old Spanish Trail
When: August 1, 2010
Time: Two Presentations: 2:00 P.M. and 4:00 P.M. A Bug hunt is at 3:00 P.M.
Phone: 647-7275
Admission: $5.00 park use fee
There will be an interactive program-slide show and a bug hunt.

16. The Lamplight Reading Series
Where: Casa Libre en la Solana at 228 N. Fourth Avenue
When: August 1, 2010 & the first Sunday of every month
Time: 4:00 P.M.-6:00 P.M.
Phone: 490-2002
Admission: Free
This event hosts one or two artists per series and an open mic. It features well-known to emerging writers.

17. Mick Beaman Performs
Where: Glass Onion Cafe at 1990 W. River Road, near N. La Cholla Blvd.
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 2:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M.
Phone: 293-6050
Admission: $5.00 suggested donation for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's
Research.
Mick Beaman is an awesome, acoustic, folk singer.

18. Mindfulness Meditation
Where: Tucson Buddhist Meditation Center at 1133 S. Swan Road, near E. 22nd Street
When: August 1, 2010 & every Sunday
Time: 3:00 P.M.-4:30 P.M. & 7:00 P.M.- 8:30 P.M.
Phone: 520-745-4624
Admission: Free
A Buddhist Monk teaches meditation. Beginners to advanced welcome and seating is available with cushions, or in chairs.

19. Mike Mihina
Where: Plush at 340 E. Sixth Street, at N. 4th Avenue
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 9:30 P.M.
Phone: 798-1298
Admission: Free & age restrictions: 21 and over
Mike Mihina is a rock, semi acoustic performer.

20. Music on the Mountain featuring the Wyatts
Where: Village of Summerhaven at 12901 N. Sabino Canyon Parkway, up on Mount Lemmon
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 1:00 P.M.- 5:00 P.M.
Phone: 647-3234
Admission: Free
Sit outdoors and listen to country rock and blues music. Just bring a lawn chair. No outside food or drinks are allowed.

21. Spillapalooza
Where: The Hut at 305 N. Fourth Avenue, near E. 8th Street
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 5:00 P.M.-11:00 P.M.
Phone: 623-3200
Admission: $5.00-$10.00 suggested donation to raise money for the Gulf Oil Disaster Fund
12 local bands are holding this benefit concert. They are: Al Perry, The Swigs, Fish Karma and the Love Generation, Loren Dirkes and Gila Bend, The Modeens, The El Camino Royales, The Wayback Machine, The Dusty Buskers, The Fisters, The Possibles, Vanessa Lundon and Aaron Gilmartin.

22. "Dancing in the Streets" Ballet & Zumba Demonstrations
Where: Park Place Mall at 5870 E. Broadway Blvd., near S. Wilmot Road
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 1:00 P.M.-3:00 P.M.
Phone: 867-8489
Admission: Free
Students who are studying in this program perform. Audience participation is highly encouraged.

23. Picture This! Art for Families: What You See is Not Always What You Get
Where: Tucson Museum of Art at 140 N. Main Avenue, near N. Granada Avenue
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 1:00 P.M.
Phone: 624-2333
Admission: Free
Artist John Baldassari's work is on display. Great for children 6-12 and adults too.

24. "Witness for the Prosecution"
Where: Fox Tucson Theatre at 17 W. Congress Street, at N. Stone Avenue
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Phone: 547-3040
Admission: $6.00-$8.00
This film is a mystery and murder series.

25. Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Hour
Where: Ada Peirce McCormick Building in the Little Chapel on the UofA Campus at
1401 E. First Street, near E. Speedway Blvd.
When: August 1, 2010 & every Sunday
Time: 10:45 A.M.-12:00 P.M.
Phone: 520-622-8460
Admission: Free
Meditation instruction, practice and question and answer period.

26. Ryanhood and Friends
Where: Armitage Wine Lounge & Café at 2905 E. Skyline Drive, at N. Campbell Avenue
When: August 1, 2010 & every Sunday
Time: 9:00 P.M.-12:00 A.M.
Phone: 682-9740
Admission: Free
Musicians performing as you drink and/or dine - not required though.

27. Open Mike Jam Session
Where: O'Shaughnessy's SteakHouse and Piano Bar at 2200 N. Camino Principal, off of E. Tanque Verde Road
When: August 1, 2010 & every Sunday
Time: 4:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M.
Phone: 296-SING
Admission: Free
Open Mike performances while you drink and/or dine - not required though. Bring your own instruments. Prizes are awarded.

28. Religion and Violence: The Protestants and the Irish Catholic Rebellion of 1641
Where: St. Philip's In The Hills Episcopal Church at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue, at E. River Road
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 10:15 A.M.
Phone: 299-6421
Admission: Free
This is a summer lecture series focusing on violence in the name of religion. It's in the Music Center of the Church.

29. Summer Lecture Series 2010: The West is not Immune: Religion and Violence in Early Modern Europe
Where: St. Philip's in the Hills Episcopal Church, Bloom Music Center at
4440 N. Campbell Avenue, at E. River Road
When: August 1, 2010
Time: 9:15 A.M.-11:30 P.M. & 10:15 A.M.-11:30 A.M.
Phone: 50-621-1284
Admission: Free
This is a summer lecture series focusing on violence in the name of religion.

30. Neighborhood Characters
Where: Saguaro National Park West at 2700 N. Kinney Road
When: August 1, 2010 & every Sunday
Time: 10:45 A.M.
Phone: 733-5158
Admission: $10.00 per car park entrance fee
Enjoy a 30-minute walk through the cactus garden admiring cactus that looks like people's faces. If it's too hot an indoor program will be featured on the same topic.

31. Two Step Tuesdays
Where: Javelina Cantina at the Doubletree Hotel Tucson at 445 S. Alvernon Way, south of E. Broadway Blvd.
When: August 3, 2010 & every Tuesday
Time: 6:00 P.M.-10:30 P.M.
Phone: 881-4200
Admission: $5.00
Dance lessons are given by the Arizona Ballroom Company from 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M., then there's open dancing from 7:00 P.M.-8:30 P.M. From 8:30 P.M.-10:30 P.M. there will be a dance contest. On the 4th week, all winners compete for a two-night stay at Penasco delSol Hotel in Rocky Point, Mexico. Drinks are available.