>> Ted: COMING UP ON ARIZONA PBS, A DEBATE ON PROPOSITION 132 WHICH LOOKS TO INCREASE THE VOTES TO APPROVE BALLOT INITIATIVES THAT RAISES TAXES.

MORE ON A NEW VACCINE THAT TARGETS THE OMICRON VARIENT OF COVID-19.

THAT'S ALL AHEAD ON ARIZONA PBS.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TODAY RELEASED THE RESULT OF THE STUDENT ASSESSMENT TESTING AND THE RESULTS SHOWED 41% OF STUDENTS PASSED THE ENGLISH PART OF THE TEST AND THAT'S A 3 PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS SCHOOL YEAR AND 33% PASSING THE MATH COMPONENT WHICH IS A TWO PERCENTAGE POINT INCREASE.

THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION APPLAUDED THE INCREASE IN SCORES AND NOTED MOST STUDENTS STILL FAILED BOTH PARTS OF THE TESTS AND WORK STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE TO IMPROVE LATINO AND NATIVE AMERICAN SCORES FOR WHITE AND ASIAN STUDENTS.

PHOENIX AND OTHER AREAS OF CENTRAL ARIZONA REMAIN UNDER EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING UNTIL 8:00 WITH HIGHS FORECASTED BETWEEN 105 AND 108°.

THAT'S NOT UNUSUAL IN TIME OF THE YEAR AND MOST OF THE WEST IS EXPERIENCING HIGH TEMPERATURES WHERE THEY'RE LOOKING TO CUT BACK ON ELECTRICITY TO AVOID ROLLING BACK-OUT.

IF THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, MUCH OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, ALONG WITH SOUTHWESTERN ARIZONA COULD SEE UP TO SIX INCHES OF RAIN THIS WEEKEND.

THAT'S DUE TO HURRICANE KAY WHICH WAS STRENGTHENED TO A CATEGORY TWO AS IT MOVES UP THE COAST OF BAJA.

IT WILL FORECAST TO CONTINUE STRAIGHT NORTH TO THE U.S. >>> PROPOSITION 132 CALLS FOR A SUPER MAJORITY OF 60% APPROVAL FOR ANY BALLOT MEASURE TO INCREASE TAXES.

JOINING US NOW FOR A DEBATE WE ISSUE STATE REPRESENTATIVE TIM DUNN AND ANDREW SHAGRU AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH.

TIM, WE START WITH YOU AND WHY IS THIS IDEA OF A SUPER MAJORITY ON A BALLOT INITIATIVE TO RAISE TAXES, WHY IS THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR ARIZONA?

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AS YOU LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THE STATE AND THE INCREASING IN NUMBER OF OUTSIDE INTERESTS WANTING TO MANIPULATE AND PUT MONEY INTO INITIATIVES FOR OUR TAXPAYERS AND INCREASE OUR TAXES, I THINK THIS PROTECTING THE POCKETBOOK OF THE ARIZONA TAXPAYER.

I THINK IT'S AS WE BECOME A PITRI DISH, THIS IS A 50% PLUS ONE.

>> Ted: AN TRUE,ANDREW, WHY IS THIS NOT A GOOD IDEA?

>> ARIZONAWHEN THE LEGISLATURE REFUSES TO LISTEN TO VOTERS, WE FUND SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD AND YOU'LL WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

NOW, MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE WANT 41% OF VOTERS TO BLOCK FUNDING FOR THESE SHARED PRIORITIES.

PROPOSITION 132 IS NOTHING MORE THAN A DANGEROUS POWER GRAB THAT ENDS MAJORITY RULE HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: WHY TAX INCREASES AND NOT OTHER BALLOT MEASURES?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION AND THAT'S HOW MY BILL THAT I PUT FORWARD WAS WITH ALL INITIATIVES AND AS WE TALK ABOUT THE POINTS COMING UP, AS YOU TIE THIS TO THE 1992 INCONSISTENT 199 INITIATIVES REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO IMPROVE A TAX INCREASE, WE FIGURE THIS IS MORE IN LINE WITH THE VOTERS HAVE APPROVED BY 72% AND SO, WE MODIFIED MY ORIGINAL BILL TO SAY DO IT WITH TAXES TO ALIGN WITH THE WILL OF THE VOTERS IN THE PAST.

