There are several murals at 5634 E. Pima. Here's the east side (in mottled early sunlight):
And, on the front...
... chile ristras hanging on vigas — but they're actually murals. The chiles had lost their red color when I was there on the morning of June 19, 2011.
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Harlow Gardens
This was the early-morning scene in front of the store, 5620 E. Pima, on June 19, 2011.
Friday, January 06, 2012
Maybe a mural, part 31: sidewalk & wall
It's been a little more than a week since the previous post (part 30) in our series of art that might or might not be a "mural."
This is a photo of the sidewalk and wall at Centuras Professional Plaza, 5210 E. Pima, near sunrise on June 19.
Update (April 21, 2012): Part 32 is online.
This is a photo of the sidewalk and wall at Centuras Professional Plaza, 5210 E. Pima, near sunrise on June 19.
Update (April 21, 2012): Part 32 is online.
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Second Amendment Sports
The nural is on the west wall of the store at 5146 East Pima. I snapped the photo on June 19, 2011.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
New at 6th & Toole, part 2
Over the years, we've posted a quite a few photos of the building at the northeast corner of 6th, Toole and Alameda. (The northwest end of the building houses Skrappys. The southeast end is near the 6th Street underpass.)
It's changed a lot in the past few months. Here's a view on Monday evening, January 2nd:
The only parts that haven't changed are at the far left and far right of the photo above. We'll have more photos soon...
Update (January 11, 2012): Some other photos of this mural Mecca are:
It's changed a lot in the past few months. Here's a view on Monday evening, January 2nd:
The only parts that haven't changed are at the far left and far right of the photo above. We'll have more photos soon...
Update (January 11, 2012): Some other photos of this mural Mecca are:
- Siobhan on Toole (January 11, 2012)
- Skrappys again reinvents its front wall (again)
- Skrappys, October 2010
- Train, trolley, and a three-eyed alien (daytime)
- Murals by moonlight (the second photo on that page)
- Maybe a mural, part five (previous incarnation of the right [southeast] side, also the back side of building [by the tracks])
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
New at 6th & Toole, part 1
Though I'm still posting the mural photos I took during the second half of 2011, I didn't want to wait a few months to show something more recent. (Six months is a long time in Tucson murals!) If you haven't been by the intersection of 6th, Toole and Alameda, it looks almost completely different than it did back in June.
Here's the first of two photos I took there this evening (January 2). It's at the northwest corner. I've heard it's by Joe Pagac — the muralist who also painted the front of Big Brothers Big Sisters Angel Youth Center, on the southwest corner, back in June — and it looks like his work to me. But I didn't find a signature:
Joe's website doesn't mention it. If you know, please post a comment here.
Here's the first of two photos I took there this evening (January 2). It's at the northwest corner. I've heard it's by Joe Pagac — the muralist who also painted the front of Big Brothers Big Sisters Angel Youth Center, on the southwest corner, back in June — and it looks like his work to me. But I didn't find a signature:
Joe's website doesn't mention it. If you know, please post a comment here.
Monday, January 02, 2012
Campbell crossing murals
As you cross Campbell near UMC (University Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell, you may walk by these murals in the center island:
Sometime before I was there on June 19, 2011, the artist credit plaque was trashed by a tagger. It made me angry enough to spend a lot of time editing my photo to remove (almost) all of the tags. Click on the photo if you'd like a larger view.
Sometime before I was there on June 19, 2011, the artist credit plaque was trashed by a tagger. It made me angry enough to spend a lot of time editing my photo to remove (almost) all of the tags. Click on the photo if you'd like a larger view.
Sunday, January 01, 2012
More murals under I-10
Murals along freeway underpasses are pretty common sights — especially along the recently-renovated stretch of Interstate 10 through downtown. Yesterday's post showed the 22nd Street underpass, which probably thousands of people drive by every day. I thought I'd start 2012 with a more unusual mural spot in Tucson. You won't see these from the freeway. Instead, park and walk — or ride your bicycle — four blocks north, to the 18th Avenue underpass. When I took these photos on June 1, 2011, the underpass was for pedestrians only.
I walked around the underpass clockwise from the southeast corner. Here's the southeast:
Second, the southwest corner:
Third, in the northwest:
The north center (much bigger than the others):
And, last, the northeast corner:
Happy mural-hunting in 2012!
