Murals and art are such a significant part of the culture of Tucson in the 2020s. so why not create and showcase a mural commemorating 100 years of the Tucson Rodeo?
It was a beautiful Saturday to “unveil” the mural–that is, if you “unveil” something that is a city block wide and four stories tall and has been in work for 3 months.
As we’ve discussed in this space before, Ignacio Garcia is one of premiere muralists in Tucson. His work graces several downtown buildings and usually are on a large scale. Marry that ability and grace with a Tucson Rodeo committee who wanted to make a segment about the 100th anniversary of the Tucson Rodeo and you have this beautiful work of art at the corner of 6th Avenue and Toole.
Every February, for as long as I could remember, that week in February of the rodeo and related festivities was like Thanksgiving: a 3-day school week. And it was a treat to go down to my dad’s pharmacy and sit in the window to watch the rodeo parade on that Thursday morning as I worked it’s way through downtown. “The longest non-mechanized parade in the world,” was quite the sight: Sheriff’s deputies on horseback, Conestoga wagons and the Shriner’s clowns that seemed to go on for miles–which it actually did.
Then the rodeo itself: three-and-a-half days of bronc riding, steer wresting, barrel racing and calf roping. Culminating on Sunday afternoon with the bull riders near sunset. Always amazing. Plus we got to dig out our pearl-button shirts, boots and cowboy hats.
Back to mural: while it shows three cowboys without clear distinction of ethnicity, it also shows a red-headed woman bronc rider. She actually was a participant in that 1925 event and continued on for a number of years afterward competing in rodeos throughout the southwest.
Quite an afternoon and a wonderful gift to the city.
Relentless (AKA, Sojourner and Mural Dog)
