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Tucson Portrait Project update

by on Jan. 24, 2010, under Arts, Life

Have you found your face yet on those black/white portrait tiles under the 4th Avenue Underpass?

My husband located his on the Northeast panel and I found mine last night on Southwest panel 1, as all 4 panels are now up on the walls. We were excited to finally locate our portraits amongst the thousands of other tile portraits.

Check it out at www.tucsonportraitproject.com. The photographer was Darren Clark and the concept was created by Gary Patch.

I blogged about this project on August 21, after Tucson’s Birthday Celebration in 2009, but only one panel (the Northwest one) was up at that time. Click here to read my original blog, with details on how to locate your face.

What a great sense of community we felt by being amongst 7,000 other Tucsonans.

Note: Here’s a partial list of some faces I recognized:
NE panel – Randy Accetta, Michael Carson, Al Classen,Tim Keene, Phil Lopes, CT Revere, Ruben Reyes, Regina Romero, Ken Scoville, Chris Tanz;

NW panel – Donna Branch-Gilby, Michael Patrick Brewer, Michael Bryan, Gail Cordy, Albert Elias, Gene Einfrank, Julia Fonseca, Bud Foster, Joyce Gee, Jim Glock, Nancy Janetta, Roslyn Miller, Ron Spark, Karin Uhlich;

SW 1 panel – Laura Burge, Roger Carrillo, Pat de Vito, Carmen Dolny, Rodney Glassman, Maurice Grossman, Jim Hannley, Gary Low, Pancho Medina, Monique Martin, Jim Nintzel, Tom Prezelski;

and SW 2 panel – Katie Bolger, Raul Grijalva, Sat Bir Khalsa, Erika O’Dowd, Alan Leibensperger, Diana Rhodes, Shirley Scott, Nina Trasoff, Robert Walkup.

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  • erniemccray

    What a beautiful project. Had I still been living in Tucson, I left for San Diego in 1962, I would have definitely wanted in on such an endeavor as this, because the 4th Avenue Underpass is a significant place in my history, a place in my early life where after the monsoonal rains in the summer, my buddies and I would go watch somebody drive right into it with hints of flooding everywhere around them. It was a phenomenon that we could never wrap our young minds around, having been taught to respect grownups – it would be an honor to have a picture embedded near where I once stood with wonderment in my eyes.
    Wow, what a prize to be immortalized in the 4th Avenue Underpass, there to ever be seen by passing eyes, kind of a blessing in disguise. Way to go, you guys.
    Your old homey,
    Ernie McCray
     

  • Carolyn Classen

    Yes, my face is now immortalized on a tile as part of this project.  Wait till you see them in actuality Ernie and not just on their website.  There’s all kinds of faces– all ages, races, expressions as well– reflections of the diversity of Tucson.  Let me know what you think about this artwork after you come to town and view them.

    • erniemccray

      Will do.

    • erniemccray

      I was in town this past weekend for some Tucson High and U of A basketball and I saw the aerosol spray art work at the gallery near Speedway and Stone and met the owner, a engaging human being if there ever was one. His gallery is amazing, reflecting so much positive energy with doses of seriousness and fun and all that art can say.
      Before checking all that out I walked through the 4th Avenue Underpass and soaked up all the pictures. What an incredible undertaking. I can’t get the images out of my mind and I don’t want to: I can see a woman pulling her ears and sticking her tongue out like a kindergarten child would do; I see a boy with a startling google eyed look that says “Is that you, great great great great grandpa?”; a baby with eyes closed, a pacifier in mouth, looking like my youngest son when he was but a child; a woman covers her eyes as if she can’t believe what she’s just seen; a Carlos Santana look alike with the whitest moustache and goatee; a Chinese girl with an “Ewww, I’m gonna tell” expression on her face, like tattlers I remember from my growing up days; a woman looking as though she is being pleasured tenderly and any minute the world will know; a dog looking as though he’s striking a pose for the cover of GQ; African garb for exotic diversity; the obligatory “cross eyed” pose…
      Oh, way to go, Old Pueblo, you’ve gained so much soul over the years, on the whole, and I love you more and more.

