Miracle Manor Neighborhood Mural

Final Mural Unveiling and Celebration

2010-05-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 24 we had our final mural unveiling. The celebration featured individual artworks created by neighborhood youth, food, drinks and music. We were honored to have our Tucson City council member Karen Ulrich attend, as well as many of the project participants, representative from the neighborhood association and YES network. Students from the Blue Chip program attended moving about the group asking people how the mural impacted them. The event was cover briefly on Channel 4 news KVOA News, as well as in the Tucson Citizen (now online).

Throughout this mural project people would come up and comment on our progress. Neighbors such as Jeff commented that the mural “really changes the place, it makes it look better, and brightens up our days”. More than 40 neighborhood residents participants were directly involved in the design and production of the mural. Hundreds more were indirectly impacted. One resident commented; “we have been waiting a long time for this mural, it’s nice to see some good things happening”. She explained that her mother had passed during the project, and had been looking forward to it's completion. "She would have been proud." She finished, before walking back to her trailer.

The Miracle Manor Neighborhood has been plagued by poverty and crime in past years. This started to change a few years ago as residents organized projects that would beautify and bring people together. This mural was dialogue based, that means that there were many conversations and meetings to discuss content. These conversations were divergent, and stories emerged of every day life. A neighbors’ cat who would go fishing in the bird-bath, watching movies on the outdoor Biltmore Theater from roof tops, the man who had a deer living at his house. These stories were shared during elder shares, during the after school workshops for youth, and at the mural site. Older residents explained that many of the people who worked on films at Old Tucson studios would stay at the neighborhood hotels on Miracle Mile. All of this is reflected in the mural.

This project brought together neighbors and community members in a new and memorable way, building cultural capital and preserving some of the memories and stories that bind us together as a community, and as a nation.

Neighborhood Leaders Jim and Marcia Quinn

Thank You to Our Project Partners!

2010-04-12T14:56:00.000-07:00

Miracle Manor Neighborhood Mural Project 2009-2010

Youth Empowerment Services (YES) Network

Tucson Mural Arts Program

S & K Market, N. 15^th Avenue

AZ Commission on the Arts

LEGO Children’s Fund of America

Pima County Attorney’s Office

One on One Mentoring Project

PRO Neighborhoods

Nash Elementary School

La Cima Middle School

Ward 3 Council Member Karin Uhlich & staff

Tucson Police Department – West Division

Gospel Rescue Mission

Garden Inc.

Walgreens Drug Store

Ghost Ranch Lodge Redevelopers

Miracle Manor Neighborhood Residents & Friends

Friends of Michael Schwartz, Artist

Tucson & Univ. of Arizona News Media

Tucson Parks & Recreation Department

and all the wonderful residents of the Miracle Manor Neighborhood

“Working together to build a community.”

MIRACLE MANOR COMMUNITY MURAL DEDICATION

2010-04-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

The Miracle Manor Community Mural Project is finally completed!

The mural was a coordinated effort between the Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association and Youth Empowerment Services Network. Come out to see the amazing product of neighbors coming together to make change in their community.

Join us Saturday April 24, 2010 11am at the S & K Market, at 2520 N. 15th Avenue north of Grant Road for the dedication ceremony of this community mural.

Invited guests include neighborhood residents, Council Member Karin Uhlich, Mayor Bob Walkup, and the Tucson Police Department.

Supporters include the Arizona Commission on the Arts, Lego Children’s Fund America, Pima County Attorney’s Office, PRO Neighborhoods, and the Ward III Council Office, along with other individual and business donations. On February 6, 2010 over 50 neighborhood residents and friends participated in “community paint day,” to kick off the mural painting. Participants included children and adults of all ages, including Council Member Karin Uhlich. The mural project included 18 2-hr. workshops with students from the neighborhood, who learned basic art and design principles, the history of murals in Tucson, went on mural tours, listened to oral histories from elder residents, and learned how to paint a mural. Additionally, neighborhood adult residents shared their photos and recollections of the development of their neighborhood since the 1950s.

