Bohemia Celebrates Lucky 7

Walk into Bohemia, at 2920 E. Broadway Blvd., and your eyes are immediately entranced by wall-to-wall creations that range from stained glass works to colorful hanging affirmations, from crocheted hats and scarves to numerous paintings.

Combination gift shop and gallery, it showcases eclectic art and sculptures while also providing bits of funky kitsch.

The store originally opened in The Lost Barrio on South Park Avenue in 2003 with the work of 20 local artists. This month, Bohemia celebrates its seventh anniversary and now showcases over 200 artists in a large space at one of the oldest strip malls in central Tucson.

Through Bohemia, owner Tana Kelch transformed her dream into a reality by owning a shop dedicated to Tucson artists. The store sells everything from clothing, jewelry, glassware and pottery to birdhouses, paintings, magnets and furniture; all made by local artisans or artists who, as she put it, "may have left but their heart's still in Tucson."

While the gift shop gets the main recognition and accolades, the gallery is a great feature to have because it provides amazing local artists who may not get a gallery showing an opportunity to display their items, she said.

"It makes for an atmosphere that anybody can come in here and find something that they either love or they can afford." Kelch said.

Kelch and her employee/friend, Keli Carpenter, created a laid back atmosphere that "embraces the wacko impressiveness of Tucson;" visiting the store is more of an experience than a shopping trip. Each piece is unique and handmade and customers can feel good knowing that they are contributing to the local economy.

Kelch remains in awe of the artists she works with. "They continue to recreate themselves and it is gratifying to see their work and their businesses grow," she said. "I guess I never really anticipated the kind of family that it would become."

Carpenter, also an artist whose work is sold in the store and is lead singer of the band The Tryst, feels like her work at Bohemia is a labor of love. "It's something I believe in," she said. "I believe in the artistic community here in Tucson and what the artists are doing to be artists; to be working artists and I have faith in that."

The gallery hosts monthly shows that feature a particular artist to bring people into the store and celebrate the shop and its works as a whole. These events started when the store first opened, but have transformed into featured showings where an artist will create new work and a local band or performer will provide added entertainment.

Opening on March 20, Sam Esmoer will be the spotlight artist, creating seven to nine new pieces for his show "Agave Blues."

"He's really spectacular and embraces this colorful, funky, southwest vibe, creating images that resemble almost tweaked pictures from the barrio," Kelch said.

"Bohemia is a great place to show because it brings in a different mix of people, a variety of young and old," Esmoer said. "It provides a place for a lot of people to come and see numerous types of art and artists."

"It is places like this that are really rare and really magical," Carpenter said. "We're here everyday constantly trying to be the best showcase of local art possible."

The March 20 opening will also celebrate the shop's seventh anniversary, with live music from Duo Sonido, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Bohemia is open Sunday-Monday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit BohemiaTucson.com or call 822-0800 for more information.