Related articles:

Gifts from the arts

Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor

Sure, a diamond is nice. So’s a new set of golf clubs, or a fancy iPod.

But really, can gifts like those set your soul soaring, sooth your psyche, and enrich your life?

Come on now, think about it. Only art can do that (though we admit, diamonds can be kinda special).

So this holiday season, we’ve a suggestion: Make your gifts art-centric.

We know you can come up with a load of good ideas on your own. To get you started, here are a few we’d love to see wrapped up and handed to us:

Buy a membership to their favorite museum for them. Memberships are offered at a variety of levels for individuals, families and larger donors, and come with a variety of benefits for the member.

Tucson Museum of Art offers individual memberships for $40 and $50 for families, as well as student rates and higher membership levels. More information at www.tucsonarts.com/members/members.php or 624-2333, Ext.106.

Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) memberships are $30 for students and emerging artists, $50 for individuals or established artists and $75 for families, and there are additional patronage levels and benefits as well. More information at www.moca-tucson.org/kommerz/ membership.shtml or 624-5019.

Encourage your artists by signing them up for a class in design, drawing, painting, printmaking or clay at The Drawing Studio, or allow them to choose their own with a personalized gift certificate in any amount good toward any class, workshop, gallery purchase, associate membership fee or open studio sessions. Visit www.thedrawingstudio.org or call 620-0947 for more information.

Buy art supplies or a gift certificate in any amount at local stores, such as Sarnoff Art & Writing, 2524 N. Campbell Ave. (795-1229 or www.sarnoffart.com), or Posner’s Art Store, 1025 N. Park Ave. (622-3636 or www.posnersartstore.com).

Buy a piece of local art history at the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, 6300 N. Swan Road, where many original Ted DeGrazia works are for sale (degrazia.org or 299-9191).

Gallery owners, such as Terry Etherton of the Etherton Gallery, 135 S. Sixth Ave., will be happy to answer questions about art collecting and choosing a piece of art (www.etherton gallery.com or 624-7370). For a little background on art collecting, check out “Legacy: Developing a Collection of Contemporary Art,” a panel discussion 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the Tucson Museum of Art, 140 N. Main Ave., featuring local collectors Dan Leach and Marilyn and Bob Joyce; Mike Dominguez, co-owner of Davis Dominguez Gallery; and TMA’s chief curator, Julie Sasse. Admission is $8, $3 for students, $6 for seniors and free for members.

Arrange a behind-the-scenes look at original famous works for your photography-loving loved ones. The best parts: It’s something you can do together — and it’s free. The Center for Creative Photography’s Print Viewing Program gives the public access to select and view photographs from the more than 80,000 prints in the center’s collection — one of the world’s largest photography collections. Visit www.creativephotography.org for more information or call 621-7968 to make an appointment.

Violinist Michael Fan (TSO, Tucson Pops Orchestra concertmaster) tells musical fairy tales. With his Ocotillo Trio — Fan, his sister TSO principal keyboardist Paula Fan and TSO principal cellist Nelzimar Neves — the budding composer brings to life lively tales of cuddly animals and adventurous kids. It’s geared toward kids, but the music is equally accessible for adults. The Ocotillo Trio has been around about 15 years, performing private parties, weddings and other events in private homes or at the historic Camil Van Hulse House. Prices are $300 for an hourlong show at a residence; $425 for the Van Hulse House, which includes rental of the house for three hours and access to a kitchen for refreshments. To reserve the trio, call 326-8991.

First came the novels, then the movies, now “The Lord of the Rings Symphony,” a multimedia event that combines voice, full orchestra and original illustrations and storyboards projected above the stage. “The Lord of the Rings Symphony — A Symphonic Musical Journey to Middle-Earth” on March 29-30 will feature the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the TSO Chorus, the Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus and guest conductor Marcus Huber. Here’s the bonus: You can dress up as your favorite “Lord of the Rings” character, or just pop on a costume that looks like you come from Middle-Earth. Tickets: $20-$60 through the TSO box office, 882-8585, or online at www.tucsonsymphony.org.

For fans of the movie, famed American violinist Joshua Bell’s new CD “The Red Violin Concerto” ($18.98, Sony Classics) is a must-have. He recorded it with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Marin Alsop and it’s truly fabulous. But don’t stop there: Send your “Red Violin” fan to see Bell live when he returns to the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Jan. 15 to perform John Corigliano’s “Pope’s Concert” from “The Red Violin.” Tickets ($36-$70) are going fast; 882-8585 or online at www.tucsonsymphony.org.

Jazz pianist Jeff Haskell plays with his piano, drums and bass trio or on his own. His technical prowess ranks him at the top of Tucson’s echelon of fine pianists. You can hire him solo by the hour — $100 per — by calling 885-1984. He can also round up a trio or more with enough notice.

Here’s the really cool thing about the New York Metropolitan Opera simulcasts: You get to see arguably America’s finest opera, live and up-close on a big screen, as it’s happening. It’s the next best thing to sitting in the orchestra seats at the Met. Two Tucson theaters — El Con 20, 3601 E. Broadway; and Park Place 20, 5870 E. Broadway — and Sierra Vista’s Cinemark 10, 2175 El Mercado Loop, are participating in the Met series, kicking off Dec. 15 with an 11 a.m. performance of Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”. Tickets are $22, $20 for seniors and $15 for students through the theaters or www.fandango.com. Other performances coming up include “Hansel and Gretel” Jan. 1 and a new production of Verdi’s “Macbeth” Jan. 12.

