We moved to Tucson about a year and a half ago from San Francisco. We moved here for the cost of living. We like the Southwest, the landscape, the wildlife. Finley was born in Tucson. She’s three months old. -Beth & Finley
Faces of the Festival
FACES OF THE FESTIVAL chronicles the diversity of faces, ages and cultures at our annual Tucson Meet Yourself festival. Who are you? What is your story? We photographed and interviewed festival participants and audiences this year. We’re so excited to introduce you to one another here. All photographs by Steven Meckler, official TMY photographer.
The study and documentation of folklife involves the accurate representation of people's viewpoints in their own terms. Quotes and opinions expressed in interviews do not necessarily reflect the sentiments and opinions of Tucson Meet Yourself, the Southwest Folklife Alliance, or any specific person or entity at the University of Arizona.
Darren: Blessed in Life
When I was 19 years old, I got in a car accident. I broke my neck in four different places. I was in a wheelchair for almost two years. They told me I’d never walk again or get out of the wheelchair. It’s been about 10 years now. I did a lot of physical therapy, …
Arturo: Helping others
I am Hispanic, Latino. I come from a family of 16 brothers and sisters and I’m one of the youngest ones. I was originally raised in Mexico. My mother passed away of breast cancer when I was six months old. At age 13, I came to the United States, from Zacatecas to San Antonio, Texas. …
Mitch: Free & Fair
I run the biggest fetish event in the state, in Phoenix. We have 1,000 people every October. I’ve been doing it for 12 years. We bring together communities of all disparate factions—Goth, industrial, punk, leather, latex, fem dom, domination, bondage, everything—into one building up in Phoenix. We used to do it down in Tucson at …
Mike: Old School
I come from Houston Texas originally. I moved here about 11 years ago. I’m a fabricator and motorcycle builder. We build hot rods as well. Learned old school, got old school values. My grandfather actually taught me everything hands-on. So I work with my hands, that’s our tool. We have a lot of changes going …
Craig: Trail Riding
I like living in Tucson. It’s warm and dry. I like the bicycle trails around here. I try to ride as often as I can, just on the trails. I used to do a lot more on the roads, but I’ve gotten too old for that now, I think. Miles a week? I’d probably say …