>> Ted: ANDREW, HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT WITH THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY AND CITIZEN INITIATIVES NEEDING A MAJORITY?

>> BY THE LEGISLATOR, THIS HAS BEEN A FAILER AND THIS IS WHAT ARIZONA NEEDS TO THRIVE AND AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S CREATED A MASSIVELY UPSIDE DOWN UNEVEN TAX CODE THAT BENEFITS TAX CODES AND THE WEALTHY AS A SHARE OF THEIR INCOME.

SCOTTSO THE SUPER MAJORITY IS NOT TO RESTRICT ARIZONA'S RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> Ted: THE IDEA THAT IT CONTRADICTS THE WILL OF THE VOTERS, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> THIS IS A COMPLEMENTARY TO THE VOTE END OF THE PAST WITH TYING THE HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE TO TWO-THIRDS OF THE VOTE AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE LEGISLATURE COULD NOT COME IN AND SAY WITH A 31-16 AND GOVERNOR SIGNATURE AND INCREASE THE TAXES AND WILLING TO PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, TO SEE IF THEY CAN CONCUR WITH THEIR OWN WILL DONE IN 1992.

>> Ted: YOU SAID YOU WANTED ALL TO HAVE THIS THRESHOLD AND IT'S ONLY FOR TAXES.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO SINGLE OUT TAXES WHEN THE OTHER INITIATIVES DON'T HAVE TO REACH THAT LEVEL?

>> I BELIEVE BECAUSE THIS IS A COMPLEMENTARY TO 1992 AND 1998, THIS IS COMPLEMENTARY AND I WAS WILLING TO CHANGE MY ORIGINAL BILL TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE SAW THAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS HAVE DONE AS OPPOSED TO HAVING A DISCUSSION ABOUT ALL OF THE INITIATIVES AND THE 50 PLUS ONE COMPARED TO WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DID.

LET'S CONFORM THIS TO WHAT THE WILL OF THE VOTERS DID IN 1992.

>> Ted: TIM REFERRED TO THE SPECIAL INTEREST ACTIVITY IN ARIZONA, PUSHING THINGS THAT COME FROM OUT OF STATE AND MAY BE PUSHING THEIR AGENDAS AND NOT NECESSARILY ARIZONA.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO COOL IT ON THE SPECIAL INTEREST TALK.

IT'S PEOPLE IN ARIZONA THAT SIGNED THE PETITION AND ARIZONA WHO VOTE ON THE BALLOT PROPOSITIONS AND ARIZONA WHO REAP THE BENEFITS.

OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DECADES, WE'VE USED THE BALLOT PROCESS TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THINGS THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE IN ARIZONA, LIKE ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN SCHOOLS, $150 MILLION FOR HEALTHCARE AND $120 MILLION JUST LAST YEAR FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS.

WITH PROP 132 IN PLACE, NONE OF THAT WOULD BE POSSIBLE BECAUSE NONE RECEIVED THE THRESHOLD.

>> Ted: WHO ARE THE SPECIAL INTERESTS WITHIN THIS PARTICULAR DEBATE?

>> WE'VE HAD SOME FROM CALIFORNIA TRYING ON THE ENERGY SITUATION IN 2018 AND 2020, TRYING TO DO ADDITIONAL TAXES AND REGULATORY BURDEN FOR ENERGY AND THAT WAS THE BIG THING THAT WAS STOPPED IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE AND THEN WE'VE HAD FOLKS ON HSUS, TRYING DIFFERENT INITIATIVES FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY AND ANIMAL HIS HUSBANDRY AND THEY WERE PAYING OUTSIDE FOLKS AND WE WORK ON THAT REQUIRING PEOPLE TO BE REGISTERED AND WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT AREN'T SIGN UP TO WHO HAS COLLECTED SIGNATURES.

THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT COME TO MIND OFF THE BAT.

>> Ted: IS IT HEALTHY TO HAVE THAT OUT OF STATE?

>> SPECIAL INTERESTS, LET'S CLARIFY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

THE BALLOT MEASURES THAT MAKE IT TO THE ARIZONA BALLOT, WHEN THEY SELDOMLY DO AND YOU CAN COUNT THAT TAX INCREASES MADE IT TO THE BALLOT IN THE PAST TEN YEARS.

THESE INTERESTS ARE THE SHARED VALUES THAT PEOPLE IN ARIZONA WANT.

OVER 80% OF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA DO NOT WANT TO SEE MORE TAX CUTS AND INVESTMENTS IN THINGS THAT MATTER LIKE ROADS, LIKE IN FIREFIGHTERS, WHICH IS ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, UNDER 132 REQUIRE 60%, AS WELL AS HEALTHCARE AND THINGS LIKE SCHOOLS.

THEY RECOGNIZE THAT OUR TAX BURDEN IS LOW AND SO THEY'RE WILLING TO USE THE BALLOT PROPOSITIONS TO USE THEIR CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED FREEDOM TO RAISE TAXES BY A SIMPLE MAJORITY.

>> Ted: IS THIS NOT A CHECK OF SPECIAL INTERESTS AND LOBBYISTS AT THE LEGISLATURE?

>> PROP 132?

>> Ted: YES.

YOU TALK ABOUT SPECIAL INTERESTS CHECKED HERE AS FAR AS CITIZEN'S INITIATIVES CONCERNED, BUT THESE FOLKS WOULD ARGUE IT'S A CHECK ON INTERESTS AND LOBBYISTS.

>> THE TWO-THIRDS VOTE IS A CHECK ON THE LEGISLATURE BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES A TWO-THIRDS VOTE.

THE 60% MAKES IT HARDER AND THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU VOTED FOR AND OVERWHELMLY WANT IT.

I DIDN'T VOTE FOR MARIJUANA WHICH IS NOT A TAX INCREASE AND OVERWHELMLYING PASSED AND YOU WANTED IT TO PASS.

IT LIMITED THE LEGISLATURE'S ABILITY.

IF YOU WANTED THE DEBATE OR THE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT TO SAY IF WE PASS SOMETHING WITH 52%, THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD CHANGE IT BUT PROP 108 REQUIRES A THREE-FOURTH THREE-FOURTH'S VOTE.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT, APPLES AND ORANGES?

>> WHAT THIS PROPOSITION WOULD DO IS FREEZE ARIZONA'S ABILITY TO REVERSE THIS UNJUST AND UNEVEN TAX CUT WE HAVE.

RIGHT NOW, THE TOP 5% OF ARIZONA EARNS PAY WHAT THE BOTTOM 20% AND THREE QUARTERS PAY $50 IN TAXES A YEAR.

THAT'S UPSIDE DOWN AND PROP 132 WOULD ONLY FURTHER THE INTERESTS BY INHIBITING VOTERS TO REVERSE THAT SYSTEM.

>> Ted: AND YET, WOULD IT NOT MAKE SENSE FROM THE OTHER SIDE TO ARGUE WHEN YOU'RE INCREASING TAXES, ESPECIALLY NOW WITH INFLATION GOING ON AND A LOT OF MONETARY CONCERNS, WHEN YOU'RE DOING THAT, A BROAD SUPPORT, WIDE-SPREAD SUPPORT SHOULD BE HAD BEFORE YOU ENACT THESE KINDS OF THINGS?

>> ON THE OTHER HAND, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 41% OF ARIZONA VOTERS BEING ABLE TO REJECT EFFORTS TO DO THIS.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE CHANGE OUR CONSTITUTION, WE NEED A SIMPLE MAJORITY AND ELECT OUR REPRESENTATIVES, WE NEED A SMALL MAJORITY AND IN SOME CASES, OFFICIALS CAN BE ELECTED BY HALF OF THE VOTES CAST.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS UNFAIR AND UNJUST.

