Stuck behind beautiful, handcrafted gates in Tucson

Arizona’s governor announced that the Stay-a-Home order will probably be lifted on May 15th. Personally, I do not care. I have no intention of going out to shop or get a haircut or do anything in a crowd until there is a proven treatment or proven vaccine for the CoronaVirus.

So I’ve been going through some photos taken previously and realized that interesting gates can be found all over the old Midtown area of Tucson. And we are all living behind gates–either literally or figuratively–these days thanks to that virus.

Here are a few gates I’ve photographed recently. Some beautiful. Some homely. Some sturdy and some not.

On an otherwise perfectly boring brown metal garage gate, a homeowner added the figures of Kokopelli, the Hopi god of fertility and agriculture. Among the Zuni tribe he is revered as a flute-player who brings about Spring. And for all the Southwest native peoples he is a trickster god whose image has now gone into use far beyond the Hopi and Zuni Nations.

No color fear here! In the upscale neighborhood of Blenheim Elm many homes built in the Spanish
Revival architectural style popular in the 1920s and 1930s have recently been painted in vibrant colors. No doubt, the house and garden wall were originally white, but these homeowners decided that a wall in tones of orange plus a chocolate brown painted house would be perfect for the 21st Century. The gate design is quite simple with its open sun rays. Any passerby can look inside.

On the other hand…The tall garden walls and gate are meant to keep the outside world out of this home. The bell over the gate as well as the rustic worn wood of the gate and frame remind me of the architecture of the California Missions. And the short iron spikes on the top of the gate really say “keep out”.

Another gate in my neighborhood that really seems to mean business, but is also subtly artful. The sturdy iron fasteners surround a wooden framework filled in with dried, hollow Ocotillo branches which are fading and discoloring beautifully. I didn’t look closely, but I assume that the thorns were removed from the Ocotillo branches before being incorporated to this gate. If they weren’t this gate is formidable!

The sun, as you can see, is a popular image for gates in Tucson. I love the first of these two, especially against the rusty-orange color corrugated fence. Not visible, is the mid-century modern house behind it. The second gate also has sun rays image but includes the Saguaros, for a sense of local design. I suspect the blue-green aged effect is artificial, but suitable for the design.

So grand and ornate…and could be found almost anywhere that new homes are being built. The ironwork seems to be inspired by New Orleans, it is so elaborate, rather than Tucson. The home behind is big but not as impressive as this gated entry.

And at the other end of the spectrum is this handcrafted and sort of homely gate. I believe the rusted panels were deliberately chosen to represent the mountains that surround Tucson here in the Santa Cruz Valley. The sun is obviously a bit primitive and the brick wall has been stuccoed in a fashion that artificially ages it. But let’s hear it for the artist!

Be kind and generous. Say hello to your neighbors. Stay healthy.

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