This October downtown Tucson will pulse with creative energy as A Gorgeous Excitement takes over the Steinfeld Warehouse Gallery & Studios. Curated by art book publisher, collector and regional arts advocate Paul Gold, the landmark exhibition gathers 27 of Tucson’s most seasoned and inspiring visual artists. It is more than an exhibition; it is a celebration and a rallying cry for a community facing a shifting cultural landscape and shrinking national arts funding.

The seeds of A Gorgeous Excitement were planted in a conversation at the Steinfeld Warehouse Gallery, where Gold joined Co-Directors Janny Taylor and Deborah Gillis. Surrounded by weathered brick, creaking floors, and the distant rumble of freight trains, they asked a question pressing on every working artist in town: How do you reenergize an art scene when galleries are closing, National Endowment for the Arts funding is at risk, and collectors are moving online?

Their answer became a grassroots, high-profile event designed to honor Tucson’s longstanding creative voices while creating an environment where artists, collectors and the public meet in person. A Gorgeous Excitement is that vision brought to life, a show that captures the beauty, tension and bold experimentation of Tucson’s contemporary art world.

“This exhibit is a love letter to Tucson’s artists and art lovers,” says Gold. “In challenging times, it is crucial to spotlight the talent and resilience of our creative community.”

Opening night is Saturday, October 4, inside the city’s oldest surviving warehouse, built in 1907 for businessman Albert Steinfeld. The historic space now hums with creative activity. Pianist Matias Naiman will set the mood while guests browse both the curated exhibition and the open studios of over a dozen resident Steinfeld artists, watching the art world in motion.

The exhibition runs through October 25, with extended Saturday hours and two engaging artist talks. On October 11 at 2:30 p.m., Shirley Wagner will present An Artist’s Journey: From the Wall to the World. The following Saturday, October 18 at 2:30 p.m., Mark Rossi will share The Many Paths of Making Sculpture.

Admission is free, and all sales directly support the participating artists and the Steinfeld Gallery, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Mark your calendar. Tucson’s creative pulse will be on full display, and you will not want to miss the gorgeous excitement. See ad, page 9.

A Gorgeous Excitement, a group art exhibition curated by Paul Gold, opens with a lively reception on Saturday, October 4, from 4 to 8 p.m., featuring pianist Matias Naiman and open studios with more than a dozen resident Steinfeld artists. The gallery will be open Saturdays, October 11, 18 and 25, from 12 to 4 p.m. Special artist talks include Shirley Wagner on October 11 at 2:30 p.m. (An Artist’s Journey: From the Wall to the World) and Mark Rossi on October 18 at 2:30 p.m. (The Many Paths of Making Sculpture).