Visual Artists Create Unique Artworks on Fountain Hills Electric Boxes

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The Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance (SAACA), in collaboration with the Town of Fountain Hills, is bringing a variety of new public art installations to the town of Fountain Hills, AZ.

The new murals will be painted on select Electric Utility Boxes along the Avenue of the Fountains and Verde River in the Downtown Fountain Hills streetscapes and will celebrate themes of Fountain Hills culture, biodiversity, and landscape. Four Arizona artists – Tato Caraveo, Laura Thurbon, Ignacio Garcia, and Jesse Perry- were chosen from competitive applicants to design and implement the murals. This collaborative project seeks to transform Downtown Fountain Hills.

(File Flickr Photo/Erica Fischer)

“Fountain Hills is known as an art community and is pleased to be collaborating with SAACA and the artists on the first of many placemaking projects in Fountain Hills,” said Amanda Jacobs, Economic Development Director.

The mural series is the first collaboration between the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance and the Town of Fountain Hills. “We are elated to partner with the Town of Fountain Hills on this extraordinary opportunity for Arizona artists to continue to embody imagery and cultural themes native to our communities through the very public expression of art,” said Kate Marquez, Executive Director with the Southern Arizona Arts and Cultural Alliance.

All six murals are anticipated to begin in Fountain Hills on October 23 and be completed in time for their unveiling at the Fall Fountain Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts hosted by the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce in Downtown Fountain Hills on November 10-12, 2023.

MURALS

Laura Thurbon will paint a series of two electric utility boxes that will represent native birds, which will come to life with complimentary art nouveau color palettes. Laura Thurbon is an accomplished artist and educator. After a successful career in Peru, Laura moved to America where she launched her fine art and mural business. She has created countless varied works for both residential and commercial projects throughout the State. http://www.laurathurbon.com/

Phoenix-based artist Tato Caraveo will create two modern murals focusing on the native plants and animals local to the region of Fountain Hills. As a native of the Valley, Tato greatly appreciates Arizona communities’ investment in the creative approach to transforming ordinary urban landscapes into celebrated community conversations. His artistic journey spans over three decades, during which he has developed a signature style that combines vibrant colors, organic details, and surrealist whimsy. https://tatocaraveo.com/

Artist Ignacio Garcia will paint a mural embodying the rich and deep colors that resonate in the Fountain Hills night skies and celebrates the Town’s International Dark Sky Community designation on a single utility box. Muralist and Public Artist Ignacio Garcia is well known throughout Arizona and California for his 3D chalk murals and large, colorful photo-realistic murals that often play on whimsical, playful pop art ideas. His mural of Bill Walton riding a Jackalope on the side of Rialto Theater in Tucson, AZ, is one of the most photographed images of the downtown Tucson corridor. Ignacio has grown to become one of the most sought-after muralists in Southern Arizona, expanding his portfolio of cultural commissions in the past 10 years. Garcia is an artistic studies graduate of the East Valley Institute of Technology in Mesa, AZ, and the Gnoman Workshop in Hollywood, CA. https://www.ignaciotheartist.com/

Local artist Jesse Perry will paint a signature mural that embodies some of the most iconic desert plants, animals, and, most importantly, the signature Fountain as the focal point of his colorful mural. Jesse Perry is a renowned artist based in Phoenix, Arizona, and has worked as a professional artist since 2013. With over 150 murals attributed to his name, Jesse is known for his vibrant and dynamic creations and possesses a unique ability to bring life and energy to his artwork. Through skillful manipulation of spray paint cans and acrylic paints, he turns blank canvases into vivid masterpieces that captivate viewers from all walks of life. Inspired by the diversity and cultural richness of the Southwest, Jesse’s art often reflects the region’s vibrant colors, patterns, and landscapes. www.shinethruart.com

ABOUT THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA ARTS & CULTURAL ALLIANCE

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. SAACA was created by developing programs that spotlight local creatives while celebrating unique culture and providing direct opportunities for artists to make and sell their work.

To date, SAACA has created over 500,000 arts-driven experiences, from innovative community festivals and cultural celebrations to creative sector development, and accessible arts enrichment programs. SAACA continues to grow in footprint and in impact while working to pursue the mission of strengthening the bonds between people, place, and purpose.