activities · 5
what they do
direct service · 4
- Exhibiting Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia's Artwork Recurring Community Art WalksThe organization exhibits Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia's artwork through six permanent collections documenting historical events and Native cultures of the Southwest, and hosts four rotating exhibitions from a collection of over 15,000 original works.
- Operating and Maintaining the DeGrazia Gallery in the SunThe organization operates and maintains the DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun, a 10-acre National Historic District in Tucson, Arizona, which has been open since 1950. This includes the daily operation of the gallery, the Mission in the Sun building, and other art installations on the property.
- Preserving DeGrazia's Art and Architecture Art Collection Stewardship & ExhibitionThe DeGrazia Foundation was established to permanently preserve the artist's art and architecture, including maintaining the remains of hand-painted frescoes in the Mission in the Sun after a fire.
- Providing Visitor ExperiencesThe organization offers self-guided visits to the gallery and grounds, which include a 30-minute documentary about DeGrazia and access to a gift shop.
advocacy · 1
- Advocating for Historic Landmark StatusThe organization successfully advocated for the Mission in the Sun to be registered as a National Historic Landmark in 2006.
strategies · 5
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Cultural Preservation Through Art cultural_preservation_through_artUses art exhibitions and collections to preserve and communicate the historical narratives and cultural heritage of Native communities and Southwestern life across generations.
- Emotion-Centered Artistic Expression feeling-centered artistic processPrioritizes emotional resonance and feeling in both subject selection and creative process, valuing evoked emotion over technical precision or adherence to formal rules.
- Interfaith Inclusive Space interfaith_inclusive_spaceMaintains the Mission in the Sun as a non-denominational, inclusive environment intentionally accessible to people of all or no religious backgrounds, fostering broad spiritual engagement without dogma.
- Rule-Breaking for Artistic Individuality rule-breaking for individual styleEncourages the intentional breaking of established artistic rules after mastery, as a core mechanism for developing a unique and authentic individual artistic style.
- Symbolic Architectural Design architectural design philosophyDesigns buildings with symbolic architectural features—such as open roofs and traditional materials—to reflect philosophical beliefs about spirituality, nature, and regional identity.
named programs · 5
what they call their work
Documentary Viewing
30-minute film about Ettore DeGrazia’s life and artistic legacy, available during gallery visits
Gift Shop and Originals Consignment
Offers reproductions, merchandise, and consigned original artworks for purchase
Mission in the Sun
Open-air adobe chapel built in honor of Padre Kino and dedicated to Our Lady of Guadalupe, available for visitation and rental
Permanent Collection Exhibits
Displays six permanent collections of DeGrazia’s paintings tracing historical events and Native cultures of the Southwest
Rotating Exhibitions
Features changing displays from the 15,000 original works, such as “DeGrazia Paints the Seri Indians” and “Ted DeGrazia’s Unseen Landscapes”
relationships · 4
who they work with
- Jose Clemente Orozco Partner — Collaborated with DeGrazia on mural projects in Mexico City.
- Palacio de Bellas Artes Partner — Sponsored a one-man exhibition of DeGrazia's paintings in 1942.
- Rivera Partner — Collaborated with DeGrazia on mural projects in Mexico City.
- United States Postal Service Partner — Provides fast and insured shipping for gift shop items.