Pima Ceramics faculty creates sculptures as part of county road project

Tucson, AZ – Sculptures depicting oversized desert animals created by Pima Community College Ceramics faculty Hiro Tashima and former Pima instructor Jason Butler are being installed as part of Pima County’s Valencia Road: Wade Road to Ajo Way improvement project.

This week, workers on the county Department of Transportation project are installing the metal shading. This installation is on schedule to be completed by the end of August. This July 7 video from Tashima’s Facebook page shows the sculptures being moved from his home to the installation sites.

The eight-foot-tall concrete sculptures incorporate benches with shades. Among the animals represented are a coyote, tortoise, gila monster, quail, jackrabbit, horned lizard, hummingbird and javelina. (Photos of the sculptures and design process accompany this release.)

Since 2008, Tashima and Butler have collaborated on several public art projects, including at First Avenue and Navajo Road, Second Street and 10th Avenue, Golf Links Road and Pantano Parkway and Michael Perry Park in Tucson, as well as at Naranja Park and the Oro Valley Community Center entrance, both in in Oro Valley.

Tashima has public art installations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Phoenix Convention Center, Pima County Public Library-Mission Library.

CONTACT:

Libby Howell, APR, Executive Director

Media, Community, & Government Relations

520-549-9093, ehowell1@pima.edu