      • Carolyn Classen

        Hi Ernie, glad you got to see the wall mural on Speedway/Stone at the Art Gallery, and also all those tile portraits at the 4th Avenue Underpass. Thanks for giving me your input as you promised, and I’m glad that you had a great time here in the Old Pueblo over the weekend.

        • erniemccray

          I wouldn’t have known about the Underpass if you hadn’t informed me through your blog.
          I would probably have spotted the art on the wall because it’s in the neighborhood I grew up in and I always cruise it when I’m in town and then I stop at the Garland, my favorite Tucson eatery, to feed my belly as well as my soul.
          And speaking of feeding my soul, my trip home did just that as I received an honor that was featured in Sunday’s Arizona Daily Star just for scoring a bunch of points in a basketball game on a magical day close to the middle of the last Century. I must be old (smile).

  • Ado

    It’s a very nice photo portrait Carolyn, but we all know you are much more than just another pretty face. That’s why your posts here are so interesting.  Congrats on finding your portrait and keep up those great posts.

    • Carolyn Classen

      Thanks Ado for the compliments.  I spent a lot of time yesterday looking at the interesting faces on both walls of the Underpass, reflecting upon the faces and the stories behind those portraits.

  • http://pointmantucson.yuku.com/ mike_brewer

    Por mi Dios, I finally made it to the “inner circle!”  What a wonderful thing to celebrate…. common people!
    I really love the fact that it is downtown. Our very own El Centro for culture and leisure.
    You know Carolyn,  I was a paperboy downtown in 1959, and used to hang out at Bunny’s Magic Shop right on the corner of the Hotel Congress at the entrance to the underpass.
     
    We would also attend  movies across the way  and just leave our bicycles in front of the theater during the show. So much for evolution, eh?
     
    Trivia question:  Can you name the 3 theaters that were downtown in the 195’0′s and 60″s? And for Kewpie doll bonus prize, what was the 4th one in the 70′s?

    • Carolyn Classen

      Mike, sorry I missed your tile portrait but I’ve updated my blog to add you in on the NW panel.  As for the 3 theaters — I can think of the Rialto and the Fox,and the Temple of Music and Art.  Maybe later the Screening Room?  I didn’t grow up here so I’m guessing.  Do I get the kewpie doll prize?

    • erniemccray

      Lyric, State, Fox – 50′s. Mickey Mouse Club at the Fox, shootem ups at the State… Lived at the “Picture Show!” Oops, maybe this wasn’t my question but when one is reminiscing, who can stop them…

  • Roger Carrillo

    Hi Carolyn and other Tucsonans!
    I left Tucson, after living there for 31 years, and recently traveled back to visit friends.   I had left before the 4th Avenue Underpass was completed and the last city election.  I was so glad to see the beautiful new underpass, and the work being done on the pocket park at 18th and Convent! Even though I grew up in LA County I consider Tucson my home town.
    Despite the setbacks in the last election I hope Tucson doesn’t forget what type of community it is! Unique, caring and compassionate, with funk and personality!  It is located in one of the most beautiful and diverse places in the world the Sonoran desert that I fell in love with during an August thunderstorm in 1968.
    Keep the faith and keep Tucson funky!
    Paz y justicia!
    Rogelio

    • Carolyn Classen

      Hi Roger, I wondered what happened to you– hope you get to see your tile portrait when you’re back in Tucson sometime.  Nice to hear from you.

  • http://www.jemexpressionsontile.com Joel Manly

    I am the owner of JEM Expressions, we are the makers of the tiles for the project. To view our other work, check out our website at http://www.jemexpressionsontile.com

    • Carolyn Classen

      Thanks for the JEM Expressions website Joel.  Did you read what Ernie McCray said about the tiles up above? It was quite an undertaking.

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