I walked around the underpass clockwise from the southeast corner. Here's the southeast:
Second, the southwest corner:
Third, in the northwest:
The north center (much bigger than the others):
And, last, the northeast corner:
Happy mural-hunting in 2012!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
22nd Street underpass
The underpass that takes I-10 over 22nd Street is lined with murals. Both sides looked similar (though I didn't check carefully), but the north side is signed Gonzalo E. 2005 to 2009, and the south side is signed Gonzalo E. Super Barrio 2010. Here's the north side:
You can click on the image for a larger view, but Blogger's new image-viewer still shrinks the width to fit your screen. For a full-size image that you can scroll across to really see the mural, try this wide view.
You can click on the image for a larger view, but Blogger's new image-viewer still shrinks the width to fit your screen. For a full-size image that you can scroll across to really see the mural, try this wide view.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Parque de San Cosme
El Parque de San Cosme is along Simpson Street, just south of the new fire station, east of I-10 and just east of the El Paso & Southwestern Greenway. (The "official" address, from the Tucson Parks & Recreation “special places” web page, is 496 W. Cushing Street, but it's actually on Simpson.)
Neither Google Maps or Mapquest had it at the time I checked. But here's a Google Map with the marker on the spot. It's a nice spot, with tables, a gazebo, and a big wraparound mural. Here's the mural from the southwest side:
and the southeast:
The muralist was Luis Gustavo Mena.
Update (December 23, 2013): There are more photos and information in today's entry, Parque de San Cosme, on the blog Tucson's Pocket Parks.
Update (March 3, 2014): Here are two close-ups of the mural from its center and right panels:
Neither Google Maps or Mapquest had it at the time I checked. But here's a Google Map with the marker on the spot. It's a nice spot, with tables, a gazebo, and a big wraparound mural. Here's the mural from the southwest side:
and the southeast:
The muralist was Luis Gustavo Mena.
Update (December 23, 2013): There are more photos and information in today's entry, Parque de San Cosme, on the blog Tucson's Pocket Parks.
Update (March 3, 2014): Here are two close-ups of the mural from its center and right panels:
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Near La Frontera Arizona
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Casa de Bernie Sedley
This mural is near the building entrance at 411 E. 29th Street in South Tucson. I took the photo on June 1, 2011.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Elvira neighborhood
This sign is at the northeast corner of Elvira & Santa Clara (south of Valencia). I took the photo on May 30.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Santa Clara School
Lots of schools have murals, and Santa Clara elementary (at 6910 S. Santa Clara) is no exception! I snapped this photo on May 30th.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Travelers' murals at TUS
If you're flying in or out of our airport (Tucson International - TUS) this holiday season, and you have some time to spare, head to the east side of the ground level to check out the murals next to the former Sun-Tran stop:
There's art all over the airport, so plan some time to stroll before you go into your concourse — or after you come home. Happy Holidays!
There's art all over the airport, so plan some time to stroll before you go into your concourse — or after you come home. Happy Holidays!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Maybe a mural, part 30: flowers over a window
We've shown several kinds of decorations on Tucson homes — such as glazed tile, painted wood, or even framed pictures — that aren't painted directly on a wall. Here's another one —at 1017 N. Dodge.
(It's just up the street from yesterday's post.)
(It's just up the street from yesterday's post.)
Friday, December 23, 2011
Mural-decorated home
That spray of flowers between the prickly pear and mesquite is an example of the murals decorating the home at 1009 N. Dodge:
We only show murals that are on view to the public without walking inside private fences or doors. Here — back on May 30th, at least — there were more murals than this one for neighbors and people passing by to enjoy. Thanks to the home's owners!
(By the way, Dodge is a good north-south bike riding alternate to busy Alvernon — with a couple of tricky crossings, at 5th and at Speedway.)
We only show murals that are on view to the public without walking inside private fences or doors. Here — back on May 30th, at least — there were more murals than this one for neighbors and people passing by to enjoy. Thanks to the home's owners!
(By the way, Dodge is a good north-south bike riding alternate to busy Alvernon — with a couple of tricky crossings, at 5th and at Speedway.)
