Miles ELC revisited (too late!)

On May 4, 2014, I drove by the west side of Miles Exploratory Learning Center, next to the parking lot along Highland Avenue — and I saw a mural of the world being painted. It was on a small freestanding concrete wall. I posted a photo on March 21, 2014 in Miles ELC: Murals being made, part 23.

Almost exactly four years later — on May 5, 2018 — I drove by again. This time, there was a completely different mural. Unlike the previous half-finished mural I saw in 2014, this one seemed to be finished:

It looks like I need to keep a better eye on this spot!

Advertising murals

¡Saludos de CDMX! (That's the city government's new name for Mexico City. It seems that most people outside the city don't know that though. FYI, anyway.) After a really challenging year, I treated myself to two weeks in one of my favorite cities. I want to thank David Aber very much for picking up the ball as I dropped it a lot this past year. Next year should be much better for me—and, so, less busy for David!!

As you ride along the freeways, and some of the city's streets, you'll notice murals that are actually advertising. Some are blatant, with companies’ names highlighted and really obvious from a distance. Others, like this example from JetBlue Airlines, are subtle. At first, it looks like the skyline of a city with the word Boston:

When you look at the lower right corner, though, you'll see:

(I hope none of you think of making murals like this in Tucson. Right now, the only commercial murals I know of are painted on the side of the building that the mural is advertising. The mural ad here in Mexico City, though, was nowhere near the airport.)

Happy 2019!

Merry Christmas From Toon Land

Yes, I know I'm stretching the definition of a mural (again).  But it's Christmas, and I thought you might want to celebrate the season by taking a stroll down memory lane into cartoon land with your kids or grandkids.  These photos were taken on Dec. 17, 2018 in the 8200 block of N. Tammeron Ct.  They're in a NW neighborhood where many of the yards are decorated with cartoon characters.

The Jungle Book

Aladdin

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

101 Dalmatians

Click any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Hotel McCoy V

More photos taken on Oct. 15, 2018 at the rear of some units.

Sonoran Hot Dog by Joe Pagac

Leggy Birds by Joe Pagac

Cowtown by Joe Pagac

"Cow Skull" by Daniela Umaña Vélez

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

There are many more Hotel McCoy murals to come! Part VI will appear on January 18th.

Hotel McCoy IV

These photos were taken on Oct. 15, 2018 at the rear of some of the units.

Little Cowgirl by Joe Pagac

 4th Ave. is the place to see and be seen in Tucson

4th Ave. Vibe by Joe Pagac

View From The Mountain by Joe Pagac

Surfer Dude by Joe Pagac

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Hotel McCoy III

I took these photos on Oct. 12th and 15th, 2018.  They are on the exteriors of the units.

Vintage Chevy PU by Pete Connolly

Vintage Chevy by Pete Connolly

Vintage Chevy PU by Pete Connolly

Corazón (Heart) by Michelle Myrose

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Hotel McCoy II

These photos were taken poolside on Oct. 15, 2018.

Depiction of the Mission San Xavier del Bac. Holding services since 1797.

"The Old Pueblo" by Kurt Schlaefer

"Scuba Man" by Donovan White

Sneaker by Denz

Sunny Day by Alyssa Robinson

The Duke (John Wayne) by Sean John Cannon

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Hotel McCoy - Front Entrance

The new owner has refurbished a mid-century building and rebranded it as a modern art hotel where contemporary meets retro.  "From the fully restored pool & cedar-lined sauna to the A-shaped entrance & exposed posts & beams, it’s the best of both worlds."  As you will see now and in future installments, the hotel is full of art.  And it's all by local artists.  Let's begin:

 View to the north from W. Silverlake Rd.

That's a vintage(1966?) T-Bird in front.

A-Shaped Entrance Below "A" Mountain

Mural on the west side of the entrance.

"The Life In Tucson" by Daniela Umaña Vélez

Portrait of Serenity Wetherbee, also on the west side of the entrance.

"Serenity" by Jessica Gonzales

On the east side of the entrance is a circle of geometric shapes that symbolize unity and harmony.   It's called a Mándala.

"Mándala" by Daniela Umaña Vélez

Entrance to the lobby within the A-shaped main entrance.

"Tucson Toonland" by Alex Jimenez

Across from the lobby, also within the main entrance.

"Tucson Toonland" by Alex Jimenez

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Welcome to South Tucson (on W. 29th St.)

To distinguish itself from the surrounding City of Tucson, the 1.2 sq. mile City of South Tucson has erected welcome signs at its borders.  At least two other welcome signs have appeared in the Tucson Murals Project at Welcome to South Tucson (on 29th) and at Welcome to South Tucson (on 6th).

At S. 12th Ave., West Silverlake Rd. changes its name to W. 29th St. and that's where you'll see this welcome sign:

Click on the photo for a larger and sharper image.

Beautiful trash containers III

On February 5, 2016, the City of Tucson unveiled five metal trash containers that were painted with murals in an effort to reduce graffiti.  These containers were provided to businesses that have a high potential for graffiti and tagging.  Three of these containers have already appeared in the Tucson Murals Project at Beautiful trash containers and Beautiful trash containers II

Here is a fourth container found at Taco Fish on S. 12th Ave. and photographed on Sept. 25.  It was painted by Johanna Hand.

 Click on any of the photos for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

We know where to find the fifth (and last) container and we will photograph it in the near future.

Update (November 6, 2024): Our post today, Trash(ed) art, shows this dumpster six years later.

Beautiful trash containers II

On February 5, 2016, the City of Tucson unveiled five metal trash containers that were painted with murals in an effort to reduce graffiti.  These containers were provided to businesses that have a high potential for graffiti and tagging.  Two of these containers have already appeared in the Tucson Murals Project at Beautiful trash containers.

Here is a third container found at Walter's Market on S. 6th Ave. and photographed on Sept. 25.  It was painted by Porter McDonald who titled it "Uprising".

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Wildlife, 3 of 3

Jos Villabrille has redone his very long mural next to the on-ramp from Irvington Rd. onto northbound I-19.  Here's a link to the original mural: Amazing mural.

With one or two exceptions, each section of the wall is a mural unto itself. I've settled on 12 photos that I took on Sept. 26 and will present in 3 installments.  This is the third and last, so let's finish and have a beer:

Gambel's Quail and Hummingbird

Hummingbird, Lizard and a Desert Bighorn

Previous two photos stitched together

Coyote

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Also, an even larger, sharper and scrollable version of the stitched photo may be found here: Wildlife, 9 of 10

Enjoy your beer.

Wildlife, 2 of 3

Jos Villabrille has redone his very long mural next to the on-ramp from Irvington Rd. onto northbound I-19.  Here's a link to the previous mural: Amazing mural.

With one or two exceptions, each section of the wall is a mural unto itself. I've settled on 12 photos that I took on Sept. 26 and will present in 3 installments.  This is the second installment, so let's begin from where we left off:

Gray Fox and Ringtail

Mountain Lion and Hawk

Roadrunner and Javelina

Black-tailed Jackrabbit and Bobcat

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Wildlife, 1 of 3

Jos Villabrille has redone his very long mural next to the on-ramp from Irvington Rd. onto northbound I-19.  Here's a link to the previous mural: Amazing mural.

With one or two exceptions, each section of the wall is a mural unto itself. I've settled on 12 photos that I took on Sept. 26 and will present in 3 installments.  Let's begin from left to right:

Gila Monster and Horse

River Otter

Owl and Cactus Wren

Raccoon and Gila Woodpecker

Click on any photo for a slideshow of larger and sharper images.

Aztec Symbols

Behind the wall here on this South Tucson building used to be a barbershop, and the wall had a remembrance mural For Gabriel Rene Cruz. (If you'd like to see it, click there.) Sometime in the next few years, the mural disappeared. Now this is the south wall of Cicli Noe, a bicycle repair shop on S. 6th Ave. (The north wall has two murals that are in the Murals Project at "Look out for each other" and Look out!)

This mural appears to be Aztec symbols. I believe the leftmost image is a "Coatl" (serpent). I don't know what the other image might be. Photo taken on Sept. 25:

Any comments or additional info. is appreciated.

Update: The cactus mandala was painted by Zina Rubiner and the Aztec dragon was painted by Raul Rivas. Jerry Peek took closeup photos on July 23, 2021: