The Tucson Jewish Community is proud to present Tucson Portrait Story Art LIVE Festival: a brand-new immersive art experience in partnership with local artist Lauri Kaye of Create for the People Ventures and Southern Arizona Arts + Culture Alliance, Sunday, March 12 from 1-4pm at The J. The festival is FREE and open to the public.

What do you get when an imaginative local artist spends several years wandering coffee shops and local gathering places talking to interesting people and collecting stories that reflect the vibrant blend of desert life, its eclectic and passionate people, its fascinating history and the endless opportunity that is Tucson?

“Tucson Portrait Stories” – a first ever live art happening – illuminates the people, places and events that make our community extraordinary. The creation of local artist, Lauri Kaye, the series consists of 60 mixed media stories, layering hand drawing with photography and digital color then printed on metal. A little reminiscent of “Night at the Museum”, these artworks come to life with the portrait subject; Taste salsa & chips with Chef Maria Mazon at her portrait. Learn about butterflies at the Tucson Botanical Gardens portrait or listen to a captivating classical guitar concert by Gabriel Ayala. Top that off with popcorn while you watch an animated movie of the collection.

Also Featuring: Poet Sharon Byrd, Hotel Congress, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Bookmans, Sonoran Institute, DeGrazia Gallery In The Sun, Tucson Fox Theatre, Tree-Ring Research Lab, UofA Poetry Center, Tucson Audubon Society, Reproductions Inc and more!

Funds made from the sale of the artworks will be donated to Tucson nonprofits including Arts for All, Primavera Foundation, and Casa Maria. This festival is the kick-off, as the series will tour other venues to raise money for local charities.