The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun will be participating in the 80th Annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Parade on February 24, 2005.  The DeGrazia entry will feature a turn-of-the-century wagon with artist Ted DeGrazia on board painting his latest masterpiece.  Gallery staff member Lance Laber will be portraying the world-famous artist as he stands at an easel working his magic with a palette knife.  The subject of the painting will be a young girl named Chiquita who is holding a flower.  The role of the young girl posing as Chiquita will be played by Savannah, a relative of one of the staff members. 

Young children with flowers is one of the most beloved themes amongst DeGrazia paintings, just as the Tucson Rodeo Parade is one of Tucson's most beloved traditions.  While the scenery along the parade route has obviously changed over the last eighty years, the look and feel of the parade itself is very much the same as it was when the first one was held back in 1925.  The parade, which is still powered by horses and horse-drawn wagons, is known to be the largest non-motorized parade in the country. 

The deep historical ties to Tucson and Southern Arizona don't stop with the parade and the DeGrazia name either.  The wagon the Gallery is using in this year's parade was built by the Ronstadt Wagon Company over a century ago and was originally used on the Kinney La Osa Livestock Co. ranch located southwest of Tucson.  The owner of the ranch, Mr. Jack Kinney, was part of the seven member group that put together the very first Tucson Rodeo and Rodeo Parade back in 1925.    

The one and one-half mile parade route begins at Park Avenue and Ajo Way and proceeds south on Park to Irvington Road.  Grandstand seating is available at Irvington and South 6th Avenue for $6 for adults and $4 for children under 13.  The parade will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at about 11:30 a.m.  For more information call the parade organizers at (520) 294-1280 or visit www.tucsonrodeo.com/parade.

The DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is very excited to participate in the 2005 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Parade.  We hope everyone has a chance to come out and cheer for Lance as he rides by.  While you're there, come by the grandstand area to receive a free gift from the Gallery in the Sun.  If you should ever have to cross the parade route along the way, just be sure to watch where you step.