At the tail end of the second week of June, my sister, @Patches, our friend Patty, and myself took off for Arizona. It wasn’t a very lengthy trip, but here is a somewhat brief recollection. (Yea, right 
)
Discussions were had, and a few days after talking about it, @Patches made me aware she had secured our plane tickets. Without much planning, I booked an Airbnb that was situated at the base of Sombrero Peak, just outside of Tucson. We arrived in Phoenix on the 10th late in the afternoon and headed to Tucson. After eating a lovely dinner at Hacienda del Sol near La Poloma, we made it to our adobe and enjoyed the evening quiet.
The following morning, we hiked Sombrero Peak and watched the sunrise…
…and @Patches took this stunning panoramic photo.
The three of us enjoyed the company of each other in the windswept air.
Later that morning, we visited Mark Sublette’s Medicine Man Gallery and spent a great deal of time in his Maynard Dixon and Native American Art Museum. I know that many here are familiar with the establishment, but I was floored. The gallery is just so incredibly well put together and the displays so beautifully thought out. The three of us enjoy painting together, @Patches is a very accomplished artist in her own right, and Patty is a very talented painter. I’ve sketched and drawn since I was young, so the fine art portion of the gallery was an absolute treat. It felt more akin to a museum than a gallery; being able to study and enjoy some of these masterpieces of Western art was quite an experience.
We all marveled at the jewelry, pottery, basketry, weavings and artifacts with awe: it was simply unforgettable.
I didn’t figure Mark would be in, but his son Charles was, and I’d been speaking with the Gallery director, Megan, for some time on the phone, so it was great meeting and chatting with both of them. One piece I wanted to look at and handle in person was a woman’s wearing blanket for the dress form display I’m working on. I’ll put a post together in Weavings of the Diné to share it.
Patty found some beautiful Hopi earrings.
Elmer Satala
Anderson Koinva
For those that haven’t been, outside the Maynard Dixon Museum is a near life-size Star Liana York sculpture, Ganado Red.
The museum was just jaw dropping. Many here are well aware of Mark’s love for everything Maynard Dixon, and he has recreated one of Maynard’s studios with the furniture, easel, decorations, and personal items of Mr. Dixon. Among which was Maynard’s Second Phase Chief Blanket. In a dedicated viewing area, all forms of early Navajo silver was tastefully displayed, alongside an awesome assemblage of Navajo silversmithing tools: complete with First Phase conchos in the process of being crafted. An early woman’s wearing blanket from roughly 1865 was hung on the wall and just outside of this display was a First Phase concho belt that I enjoyed studying for a great long while.
It was moving, spending time within those walls. Photography was not allowed, but none of us are likely to forget it anytime soon. The wearing blanket on display was very similar to this one.
Raveled bayeta, indigo, and natural wools, ca. 1865-1875.
After leaving Medicine Man, we ate lunch at a new restaurant called The Hills, situated at the Catalina Foothills. It was great food and an enjoyable environment. We ended up eating for free due to the cook missing our order and our extended wait. We hadn’t even realized how long we’d been waiting, so it came as quite a surprise.
We had been wanting to check out a petroglyoh hike suggested by @OrbitOrange in Phoenix, but weren’t able to make that one happen on this trip. After lunch, we hiked Picture Rock Petroglyphs and Saguaro National Park well into the evening. We didn’t see a single other person, so that was a huge plus.
Upon returning to the adobe rather late, we were greeted by a Great Horned Owl. We were the three of us rather quiet after that, contemplating the idea of owls being harbingers of death.
The next morning, Patty and I decided to hit some galleries. We swung through Mac’s, then visited the lovely Morning Star Traders, and finally, Spirit of Santa Fe. Some time ago, I purchased a concho belt from John Atkinson of Spirit of Santa Fe, one that had been in his family of traders for generations.
We shared so many enjoyable conversations during my consideration of that belt, and I was hoping to meet him. John wasn’t in, but his son, JD, was on premises and we spent a very long time with him. He shared with us old photographs from the family’s early trading days from all of their different posts, and we discussed a satellite location he’s working on in Tennessee, among many other engaging topics: it was just fabulous.
That Friday evening, answering the call to a desire for a nice steak, the three of us ate dinner at an enjoyable steakhouse, and watched the impossible-to-replicate sunset.
With other obligations waiting, Saturday morning brought our return trip.
It was just a taste, but one each of us is ready to return for. The canyonlands of the north are where our eyes are set. 
), and we didn’t do any shopping there, but now I definitely want to go to Medicine Man Gallery; it sounds amazing; I had no idea it was so extensive.
Now that they won’t be there after this summer, we may be more likely to visit Tucson again in the future (as vs Phoenix), and I will make sure I get to Medicine Man Gallery. Thanks for all the info!
while my husband chatted with Megan and Kathleen (an impressive sales person, she’s been with Mark since the Canyon Road days). She states she remembered me there but no one has that good a memory! We both were very impressive with the museum. Don loved Maynard Dixon, so he was in heaven. Did you watch Marks video about Maynard? His knowledge of history is so impressive.
To immerse in a culture and to connect with like-hearted souls that are on their own journey of discovery; that’s the true draw of travel in my mind.
Especially the one where the peak is lit up, that one is spectacular. 
