Words by Stacey Gregory
Photos by Adelyn Baber
Tucson native Ashley Chamberlain has always called the Old Pueblo
home, still living on the same property where she grew up surrounded by family. After graduating with a BFA from The University of Arizona,she launched AC Design Etc. to stay
in Tucson, building and painting furniture from reclaimed materials.
Her signature process involves layering, scraping, and sanding coats of paint until each piece had a colorful,vibrant finish. Eventually, she
revisited her college drawings and applied these techniques to create desert-inspired wall art.
“I finish all of my original paintings with custom wooden three-dimensional frames, completing each piece in a colorful, cheerful way,” she said. “I display my work at outdoor art shows, at the Global Arts Gallery in the town of Patagonia, and I sell pieces online.”
The desert not only inspires her paintings, but the city’s character and all its wonderful things to do create a close-knit community that everyone can enjoy. Now she shares the laid-back, creative, and quietly memorable places that mean so much to her with you.
ASHLEY’S TASTES OF TUCSON
Monterey Court is where she takes her friends most often for brunch with entertainment.
Performances are held on acovered outdoor stage with a greatsound system,” she said. “I especiallyenjoy the Sunday Brunchmusic series.”
Guadalajara Grill is another go-to for their tableside salsa. It’s made fresh and is customizable, making this a fun, interactive experience. A newer downtown restaurant she likes is The Monica.
“I love the open feel, views ofdowntown, and outdoor patio at TheMonica,” she said. “It’s also very closeto the Fox Tucson Theatre, which isone of my favorite music venues,”she said.
AROUND TOWN WITH ASHLEY
For Ashley, the Fox Tucson Theatre is a fantastic downtown venue for performing arts that hosts many national acts. Originally built as a movie theater that opened in 1930,the theater has been beautifully renovated while preserving its original Art Deco style.
The Pima Air & Space Museum is immersive, fascinating, and airconditioned, so it’s a great summer activity. The Arizona Historical Society, located near The University of Arizona, is another indoor stop with added meaning for Ashley.
“My father worked there, so I spent many hours there as a kid,” she said. “There are all kinds of historical artifacts and exhibits.”
When it comes to outdoor adventures, she sends friends to the Santa Catalina Mountains for scenic hikes along the Finger Rock Trail and at Sabino Canyon, mostly in the winter to avoid the heat. In the summer, Mount Lemmon is about an hour’s drive away, offering much cooler temperatures. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is another must–part zoo, part botanical garden, part artful desert stroll.
“It’s incredibly beautiful and relaxing, and a wonderful place to learn a bout desert wildlife. I especially enjoy the Cool Summer Nights event, ”she said.
An hour south is her favorite place to day trip: Patagonia. The small town has great restaurants, galleries, as mall lake with kayaks or small fishing boats for rent, and the Patagonia–Sonoita Creek Preserve, managed by The Nature Conservancy.
“Every time I visit, I see a variety of wildlife, from javelina to wild turkeys, as well as many species of birds, ”Little Rascals, framed giclée print on canvas she said.