>> Ted: DOES IT SHOW A LACK OF TRUST?

>> THIS INSTILLS TRUST.

WE WANT TO TRUST ARIZONA VOTERS.

WE DON'T WANT TO PUT IT IN THE HANDS OF MANIPULATION FROM OUTSIDE INTEREST.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE AS A VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY DO A TAX INCREASE.

THIS IS NOT A DEBATE ON WHO PAYS WHAT TAXES AND AN UNFAIR SHARE.

THEY WANT A TAX INCREASE BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT CHANGE IT UNDER THE CURRENT LAW.

>> Ted: AND YET, AS I THINK YOU REFERRED TO HERE, PROP 310, 123, USING TRUST LAND FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS, THE EDUCATION SALE'S TAX, EARLY CHILDHOOD, FIRST THINGS FIRST, EDUCATION, A VARIETY OF THOSE THINGS NEVER WOULD HAVE MADE IT AND PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE WANTED THAT, BUT BELOW THAT 60% THRESHOLD.

IS THAT RIGHT?

IS THAT GOOD?

IS THAT A GOOD THING?

>> I'M NOT SAYING IT'S GOOD IT DIDN'T PASS.

I EXTENDED PROP 301 AND PITCHED TO THE VOTERS AND OVER 60%, THEY'LL PASS IT AND I DON'T THINK IT'S -- I THINK THEY'LL DO A BETTER JOB OF GETTING THE REASON FOR GETTING THOSE BILLS PASSED.

>> Ted: YOU MENTIONED YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING THE TAX STRUCTURE IN ARIZONA AND ARGUED ARIZONA NEEDS TO BE A LOW TAX STATE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE WHEN ATTRACTING BUSINESS AND SUCH.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> WE AREN'T COMPETITIVE WHEN OUR TEACHERS CAN'T AFFORD TO LIVE HERE AND WE AREN'T COMPETITIVE NOT USING STATE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS PLAGUING OUR STATE RIGHT NOW.

AND WE CERTAINLY AREN'T COMPETITIVE WHEN WE'RE NOT PAYING LEAVE TO GIVE FAMILIES THE FREEDOM TO LEAVE.

THE PROP WOULD ACHIEVE THAT PEOPLE-FIRST ECONOMY THAT ARIZONA NEEDS.

>> Ted: ADDITIONAL BARRIERS, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I THINK IF IT'S A GOOD IDEA, AND 60% OF THE PEOPLE VOTE FOR IT AND LIKE THEY DID WITH OTHER THINGS THEY'VE PASSED, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A DEBATE ABOUT THE TAX STRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE.

I THINK WE HAVE A GROWING ECONOMY AND HOW GOOD THINGS WE'VE DONE IN FUNDING EDUCATION IN THE LAST TWO YEARS.

I THINK IT'S NOT A BARRIER AND WILL MAKE THE BILLS STRONGER AND BETTER FOR PEOPLE IN ARIZONA.

>> Ted: LAST YES, DIRECT DEMOCRACY AS A PART OF THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION HERE AND OUR TRADITION AND WHAT WE DO.

DO YOU THINK THAT THIS CHIPS AWAY AT THAT?

CRITICS SAY THAT 60% IS NOT THE MAJORITY AND IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WORK AT THE LEGISLATURE, ASIDE FROM TAXES, AND NOT WHAT YOU WORK AT THAT AND NOT WHAT WE DO PUTTING YOU IN OFFICE AND OTHER FEDERAL LAWMAKERS.

IT CHIPS AWAY AT DIRECT DEMOCRACY.

YOUR RESPONSE?

>> MY RESPONSE, I TRUST ARIZONA VOTERS AND WHEN THIS IS SPECIFICALLY FOR TAXES AND WHEN THE HANDS OF THE LEGISLATURE IS TIED TO INCREASE BY TWO-THIRDS VOTERS AND CANNOT REDUCE IT BY THREE QUARTERRERS VOTE, ALL ARIZONA, 60%, WANT THIS PASSED AND WE TRUST THEM.

