Women Who Wine: DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun

“I want to be notorious rather than famous. Fame has too much responsibility. People forget you are human.” ~ Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia (1909-1982)

June's event was hosted by Susan on Friday, June 3. Eight ladies were able to attend the event which included a trip to The Gallery in the Sun, featuring the artwork of Ted DeGrazia, followed by lunch at Vito and Sclommo's and then dessert at Frost at La Encantada. It was a very full day!

LtoR - Cathy, Susie, Kelly, Debbie, Connie, Carole and Pam
Gathered at the Madera Clubhouse before carpooling to Tucson

LtoR - Cathy, Susie, Kelly, Daryl, Connie, Pam and Debbie
Another view of our lovely ladies

Susie provided lovely parasols and goodie bags, complete with water, for our trek at the Gallery. We were thankful since it was a very HOT day! Susie also arranged for a docent led tour which was very informative as she took us on a tour of the grounds and gallery.

Little ladies in a row with their parasols in front of the Gallery

Born in Arizona Territory to Italian immigrant parents, Ettore "Ted" De Grazia had a humble childhood as a copper miner's son which influenced his famous persona later. De Grazia often held forth at his gallery in Tucson's Catalina foothills dressed in a pseudo prospector's getup of scraggly beard, jeans, flannel shirt, boots, and beat-up cowboy hat. Outrageous stories of womanizing, scores of children, and drinking binges created an eclectic image that fueled stories of mythic proportions, along with global sales of his colorful paintings inspired by the Southwest and Mexico. He made millions through his paintings and the licensing of his art for greeting cards and trinkets. Critics called his work kitsch or commercial, yet thousands of admirers continue to love it.

In 1949, DeGrazia bought 10 acres of land in the Santa Catalina Foothills, north of Tucson. At this time there was no electricity, water, or services. All supplies that they needed had to be transported from Tucson. They cooked their food in an old wood-burning stove and took showers outside with water from a bucket.

The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun was finished being built in 1965, and with the aid of Yaqui and Tohono O'odham friends. This main gallery houses thirteen separate galleries of original artwork.

DeGrazia's kitchen. At this point there appears to be running water. Loving the faucets in the wall!

DeGrazia's Mission In the Sun, completed in 1952

Painted mural inside the Mission

LtoR - Cathy, Kelly, Pam, Connie and Debbie
So attentive to our docent!

In 1952, DeGrazia built the Mission in the Sun as the first building constructed on the property in memory of Padre Eusebio Kino, a Jesuit priest, and dedicated the mission to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Following his own building plans, DeGrazia and his friends carefully handcrafted the adobe constructed building. In 2006, the Mission in the Sun was registered as a National Historic landmark.

“The Mission in the Sun is a place for remembering. A place in which to begin to believe.” ~ DeGrazia

LtoR - Carole, Susie and our docent, Shannon, sitting in front of Our Lady of Guadalupe Altar

DeGrazia's grave site on the property marked with stones from Morenci, the town where he was born.
The ashes of his second wife, Marion were scattered under a nearby mesquite tree.