Four new murals are in the works to help Tucson celebrate its 250th birthday.
Four artists — Pen Macias, Joe Pagac, Ignacio Garcia and Camila Ibarra — have been commissioned by Rio Nuevo, the city’s taxing district board, to paint four murals as part of Old Pueblo’s birthday celebration, said Jannie Cox, a spokeswoman for the group.
Pen Macias works on a new downtown mural, “Tucson250+,” at the northeast corner of West Congress Street and North Church Avenue.
Tucson’s name originates from the Tohono O’odham word “S-cuk S’n” (pronounced Skuk-shone). It means “spring at the base of the black mountain,” referring to what is known today as Tumamoc Hill.
The Spanish established Presidio San Agustín del Tucsón fort on Aug. 20, 1775, using a spelling of “S-cuk S’n.”
The fort became Tucson’s modern-day downtown.
Pen Macias’ mural is one of four planned to help celebrate Tucson’s 250th birthday.The murals will be officially unveiled in July.
Later, with the arrival of more settlers, the name “Tucson” was used and has stuck ever since.
Rio Nuevo is working with the mayor’s office, Downtown Tucson Partnership and the Presidio San Agustín del Tucson Museum on the city’s birthday mural project, Cox said.
An official unveiling of the murals will be held in July.