>> Ted: SHOULD CUTTING TAXES MEET A 60% THRESHOLD?

>> NO, SIR.

>> Ted: WHY?

>> IT'S NOT IN THE STATUTE.

>> Ted: THE ACTIVE QUESTION IS SHOULD THERE BE A 60% THRESHOLD?

>> YOU HAVE THE ABILITY WITH THE ELECT PEOPLE TO GET THEM IN AND OUT OF OFFICE.

SO I THINK IF YOU'RE MANAGING THE STATE AND MANAGING THE BUDGET, THEN WE'RE MAKING SURE WE'RE FUNDING ARIZONA.

>> Ted: ONLY FOR TAX CUTS AND NOT TAX INCREASES?

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: BOTTOM LINE, A BROAD SUPPORT FOR A TAX INCREASE IS NEEDED AND 60% THRESHOLD WOULD SHOW THAT SUPPORT AROUND THE STATE.

YOUR RESPONSE?

>> WE HAVE USED THIS POWER IN ARIZONA FOR YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE RESOURCES ARE THERE FOR THE PRIORITIES THAT ARIZONA WANTS.

THE POWER IS INHERENT IN THE PEOPLE, SAYS THE ARIZONA STATE CONSTITUTION AND IF REPRESENTATIVE DUNN IS SERIOUS, HE SHOULD TRUST A MAJORITY OF VOTERS TO GET THIS DONE.

>> Ted: GOOD CONVERSATION AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, A PREVIEW OF THE NEW SEASON AT THE MESA ART'S CENTER.

>> Announcer: RECORD SETTING HEAT WAVE PUSHING CALIFORNIA'S ENERGY GRID TO THE BRINK.

COMING UP AFTER YOUR HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> Ted: THE MESA'S ART CENTER LAUNCHING ITS NEW SEASON AND AT THE CONTEMPORARY ART'S NEW SEASON, THEY KICK OFF WITH A FESTIVAL.

FRIDAY NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN MESA.

AND WE'RE JOINED BY THE CHIEF CURATOR AND HEADLINING ARTIST.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> TIFFANY, LET START WITH THE KICK-OFF FOR FRIDAY AND THIS IS THE FRIDAY NIGHT DOWNTOWN THING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THERE'S THE SECOND FRIDAY AND OUR SEASON KICK-OFF HAPPENS AT 6:00, FROM 6:00 TO 10:00 ON OUR CAMPUS AND MESAARTSCENTER.COM.

FUN ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES AND SELFIE STATIONS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, ARTIST DEMOS AND FOOD TRUCKS AND THE PREMIERES OF THE FIVE EXHIBITIONS.

>> AND THE THEME OF THE FESTIVAL IS MAKE YOUR MARK AND EXPLAIN PLEASE.

>> MAKE YOUR MARK, I WAS INSPIRED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC IN DECEMBER OF 2019.

AND WE WENT TO THE GRAFFITI MUSEUM THERE AND IN THE GRAFFITI MUSEUM, THEY HAD A DISPLAY TALKING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST GRAFFITI ART AND STREET ART IN THE 1980S IN NEW YORK.

THEY WERE SAYING MAKE YOUR MARK ON SOCIETY AND NOT ON THE WALL WAS THE SLOGAN.

I DECIDED TO REPURPOSE THAT AND PUT IT BACK INTO STREET ARTIST'S HAND.

IN ADDITION TO STREET ARTISTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, WE HAVE AN EXHIBITION ON SKINS THESE ARE THE SKETCHBOOKS YOU MAKE YOUR MARK WITH ART.

SO IT TIES INTO THAT AND IT'S A CALL FOR ACTION.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE DOING A LOT OF PERFORMANCE THINGS THESE DAYS RATHER THAN DOING THINGS FOR ACTION.

THIS IS A WAY OF, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE YOUR MARK ON SOCIETY AND MAKE BETTER SOCIETY.

>> RON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MAKE YOUR MARK?

WHAT DOES MAKE YOUR MARK MEAN TO YOU?

>> I'M CONSIDERED THE GODFATHER TO MAKE YOUR MARK AND NOW THIS IS THE BIGGEST ART MOVEMENT IN THE HISTORY OF WORLD AND THAT'S ONE THINGS I'M DOING.

>> Ted: TALK ABOUT YOUR ART AND HOW YOU GOT STARTED.

WHAT HAVE WE GOT HERE?

>> I'M A LITTLE OLDER THAN KEITH, BUT I STARTED OFF IN TEXAS LIBERATING BILLBOARDS AND WHAT DO WE HAVE THAT'S LIKE A SUBWAY AND WHAT'S EVERYWHERE?

I STARTED REPAINTING WITH MY ART AND THAT'S HOW I KICKED OFF MY CAREER.

>> Ted: WHEN DID YOU REALIZE THIS WOULD BE YOUR CAREER?

>> WELL, ORIGINALLY, IN SUBWAYS AND I NEVER THOUGHT OF THAT, AS BEING A CAREER.

AND IT WASN'T UNTIL, MAYBE, AROUND 1990 THAT I WAS COMPLETELY ABLE TO MAKE MY LIVING OFF OF IT.

AND NOW, LIKE, FOR THE THINGS I WOULD SPEND 100 DAYS IN JAIL FOR AND I WOULD GET LIKE ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND SOCIETY CHANGED.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, LIKE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT WITH THE GRAFFITI AND THE AND THE STREET ART, WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER AND NOW DEVELOPERS HIRE US TO REGENT REGION INDUSTRIFY NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> Ted: TO YOU HEAR AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO?

>> I HEAR A SONG EVERY MORNING AND I TRY TO GET THAT DOWN OR I SEE A PAINTING AND TRY TO GET A SKETCH OF IT.

SO WHATEVER YOU SEE ON THE CANVASS, I SEE IN MY HEAD.

>> Ted: YOU'VE SEEN IT BEFORE YOU DO IT?

>> I HEAR THE SONG BEFORE I GET IT.

>> Ted: SOMETIMES YOU HEAR THE SONG AND SOMETIMES, DO YOU SEE SOMETHING AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW?

>> USUALLY IT GETS BETTER BECAUSE THE PROCESS, YOU ADD MORE AND YOU BRING IN FAMOUS MUSICIANS AND THEY BRING IT TO ANOTHER LEVEL.

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU HEARD.

IT'S BETTER.

>> Ted: ALWAYS WORKS OUT BEST THAT WAY.

PUTTIFFANY, THESE FIVE EXHIBITIONS, WILL WE LEARN MORE FROM THE ARTISTS?

>> YOU MEAN ON DISPLAY?

>> Ted: YES, YES.

>> THE EXHIBITIONS THEMSELVES, WE HAVE FIVE AND JUAN IS THE MAIN HEADLINE AND HIS SHOW TALKS ABOUT HIS CAREER AND IT FOCUSES ON THE LAST TEN YEARS FOR HIM AND YOU'RE SO PROLIFIC AND DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE AND WE HAVE LOCAL TALENT, CHAMP STYLES AND LOCAL GRAFFITI AND TWO OTHERS THAT HAVE SOLO SHOWS AND ACTUALLY, A HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM GEORGIACO AND THE MOLE SKIN AND ALL OF THIS IS EXPLAINED IN THE EXHIBITIONS AND WE HAVE DESCRIPTIONS ON THE WEBSITES THAT PEOPLE CAN GO AND LOOK.

>> Ted: LIKE A FATHER AND SON?

>> YES, FATHER AND SON DUO.

HE'S PASSED THIS TALENT ONTO HIS SON AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL, VERY COOL.

>> Ted: AS FAR AS, RON, YOUR WORK, SOMETHING CALLED DILUTIONVILLE.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I CREATED A WHOLE WORLD.

