Dragons love the holidays too

Once again I was driving around a nearby Tucson neighborhood when I came across an astonishing display of sculpture surrounding a private home. Instead of chrome kachinas or a ghoulish wolf, at this home towering dragons, dragonflies and green-bodied aliens plus a few sculptures that look sort of like dinosaurs dominated the garden hidden behind sculptured walls.

Santa visits the Pueblo

It was difficult to tell if a boring grey block wall was hidden behind the bas-relief of an ancient Pueblo that was complete with small ladders, mini-cacti and tiny figures. One panel, however, clearly had Santa perched on it as well as an American flag. Another section had an American flag featured in the middle.

But I am getting ahead of myself. When I drove around the corner onto Park Ave., the first thing I saw were the painted metal sculptures of an ant crawling up the driveway gate toward a hovering dragon fly. There seems to be a light fixture at the base of these gates so it must be really striking after dark.

Moving along, next came the entry to the garden and home, below. It is quite charming and traditional with the pebble mosaic archway and flowers on the door. To the left is a small panel with the ubiquitous Lady of Guadalupe and on the small panel to the right — is it Father Kino? Or Saint Francis? But who is that sculpture standing beside the arch–the one with no arms that looks as if it/he/she is blooming from some sort of plant?

A few steps further and things really become weirdly wild! A ferocious purple dragonfly mounted by an alien (an escapee from Roswell?) with a small dragon bursting from an egg beneath it. And…a Brontosaurus behind the wall.

Then around the corner, flying high above all the creatures is a Santa-type sleigh being pulled by four dinosaurs/dragons. Holding the reins is another Roswell escapee and another baby dragon being hatched. Plus assorted other creatures. What a wild imagination!!

It seems unlikely that both the Pueblo wall, the mosaic front gate and the fierce dragons are the works of one artist. Two creators seems more realistic, but perhaps it is the work of an artist whose artistic vision evolved over time. I think of the Watts Towers in Los Angeles which started as mosaic Malibu tile walls and grew over decades to include soaring metal towers intended to represent ships. Anyway…this “Dragon House” is fun and surprising to see. If you want to view it in person, it Is on Park just north of Prince.

Items of note: 1) On December 1, 2021 the high temperature was a record setting 85F (29 C). That’s 16 degrees above average normal. 2) By November 30, 2021, 100% of people over age 65 in Pima County had been vaccinated against Covid 19. 3) 99% of Tucson city employees met the Monday deadline for mandatory vaccinations or weekly testing. 90% were actually vaccinated.