They even learned some basic painting techniques, led by lead muralist and teaching artist Michael B. Schwartz.

For information please contact Marsha Quinn, Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association Member (520)629-0845. YES-Network is a charitable 501(c)(3) organization. Established in 2007, the mission is to train, place, and support and collaborate with other non-profits to empower youth, families and neighborhoods in need in the Tucson community. www.yes-network.org

More Neighborhood History

2010-03-22T21:52:00.001-07:00

This is an article from September 6, 1970 about Nash School. Elisia Garcia provided. You can see her daughter circled.

Mural Progress

2010-03-09T20:21:00.001-08:00

Images by Virgina Bonnin

The mural is near completion, still some lettering and detail work to be done.

More Images from Neighborhood Paint Day

2010-02-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

Images By Virginia Bonnin

Community Paint Day a Huge Success!

2010-02-08T14:05:00.000-08:00

There is so much to report on this project, so the images will tell most of the story.

Here is a pictorial essay of our community paint day attended by more than 125 people throughout the day. Highlights included painting with our ward three council member Karin Uhlich a visit from Westside Tucson Police department (TPD) Captain Richard Wilson and a scroll available for signing marking our commitment to literacy. The scroll is making it's way about the nation and will be delivered to the White House in the coming months. A very special thank you to Pro Neighborhoods, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, YES Network, One on One Mentoring, the Pima County Attorneys Office, the Lego Fund for Children, S and K Market, Ward Three and TPD. Together we are building social and cultural capital for Miracle Manor and surrounding neighborhoods.

Tucson City Council Member Uhlich painting with kids.

Miracle Manor Neighborhood President Oscar Bojorquez cleaning brushes - Go Oscar!

Thank you so much to the after school mural arts students (and talented painters) Virginia and Marsha for contributing to our blog content, we have some very special postings in the works.

COMMUNITY PAINT DAY Sat!

2010-02-01T21:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, All --

This is a public invitation to join us in the Miracle Manor Neighborhood for our COMMUNITY PAINT DAY at S & K Market on 2025 N. 15th Ave. north of Grant Road, Saturday Feb. 6th from 12 to 4 PM. Paint Day will kick off the actual painting of the mural, led by Mural Artist Michael B. Schwartz.

Thanks to the generosity of AZ Commission on the Arts, YES Network, PRO Neighborhoods, Pima County Attorney's Office, the LEGO Children's Fund, and the support of Tucson Police Dept., Ward 3, and businesses and residents in the neighborhood, our mural is taking shape on the north wall of S & K Market. Prep work is already being done by mural artist Schwartz, who invites you to stop by and watch the process.

Saturday Feb. 6th, we will have tables with paint and brushes, and everyone is invited to take part in the creation of this colorful, historic look at the Miracle Manor Neighborhood as it has developed since the late 1940s. Following extensive research, interviews with elder residents who lived here "way back when," and workshops with neighborhood youth, artist Schwartz developed a design that was voted and approved by residents at a neighborhood association meeting.

Since then, grant applications, donation requests, and volunteers have rallied to the project. Saturday's COMMUNITY PAINT DAY will mark the opportunity to help create an historic pictorial of an early time in Tucson's development. Each and every painter will be able to point with pride to their part in helping to create a lasting, colorful record of community and local government coming together to beautify and recognize our neighborhood.

PLEASE JOIN US -- COME FOR A WHILE OR STAY THE AFTERNOON! Miracle Manor Neighborhood Community Paint Day Saturday February 6, 2010, from 12 to 4 PM.

Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association,

"Working together to build a community."

Images by Virginia Bonnin

Final Design Approved

2010-01-18T23:25:00.000-08:00

Click on Image to See Details.

On Jan. 7 neighbors gathered once more to approve, by a vote of 15-0, to approve the mural design. Work will be starting soon as we prepare for community paint day on Feb. 6. There is allot to do in cleaning and priming the wall, then transfer the design and prepare all the paints.

