Friday, October 20, 2006
Thursday, September 14, 2006
My First E-mailed Mural Pic!!!
Linda Drew e-mailed these pictures to Randy's Tucson Murals Project. She writes, "[here] are a couple of pictures of the mural created by Hedrick Acres neighbors (HANA) under the direction of Tucson Arts Brigade muralist Michael Schwartz in 2005. The mural depicts the Tucson Mountains. The project was funded by a grant from PRO Neighborhoods." "It is located in a drainage of the Navajo Wash, southwest corner of E. Fort Lowell Road and N. Mountain Avenue. [Here's a map] We met with Ward, City and UA officials to gain permission to use the lot at the corner of Hedrick and Mountain. We defined two components, a public bulletin board and art; to share information and make neighbors feel welcome in the space. Neighbors came together to paint the wall in temperatures over 100 degrees F. I was very encouraged by the number of people who just showed up to help on the project. —Linda Drew
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Beer & A Deer
Imagine driving along Speedway in late June. It's 107 degrees outside. Your air conditioner's broken. You spot a waterfall. "Is it a mirage?" you wonder. You don't know. You don't care. Your tongue is sandpaper. Your throat is as dry as my humor. Wait. That waterfall is on the side of a bar. The Bambi Bar. What a cute beer, uh, deer. Horns, not antlers, blare behind you! "It's green you idiot!" You shove your foot onto the accelerator and all you can think is, "Man, I need a deer."
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Just a little off the top...Oops! I've got a helmet on.....
Is there a title for World's Smallest Barbershop? I'm not sure. However, the Tucson barbershop bearing these murals is about the size of your average SUV.
Nonetheless, you will find said barbershop and military murals at 5321 E. Speedway. Here are the directions from Interstate 10. Keep in mind, you can't take a photo of it without bothering the business adjacent to the murals. It's a place that sells vehicles. If they ask what you're doing, simply tell them you're looking for something about the size of the barbershop, but with better hair mileage.
Update (October 17, 2014): A page on waymarking.com titled Iwo Jima says the muralist was Paul Lira.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Windows & A Gateway
There are a series of murals on Broadway Boulevard at Barraza-Aviation Parkway in downtown Tucson. Here are directions to the murals from Interstate 10.
"Windows to the Past, Gateway to the Future."
Now this can be a VERY busy intersection so save your rubbernecking for the red light. Your car should not become part of the artwork, if you know what I mean.
By the way, Stephanie from Tucson wrote the following e-mail about this mural.
"The artwork that's titled 'Windows and a Gateway' should have the men that made the artwork right along with the artist, because the tilework is indeed art of its own. Tile Canvases hand glazed each piece of tile that you see downtown on that mural. And they continue to repair them on a regular basis whenever they get damaged. So, hats off also to Rick Young and Tom Galloway from Tile Canvases on a great piece of art!"
Update (May 12, 2012): An Arizona Daily Star article, Life stories: Tucsonan immortalized on mural, tells the story of Gail Fafard and the panel showing her with two friends in the mid-1940s.
Update (June 27, 2022): KGUN9 TV broadcast a video interview 3:49 long with artist Steve Farley. The online version includes more information and photos.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
How to Ruin a Mural
As more and more pictures are added to this blog, you'll occasionally ask yourself, "Why did Randy include this ugly mural?" I'm not a trained artist, so it isn't my position to critique the art. However, you will find me complaining about one thing: positioning of the mural. This mural, on a well-traveled corner of Speedway and Stone, is next to an abandoned, neglected, vacant lot. The mural attracts the eyes of passersby, but, HELLO, CITY OF TUCSON, do you want their eyes to also see this lot. Maybe it isn't the city's responsibility. Maybe it's the owner's. WHO CARES? We have Adopt-a-Highway programs, maybe we should start an Adopt-a-Lot program as well.
(Update from Jerry: as of February, 2010, there's a different mural but the lot is still ugly.)
Update (January 29, 2019) from Jerry: I cropped the photo above to the mural area and brightened it. As always, you can click for a larger view:
Jonesin' For Art on Speedway
There's more than just the colors that make this mural stand out on the corner of Speedway & Jones. It's also the part of the flower and the hummingbird's wing that, well, uh, stand out.
As beautiful as it is, this mural is unsigned. If anyone knows the painter, please pass it on to me.
Friday, July 28, 2006
But Can You Build It Like A Brickhouse?
Friday, July 21, 2006
Top of the World
You can find this work in downtown Tucson at the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Youth Center. It's titled, “I Climb Your Shoulders to the Top of the World.” Artists: Marianne Cracovaner and children.
Update (October 19, 2010): The mural is falling apart.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Ahhh-nold!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Thursday, July 13, 2006
You Could Spend Hours....
Artist Antonio Pazos painted "Nuestra Futura" and artist David Tineo painted "Nuestra Raices Humanas."
Update (December 2010): the mural will be removed in January 2011.
The Amazing, Fantastical, Beautiful Oury Park Mural
Artists: Josh Sarantitus and William Wilson
There are more photos in Ooh... Ahh... More Oury Park.
UPDATE (October 6, 2014): The mural is made from mosaic tiles, and they're falling off. Have a look at the 2014 version of the last photo above.
Ooh... Ahh... More Oury Park
There may be no better visual treat in one location than in Tucson's Oury Park. From the Oury Park Recreation Center to the massive wall mural separating the park area from Interstate 10, it's a colorful treat and a place to picnic and play as well. Better yet, click on the map to the mural.
600 W. St. Marys Rd.
Oury Recreation Center is located at 600 St. Marys Road.
Title: Untitled
Artists: Antonio Pazos and Estevan Mireles with neighborhood youth.
Update (October 13, 2014): The mural has been repainted, and we have eight new photos... as well as a few older photos. They're in today's entry, Oury Community Center repainted.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Looonnnggg on Limberlost
Fish swimming in the desert, reliefs and metal plants all combine to make up the Limberlost Neighborhood Mural. This mural stretches nearly an entire city block. It's located at 4100 N. Stone Avenue.
Update (July 12, 2016): Here's the tenth-anniversary entry of this blog showing this amazing mural in much more detail: Ten years of Tucson murals.