Hippie Gypsy reborn

Sometime this year, Hippie Gypsy — the long-time mural masterpiece (or mess, if you prefer) — was almost completely repainted. We've never showed every part of these murals in detail… unfortunately, we can't snap photos of many of the old murals, so let's do the new murals right! I snapped this near sunrise (while the painted shutters were closed) on August 23rd:

Jumping back to 2008, this photo by Warren V. in Tucson Murals Project's 50th Posting!:

Most of the faces of famous musicians on the right side (the north wall), above, are still there. But the rest — especially the east wall — has changed a lot. Here's the whole north wall on September 20, 2022:

Next, left to right, zigzagging between top and bottom:

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Over to the left (east) side. I stopped by on a cloudy morning, September 20, so you could see the wall without strong shadows from the tree. First, the whole wall:

Next, the left edge, followed by an overall shot of the three shutters, then a closeup of each shutter and the wall underneath it, and finally an overall view from the right (north) side:

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Finally, angled between the two sides is the entrance:

Let's wait to see what the owners do 14 years from now!

McKenzie's gunslinging mermaid & more

I haven't figured out why a furniture company located in an alley would have a mermaid with a smoking revolver who's facing a critter that's also armed but still standing. (Hmmm… then again, why not? 😉)

I took that photo just as sunrise light started to reflect onto the mural. It's the center of a long mural that's wider than I could catch in this narrow alley:

Here are the left and right ends:

I took the photos on August 23rd.

Smiling Pride mural on IBT’S Bar

In a June 29, 2022 story on KOLD News 13, Pride mural on Fourth Avenue celebrates love, LGBTQ+ community, muralist Nolan Patterson says the mural “celebrates love and the acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community in Tucson”. Also: The mural shows a rainbow over the southern Arizona mountains. Patterson says the rainbow’s colors and clouds are smiling at one another.

Although he signed the mural with @basik_art on Instagram, at the end of September he only had one post. You can see a lot more of his work on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/nolan.patterson.98.

I took the first photo just at sunrise on August 23 and the second a bit later.

Hotline 4 Auto extreme makeover

On March 10, 2017, I posted a beach mural on the south wall of Hotline 4 Auto. This year, as I've driven by the building, I've seen a new mural that seems half-finished. As of mid-August, it still wasn't finished. So I decided to schedule this post. If I notice that the mural has changed, I'll update this.

Is the empty rectangular spot at the top left corner for a business sign?

Murals being made, part 71: At the hockey rink

From what I've read, having a hockey rink in the middle of a city is unusual. Tucson does, though: the William J. Dawson Memorial DEK Rink at Doolen Middle School, just east of the Boys & Girls Club of Tucson - Frank & Edith Morton Clubhouse. On a storage container in front of the rink are two murals. BG Boyd Photography sent these aerial photos:

He took those from his drone on July 10, 2022. In the second photo, Grant Road is the street behind.

KGUN9 TV interviewed the muralist on June 20th: New Roadrunners mural by Alejandra Trujillo coming soon.

On June 22, 2022, I caught Alejandra working on the murals. Here she's painting the north side, the one closer to the rink:

Here's the finished mural on August 21st:

Let's jump back to the south side (near Grant Road) on June 22nd:

And the finished mural on August 21st:

(As always, you can click on a photo for a slideshow of larger views.)

Children added some blue animal spectators along the edge of the rink:

Stop by to see some hockey and check out the murals!

Family Bargain Thrift Shop

The east wall of Family Bargain Thrift Shop has the mural above at the left (south) side and the mural below toward the right (north):

(The doors to the donation center are in the middle of the mural. As always, you can click for a slideshow of larger views.)

I took the photos June 22, 2022.

Arts Foundation seeking Public Art Coordinator

Here's an announcement posted to Facebook Tuesday, October 18:

The Arts Foundation seeks a full time Public Art Coordinator to effectively implement various aspects of the Arts Foundation’s Public Art Program in accordance with the Percent for Art Ordinances for the City of Tucson and Pima County.

The Coordinator will work closely with the Public Art Manager to administer all public art program functions and activities, including new and active percent for art projects, relocations, deaccessions, donations and private sector projects.

To learn more click the link below.

https://artsfoundtucson.org/new-full-time-job-opening-at-the-arts-foundation/

6th Avenue Asphalt Art Block-Painting Party 10/22

The Tucson Department of Transportation & Mobility and Living Streets Alliance are hosting a block-painting party on 6th Avenue, by Armory Park and Children's Museum Tucson. The project will include painting a large, colorful mural on the asphalt. The community is invited to beautify 6th Ave & enjoy music, refreshments, activities and more! It's this Saturday, October 22, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Details:

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/tdot/news/sixth-avenue-asphalt-art-block-painting-party

In 12 years, this garden mural has grown

The last time I visited the beautiful little street Calle de Jardin (Garden) was 2010. This June (2022) I was checking out a nearby mural for sale (including the house behind it). I walked a block west to see one of my favorite murals. I saw that it had changed:

Here's the center in 2010:

The prickly pear cactus are gone… and the quail must have eaten a lot of food in the past 12 years. :)

Next, closeups from left (north) to right (south), ending with the cute mailbox:

There are closeups of the mailbox in today's post Flashback to this garden box: 103 South Calle de Jardin on the Tucson Mailbox Art blog. Manny Garcia painted the original mural. I'm not sure if he made the updated version.

Tacos y Mariscos Jaliscos

Name changed from Mariscos Chihuahua

By Andres Castro and Tony Plak

 

 

 

 

 

 Click for a larger image.

Hidden Appliances

I found this mural on the west wall of the Tucson Appliance Company.

By Erica Cantua

 

Click for a larger image. You'll see appliances like these:

Thanks to BG Boyd Photography for that close-up.

Rock the Spot: Graffiti art festival October 14-16

Monty Ses Esposito posted on Facebook:

Tucson, Arizona this is it. We are 1 week away. The super bowl of graffiti art in Tucson. Next weekend October 14th, 15th and 16th. Rock the spot graffiti art festival. This art event will feature some of the best graffiti art in the south west. Please come out and enjoy all of the beautiful graffiti art murals. Thank you to the city of Tucson and all of the sponsors and everyone involved. Now let's rock the spot.

It'll be at 63 E. Congress (downtown behind the Cobra Bar on Congress Street… it's in a big parking lot).

Who remembers the WintaFresh weekends that Cyfi organized at Und1sputed Fitness on Stone? Here are photos and video from almost ten years ago: Murals being made, part 14: WintaFresh 2013.

Update (May 12, 2023): Our post on May 9th, Ready to Rock (the Spot), shows preparation for painting the lot and the signatures of artists who did the work. Today's post This Spot (was) Rocked has closeups of most of the 30+ murals after they were finished or (for a few) almost done.

Mysterious Business

I was unable to find the name or nature of the business at this location. However, there may be a clue as to its nature on one of the paintings displayed in the window. It has been signed by "Chronic The Hemp Hog".

 Click for a larger image.

Go Bulldogs!

 Mascot of the Rio Vista Elementary School.

By Camila

 

 

 

 

Click for a larger image.

Tawt you taw a puddy tat?

This year, 2022, is Tweety Bird's 80th birthday (#Tweety80). A mural on the south wall of English Salon & Spa takes you back to those Looney (Tunes) days:

Haven't heard of Tweety Bird or just want to see a fun video? Here it is on YouTube:



(A link to the video in a separate window or tab: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ifwADpFSyA)

Tweety's muwal is just acwoss fwom Isaac Cawuso's juicy citwus muwal:

BG Boyd Photography sent this spectacular version of the photo above:

Nina Palomba painted the mural. Here's her signature at the lower right corner:

I didn't recognize her style in other Tucson murals. It turns out that she's painting Tweety murals around the US. I found that from the QR code, which is at the lower left of the mural:

(Geek note: Look closely — you can click on the image for a larger view. Some of the dots and lines aren't perfect. Did she paint the QR code by hand?!)

That code leads to the web address https://www.looneytunes.com/tweety80/ — where you'll find the bios of Nina and other artists, and photos of other Tweety muwals.

That's all Folks!

Randy Garsee's 2008 Tucson mural tour video

Longtime KOLD 13 TV news anchor Randy Garsee founded this blog in 2006. He loved Tucson's murals and wanted to spread the word. (He passed away in 2013. Some of his story is in our post Farewell, Randy.) I just discovered a video on Randy's YouTube channel showing several Tucson murals. He posted it on August 24, 2008.



The video is low-resolution (TV in 2008!) so opening it in another page may not help you much… but here's a link: https://youtu.be/pKxczQbXomY.

Gone but not forgotten, Randy.

You're being watched on Congress Street...

Ignacio Garcia's new mural covers the entire front of Tierra Antigua Realty's downtown location. It's bright and big, so (as you can see!) it really stands out from across Congress Street. But it's also surprising when you're walking from the west side toward the east:

BG Boyd Photography, who specializes in drone photography, sent this aerial photo (thanks!):

Drivers passing by should be nervous. :)