For MLK Day a group of us went on a mural tour with a focus on murals in South Tucson. We ended up on Meyer Street where Henry Garcia grew up in the 20's and 30's. Henry visited with the kids last week and they remembered his remarkable stories of growing up in Tucson.

Street Names

2010-01-05T23:01:00.000-08:00

Google Map of Miracle Manor

Miracle Manor Neighborhood Street Names:

W. Miracle Mile N. Fairview Ave

W. Laguna St. N. 15^th Ave

W. Florence St. N. Malibu Drive

W. Glenn St. N. 14^th Ave

W. Vanover Rd. N. Oracle Rd

W. Tipton Dr. N. Glaris Ave

W. Jacinto St. N. Pacific Dr

W. Paris Promenade N. Center Court Dr.

W. McIver Pl.

W. Alturas St.

W. Budmoorete

W. Grant

W. Balboa

W. Redondo Dr.

W. Kelso St.

Artworks from Neighborhood Youth

2009-12-23T15:31:00.000-08:00

A cornerstone of this project has been working with neighborhood youth every monday after school. Their drawing and stories are integrated into the mural design. Since September we have studied the history of murals, the elements of art, principles of design. We have been working in watercolor, pencil, markers, and acrylics on ideas revolving around neighborhood life and history. Each student maintains their own portfolio and journal, and will be adding their own works to the mural. Assignments have included everything from interview skills to value, color theory, perspective, scale, and design. Classes will resume in early January.

Isaias: The field before Nash School was built

Andrew: Nash School

Alicia, cross contour lines drawing

Susan - Image of a dog in the neighborhood

Jessy - Cross Contour image of the Old Russian Orthodox Church

Isaias: One Point Perspective interior

Ramzy - Landscape

Time for Portfolio Review!

Neighborhood Stories

2009-12-13T01:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a Youtube of Virginia Bonnin's father talking about neighborhood history and taking her mother to the movies in the Miracle Manor Neighborhood.

Miracle Miracle Neighborhood Mural Design

2009-12-10T10:47:00.000-08:00

Here is the first version of the design. You can click on the image to see details.

Miracles in Miracle Manor: Elder Share

2009-12-09T17:29:00.000-08:00

Back: Artist Michael Schwartz, Dorothy Kaiser, Henry & Alicia Garcia,

Christina White, Marsha & Jim Quinn, Sandi Mittelstaedt Front: Virginia Bonnin, Eric Waite

Today was the second Elder Share for the Miracle Manor Neighborhood Mural. This is a time to share and document neighborhood history and stories, while gathering ideas for the mural. This spirited sharing started with a video showing of Virginia Bonnins’ grandfather describing the neighborhood. This was the time before Nash School was built. As Henry Garcia pointed out there were groundhogs and jack-rabbits that lived in the field before the school. As construction started they would see the rabbits, with long ears, hopping away from the area. Their home had been destroyed, where would they go?

This was a time when people lifted themselves up by their own bootstraps. People like Jonny Toms, Lim Bong and Carlos Diaz all vended before becoming store owners. There were few houses, with large open spaces and dirt roads. Stylish hotels and motels lined US 80 and Arizona Highway 84, the major passages through the old pueblo. Currently revitalization of this historical district is being spearheaded by the Gateway Business Alliance.

The elders described how the various houses were built in the neighborhood by their aunts, uncles, mothers and fathers. There appeared to have been several primary builders including Ronnie Winski and Myers Construction.

Jim Quinn had the idea of including an image that showed the unique sense of community cooperation and helping hands that personifies the neighborhood. One images that we decided to use was of Sandy‘s family building their house in 1970. The other was of an ice cream truck, a highlight mentioned by both youth and adults. On the right hand of the mural we decided to add more animals and bougainvillea flowers.

