Bearly Fishin'

Brady Fairbanks of Draper, Utah created this 6-foot-tall bronze sculpture showing the bond of a mother and cub black bear. The sculpture is bronze, except for the concrete boulder on which the mother bear stands. Bearly Fishin' was was selected for purchase by Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel.

Flowering Stiletto

This 6-foot-long steel shoe with a flower growing out of it was created by Mesa artist Mary Consie.  The artist said she has flat feet and loves beautiful shoes she cannot wear, so she creates large versions instead.

Donor: Flowering Stiletto was purchased by Tempe resident Frank Binkley then donated to Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Collection. Binkley dedicated the sculpture to his late wife, Jane Binkley, who loved shoes and had an extensive collection of them.

Soul Survivor

This 5-foot, 8-inch steel “totem” with a geode at the top was created by Al Glann of Scottsdale, Ariz. The sculpture speaks to all of those who survive the vicissitudes of life, take care of others, and for one reason or another outlive their friends and family. Survival is a central part of their core.

Polar Bear & Cubs

Dollores Shelledy of Salt Lake City created this 9 ft., 3 in. long sculpture as a presentation of an endangered species. She says the piece is for children to play on, and to learn about Polar Bears. "Polar Bear and Cubs" was was selected for purchase by Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel. For more information on this sculpture, click HERE.

One Mind

This 6-foot, 8-inch tall sculpture by James Vilona of Boulder, Colo., depicts the union between a man and a woman in thoughts and spirits. The sculpture was generously donated to Mesa's Permanent Collection by the artist.

Howling Wolf

This 3-foot, 6-inch bronze wolf was generously donated to Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Collection by the artist, Laurenn Barker of Fallbrook, Calif.

Betty

This charming elephant from a foundry in Florida was named Betty by employees at the Antique Plaza, 114 and 120 W. Main St. in downtown Mesa, where the sculpture was located for a time. The Antique Plaza generously donated Betty to Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Collection. The elephant is made of brass, with a bronze patina.

Big Charlie Black

This sculpture by Carrie Gantt Quade of Hockessin, Del., was on display as part of the 7th Annual Sculptures In The Streets exhibit. It was purchased and generously donated to Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Collection by the Barrette Family Fund, an advised fund within the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation – Upper Valley Region. For more information, click HERE.

Climb as High As Your Dreams

This sculpture by Chris Navarro of Casper, Wyo., was on display as part of the 7th Annual Sculptures In The Streets exhibit. It was selected for purchase by Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel. For more information, click HERE.

Shadow Curtain: Open Windows

This sculpture by Joan Waters of Phoenix was on display as part of the 7th Annual Sculptures In The Streets exhibit. It was selected for purchase by Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel. For more information, click HERE.

They Are Waiting

This sculpture by Nnamdi Okonkwo of Orem, Utah portrays the emotions associated with waiting. The figures do not represent particular people, but humanity. The artist chose women because he likes the fluid lines and the simple, elegant shapes embodied in the female form. In the arrangement of these large, round shapes he finds his ideal of order, balance and beauty.

For more information on this sculpture, please click HERE.

Fragments of Support

Inspired by natural arch formations in the Southwest landscape, Fragments of Support expresses life's struggles through its collapsing steel forms while maintaining a symmetric balance found in the integrity of its overall composition. Rhett Fitzgerald, a graduate student in sculpture at the University of Arizona, created the piece from powdercoated steel and rubberized wood.

Quackers

“They say children will love this sculpture, but I love this sculpture,” proclaimed Mesa Mayor Keno Hawker while accepting Quackers on behalf of the City last April. Mayor Hawker said it was appropriate that he accept the bronze ducks, being that he has his own collection of more than 100 rubber ducks (It’s true. They have even been displayed at the Mesa Main Library). One reason Quackers evokes the “child within” is because it was inspired by a child. Mike Dwyer of Loveland, Colo., created the sculpture after observing his two-year-old son Nathan interacting with small animals.

Sonance

If the name Sonance rings a bell, it's because it was part of the 5th Annual Sculptures In The Streets exhibit (fall/winter 2003-2004) before being purchased by Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel. “Sonance” means "sound," an appropriate title for this interactive steel sculpture by Sandra Forsey and Sydney Knight of Peoria, Ariz. As the photo at left shows, Sonance is a striking sculpture that will speak to you like no other artwork you've seen – or heard!

Deadwood

Rustic yet re-fined, casual yet elegant, this tree made of slick rod and brick was created to blend in with a natural setting. The sculpture is by Doyle Svenby of Colorado Springs, Colo.

Spring Fever

In this sculpture by Kim Kori of Sedona, Ariz.,, a frog who was once a prince meets up with a friend from the amphibian world. Completely carefree and filled with glee, he engages in a game of leapfrog. He realizes that being a frog is actually quite fun.

