Arizona Illustrated

Solar Cooking Tucson resident Sonya Norman heard about solar ovens about 20 years ago, and she started using one a few years later when her father gave it to her as a Christmas gift. Norman, who is the Public Program Coordinator at Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, says she likes the idea of using natural energy for her cooking, especially in the warmer months when she doesn’t have to increase the heat in her house while preparing meals. While still considered an oddity by some people, Norman says these devices can be very effective and she’s able to make delicious dishes that include beans, stews, chicken, sauteed vegetables, and cakes. Since she started using her oven, the word has spread, and neighbor Joe Black has also joined the growing number of solar cooks. We also visit the annual solar potluck event organized by Solar Guild / Citizens for Solar at Catalina State Park on 1 April 2023. The yearly gathering resumed this year after a two-year absence due to the covid pandemic. Untitled Gallery Inna Rohr, native of Estonia, is the founder of the Untitled Gallery in Tucson. She is a painter who believes creating is a way to unmask who we are. Inna's partner in crime, Emily Hallowell is a New York city native is a photographer. Her work explores interconnectedness and loss. Untitled Gallery aims to provide a platform to discover Tucson’s local talent. While visiting the invitational show “ Passages” , Will Whitehouse and Rosanna Salonia joined us. We chatted about joys and challenges of being an artist in Tucson. All of Us Health and longevity have always been core tenants of Chinese culture and is integral to the mission of the Tucson Chinese Cultural Center. They continuously seek out partnerships to provide people the tools they need to maintain wellness in all aspects of life. One such partnership is with the National Institutes for Health in recruitment efforts for the All of Us Research Program. The program aims to collect genetic data from one million people nationwide to aid in the advancement of precision health care and prevention. Ana Maria Iordache – Classical Guitarist Ana Maria Iordache is a performing graduate student in guitar at the University of Arizona’s Fred Fox School of Music. In this intimate performance, she showcases her love of the guitar and discusses how the instrument has shaped her life.