Ruth Caldwell
The SaddleBrooke Hiking Club periodically offers a Tucson Downtown Mural Walk with over four dozen murals in less than four miles. On a December walk, a group of eight hikers were fortunate enough to see one of guide Ruth Caldwell’s favorite muralists at work. As they walked by, Ignacio Garcia stood high up on a lift completing a mural—one that was commissioned by the Tucson Rodeo for the 100th anniversary of the Rodeo.
The piece is a beautiful commemoration of this beloved Tucson event that includes a nod to Fox Hastings, a female bronc rider and steer wrestler who rode in the 1925 Rodeo. The mural stands seven stories tall on the side of a city municipal building at the intersection of Toole and Alameda.
It’s always exciting to see new murals going in along the club’s Downtown Tucson Mural Walk, but this one scores as Caldwell’s all-time favorite! Afterwards, she met Ignacio at the home of club member Karen Hop where he has painted a small mural on her backyard wall. The 47-year-old artist said he has been painting murals since 2003. The Rodeo mural, titled Los Tres Amigos, took the longest yet for him to complete—three months! He has created several murals along the downtown walk: Empowered Woman, La Guitarrista, Running of the Pinatas, La Catrina, and Tranquil Lady.
If you are patient, Garcia is willing to paint private murals. His email address is artebyignacio@gmail.com for more information. He may also have some private pieces of art for sale to individuals who value his work.