Contreras Gallery and Jewelry opening plans?
The lease for our new location starts on May 1st. We were hoping
to start moving into the space in the middle of April and have
our artists reception on the first Saturday of May, but we realize
that would be too much to do. Move in, coordinate with artists
to bring in their art and hang up the show, then prepare for the
reception on May 2nd.
We will have our first artists reception on the 1st Saturday of
June 6th.
We both feel very happy and lucky to have this new location for
our gallery. The owners of the Labor Temple have been supporters
of the arts for many years. Ceal Peterson and her husband purchased
the building in the 1960’s. It is now in the family trust
run buy her daughter in law, Chachita and her son Tom Peterson.
Neda used to work as a cashier for Ceal
Peterson at her store in the 1970’s. After my father had
finished his two year jewelers apprenticeship with Frank Patania
Sr. in the late 1940’s, he went to Taxco Mexico to visit
his grandfather who was also a jeweler there. When he came back
to Tucson, he wanted to open a jewelry shop and name it “Taxco
Jewelers”. He told me that it was Ceal Peterson, at that
time, to name the shop after himself. He named it “Albertos”
The shop was at 45 W. Council. The building was called “The
Pink Adobe”, It was also at the north end of “Ash Alley”,
now called “Ash Avenue”.