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Is it real or is it mural? (Part 1)
From time to time, we post a building front — usually a home — with plants painted on front. But this home, at 355 S. Bryant, takes the idea farther:
That's a real pot with a plant growing out of it... in just the place that the painted mural starts “growing” up. Clever, eh?
I took the photo on September 23rd.
Update (April 8, 2012): Here's part 2 of this post.
That's a real pot with a plant growing out of it... in just the place that the painted mural starts “growing” up. Clever, eh?
I took the photo on September 23rd.
Update (April 8, 2012): Here's part 2 of this post.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Holiday Mart
Here's the scene from the back side of Holiday Mart, 560 W. 22nd Street (just east of I-10), on May 28. (As always, you can click to get a closer look.)
Monday, December 19, 2011
Our 500th post: Feld Davis Park
We've been posting photos of murals for more than five years now. This is post #500 (and there are still many more murals to go)!
I try to make each "hundredth" post a bit special. I saved Feld Davis Park for the 500th partly because of where most of the murals are painted: on the street instead of a wall.
The park has a unique story, too. It was built by volunteers from the Rincon Heights Neighborhood Association and the Watershed Management Group as a community park that would also reduce pollution in High School Wash, which runs by the park. People dug water harvesting basins, using plants, soil, and organic matter to filter pollutants out of the wash. Along with the nice setting, the details of the murals are fun to see:
Feld Davis Park is at the southeast corner of 8th Street & Martin, just west of Campbell. I rode by on the morning of May 11th.
Update (November 4, 2013): There's an overall photo, and more info, in today's entry on the Tucson's Pocket Parks blog.
I try to make each "hundredth" post a bit special. I saved Feld Davis Park for the 500th partly because of where most of the murals are painted: on the street instead of a wall.
Feld Davis Park is at the southeast corner of 8th Street & Martin, just west of Campbell. I rode by on the morning of May 11th.
Update (November 4, 2013): There's an overall photo, and more info, in today's entry on the Tucson's Pocket Parks blog.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
El Barrio Market murals
On my early-morning bicycle ride May 28, I rolled by El Barrio Market — on the northwest corner of 1001 S. 6th Avenue. There were two murals: one on the building and another on the wall along the parking lot.
(The color in my original photo of the long mural was washed-out. I fixed it with my favorite free photo editor, GIMP.)
Update (January 19, 2012): El Barrio Market is closed. The first mural above is still there; the second (on the parking lot) is half painted-over. A business called "Taxes Libre" is open in a part of the building, suite 135.
(The color in my original photo of the long mural was washed-out. I fixed it with my favorite free photo editor, GIMP.)
Update (January 19, 2012): El Barrio Market is closed. The first mural above is still there; the second (on the parking lot) is half painted-over. A business called "Taxes Libre" is open in a part of the building, suite 135.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
(Automotive) Superheroes on South Sixth
I found this three-panel mural on Arizona 1 Automotive & Repair — at 1016 S. 6th Avenue (the southwest corner with 20th Street) — on May 28th.
Update (September 22, 2014): There's a new mural here.
Update (September 22, 2014): There's a new mural here.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Maybe a mural, part 29: a building at Bonillas
The gates were closed early Friday morning, May 27th, at Bonillas Basic Curriculum Magnet School, 4757 E. Winsett Blvd. So I looked in with a zoom lens, from the corner of 16th & Swan looking east, and got this photo of a building with a series of single-colored tiles.
Maybe the artists spent hours choosing the perfect compliment of colors? Maybe they used a pattern based on the alignment of the stars... or the pattern from some video game one of them was playing? Or maybe not. Whatever, this is another in our occasional series of "your choice" about whether this tiled wall counts as a mural. (A regular or repeating pattern of square tiles probably wouldn't count. Imagination helps!)
Maybe the artists spent hours choosing the perfect compliment of colors? Maybe they used a pattern based on the alignment of the stars... or the pattern from some video game one of them was playing? Or maybe not. Whatever, this is another in our occasional series of "your choice" about whether this tiled wall counts as a mural. (A regular or repeating pattern of square tiles probably wouldn't count. Imagination helps!)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Searching for mural news
I've never studied art or done any painting. I didn't know anything about the Tucson mural scene when I started contributing to this blog almost five years ago. ("David Tineo?" Joe Pagac?") I've been learning! If you'd like a tip: You can read more about murals on a Tucson news website.
