Southern Arizona Arts Guild Now Offers More Space, More Art.

AZPM

Published January 14, 2026 at 10:57 AM MST

SAAG Laurie Kaye Hero — Painting by Laurie Kaye (detail).

SAAG Baskets by Caryn Stedman — Barrel Cacti baskets by Caryn Stedman.

Southern Arizona Arts Guild Now Offers More Space, More Art.

Featured on the January 15th, 2026 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

Hear about the Southern Arizona Arts Guild, a local group that wants to help everyone connect with their creativity. The Guild is celebrating its new gallery and teaching space located in Joesler Village, at 1745 E River Road in Tucson.

SAAG Sculpture John Benedict — Sculpture by John Benedict.

SAAG Hidden Lake Peggy Rubin — "Hidden Lake" by Peggy Rubin.

Beth Orozco in AZPM hero — Beth Colburn Orozco in AZPM's studio reading her story, "The Search."

Historian and columnist David Leighton looks back at the aviation history behind Ryan Field.

Claude Ryan and Staff Hero — Claude Ryan (In the front middle) and staff, at the Ryan School of Aeronautics of AZ. Photo by Sam Levitz.

Ryan Field Ariel View Hero — View from the tower of pilots and planes at Ryan Field during WWII.

Ryan Field During WW2 — Ryan Field during WWII.

Invisible Theater’s new production "Constellations", by playwright Nick Payne, follows love across this universe and beyond.

IT Constellations Cast Unsized — "Constellations" stars Sean Patrick and Shannon Elias, Carrie J. Cole directs.

IT Constellations Cast Hero — "Constellations" stars Sean Patrick and Shannon Elias, Carrie J. Cole directs

And, our featured storyteller this month is Beth Colburn Orozco, a writer who teaches at Cochise College southeast of Tucson and was recently published in The Nomad literary magazine. Colburn Orozco also hosts a monthly Open Mic Night event in Sierra Vista at Urbano Bar and Bistro. She shares an emotional story about adoption, remorse, anxiety and the joy of finding out how life and love can persevere.

Beth Orozco open mic unsized — Beth Colburn Orozco participates in and hosts an Open Mic Night at Urbano Bar and Bistro in Sierra Vista. The Open Mic Night is every Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Beth Orozco and daughter unsized — Beth Colburn Orozco (right) stands with her daughter Kelsey (left). Kelsey lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children.

Webpage by Sarah Arellano.

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

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Southern Arizona Arts Guild Now Offers More Space, More Art.