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TRANSPORTATION ART BY YOUTH
Oro Valley, AZ

Summer 2022
The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance, in partnership with the Town of Oro Valley and Pima Association of Governments (PAG), oversees the Summer Youth Art Project in Oro Valley. Under the direction and mentorship of Teaching Artist Supervisors, local high school and middle school students will design and construct a Public Art installation every three years at a transportation related site.

New public art installed along transportation improvements not only beautifies the region’s landscape, but it also offers an opportunity for youth artists to showcase their skills and gain valuable work ethic through Pima Association of Governments’ Transportation Art by Youth program.
The program, which PAG initiated in 1995 through its Transportation Improvement Program, offers paid summer employment for youth artists. Proposed projects must be submitted by a sponsoring jurisdiction, which manages the approved project and is reimbursed for budgeted project expenses. The sponsoring jurisdiction is required to recruit youth artists from economically disadvantaged areas.

Artwork, signage or landscaping projects may be eligible. The students’ concepts and techniques are aimed at humanizing the roadway system, enhancing urban gateway features, and helping define the unique identity of their respective communities.
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Major benefits of the program include both the quick and effective implementation time frame as well as the high visibility of resulting artwork along major transportation corridors.

Program Partners

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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!

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. ​
​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.
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“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. 

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About
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The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the creation, preservation and advancement of the Arts. SAACA strengthens the bonds between people, place and purpose through collaborative, arts-driven experiences.
  • WHO WE ARE
    • ABOUT
    • TEAM CONTACTS
    • PARTNERS, DONORS & SPONSORS
    • BOARD OF DIRECTORS
    • CULTURAL EQUITY
  • WHAT WE DO
    • BUSINESS & ARTS PARTNERSHIPS
    • ARTS & HEALTHCARE
    • OPPORTUNITIES FOR ARTISTS - CALL TO ARTIST
    • ARTS EDUCATION
    • PUBLIC ART & MURAL ADMINISTRATION
    • EVENTS, PROGRAMS & FESTIVALS
    • CATALYST ARTS & MAKER SPACE
    • CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
    • CREATIVE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
    • UNDERCOVER ARTS MAGAZINE
    • ONLINE ARTS & CULTURE >
      • CLASSES, WORKSHOPS & PERFORMANCES
      • STREAMING & VIDEO RESOURCES
      • COVID-19 RESPONSE & RESOURCES
  • SUPPORT & DONATE
    • DONATE AND SUPPORT
    • VOLUNTEER
    • INTERN
  • EVENTS, PUBLIC ART & PROGRAMS
    • EVENT & EXHIBITOR APPLICATIONS
    • ART FESTIVALS >
      • FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS & HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
      • ART ON THE LAKE FESTIVAL
      • DOWNTOWN GLENDALE ARTS & CULTURE FEST
      • LA ENCANTADA FINE ART FESTIVAL
      • SKY ISLANDS FALL ARTISAN MARKET
      • FALL ARTISAN MARKET
      • SPRING FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS
    • COMMUNITY ART GALLERIES >
      • VENTANA GALLERY AT ROCHE >
        • Roche Lung Cancer Awareness Exhibition
        • Roche Celebrating Moments >
          • Active Moments - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Frozen in Time - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Up Close and Personal - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
          • Quiet Contentment - Roche Community Photography Exhibition
    • ARTS & CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS >
      • Desert Ridge Music and Murals
      • Tempe World of Chalk
      • Cruise, BBQ & Blues
      • Oro Valley Candy Crawloween
    • CULINARY ARTS >
      • SAVOR FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
      • DEVOUR CULINARY CLASSIC
      • Devour Culinary Classic
      • WORLD MARGARITA CHAMPIONSHIP
    • LIVE MUSIC & CONCERTS >
      • Oro Valley Concert Series
      • Riverfront Park Classical Concert Series
      • Steam Pump Concert Series
      • Lookout Tucson at Westward Look
      • Tucson Folk Festival
      • La Encantada Live
    • PUBLIC ART & MURAL INSTALLATIONS >
      • PUBLIC ART & MURAL INSTALLATIONS
      • Summer Youth Art Project 2022 >
        • Gila Monster
        • Glowing Scorpions
        • Prickly Pear Everywhere
      • Desert Ridge Mural Project
      • Sahuarita Public Art
    • DIGITAL ARTS PROGRAMS >
      • AARP Video Series
      • ORO VALLEY PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
      • Local Food Heroes Virtual Classes
      • The Art of Food Cooking Classes
  • CATALYST ART SPACE & VENUE
    • UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS
    • VENUE & SPECIAL EVENT RENTALS
    • ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM