Reach out

Listening to Wakefield:

An Ongoing Sound Archive of

the Barrio

I. Cortez / 2026

Listening to Wakefield

Listening to Wakefield is an ongoing visual and sound archive of the Wakefield barrio in Tucson, Arizona. The project documents the neighborhood through photography and ambient audio recordings, beginning with three community gathering places: Tacos Apson, Carnitas La Yoca, and Paletería y Nevería La Michoacana.
 
These photographs and recordings capture the everyday sounds of food preparation, music, conversation, bilingual exchange, traffic, and neighborhood movement. Together, they offer a sensory portrait of Wakefield and highlight the cultural practices, memories, and relationships that shape the barrio.
 
As Wakefield continues to change, this project seeks to preserve a record of its present sound and visual life. The archive will continue to grow through future documentation of local businesses, streets, schools, and community spaces. It invites visitors to listen to and experience Wakefield from near and far.

Tacos Apson

Founded in 2001, Tacos Apson serves Mexican food inspired primarily by the cuisine of Sonora. The restaurant’s specialties include the taco rasurados, made with thinly sliced meat, and carne asada burritos.

The name “Tacos Apson” refers to Agua Prieta, Sonora. Owner Francisco Durazo named the restaurant after Los Apson, a Mexican rock-and-roll band founded in 1957 by his father, Francisco Durazo Sr., and his uncle. Francisco Durazo Sr. played the drums for the band.

Tacos Apson is located at 3501 South 12th Avenue, Tucson, Arizona.

Photograph of the exterior of Tacos Apson, a Mexican restaurant in Tucson, AZ
Photograph of the exterior of Tacos Apson, a Mexican restaurant in Tucson, AZ.

Carnitas La Yoca

Carnitas La Yoca is a Mexican restaurant rooted in the cuisine of Michoacán. Its menu focuses on pork and beef dishes, including carnitas and birria. The restaurant also serves handmade corn tortillas, which are the best in Tucson. 

Spanish is widely spoken by the restaurant’s employees and patrons. The restaurant contributes to the neighborhood’s ongoing connection to Mexican and Mexican American foodways, language, and community life.

Carnitas La Yoca is located at 3530 South Sixth Avenue, Tucson, Arizona. It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Photograph of the exterior of Carnitas La Yoca, a Mexican restaurant in Tucson, AZ
Photograph of the exterior of Carnitas La Yoca, a Mexican restaurant in Tucson, AZ.

Paletería y Nevería La Michoacana

Paletería y Nevería La Michoacana opened around 2018 and has become a popular destination in the neighborhood. Although the business has two locations, this project focuses on the location at 3774 South Sixth Avenue in Tucson.

The shop offers a variety of paletas, or frozen treats; raspados, or shaved-ice treats; tostitos preparados, or prepared snack chips; licuados, or blended drinks; and other sweet and savory foods. During Tucson’s hot weather, the shop provides a place for people to gather, enjoy a refreshing treat, or have a snack before or after a meal.

Paletería y Nevería La Michoacana is located at 3774 South Sixth Avenue, Tucson, Arizona 85713. It is open Monday through Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Photograph of the exterior of Paletería y Nevería La Michoacana, a Mexican dessert shop in Tucson, AZ
Photograph of the exterior of Paletería y Nevería La Michoacana, a Mexican dessert shop in Tucson, AZ.

Continuing the Archive

These photographs and recordings document more than three restaurants. They capture the sounds, relationships, and cultural practices that shape the Wakefield barrio. As the neighborhood changes, this archive preserves a record of its present visual and sonic life while recognizing that place is always evolving. This project is an ongoing effort to listen to, document, and understand Wakefield. Future phases will expand to include archival memories connected to Hollinger Elementary, Wakefield Middle School, Pueblo High School, and other community spaces.
Reach out

This project is funded by the Confluence Center for Creative Inquiry and Fronteridades.

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