This local artist wants your input for a new Tucson mural 🎨

Local artist Pen Macias has her paints and brushes ready for Tucson’s newest mural going up in the 85705 ZIP code later this year, but she’s just missing one thing — the community’s input.

Community members in the 85705 area can share their stories and ideas for the new mural by filling out a survey conducted by the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona. All entries should be submitted by the end of the month to be considered for the final project.

Some of the questions on the survey include: “Is there a specific place in your neighborhood that holds special memories for you?” and “What landmark or building in your neighborhood best represents the feel of the '05?”

The mural is part of the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona’s “Thrive in the 05” project which aims to “build community through art,” according to the foundation’s website.

Macias will begin working on the 2,300-square-foot mural on the side of Bailey’s Fabrics and Supplies, 1401 N. Bailey Lane, in November. The mural should be complete by the end of the year. She's also adding a little free library in the space.

Some of the elements Macias plan to include in the mural are fabric drapery — a nod to Bailey’s Fabrics and Supplies, which has been a staple in Tucson since the 1970s — and imagery of moons in honor of the area’s neighborhood name, Barrio Blue Moon.

“The mural is going to be created as if it's fabric-draped over the side of the building and then it'll have a night sky with a giant moon,” she said. “Where the community stories come in is I have papel picado flags that are going to be draped across the moon sky. And each of those flags are going to tell a different story that I'm getting from the community.”

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“I have four objectives for this project. I want to add beauty to the community, I want to tell the community’s story, I want to bring a reason to draw people together,” Macias said. “And that was why I included the little free library because it'll bring people out and hopefully help the community meet each other and have a space where (they can) come together.

“And then number four is I want it to be interactive. The little free library is an element where people can interact with the art because on the back of the little free library, there's going to be a pictograph of the (papel picado) flags that are in the mural and what story they tell.”

The little free library is set to open by December and will be stocked by Bookmans, according to Macias, who says, “Bookmans is partnering with us to make sure that it's always stocked with really cool kids' books.”

While Macias isn’t sure how many responses the survey has received so far, she says numerous community members — including the granddaughter of a 92-year-old woman who has lived here for over 60 years — have sent her comments and ideas directly.

Macias says she felt enticed to do this mural in partnership with the Arts Foundation and the City of Tucson because she finds it rewarding to work with the community on projects.

“I'm just trying to get in touch with that community, (and find out) what your stories are and what's important to you. What do you want to celebrate through this mural?” she said. “There are a lot of stories of families who have lived in this area for five or six generations. So, I've gotten some really awesome stories directly.”