Dottie Keiser joined us for the first time. She moved to the neighborhood in 1950. She described the house’s her mother had built on Alturas. To my astonishment I learned that Dottie was my fathers teacher at the Brandeis Boys School that had been on Broadway across from what is now Park Mall. This deeply personal family connection personifies the interconnection of our collective history, that we are all tied together. Dottie went on to describe the arts and craft studio where Ted DeGrazia taught my father and the other boys. (The story in my family is that my father wasn’t so good in the arts, so Mr. DeGrazia taught him how to box. Ms. Keiser said that sounded right.)

Dottie also shared the story of the fish disappearing from her neighbors’ pond on. One day she went to look for her cat only to find it on it’s relaxing by the pond with a paw dipped in the water, waiting for a fish to swim into it’s clawed net.

We continued to share stories, and discuss the mural design. This Thursday the neighborhood association will meet again to look at the design and decide if further changes are needed. Painting is scheduled to start February 1^st.

Elders Share Meeting Sunday

2009-12-02T16:43:00.000-08:00

Hi, all –

Hope your Thanksgiving holiday was restful and fun.

Just wanted to let you know we're having a second share meeting.

Sunday December 6th, from 2 to 4 PM.

Address is 756 W. Tipton Drive

Phone number is 629-0845 (let us know if you plan to come).

The share meetings are to find the history of our neighborhood, from residents who lived here "way back when" the neighborhood was first developing.

The session will be audio and video recorded, and if you have any pictures or news articles from that period, we'd love to see them, also.

Even if you're a relative newcomer to this neighborhood, you might enjoy hearing the stories about your "hood."

Marsha Quinn -- Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association,

"Working together to build a community"

The Hotels of Miracle Manor

2009-11-24T20:50:00.000-08:00

There are so many historic hotels within the Miracle Mile Neighborhood it's hard to find images of all of them. Each lodge, restaurant, hotel and motel has a story of it's own. The most famous is Ghost Ranch, with the sign designed by the famous artist Georgia O'Keeffe. Scanning over these many images you get a sense of the economic and cultural significance this district had.

These images were provided by the Oracle Area Revitalization Steering Committee. They have a great driving tour you can take, and enjoy this Tucson gem for yourself.

Miracle Manor Historic Timeline

2009-10-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Updated Historic Timeline

1930s: Miracle Mile Strip, which included some of what is now Oracle Road, was built as a northwest gatewayinto Tucson and hailed as the best road ever made.*

1936: De Luxe Motel Built

1937: Miracle Mile gets high acclaim in Arizona Highways magazine. "There was nothing like it the Southwest," the publication said. The strip had thriving businesses, mainly hotels, for the next three decades.*

1940’s First Homes Built

1941: Ghost Ranch Built by Arthur and Pheobe Pack ¹

1950’s: More hotels built including Tucson Inn, motor courts, Sleepy Hollow was palm lined, the area was beautiful and active.

1953: New residents continue to move into neighborhood, building their own houses.

1959/60: Nash School Built

1960s: Interstate 10 completed, diverting travelers away from Miracle Mile and hurting businesses. The strip begins its decline.*

1969: More houses built by original residents.

1983: Massive police sweeps result in the arrest of 400 suspected prostitutes and 87 men for soliciting police decoys.*

1986: Shootouts common, usually involving pimps over their real estate and human property.*

Late 1980s: "Miracle Mile" name taken off sign south of cemetery because North Oracle Road businesses didn't want the Miracle Mile reputation.*

1997-8: Back to Basics brought sidewalks and an urban look

1998: Youth construct snake in Jacinto Park.

2002-2004: Miracle Mile found to be the most violent section of the city in Tucson Citizen analysis.*

2004: Birth of the Oracle Project, a coalition of neighborhoods and businesses working to improve Oracle from Drachman to Miracle Mile.*

March 2004: City condemns Tropicana Adult Video Theater because of building code violations. The building is torn down.*

Sept. 2005: Miracle Mile repaved.*

Fall 2007: Beginning of Oracle Area Revitalization Plan, an 18-month project to revitalize the area that includes Miracle Mile.*

September 2007: Tucson Police Westside Service Center opens at 1310 W. Miracle Mile.*

October 2007: La Paloma Family Services moves to 870 W. Miracle Mile.*

January 2008: Police receive OK from City Council to buy six acres next to West Side station to build new crime lab.*

2008: Haunted House at Nunez Residence

May 2008: Golden Pin Lanes gets $1 million makeover.*

2009: Jacinto Park Revitalization, movie nights start. Neighborhood mural project starts.

