The Gila Monster, Our Desert Dragon
Narrated and Written by Claire Hartigan
Gila monsters are the largest living lizard's native to the United States. They are named after the Gila River basin in our state, where they were first discovered. It is important to remember that Gila monsters are venomous. Only two types of lizards in the world are. The bead-like scales are brightly colored to warn predators to stay away. While we hope that you feel the texture of our Gila monster on our mural, please remember never to go near or touch a live one. This designed Gila monster is 54 feet long, generally around 20 inches long, and weighs about 4 pounds. Gila monsters spend much of their time in their burrows. They can store fat in their tails, allowing them to go months without food. They spend most of the winter in their burrow. When a Gila monster eats, it can consume 1/3 of its body weight in one meal!
Gila monsters are the largest living lizard's native to the United States. They are named after the Gila River basin in our state, where they were first discovered. It is important to remember that Gila monsters are venomous. Only two types of lizards in the world are. The bead-like scales are brightly colored to warn predators to stay away. While we hope that you feel the texture of our Gila monster on our mural, please remember never to go near or touch a live one. This designed Gila monster is 54 feet long, generally around 20 inches long, and weighs about 4 pounds. Gila monsters spend much of their time in their burrows. They can store fat in their tails, allowing them to go months without food. They spend most of the winter in their burrow. When a Gila monster eats, it can consume 1/3 of its body weight in one meal!
Project Background
Eleven teens, under the direction of two teaching artists, are collaborating to create one of the largest integrated public art installations in Oro Valley, AZ. The project is funded by the Pima Association of Governments, which designed the program in 1995, intending to provide youth with an opportunity to gain summer employment while participating in all phases of the design and installation of a public art installation.
The project was envisioned and inspired by feedback from the community. It will encompass educational and desert inspirational imagery, mixing mural techniques, and integrated mosaic art.
Additional program collaborators include the Town of Oro Valley Parks and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance.
The project has allwed for teens to design and produce artwork in a public transportation setting. The students, guided by selected artist administrators, will have worked for an eight-week period during summer break from school, May – July 2022.
The students were challenged to brainstorm ways they could incorporate themes of discovery, multi-generational diversity, connectedness, and nature. After a community outreach and engagement survey, the students and teaching artists landed on a final design incorporating a gradient art theme inspired by the two most commonly mentioned feedback notes of a project that would include nature and inspired environmental imagery in a whimsical approach.
The installation, entitled "Day to Night," embodies the natural topography found in Oro Valley and is inspired by the animals and colorful skies native to our region. These animals and familiar imagery are found in the bountiful sunlit days and dark starry nights throughout Southern Arizona.
The art installation will feature interactive educational elements, including scannable QR codes with recorded digital content, integrated respite seating for pedestrians, and a signature 53-foot-hand-fired mosaic glass and tile Gila Monster, which mimics the natural animal scales found on this native reptile.
The impressive installation is integrated onto two significant parallel retaining walls that measure over 400 feet long, located at 791 W Tangerine Rd, near the future main entrance of Naranja Park. The project is slated to become one of the largest integrated public art installations in the Town of Oro Valley's recent and growing mural collection.
Two teaching artists were selected to help guide the students during the process. Under the direction and mentorship of artists Angela Hitt (primary teaching and mosaic artist) and Ignacio Garcia (muralist), the 11-selected local high school students will unveil and dedicate the project in July 2022.
Eleven teens, under the direction of two teaching artists, are collaborating to create one of the largest integrated public art installations in Oro Valley, AZ. The project is funded by the Pima Association of Governments, which designed the program in 1995, intending to provide youth with an opportunity to gain summer employment while participating in all phases of the design and installation of a public art installation.
The project was envisioned and inspired by feedback from the community. It will encompass educational and desert inspirational imagery, mixing mural techniques, and integrated mosaic art.
Additional program collaborators include the Town of Oro Valley Parks and the Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance.
The project has allwed for teens to design and produce artwork in a public transportation setting. The students, guided by selected artist administrators, will have worked for an eight-week period during summer break from school, May – July 2022.
The students were challenged to brainstorm ways they could incorporate themes of discovery, multi-generational diversity, connectedness, and nature. After a community outreach and engagement survey, the students and teaching artists landed on a final design incorporating a gradient art theme inspired by the two most commonly mentioned feedback notes of a project that would include nature and inspired environmental imagery in a whimsical approach.
The installation, entitled "Day to Night," embodies the natural topography found in Oro Valley and is inspired by the animals and colorful skies native to our region. These animals and familiar imagery are found in the bountiful sunlit days and dark starry nights throughout Southern Arizona.
The art installation will feature interactive educational elements, including scannable QR codes with recorded digital content, integrated respite seating for pedestrians, and a signature 53-foot-hand-fired mosaic glass and tile Gila Monster, which mimics the natural animal scales found on this native reptile.
The impressive installation is integrated onto two significant parallel retaining walls that measure over 400 feet long, located at 791 W Tangerine Rd, near the future main entrance of Naranja Park. The project is slated to become one of the largest integrated public art installations in the Town of Oro Valley's recent and growing mural collection.
Two teaching artists were selected to help guide the students during the process. Under the direction and mentorship of artists Angela Hitt (primary teaching and mosaic artist) and Ignacio Garcia (muralist), the 11-selected local high school students will unveil and dedicate the project in July 2022.