The AIA Tucson Local Society was the first recipient of the Archaeological Institute of America's Local Society Incentive Grant in 2004. The Society is housed in the Department of History at the University of Arizona, with many of its members and officers working or studying on campus. Funds were put towards the construction of a Greek kiln to educate and involve AIA members, local schools, and local artists in the techniques, making, and firing of Greek style pottery. Funding also supported a first firing. Studio and vocational artists were encouraged to participate and to share their expertise. The kiln has since been used as a fundraiser for subsequent firings. K-12 schools have the facility made available to them so that students can see and learn firsthand about this aspect of ancient cultures. The kiln has now been featured in a number of issues of the AIA Newsletter: read snippets from the Spring 2004, Spring 2005 and Spring 2006 Newsletters.
The following institutions have helped greatly with this project. Hellenic Cultural Foundation, Tucson, Arizona St Augustine High School. The following companies have been instrumental to this project and we warmly thank them:
- Cimarron Circle Construction Company
- Marjon Ceramics
- Phoenix Brick Yard
Email Eleni Hasaki for more information