Sources:

2009 interviews with residents.

* Tucson Citizen archives

Footnotes:

1. May 29, 2008 Rudy R. Writes on Tucson Citizen Blog:

“Best View in Tucson of Catalina mtns. is from Ghost Ranch property. Ghost Ranch was built by Arthur Pack named after his ranch in New Mexico, Motel Grounds has amazing collection of Desert Flora which was carefully maintained. Mr. Pack/Wife also was main force behind the AZ/Sonora Desert museum donating many dollars and time along with many others who cared about Tucson. Golf Course is named after him. Hopefully, this Historic piece of Tucson can be preserved instead of another Dust Bowl creation.”

Miracle Manor Family Stories

2009-10-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Submitted by Virginia Bonnin Co-secretary of Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association

(you can click on images to enlarge)

Mural Design Updates

2009-10-25T22:27:00.000-07:00

There is much to report on the progress of the design and research phase of our mural. The overall concept will revolve around the idea of before and after, a timeline of sorts. There are some many ideas that in the next few weeks we will be looking for ways to combine and blend suggestions into a final design to be presented at next months neighborhood meeting.

Journaling is a regular part of our design process.

Neighborhood youth continue to meet every Monday night at the Nash School. We have been learning about the steps of creating a mural, including scale, design and elements of art.

Alicia sharing feedback on a students drawing.

Recent sessions have included a tour of local murals, and visits from long time resident Alicia Garcia. She shared stories of the neighborhood and school in days of old. The kids were excited to visit her on Halloween. "We didn't know if anyone lived there, now we will come to see you."

The Mural Tour included the 1999 Dunbar Spring Neighborhood History Mural

Last week also included a neighborhood input session that included a watercolor workshop, and design charrette. Everyone seemed to enjoy the soothing qualities of the watercolor. It's easy to control and not too messy. For many in attendance this was the first time painting for along time, for some since childhood.

We are still gathering images of the neighborhood for the mural and to post on this blog. Please contact Michael or Marcia if you have an images or stories to share.

Neighborhood Mural Design Part 1

2009-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:00

The first community design input workshops have started. We are coming up with some truly amazing material. There are many highlights including the imagery being developed by the Monday youth design team, and the stories shared by elders last Sunday (9/20/09). Part of what is so exciting about this project is that some of the people who built the neighborhood are still here. We shared stories and photographs, all carefully documented.

“The Nash Elementary School was built in 1959 or 60” explains Henry Garcia. Henry and Alicia Garcia moved into a newly built house in March of 1953. They were one of the first houses. Henry writes; “where Nash School is, it was a large desert with a lot of vegetation and jack rabbits and ground squirrels living underground. Tipton Street extended up to 14th Avenue.” When I shared the stories with youth their eyes lit up as they listened attentively. Another interesting observation Jen Spencer, of One on One Mentoring, made was that the similarity of ideas among the kids, neighbors and elders.

These ideas include;

OVERALL
Timeline, spiritual feeling, bright colorful, depict cultural diversity and age range, a place where movie starts used to stay.

NATURE
Water, Birds, Mountain Views of the Catalina Mountains, Desert Scene, Sunsets, Sweet Peas, Large “Lipo” Trees towering over the neighborhood, lemon, orange and grapefruit trees, Used to be able to see the stars, beating sun, Saguaro Cactus, Flowers: lantana, Honey Suckle, Pomegranate, , Orange Blossom, China Berry, Native Cactus flowers, Cosmos Flowers, roses,

