Amal Walks Across America - Arizona Arts Live

Amal Walks Across America

Produced by The Walk Productions in association with Handspring Puppet Company

October 28, 2023

Venue:
Tucson, AZ
Start Time:
6:00AM
Tickets:

Free

Discover the power of art and compassion in a free, community-wide event with Amal Walks Across America. Join us in welcoming Little Amal, a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl, to the Old Pueblo as part of her 6,000-mile journey in search of family and friends.

An “international symbol of human rights” (The Guardian, 2022), Amal will travel across the United States to learn firsthand about a country that has long been a refuge for those seeking safety and opportunity. Her walk is a celebration of art, hope, and shared humanity that aims to unite communities while refocusing attention on the urgent needs of refugees and highlighting the rich cultures immigrants bring.

Amal will join over 1,500 artists in 100+ local events across 35 towns and cities to learn more about the stories of the American people who established roots in these communities over the last hundred-plus years. She will begin in Boston, MA on September 7 and reach San Diego, CA on November 5. The cross-country journey will take Amal through the nation’s capital, the Midwest, the South, and across the Southern border, before heading north to Los Angeles. Walk with Amal Across America. One Little Girl. One Big Hope.

Schedule of Events

6 AM: Sunrise on Cemamagi Du’ag

Desert Laboratory at Tumamoc Hill
1675 W. Anklam Road, Tucson, AZ

Little Amal joins hundreds of Tucsonans to climb the oldest continuously inhabited hill in the US and to catch a magical sunrise over the saguaros. She witnesses a land blessing and is reminded that she walks on ancestral lands.

9 AM: İBienvenida a Nuestro Barrio!

Galeria Mitotera
802 S. 4th Ave, Tucson, AZ

On her way from Tumamoc, Amal will notice the rich history of our Chicanx, Mexican, and Indigenous communities. The smell of home-cooked foods and the sounds of music will fill the air upon her arrival at Galeria Mitotera’s community art space. Amal will be welcomed to our Barrio of South Tucson with a seat at our community breakfast table, performances by local mariachi and folklórico groups, and a fun-filled pinata breaking with her new friends in South Tucson!

10 AM: Dos Vidas Car Ride

Cruise through South Tucson

After a warm welcome in South Tucson, Amal catches a ride with Dos Vidas Car Club and friends, and heads to a block party downtown. Along the ride, she sees vibrant neighborhood murals, crosses the threshold of iconic Five Points, and passes by beautiful Santa Cruz Church.

11 AM: İHola! A Tucson Block Party

Children’s Museum Tucson
200 S. 6th Ave, Tucson, AZ

After hitching a ride with Dos Vidas Car Club, Amal comes upon the Children’s Museum Tucson, where a celebration of the city’s many cultures fills the area with music, art, and food. Amal is greeted by young folklórico dancers, who lead her through the festivities, where she eventually hears the notes of home.

4:30 PM: Wildcat Welcome

University of Arizona Mall
1737 E. University Blvd, Tucson, AZ

At the University of Arizona Tailgate, Little Amal is greeted by the University’s international community, a group of scientists and science students with their eyes on the stars. She’s swept along in the festivities around the UArizona Football game against Oregon State by the band, cheer, and football players.

Presented together with Children’s Museum Tucson, Galeria Mitotera, the Desert Laboratory at Tumamoc Hill, Dos Vidas Car Club, the Flandrau Science Center, and UA Bookstores.

Venue:
Tucson, AZ
Start Time:
6:00AM
Tickets:

Free

EVENT SPONSOR

You might also like

September 30, 2023 - November 5, 2023

Los Trompos

Creos | Esrawe + Cadena
Get ready for a mesmerizing and interactive art installation that will transport you to a world where color collides with motion. Los Trompos features larger-than-life, three-dimensional spinning tops in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors and intricate designs as traditionally woven by Mexican artisans. Los Trompos (Spinning Tops) draws inspiration from a toy popular with children around the world since the dawn of time. These colorful, large-scale, and interactive installations engage visitors in meaningful ways to give new significance to the art of play. As you interact with each spinning top, you’ll become part of the art itself, creating a symphony of motion unique to each person who experiences it. Great for all ages, this installation is sure to awaken your sense of wonder and leave you with a newfound appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. Los Trompos will be available to students, faculty, staff, and the public in the Student Success District on the Campus Mall at the University of Arizona main campus in Tucson, AZ. Los Trompos Farewell Spin PartyThursday, November 2 | 5-7 PM | UA Mall Arizona Arts Live and the Wildcat Events Board bring you Spin Party! Say farewell to Los Trompos as we celebrate homecoming on campus this Thursday, November 2, from 5-7 PM. Live music, picnic games, activations, and of course the magic of the giant spinning tops combine for an evening of fun! Registration is not required. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public! Héctor Esrawe Ignacio Cadena Facebook Esrawe Studio Cadena Concepts

