The Tucson Portrait Project

As the dreadful economy stifles arts everywhere, forcing even the biggest and most well established to beg for money, simply to continue day-to-day operations, there seems to be little in the way of new and inspirational work emerging. In Tucson, much of what is and has been on exhibit is generally a rehash of old (secure?) ideas and clichéd formats used in other larger and more successful venues.

Having pulled up stakes on Congress Street in June of 2008, we continue to watch from afar as the so-called *downtown arts district* suffers a slow and painful demise. Not much to see really, unless one enjoys watching a train wreck.

Still, there are always little bright spots, glimmers of light… even in a bleak landscape.

The Tucson Portrait Project set out in 2008 to photograph over 7,000 people at various events in the Tucson area. These photographs were edited down to just over 6,000 and were photographically applied to tile for the entrances to the new, downtown 4th Avenue Underpass.

Darren Clark and Gary Patch spent over six months shooting, editing and managing the images and information for this enormous undertaking.

In the Conrad Wilde show, they share a few of their favorite portraits taken for the project.


Conrad Wilde Gallery
210 North Fourth Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85705

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