“Putumayo Presents: Tango Around the World” Putumayo Records

Bodies entwined. Sensual twists and turns. The moan of the accordion. Is there anything more romantic than the tango? We didn’t think so. Putumayo shows off the tango’s musical side with this latest release, featuring artists from Serbia to Senegal. The album even includes four tracks by musicians from Argentina, the land where the tango was born. Biographies on all featured artists can be found in the liner notes. Add to the gift by getting tickets to see “Forever Tango” at Centennial Hall on Feb. 19. Tickets are $25-$51 through the Centennial Hall box office, 621-3341.

In its 50 years in business, the Monterey Jazz Festival has established itself as one of the foremost gatherings of jazz musicians in the world. Now, event organizers are bringing the festival to the people. On Jan. 26, an all-star collective of jazz musicians will come through Centennial Hall with a show performed in the spirit of the annual California extravaganza. Among the artists scheduled to appear will be famed trumpeter Terence Blanchard, sax man James Moody and vocalist Nnenna Freelon. And with tickets ranging from $20-$44, the concert won’t force you to exceed any holiday budgets. Tickets can be purchased through the Centennial Hall box office, 621-3341.

17 Hippies — “Heimlich” Hipster Records

17 Hippies is a quirky German group that emerged from the blending of Western and Eastern musical traditions after the fall of the Berlin Wall. If your significant other has a taste for the unusual, this album should do the trick with its klezmer-centric melodies, use of German, French and English and a downright wild oboe-filled rendition of the Sugarhill Gang’s “Apache.”

Japanese taiko drumming doesn’t exactly conjure up images of mistletoe and Christmas trees. But it is something different for that loved one who has everything.

Odaiko Sonora, Tucson’s own taiko drum group, holds a variety of drumming classes at Odaikospace, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave.

Led by Karen Falkenstrom and Rome Hamner, the group has become a cultural fixture in town and has been chosen this year to perform in the 119th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 1.

Costs vary depending on class skill level and dates chosen. For more information, go to tucsontaiko.org.

It’s not too late to buy tickets for “Disney’s High School Musical,” but act quickly before they’re are gone. This theatrical production, from the producers of “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast,” brings the love story of basketball star Troy Bolton and science genius Gabriella Montez, to the Tucson Music Hall stage.

Eight performances are scheduled for the show, which opens at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2 and closes with a 6:30 p.m. show on Jan. 6. Tickets are $26-$50. Buy them at Ticketmaster by calling 321-1000 or visiting the box office at the Tucson Convention Center at 260 S. Church Ave. For information check out www.broadwayintucson.com.

Besides an assortment of books about the performing arts, Antigone Books, also sells finger puppets and dolls based on famous theatre and arts characters. Get finger puppets of Shakespeare, Frida Kahlo and Salvador Dali for $5.50. Also, pick up a Shakespeare or Carmen “Little Thinkers” doll for $15.95. The dolls also come in the forms of Leonardo Da Vinci, Charlie Chaplin and Claude Monet. If dolls aren’t your thing, pick up a Shakespeare or Oscar Wilde action figure ($8.50) or playing cards ($6.50-$15.95) with pictures of various theatrical characters and artists. Antigone is at 411 N. Fourth Ave. Phone: 792-3715.

Fans of “Wicked: The Musical” will relish all of the details in the 192-page book “Wicked: The Grimmerie, A Behind The Scenes Look at the Hit Broadway Musical.” Designed to look like the “Grimmerie,” an ancient book of spells used by Elphaba, the book profiles the Broadway cast and the creative team, features the show’s libretto, an “Ozian” glossary, spells and a step-by-step look at the make-up routine that transforms the performer into the green witch Elphaba. It’s got a $40 retail price, but check www.amazon.com or www.barnes andnoble.com for cheaper deals.

Here’s a gift for the budding actor in your family: Acting classes from The Studio for Actors in Tucson, 310 E. Sixth St. It has classes for people ages 12-80. Owner and instructor Anna Risley, a former “Saturday Night Live” cast member, offers gift packages ranging from $50 for a one-hour session about getting your start in the acting biz, to a four-week comedy improv class for $140. Call The Studio at 881-2363 for details, or check out www.the-studio-for-actors.com. Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway, also offers classes for children and teens, ages 6-18. Ten-week courses start Jan. 7 and 9. Prices are $90-$110. For information, call Live Theatre Workshop at 327-0160, or check out www.livetheatreworkshop.org.

Imagination for kids

Playing dress-up is a good way to get your youngest introduced to make-believe play. Check out Mrs. Tiggy-Winkles for an assortment of costumes and props.

The children’s store sells fairy wings ($25-$79), jeweled tiaras, ($25) and layered tutus ($33-$36) in various sizes. They also carry wands, ($25-$100) and different capes and cloaks for little wizards, pirates or princesses ($25-$75). Knight helmets ($24), armor ($24), swords ($10-$19) and large shields ($30) are also available for the holiday season. It’s at 4811 E. Grant Road, at the Crossroads Festival Plaza. Phone: 326-0188. Want to have them play dress-up on the cheap? We love thrift shops such as Casa de los Niños, 1302 East Prince Road, where you can find costume jewelry, gowns, boas and sparkly high heels for next to nothing.

Give your athletic partner something other than soccer lessons or that exercise bike this year. Every Monday night, Flam Chen, Tucson’s pyrotechnic theater troupe, holds open poi spinning classes celebrating the ancient Pacific island art. Flam Chen members are experts in spinning, an act that involves twirling weighted balls attached to ropes, and have dazzled Tucsonans for years at Nimbus Brewery, the annual All Souls Procession and other locales and events. The group adds an extra element to its performances by setting the poi balls on fire. Lessons, sans fire, take place at Odaikospace, 1013 S. Tyndall Ave. Surprise your mate with a drop-in class at $20 apiece. Flam Chen has poi balls to borrow or on sale for $25. 272-9041.