TRANSPORTATION ART BY YOUTH
|
Program Partners
|
2022 Project
Our mural titled "Day to Night," nicknamed The Desert Dragon, is part of the 2022 Transportation Art by Youth project. This is a collaboration between the Pima Association of Governments, the Town of Oro Valley, and Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance. Eleven local high school art students applied for and obtained positions to be part of this year's public art installation. Two teaching artists guided them throughout the project.
Work began in early June, and the artists learned how public artwork is created. They toured Tucson to observe the vibrant artwork present locally. They gathered feedback from the community on what residents value about life in Oro Valley and the type of artwork they might like to see in the upcoming installation. Next came the design phase of the project. Each artist came up with a possible mural theme. Collaboratively they designed Day to Night which they presented to the Town of Oro Valley. The town showed great enthusiasm for the design, and we were able to move forward with creating the mural.
Artists assembled the mosaic inside of CATALYST. It was then moved to adhere to the wall. To create this mural, nearly 1,000 tiles were glazed, broken, and assembled. Thousands of glass pieces were integrated as well.
Artists designed custom tiles for the center of the flower to add a personal touch. A bench was integrated into the design so people could sit on it while taking selfies in front of the flower.
Next, came the painting! Artists spent a week painting on both walls. It was important to start painting early in the morning before it got too hot each day, making sure to stay hydrated. Artists expanded their painting skills by learning new techniques and expanding on their skillset.
The collaboration yielded a beautiful mural to be enjoyed for years at the entrance of Naranja Park. We hope you take the time to feel the texture of the Gila monster mosaic, listen to other audio clips spread out throughout the mural, and be sure to seek out the hidden images painted into the mural!
Work began in early June, and the artists learned how public artwork is created. They toured Tucson to observe the vibrant artwork present locally. They gathered feedback from the community on what residents value about life in Oro Valley and the type of artwork they might like to see in the upcoming installation. Next came the design phase of the project. Each artist came up with a possible mural theme. Collaboratively they designed Day to Night which they presented to the Town of Oro Valley. The town showed great enthusiasm for the design, and we were able to move forward with creating the mural.
Artists assembled the mosaic inside of CATALYST. It was then moved to adhere to the wall. To create this mural, nearly 1,000 tiles were glazed, broken, and assembled. Thousands of glass pieces were integrated as well.
Artists designed custom tiles for the center of the flower to add a personal touch. A bench was integrated into the design so people could sit on it while taking selfies in front of the flower.
Next, came the painting! Artists spent a week painting on both walls. It was important to start painting early in the morning before it got too hot each day, making sure to stay hydrated. Artists expanded their painting skills by learning new techniques and expanding on their skillset.
The collaboration yielded a beautiful mural to be enjoyed for years at the entrance of Naranja Park. We hope you take the time to feel the texture of the Gila monster mosaic, listen to other audio clips spread out throughout the mural, and be sure to seek out the hidden images painted into the mural!
Student Intern Artists
- Kat Trahan
- Isabel Corona Wadleigh
- Grace Sun
- Shelby Fredrickson
- Josiah Tucker
- Mackenzie Shniderman
- Claire Hartigan
- Ema Aros
- Micah Carlson
- Jacob Schoene
- Christian Jones
Video
Photo Gallery
Project Description
TABY Teaching Artists
Angie Hitt (Primary Teaching Artist)
Degree: Bachelors of Arts in Education, specialization in Mathematics
Other Education (Name, Address, Years Attended): University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2005-2007, Masters of Arts in Education, Educational Leadership
Teaching Experience: I have over 25 years of experience teaching private art lessons to students through my business Angela Hitt Designs (original business name was Jewelry by Angela). Lessons were in both 2D and 3D art forms. Lessons consist of jewelry making, ceramics, mosaic, drawing, painting, pastels, fiber art, wire work, and sculpture construction. I've worked as a public school teacher for 13 years, the last 5 as an art teacher to students in grades K-5. I teach all mediums at varied levels. I teach art history, adaptive art, and art club. My goal is to inspire students to be creative and use those skills to connect with one another and to their community.
Degree: Bachelors of Arts in Education, specialization in Mathematics
Other Education (Name, Address, Years Attended): University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2005-2007, Masters of Arts in Education, Educational Leadership
Teaching Experience: I have over 25 years of experience teaching private art lessons to students through my business Angela Hitt Designs (original business name was Jewelry by Angela). Lessons were in both 2D and 3D art forms. Lessons consist of jewelry making, ceramics, mosaic, drawing, painting, pastels, fiber art, wire work, and sculpture construction. I've worked as a public school teacher for 13 years, the last 5 as an art teacher to students in grades K-5. I teach all mediums at varied levels. I teach art history, adaptive art, and art club. My goal is to inspire students to be creative and use those skills to connect with one another and to their community.
Ignacio Garcia (Muralist)
www.ignaciotheartist.com
Ignacio Garcia is well known throughout the Southwest for his 3D chalk street art commissions, large photo-realistic murals, and modern visual art collections of original works. More recently, his studio art finds inspiration from his street art and Arizona roots. Garcia is an artistic studies graduate of East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona, and the Gnomon Workshop in Hollywood, California.
“I find inspiration from Artist Mark Bradford and Gerald Richter and offer my innovative and unique point of view; a fundamental motivation of my work is to challenge to my audience’s and my point of view.”
Ignacio’s craft thrives on the emotional and physical reaction it induces in the viewers. The research, reflection, and exploration of a topic that precedes a finished piece of work are meant to invoke authentic, unpredictable, and organic responses from each of its audience.
www.ignaciotheartist.com
Ignacio Garcia is well known throughout the Southwest for his 3D chalk street art commissions, large photo-realistic murals, and modern visual art collections of original works. More recently, his studio art finds inspiration from his street art and Arizona roots. Garcia is an artistic studies graduate of East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, Arizona, and the Gnomon Workshop in Hollywood, California.
“I find inspiration from Artist Mark Bradford and Gerald Richter and offer my innovative and unique point of view; a fundamental motivation of my work is to challenge to my audience’s and my point of view.”
Ignacio’s craft thrives on the emotional and physical reaction it induces in the viewers. The research, reflection, and exploration of a topic that precedes a finished piece of work are meant to invoke authentic, unpredictable, and organic responses from each of its audience.