Tucson's Public Art

Title: Unknown, by Unknown

Location: West side of 10th Avenue, just south of 29th Street.

Details: Ceramic tile with copper cutouts of coyote, rabbits, prairie dogs, and a tortoise and hare.

He Said:

Here's another of the sound barrier walls along South Tenth Avenue. While many of the others represent life and cultures of people, this one represents some of the other life that abounds in Arizona. All are, appropriately, sculpted from copper. The hammered copper provides texture and dimension to each animal or plant, drawing the viewer closer and inviting him or her to touch and run his or her fingers across the rabbits or coyote. Perhaps, in a small way, this wall gives the viewer a better appreciation for some of the wild animals still living in this neighborhood (Tucson proper supports quite a number of coyotes: some estimates put the total at around 250).

She Said:

I like the hammered copper designs on this wall, standing out against the blue background. Each of the walls is different, and adds a touch of whimsy to the neighborhood. This wall, with its combination of color and sculpture, is particularly well done, to my way of thinking. Whether it is supposed to represent the race between the tortoise and the hare, or to depict creatures of the Sonoran Desert, doesn't really matter, because, either way, it's a fun piece of artwork, and contributes its story to the South Tucson cityscape.