By now, you have probably heard about or witnessed the vibrant eight new murals that popped up seemingly overnight in downtown Tucson. You should celebrate the beauty they bring the community.
Meaning, you should take a selfie in front of them.
This may be the only time you can actively embrace your inner basic without tarnishing your street cred — so take note, Tucson alternatives and hipsters.
I conducted a super legitimate experiment to figure out exactly where and when to take a photo with our newest, most quintessentially Tucson art. Grab a friend or two, use the map below to navigate downtown and get at it (and don’t forget to tag your pics with #ThisIsTucson so we can admire them).
1. NIKI GLEN
WHERE: The West corner of Fifth Avenue and Toole Avenue
Brenna Wagy, a UA junior studying neuroscience, poses in front of Niki Glen's apparently granola mural at the West corner of Toole Avenue and Fifth Avenue on June 17, 2016.
WHEN: Niki Glen’s mural lives on a wall that is rather short. So short, you’ll probably need to either (a) lay down or (b) sit in order to capture a photo in front of it. So pop a squat and, unlike me, take a selfie around 4 p.m. for lighting that highlights the work’s colorful birds, flowers and bees best.
2. ISAAC CARUSO
WHERE: 9 N. Scott Ave.
I post in front of Isaac Caruso's mural at 9 Scott Ave. on June 17, 2016. Caruso's painting is painted 50 feet in the air, so the only selfie I could get was in front of the mural's blue wall.
WHEN: First things first — you won’t be able to include the vivid oranges or quail of Isaac Caruso's mural in your selfie. They — like Rock Martinez’s agave woman and to Jessica Gonzales’ mountain and water women — hover around 50 feet above the ground (based on my careful guesstimations). You can selfie in front of a cobalt brick wall, though, and that’s pretty cool. Take your photos around 5:30 p.m. to capture a piercing contrast between your person and the wall.
A shot of Isaac Caruso's mural at 9 N. Scott Ave. No selfie opportunities there—Caruso's quail-orange scene is painted 50 feet in the air.
3. TO-REE-NEE WOLF
WHERE: 213 E. Broadway Blvd.
I awkwardly look up at a bird painted on Jessica Gonzales' colorful mural at 213 E. Broadway St. on June 17, 2016.
WHEN: When I walked past To-Ree-Nee Wolf's mural around 3 p.m., half of it was severely shaded while the other half was severely overexposed. When I returned around 7 p.m., it sat in open shade. I advise you attempt any selfie endeavors at this mural during one of the day’s golden hours — 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. — for optimal mural lighting.
4. JESSICA GONZALES
WHERE: 98 E. Congress St.
A shot of Jessica Gonzales' mural at 98 E. Congress St. next to Wig-O-Rama.
WHEN: Head over to Jessica Gonzales' mural around 9 a.m. or 6 p.m. for shaded lighting. If you take a picture when it’s too sunny outside, the intensely colored mural is overexposed.
5. ROCK MARTINEZ
WHERE: 440 N. 7th Ave.
A low-angle shot of Ricky Martinez's agave woman taken on June 17, 2016. It's the only angle you'll be able to capture her at, as you're presumably not 40 feet tall.
WHEN: The oranges, teals and pinks in Rock Martinez’s agave woman (who remarkably resembles Jane the Virgin?) look pretty spectacular between 5 and 7 p.m., but if you'd rather take one without your sunnies, go around 7:30 p.m. before the sun sets.
6. LUIS MENA
WHERE: 142 E. Pennington St.
Brenna Wagy poses and laughs in front of Luis Mena's mural at 142 E. Pennington St.
WHEN: Luis Mena's mural looks about the same any time of day, since it’s always shaded. So just head over whenever the sun’s out.
7. IGNACIO GARCIA
WHERE: The East wall of The Rialto Theatre (318 E. Congress St.)
WHEN: Unfortunately, you can’t reach Ignacio Garcia’s mural of Bill Walton flying a jackalope without the help of a forklift because it's painted around 80 feet in the air.
8. RACHEL SLICK, TIM SCHIRAK AND ALEXANDRA GJURASIC
WHERE: 54 E. Pennington St.
Florence Ye, a UA student studying management information systems and political science, poses in front of Rachel Slick, Tim Schirack and Alexandra Gjurasic's eccentric mural at 54 E. Pennington St.
WHEN: Anytime midday to around 5 p.m. Rachel Slick, Tim Schirak and Alexandra Gjurasic's mural isn’t really located in an area that receives a lot of direct sunlight and was shaded around 6 p.m. when I found it, so the photos appeared more dull than the eclectic painting looks in real life.
A shot of Rachel Slick, Tim Schirack and Alexandra Gjurasic's mural painted on Cafe 54 at 54 E. Pennington St.