For instance, try:
There are lots of news sources online, including TV, radio, entertainment, and more. You can also read a selection of news about murals (generally from outside Tucson) near the top-right corner of this blog, underneath the search box. If you have suggestions of good places to find news about murals, please leave a comment below.
For instance, try:
- Zócalo Magazine
- Tucson Sentinel
- Arizona Daily Star
- Tucson Citizen "Morgue", Part I (2006-2009)
- Tucson Citizen "Morgue", Part II (1993-2009)
- Tucson Weekly
There are lots of news sources online, including TV, radio, entertainment, and more. You can also read a selection of news about murals (generally from outside Tucson) near the top-right corner of this blog, underneath the search box. If you have suggestions of good places to find news about murals, please leave a comment below.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Vail Middle School
The school grounds were closed when I spotted this mural on a building by a basketball court at Vail Middle School on May 27th. I was looking southwest from the corner of 16th & Craycroft.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Maybe a mural, part 28: St. Michael's
This looked to me more like a painting hung on a sign than a mural. But, since it was displayed like a mural — and it's beautiful, too — I decided to let you make up your own mind. I found it on May 27th outside St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church & School, 576 N. Wilmot.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Home Plate's maybe mural(s), part 27
From time to time I post a photo of something that might or might not be a mural, depending on your definition. For instance, when a business shows their product on the windows or the store front, is that a mural? I often think it isn't. Here's one I that might be.... it's at Home Plate, 4880 E. 22nd. What do you think?
I took the photo on May 27th.
I took the photo on May 27th.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Molina's Midway (maybe) mural, part 26
A mural on a signpost? Why not? Or maybe you wouldn't call flowers a mural. Anyway, this photo is at Molina's Midway Mexican Food, 1138 N. Belvedere, on May 24th. (It's north of Speedway, between Columbus and Swan.)
There are murals on the restaurant windows too....
There are murals on the restaurant windows too....
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Mural on a bus (with Trolley news)
The Old Pueblo Trolley stopped running this fall. We posted a photo of a trolley mural back on May 23rd.
I found this on September 28, on the south side of the alley between 9th & 10th Streets, on the west side of Swan, behind a cinderblock wall. Here's a satellite map... and a closer view:
Here are a few pages of trolley and streetcar news, as of yesterday:
- Old Pueblo Trolley website (see the headline and story "OPT Suspends operation During Modern Streetcar Construction")
- 4th Avenue trolley in its last weekend (KVOA, October 28)
- Tucson Modern Streetcar (official website)
I found this on September 28, on the south side of the alley between 9th & 10th Streets, on the west side of Swan, behind a cinderblock wall. Here's a satellite map... and a closer view:
Friday, December 09, 2011
Just a zebra
Many murals contain a lot of objects. This one is simple: just a zebra on a boarded-up window. What a zebra, though!
I found this on May 11 at the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 6th Street.
Update (November 23, 2019): When I walked by this mural two weeks ago, it was almost completely gone. A Google Street View vehicle found the same view shown above during April, 2019, so it hasn't been gone long.
I found this on May 11 at the southeast corner of 5th Avenue and 6th Street.
Update (November 23, 2019): When I walked by this mural two weeks ago, it was almost completely gone. A Google Street View vehicle found the same view shown above during April, 2019, so it hasn't been gone long.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Stop before you look back
This mural is on the north side of a building, along the west side of 6th Avenue, just north of Speedway. Since traffic is one-way northbound, you'll pass this beautiful mural before you can see it... and, once you do, it may catch you by surprise!
When I opened a satellite view from Google Maps and clicked in front of the mural location, it showed the address as 1125 N. 6th Avenue, and the latitude/longitude were 32.236419,-110.968997. (It's probably easiest to just park nearby and look around.)
The mural is dated 2009, and I took these pictures on May 11, 2011. The photos below seem to be artists' signatures. If you know, please leave a comment below or send me some email.
When I opened a satellite view from Google Maps and clicked in front of the mural location, it showed the address as 1125 N. 6th Avenue, and the latitude/longitude were 32.236419,-110.968997. (It's probably easiest to just park nearby and look around.)
The mural is dated 2009, and I took these pictures on May 11, 2011. The photos below seem to be artists' signatures. If you know, please leave a comment below or send me some email.
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