The International Sonoran Desert Alliance will accelerate creative placemaking in Ajo, Arizona through the completion of its Sonoran Desert Retreat Center, the launch of an artist residency program at the retreat center featuring traditional and contemporary Tohono O'odham and Mexican artists, and the creation of a tri-national border-themed community arts installation.
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See below for recent updates, press, and events from this project
press
Sep 18, 2016
First came a plan to save a historic school. Then an idea to restore a crumbling town square. Read More
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Jun 1, 2016
A small town in Arizona grows a thriving food scene. The new local culinary scene in America is about more than the great food trucks,... Read More
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Jun 1, 2016
The new local culinary scene in America is about more than the great food trucks, farmers’ markets, and craft beer. We have seen inspired local... Read More
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Mar 16, 2016
When news broke late last year of a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, most people in the rest of the country, and even the... Read More
press
Mar 3, 2016
The hills appear to be painted red and gold around the former copper mining community of Ajo. The town name means garlic in Spanish, but... Read More
press
Feb 16, 2016
Don’t let the name fool you. While there is space here for conferences and large gatherings on site, this is one of the most romantic... Read More
press
Nov 29, 2015
Early this year my wife Deb and I filed several reports from the genuinely startling and inspiring small town of Ajo, Arizona. Ajo is far... Read More
blog
Jan 27, 2014
Photo by Jewel Clearwater Updates This month, we are continuing to reflect on the “creative placemaking is a juggling act” theme, and are realizing that... Read More
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Dec 19, 2013
Retreat Center commercial kitchen in process (the "work, not magic" part); photo by Jewel Clearwater Updates We continue to divide our time and attention between... Read More
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Dec 06, 2013
Updates Major capital projects and commercial development can so easily soak up every hour and day of attention a small organization has to give. And... Read More
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Oct 14, 2013
Peace Begins with a Smile; photo by Jewel Clearwater Update and Reflection As ISDA prepares to host our 10th annual International Day of Peace celebration... Read More
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Aug 17, 2013
Update and Reflection At ISDA our lives seem to be in a constant swing between renovation projects and programming--all in service of community revitalization and... Read More
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Aug 09, 2013
Update and Reflection Despite the very hot weather (imagine most days up toward 110), our building maintenance and repair apprentices are working hard on our... Read More
blog
Jul 09, 2013
So you are booking your arts workshop next year at a beautiful new international retreat center in the heart of the Sonoran Desert. Did they... Read More
blog
Apr 21, 2016
This week we are lucky to have Pilar McKay, one half of Rural Arts Weekly, joining us for a guest blog post about her thoughts,...Read more
blog
Nov 25, 2015
This post is the ninth in a ten-part series continuing those conversations, and it focuses on Agriculture & Food. Below is a summary of a...Read more