The American Southwest has always had an attraction for creative types, particularly artists and writers. Maybe the wide-open spaces offer quiet isolation for busy minds. This magnetism did not go unnoticed during a recent trip to the tiny town of Tubac, AZ. Arizona is filled with old mining towns that have risen from the copper and gold dust into flourishing art communities. Every year, Tubac – Where Art and History Meet – hosts a large art festival. I happened to goggle interesting things to do in Arizona and came across its website.

The Tubac Festival of the Arts is a five-day affair with artists from all over the country. One can find everything from handmade scented candles and body products to sofa-wall-sized paintings with traditional Southwest motifs and postcard-sized fantasy creatures. Paintings with Native American themes were in abundance.   

I invited my friend and artist Kimberly Sugar (@kimberlysugarart) to join me. High off a lucrative day at the Witchcrafted Yule Market in Glendale, AZ, she was ready to check out another potential art festival to show her work. Our objective was to talk to vendors at the Tubac festival to find out if profits were worth the cost to participate. Even though business was slow – it was Super Bowl weekend in Phoenix – all the vendors, even the fine artists, encouraged her to give it a go. Before our weekend was over, she was asking local artists about studio space and the advantages/disadvantages of living in Tubac. Kimberly wasn’t the only one with dreams of relocating. Studio space is hard to find in Tubac, but overall, reviews were positive. The area all around there is a thriving retirement community that supports its local businesses. I’d never seen a Best Western with an in-house restaurant and a packed one at that. The creative vibes are strong in the area, and Kimberly was feeling it. Jealousy prickled my spine at the fact that she works remotely, and I don’t.

Even without the festival, there is plenty to do in and around Tubac. As a photographer, I spotted several places that call out for a return visit. See my gallery page for a taste of what you can see.