If author Tom Robbins (Still Life with Woodpecker, Even Cowgirls Get the Blues) was going to invent a place for one of his characters to live in Tucson, the Artistic Armory Park, LLC would be that place. Built by a railroad man a century ago on 12th Street within what was then walking distance to the train station, the building houses a series of single story, one bedroom apartments.
But its age and history aren’t the remarkable things. It’s all the imaginative art that has been added to the building that makes it awesome! It’s art that seems to have a 1960s vibe. I’d say Hippie art although the panel showing the Artist Formerly Known As Prince is clearly later.
A man sitting in the shade at the side of the building said he was the owner and when I asked about the artwork he was vague about the art although informative about the history, so I’ll leave it to the photos to speak for this place. And if anyone can identify the artists involved in the creation of the artwork–which is clearly not as old as the building–please contact me. I’d love to give credit.
Old rusted screens combine with newer art
Along the 12th St. side of the building a series of old, weathered screens/grills protect the entrances to the apartments. Each is unique, but because the quality of the added art is consistently professional, I suspect one artist or one art studio did the ornamentation within the circles on the metal screens. And I love the train track arches above the entrance gates! I’d also like to know more about the High Noon 2 Midnight signage near the top of the building. The Prince panel, the 5th image below, is at the far western end of the building.
Not only is there art attached to the building, there are sculptures nearby, too. A peacock stands guard across the sidewalk from the steampunk style mechanical horse sculpture, shown at the top of this post. Not far away are a pair of rusted red horse sculptures pulling a stage coach with a Gila Monster passenger on back.
Nearby are a pair of sculptures of Native Americans riding on horseback. I suspect they are supposed to represent Apaches, among the fiercest of local tribes. These two are what first caught my eye as I drove up 3rd. Ave. on my way home from the Museum of Contemporary Art. Only after I parked and approached these figures did I notice the art on the building.
MOCA’s Little Free Art Box
Now about that visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art. It had been my initial destination; the Artistic Armory Park was something I stumbled upon. I’d gone to MOCA to see their much publicized “Free Little Art Box”. It was supposed to be like the Free Little Library only with free art inside. Disappointing. I didn’t go inside.
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