ANIMALS
Hummingbirds, bats, hawks, tortoise, lizards, coyotes, roadrunners, horny toads, quail, skunk, snakes, tarantulas, Cooper’s Hawks, rabbits, bats, deer, tiger, Wolf dog (German Shepard), mystical creatures, duck, geese, guy who had a deer, wooly worms, horse, cows, peacocks, donkey, gecko, Gila Monsters,

PLACES
Ghost Ranch Lodge, Jacinto Park with kids playing, Market, Bilmore Drive In Theaters, Old Russian Orthodox Wooden Church, St. Michael’s, Street Names, Farmer Johns, Wayward Winds, Looking out a Kitchen Window at a tree with birds hatching, Cactus garden at Ghost Ranch, fountains, sample of houses,
Butcher Shop, Desert on Fairview, Miracle Manor Diner, Rexal Drug Store, Power plant on Grant Rd., Olsen’s Dairy, Lim Bong Liquor Store, Nash School when there were community events like skating, ceramics, cake decorating, etc.
Apartments, 1 story houses, trailers, Head Start, Stop signs,

VEHICLES
Ice Cream Truck, School Bus, Shamrock Milk Truck, Trains, old cars, racing cars,

The timeline concept emerged from Oscar's journal.

HISTORIC MOMENTS

1936 De Luxe Motel Built
1940’s First Homes Built
1941 Ghost Ranch Built by Arthur and Pheobe Pack
1950’s More hotels built including Tucson Inn, motor courts, Sleepy Hollow was palm lined
1953 Some of the first residents move into neighborhood
1959/60 Nash School Built
1960’s I-10 built
1969 more houses built by original residents.
1997-8 Back to Basics brought sidewalks and an urban look
1998 Youth construct snake in Jacinto Park
2008 Haunted House at Nunez Residence
2009 Jacinto Park Revitalization, movie nights

Next steps...
The kids in the Monday program and I will be sifting through these ideas in the coming weeks, developing drawings, and conducting additional research.

If you have images you would like to submit please leave a comment!

Our next neighborhood input session is Oct. 21.

...

MIRACLE MANOR NEIGHBORHOOD MURAL STARTS!

2009-08-27T02:35:00.000-07:00

NEXT MEETING TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2009
NASH SCHOOL, FROM 6:30 TO 8:00 PM

On Tuesday, September 22, 2009, the 6:30 to 8PM neighborhood meeting at Nash School will be a “brainstorming” session to develop ideas for the mural design. We hope lots of our residents will join us at Nash that night, in the fun and exciting process of sharing ideas for the mural design.

Image of the mural wall.

DID YOU LIVE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD DURING THE 1950S – 1960S – 1970S?

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE YOUR MEMORIES OF
HOW IT WAS BACK THEN
(AND BRING PHOTOS, IF YOU HAVE SOME)?

Please come to Jim’s & Marsha’s house for tea and lemonade
Sunday afternoon, September 20, 2009, 2 PM to 4 PM.
We’re at 756 W. Tipton Dr. (van with canoe out front).

Miracle Manor Neighborhood Association is helping to prepare for the design of the mural to be painted on the north wall of the S & K Market, N. 15th Avenue. The mural will reflect ideas of our residents, and the sharing process will be starting with those who lived here when the early development happened.

Mural artist Michael Schwartz will be there, too.

Please try to come and share your stories. It’s important to us all.

Some neighborhood youths and teens will be helping to paint the mural, and we’ll have a Community Paint Day, as well!

It’s a big project, requiring planning and preparation, workshops and classes for the painters. The entire neighborhood is invited to participate in all stages of the project, and we’ll all benefit from having a colorful, attractive mural that will reflect our neighborhood’s special qualities and memories.

Miracle Manor Neighborhood Mural to Start in Sept.

2009-08-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, this first posting to alert you that the Miracle Manor Neighborhood Mural Project will be starting on Monday September 7, 2009.

Stay tuned to this blog for regular updates, community paint days, design sessions, painting and drawing classes and lots lots more.

This is going to be a really fun project and I'm very excited to be working with everyone.

As I build this blog please send me any links, images, or stories you would like posted.