This week on Arizona Illustrated…spend a day outside with the Saguaro National Park trail crew; a new augmented-reality app brings Tucson’s history into the future; go to Sierra Vista and see how an innovative program is helping people experiencing homelessness find Better Work; Arizona Rosewood is a native, non-toxic alternative to oleander and Claire Campbell Park makes weavings that aim to visually depict the spiritual core that unites us all.
Trail Crews
Have you ever wondered who builds and maintains the trails you hike on? In this story, we spend the day with a trail crew from Saguaro National Park. Follow along as they work and talk about what drew them to this challenging and rewarding job.
Augmented History
The Arizona State Museum has launched an augmented reality experience app called, Discovering Community in the Borderlands which brings users into a virtual exhibit of Tucson’s history at various locations across town. These digital museum experiences introduce you to cultural specialists in history, art, and community stories. The augmented reality experiences include virtual photo galleries, 360 videos of dance and music, holograms, 3D virtual objects, poetry, and more. You can enter in by using your phone to scan QR codes at these various locations: Arizona State Museum, Borderlands Theater, Dunbar Pavilion, Mission Garden, Pascua Yaqui Admin Bldg, Tucson Chinese Cultural Center, and Tucson Music Hall. The project chose to illuminate themes like, resilience, reconciliation, immigration, plant environment, cultural expression, and entrepreneurship.
Better Work
The Better Work Program is a work program for people experiencing homelessness in Sierra Vista. The program is funded through a grant from the Arizona Department of Housing and has focused primarily on cleaning up public lands in the area.
Desert Plants - Arizona Rosewood
Thousands of native or drought-tolerant plants can be grown in the Sonoran Desert, providing a colorful and intriguing options for the garden. Some plants can provide amazing color or food for pollinators, nesting sites for birds and other wildlife, and visual and textural appeal to homeowners.
Claire Campbell Park - The Weaver
Claire Campbell Park is an internationally recognized artist, lecturer, and teacher. She loves abstraction, color, and light. Her two-dimensional delicate weavings give us an illusion of eternal space. One thread at a time her magical work makes tangible sense of reverence, peace, hope, and faith. She aims to visually depict the spiritual core that unites us all. When you see her work, you will want to jump in and live in its tranquility.