I CREATED A COUPLE HUNDRED CHARACTERS TO LIVE IN THIS WORLD.

I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMEBODY TO ABSORB THE MUSIC AND ART.

AT THIS POINT, I HAVE MORE DEVELOPED CHARACTERS THAN DISNEY IN MY UNIVERSE.

>> Ted: HOW DO YOU KEEP TRACK OF IT ALL?

GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

>> IT'S ALL IN MY HEAD.

>> Ted: IS IT A TOWN, A VILLAGE?

>> THEY LIVE IN AN UNDERWORLD, AND THEY ALL REPRESENT DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF HUMANITY.

IT'S A WEIRD WAY.

WE'VE LIVED THROUGH STRANGE TIMES WHERE IT'S HARD TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT ANYTHING AND YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT THE SUBJECTS WITHOUT OFFENDING SOMEBODY AND WHAT IF WE GAVE THESE ANIMALS THEY'RE OWN RELIGION AND POLITICS AND DISCUSS THE BIGGER CONCEPT AND HOW WE ALL LIVE TOGETHER WITHOUT ANYBODY BEING OFFENDED.

I WORKED HARD.

LIKE THE TURTLES TAKE THINGS SLOW AND LIVE LONGER THAN ANYBODY, BUT THERE'S NO PARALLEL IN OUR UNIVERSE TO THEM SO THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT IDEAS WITHOUT SOMEBODY THINKING YOU'RE MAKING FUN OF ME.

>> Ted: DO THE VISITORS UNDERSTAND THAT?

>> SO FAR PEOPLE HAVE DONE VERY WELL GETTING IT AND I THINK DOING THE MUSIC PART OF IT, TOO, HELPS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY MEAN AND HOW THEY ALL FIT TOGETHER AS A PUZZLE.

>> Ted: IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE ARTISTS IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS OF WHAT THEY DO AND IT HAS CHANGED, HASN'T IT?

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STREET ART AND GRAFFITI ART AS OPPOSED TO CANVAS ON A WALL.

>> THE ART WORLD IS MORE ACCEPTING AND JUST BEING MORE RELATABLE TO THE COMMON INDIVIDUAL.

>> Ted: WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?

DO YOU KEEP THE VILLAGE GROWING?

WHAT HAPPENS?

>> THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, WHEN I STARTED MY CAREER, IT WAS ELITIST AND THERE WEREN'T THERE MANY ARTISTS AND IF YOU DID, IT WAS RESTRICTIVE.

I WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THAT WORLD.

I'M FROM THE WORKING CLASS AND NOW OUR WORLD HAS OPENED UP TO EVERYBODY AND YOU ARE ACCEPTED BY YOUR TALENTS.

RIGHT NOW, WE'RE LIVING THROUGH THE WORLD I DREAMED OF WHEN I WAS YOUNG.

TED >> Ted: DID YOU DREAM ABOUT THE COMPUTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA?

>> THAT THE WALLS WOULD LIGHT UP WITH ART AND 3D AND YES, YES, WE ARE LIVING MY FANTASY.

>> WE'RE SHOWCASING A SHOW OF RON'S, A DOCUMENTARY AND TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE, DOLLARS APIECE AT THE MESA ART CENTER AND IT'S INCREDIBLE TO WATCH HIS PROCESS AND EVOLUTION OF HIS CAREER.

>> Ted: AGAIN, ONE LAST CHANCE TO SAY WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO AND FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION.

>> PLEASE VISIT THE MESAARTCENTER.COM AND THE MUSEUM CONTENT IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAS A MUSEUM AND CLICK ON THAT AND THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN SEE INFORMATION ABOUT RON AND SOME OF OUR PROGRAMMING.

>> Ted: TIFFANY, CHIEF ART'S CURATOR AND RON, ARTIST, GODFATHER OF A PICK KIND OF OF ART AND GOOD TO MEET YOU AND HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

COMING UP ON ARIZONA PBS, THE LATEST ON A BACTERIA THAT IS INFECTING ARIZONA'S CACTUS POPULATION.