Nick used to hang out at Coco's on Campbell. I think in Campbell Plaza
or right next to it. Nick had 2 sisters, Kathy and Luci (pronounced
Loo-chee). Ted's illegitimate son was very young when Ted died. Maybe
7 or 8 years old.
I never met Queenie but I sure heard a lot about her from my mom who
worked at the Gallery in The Sun for about 27 years. She sounded more
or less like Nick's female counterpart.
I remember Nick was always creating artwork that mimicked his dad's
subject matter and selling it as DeGrazia originals. I was friends
with one of his nephews. For a while my friend's family had a business
producing resin medallions sculpted by Nick but made to look like
Ted's work. They had some miniature rodeo bronzes made by Nick in
their home which I thought were really cool.
--- In vanishingtucson@..., "diamondbacks07fan"
<diamondbacks07fan@...> wrote:
The old studios were at Campbell and Prince... home of the new
Social Security office & Chevron (circa 1991-1992) - if there is one
thing that would make ol' Ted roll over in his grave it would be
knowing that there is a federal building on his old property. He
hated taxes and all that gov't stuff! The studios were sold/torn
down in approximately 1988 - then the SS bldg and Chevron were built
in approx 1991-92 - (I'm trying to remember what grade I was in and
where my mom worked at what point... I think I'm close!)
My mom used to work for a company that was located in his old
studios there "Needlepoint Ltd" which over the years
became "Sundance Designs" - they reproduced his artwork on
needlepoint canvas... our friends still own the company although
since their move from the old studios and death of one of the
partners, it is now run out of a house in midtown and is exclusively
wholesale.
Also located in that center was La Tienda Gifts - which moved around
the corner on Prince for a while...
and Que Sera Sera who was a custom jeweler named Bernie and he moved
over on Country Club near Journal Broadcast Group for a couple years
after they tore down the studios.
Rosita's was the mexican place - I remember one day their
beans "exploded" (yes, actually exploded!) and caused a fire - that
was shortly before they sold the property.
In the old Sundance Designs office there was an old shower that was
painted to look like a donkey was peeing on you as you showered. I
think the girls just used that as a storage area. And the walls were
really brittle because it was old adobe like material - it probably
wouldn't have lasted much longer without significant repairs.
The land was left to De Grazia's wife Marion who eventually sold it.
His son Nick who lived on the property in the back for a while with
his very alcoholic girlfriend who went by the name "Queenie." I
remember one day Nick (got high or something!) painted all the
prickly pear cactus bright colors on the surface of the pads. He was
a freak show that kid. (I call him kid, but he is about 30 years
older than me). I don't recall him having many kids other than Nick
and I think a daughter whose name escapes me. But I don't think any
of them were "illegitimate."
I do remember the burning of his paintings and him having lots of
ties to Mexico.
There is also the Gallery in the Sun which is run by the De Grazia
Foundation - it's up on Swan north of Sunrise.
I studied art (the third time around in college) and did alot of
research on De Grazia - so if anyone ever needs to know about him
and cannot find the answers online - shoot me a note and I'll look
up some of my old research papers!
--- In vanishingtucson@..., <joebuck95@> wrote:
Hi,
It wasn't a mall but one of DeGazia's early studios like the
Gallery In The Sun. It was on Prince & Campbell. I believe it was
torn down long ago.
I was friends with one of his grandsons who fixed up one of the
sections and lived there while he was attending the U of A.
I forget the name of the restaurant, but I was never interested in
eating there. Just seemed too dirty to me. I remember them using
paper plates too, but I think that was toward the end when they were
maybe going downhill. I remember that they had a very loyal
following.
DeGrazia left most of his fortune to the DeGrazia Foundation and
to an illegitimate son. His other children didn't get much, the
biggest asset he left them I believe was this property on Prince. Do
you remember when DeGrazia protested the inheritance tax by burning
100 of his paintings in the Superstition Mountains?
ldjscott1 <ldjscott1@> wrote: From the later 60's I recall a
small old shopping center on the corner
of maybe Grant and Campbell or Ft. Lowell? Unfortunately, I don't
seem
to remember exactly which streets. It had a couple little art
shops and
a silversmith and a Mexican restaurant. Ted De Grazia had done art
work
all over the inside walls of the restaurant. Can anyone help me
with
the location or name? I think I remember hearing it was the oldest
shopping center in Tucson. Thanks.
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