October 12, 2023

Nano Stern Sings Victor Jara

Explore the history of Chilean music under social regimes in a powerful performance by powerhouse artist Nano Stern who weaves together indigenous, African, and European elements into a groundbreaking sound entirely his own. Don’t miss an unforgettable evening of musical virtuosity and poetic advocacy for social justice coming to Hotel Congress. Hailed by folk legend Joan Baez as “the best young Chilean songwriter of his generation,” Nano Stern’s artistry knows no bounds. With a masterful command of multiple instruments and languages, he brings a fresh and relevant perspective to his music. His closest companions on stage remain, simply, his guitar and staggering vocals. In 2023, as the world commemorates 50 years since the coup d’état in Chile, Nano Stern revisits the songs of legendary folk singer Víctor Jara, who personifies the spirit of the day through his timeless music and poetry. With austere virtuosity, Stern gives new breath to this immortal repertoire. As a political and outspoken activist, Nano Stern has crafted a unique musical language that blends the youthful exuberance of folk music with the depth of classical and jazz training, all infused with the powerful spirit of traditional Chilean revolutionary songs. There is a rare power and beauty to a Nano Stern performance. Don’t miss this chance to experience the magic of Nano Stern live on stage in an evening that transcends borders, languages, and cultures. Documentary Screening: En Septiembre Canta El Gallo OCT 11 | UPDATED: 6:00 PM | CCP Auditorium, FREE to attend We’ll Be Singing by September is a feature documentary exploring the history, development, and transcendence of Chilean music during the socialist government of Salvador Allende. Throughout a series of interviews with the most prominent figures of the Nueva Canción Chilena, stop-motion animation and never-before-seen archival material, the film travels back to a time when music, creativity, social movements and political force aligned to give birth to an artistic revolution whose songs still resonate throughout the world. September 11 marks the 50th anniversary of the overthrow of Salvador Allende’s democratically-elected government by the military with the backing of the U.S. government. Be sure to stay for the Q&A with Chilean musician and film producer, Nano Stern. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube

October 21, 2023

Las Cafeteras: Hasta La Muerte

Death is not the end. Music, dance, theatre, and folklore combine in this enthralling new production celebrating life and death in the spirit of the Indigenous/Mexican practice known as Day of the Dead. Step into the colorful, spellbinding realm of Hasta La Muerte by the sonic explosion of Las Cafeteras. From the imagination of Las Cafeteras, Hasta La Muerte is a vibrant musical adventure exploring the stages of grief and loss through the celebration of life and death. Follow along as La Catrina (Patron Saint of the Dead) returns every Dia de los Muertos to console the living and guide the dead to the afterlife. Watch as she encounters the spirits of La Llorona, La Bruja, and young migrants crossing the borders in a powerfully moving testament to the universal power of storytelling as a form of processing grief and sharing love with those in the beyond. Join us at 6 PM on the Centennial Hall Patio for our first ever Día de los Muertos fiesta, featuring an unmissable collaborative performance with Las Azaleas mariachi and larger-than-life Red Herring Puppets, a taco bar by Taco Stop, festive snacks and drinks, arts and crafts, and an altar in memory of our passed loved ones. Guests are also invited to bring ofrendas of food, drink, incense, flowers, or photos for our altar outside of Centennial Hall. Join us for a full evening of vibrant fun—we hope to see you there! Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Las Cafeteras are remixing roots music as modern-day troubadours with their medley of Afro-Mexican rhythms, electronic beats, and powerful rhymes. Their electrifying traditional instrumentation, like the 8-string Jarana, 4-string Requinto, Quijada (donkey jawbone), and Tarima (a wooden platform) echo their deep roots in Chicano pride. Artist's Site Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube