Thursday, July 30, 2015

Joyful murals at Our Mother of Sorrows

Here are more excellent photos by David Aber. He wrote that he found the group of murals “at Our Mother of Sorrows Catholic Parish and School at 1800 S. Kolb Rd. Evidently it is a custom at the school for each graduating class to paint or tile a mural. Five of the eight photos are class projects for the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013. I must have missed 2011 and 2014.”

No worries, Dave. Thanks for all of these!


Class of 2008


Class of 2009


Mural dedicated September 12, 2009


Class of 2010


Class of 2012


Class of 2013


Undated?

Monday, July 27, 2015

Build your collection with Google's "My Galleries"

Before I introduce this bit of (typically) groundbreaking news from Google — and mention that this entry isn't specifically about Tucson art — I'd like to suggest that seeing art on a computer screen or phone just isn't the same as experiencing it in person. How can you feel the depth, time, and movement of — say — a Jackson Pollock work by viewing an image on your screen? Don't stop traveling (in person, not electronically), folks...

Still, Michael Schwartz told me about a new Google service that lets you build your own collection of online art. If you don't have lots of money (or frequent-flier miles), you can get a rough idea of what it's like to be in a museum of your favorites by visiting www.google.com/culturalinstitute/my-galleries.

Be your own curator at The Centre Pompidou? Pourquoi pas?

Thursday, July 23, 2015

This way to the beach (¿la playa?)

On December 12, 2010, we posted photos of the murals on Mariscos Chihuahua locations around Tucson — restaurants with great Mexican seafood. On June 1, 2015, I noticed that the 22nd Street location had a sign at the left edge of its mural:

In Spanish, “the beach” is “la playa.” Whatever: Thanks for the extra fun, Mariscos Chihuahua.

Monday, July 20, 2015

Murals being made, part 29d: Done!

We've been following a new mural by Johanna Martinez on the east wall of the Buffet Bar. When I stopped by on June 2nd, the details seemed to be filled in... and she'd signed the mural (at the lower right). I've been out of town, so I haven't talked with her... I think it's done!

Here's an overview, then some closer shots:

Don't miss the great detail in the locomotive's smoke. The first two photos show it best.

Monday, July 13, 2015

Murals being made, part 29c

Last Thursday's entry showed the Buffet Bar's mural partly-done; muralist Johanna Martinez was out of town. On May 5th, I caught her there, on scaffolding with a small version of the mural (covered with grid lines to make enlarging it onto the wall much easier):


The E on the end of Iron Horse (named for the neighborhood) is coming together. Here's Johanna painting a leg:


We'll wrap up this series next time in part 29d.

Thursday, July 09, 2015

Murals being made, part 29b

Last time, I posted photos of a mural taking shape, March 7th, on the east side of the Buffet Bar. The bartender enthusiastically showed me what the finished mural would look like and told me the artist's first name, which I remembered as Joanna.

A couple of weeks later, a reader wrote to ask about the Greetings from Barrio Santa Rosa mural. I'd been in touch with the muralist, Johanna Martinez, a while back. So I sent her a copy of the reader's question and also asked her if she was working on any other public murals. She wrote back and said she was painting a mural on the side of the... Buffet Bar. Joanna... Johanna... oh!

She'd be leaving town soon; I couldn't find a time to stop by and see her painting. (That's next time.) But I stopped by on April 5th, while she was away, and snapped a couple of photos. Here's a view showing what's left of the “tough-guy” saguaro mural and what's new on the new mural:

The bison have more detail, the landscape has taken shape, and the middle of the title is there. Here's a close-up of the title:

Iron Horse (for the neighborhood) is missing the first I and the last e.

The saga continues next time — in part 29c!

Monday, July 06, 2015

Murals being made, part 29a

Thanks to a friend who lived nearby, I heard that a new mural was going up on the east side of the Buffet Bar — taking over the right half of the tough-guy saguaro mural. I got there on March 7th to find...

The circle of benches had been moved into a line, and the mural was taking shape. The train's smoke was two patches of white — one of them starting over the smokestack:

To the left of the train, the outline of a prickly pear cactus:



More next time, in part 29b.

Thursday, July 02, 2015

New at Luke's on Alvernon

On February 8, 2011, we published a photo of the mural around the seating area at the Luke's Italian Beef location on Alvernon. (There are four locations now.) David Aber visited on June 5 of this year and found a new mural(s). Here are his photos showing the three sides of the outdoor seating area:

East view:
South view:
West view:
There's a typo in the sign in the middle of the south view: If it's supposed to be in Italian, restorante should be ristorante. But, otherwise, what a delicious mural!

Thanks as always, David.