Jim Griffith Signing at Tucson Meet Yourself

October 12 and 13, 2019—

Join James “Big Jim” Griffith at Tucson Meet Yourself to get your copy of his latest book, Saints, Statues, and Stories, signed! Jim will be at the Tucson Meet Yourself store booth (at Stone and Pennington) with copies of the book for sale and a good Sonoran story or two. Visit with him on Saturday, October 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Sunday, October 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

In Saints, Statues, and Stories, Griffith shares stories of nearly sixty years of traveling through Sonora, and offers the living traditions of Catholic communities. Griffith uncovers the meanings behind the devotional uses of religious art from a variety of perspectives— from artist to audience, preservationist to community member. The religious artworks transcend art objects, Griffith believes, and function as ways of communicating between this world and the next. Setting the stage with a brief geography lesson, Griffith introduces us to roadside shrines, artists, fiestas, saints, and miracles. Full-color images add to the pleasure of this delightful journey through the churches and towns of Sonora.

James S. Griffith is the former director of the Southwest Folklore Center at the University of Arizona, where he earned his PhD in cultural anthropology and art history.

Tucson Meet Yourself is located in the Jácome Plaza at 60 W Pennington St, Tucson, AZ 85701.