This week on Arizona Illustrated… the UA Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum showcases rare and unusual specimens all year long; community leader in our local AAPI community respond to a troubling national trend; the potential mental health benefits of psilocybin or magic mushrooms and acclaimed muralist Allison Miller shares three of her favorite public artworks in Tucson.
Story descriptions:
UA Mineral Museum
In August of 2021, the University of Arizona opened the UA Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum at the historic courthouse in downtown Tucson, but the group also celebrated a grand opening in February of 2022. The large collection of gems and minerals, with an emphasis on Arizona and Mexico, used to be housed at the Flandrau Science Center on campus but reopened to the public at the much larger facility of about 12,000 square feet.
We Belong Here Too
Since the start of the pandemic there has been an alarming surge in violent attacks against AAPI communities that has been linked to rhetoric blaming Asian Americans for the spread of Covid-19. From March 2020 to March 2021, the number of reported attacks grew from 3,795 to 6,603, with attacks on women making up sixty-five percent of reported cases. Although there have been few reports in Tucson, Arizona, we spoke to two leaders in the Asian American community about how their friends and loved ones are coping with and responding to potential threats.
The Psychedelic Reset
With mental health disorders on the rise, major universities like Johns Hopkins have launched groundbreaking research focused on psychedelic substances and their potential impacts on mental health. The University of Arizona in Tucson is in the midst of a major study involving psilocybin or magic mushrooms and obsessive-compulsive disorder—and their findings are raising eyebrows.
Muralists on Murals – Allison Miller
Muralist and community organizer Allison Miller talks about three of her favorite murals in Tucson and what makes them unique. Miller runs Alley Cat Murals, a grassroots organization that aims to revitalize community spaces through public art.
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