Humpty Dumpty

Kimber Fiebiger of Minneapolis, Minn., was inspired to create this delightful sculpture because she “just loves to put a smile on people’s faces.” Humpty certainly accomplishes his mission, as he remains one of the most photographed sculptures in downtown Mesa.

Booked for the Day

Dan Hill of Salt Lake City was inspired to create this sculpture after seeing a 10-year-old named Erica who just couldn’t put down Harry Potter.

Reflection

This intriguing sculpture is a real pedestrian-stopper. The interactive piece allows viewers to look at a rotating bed of flowers through attached kaleidoscopes. Artists Sandra Forsey and Sydney Knight of Peoria, Ariz., say there are two kaleidoscopes because in life different people can have different perceptions of the same experience.

Learning Together

This sculpture by Jeff Carol Davenport of Chandler, Ariz., depicts the special relationship between a boy and his dog. This is perhaps most evident in the dog's eyes, which show the boy's reflection.

Scrap Book Boy

This figure by Tom Bollinger of Tempe, Ariz., is based on the artist's younger brother who died as a child. The photos in the bronze scrapbook were etched from actual pictures taken from Tom's father's scrapbook.

Two Horses

The commission of this elegant, heavily-textured sculpture by William Barnhart of Mesa, Ariz., depicting two horses was selected and coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel for the City’s permanent collection.

Hot Bread

This sculpture by Rusty Bowers of the Usery Pass area (northeast of Mesa, Ariz.) depicts the daily ritual of Hattie Wolfswinkle sharing hot bread with her husband Clarence Wolfswinkle while he was at work at his gas station at Alma School Road and Southern Avenue.

Donor: Sons Conley and Daryl, and the Wolfswinkle family.

Forever New Frontiers

This delightful sculpture by James N. Reeb of Provo, Utah depicts two children playing with a model helicopter. Specifically, it is an AH-64 Apache Combat Helicopter, made right here in Mesa by the Boeing Company.

Donor: Forever New Frontiers was commissioned by the Boeing Company (through Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel) and donated to the City.

Truth

The thread tying together all of James Muir’s sculptures is a never-ending quest for truth in its purest form. This is certainly evident in his sculpture of a newsboy holding a paper bearing the headline "Truth."

Donor: The East Valley Tribune donated the piece, which was selected and coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel.

Home Delivery

In this sculpture by Steven Schneider of Phoenix, the boy represents all those who carried papers on their bicycles. Although a less common method of delivery today, it was how most papers got delivered from 1950-77 when the Daily Tribune (now East Valley Tribune) was owned by the Calvert family, who donated the sculpture.

Donor: R.W. and Joan Calvert, former owners/publishers of the Daily Tribune, and their children David, Vicky and Patricia donated this commissioned piece, which was coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture panel.

W. H. Passey

William H. Passey was "…wonderfully gracious, engaged and enjoyed everyone, and was a mentor who helped many people with their own businesses," said his grandson, Bill Passey, whose family commissioned this sculpture (through Mesa's Permanent Sculpture Panel). As a community leader, William H. Passey was involved in everything from banking and ranching to real estate and insurance. In 1935, he and Bill Bond founded Passey Bond Company, now located at 28 North Center Street and one of largest independent insurance agencies in the Valley. Passey Realty & Investment Company is next door at 24 North Center Street. The Passey family also includes a local artist, for the sculpture was created by Larry Passey of Mesa.

Donor: Passey family

Pete’s Place

This sculpture by Rusty Bowers of the Usery Pass area (northeast of Mesa, Ariz.) depicts John W. “Pete” Peters, a masonry contractor and founder of Western Block Company, who built many structures throughout the Valley. People often said that wherever he was, it was “Pete’s Place.”

Donor: Western Block Company through Pete’s son, Doug (commission coordinated through Mesa’s permanent Sculpture Panel).

The Statesman

This sculpture by Art Norby or Carefree, Ariz., depicts Ernest W. McFarland, former majority leader of the U.S. Senate, Arizona Governor, and Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court. While a senator, McFarland sponsored the G.I. Bill of Rights. Thus, the sculpture shows the senator, with the G.I. Bill in hand, symbolically lifting a returning World War II soldier to higher ground.

Donor: Jewell Lewis, McFarland’s daughter, and her husband Del Lewis (commission coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel).

The Builder

This sculpture by Art Norby or Carefree, Ariz., depicts Joseph Alexander Nesbitt gazing up at the building he is working on, seeing off into the prosperous future of his community. Nesbitt built many notable homes as well as many commercial and public buildings, including the Drew Building, Metz Hotel, Southside District Hospital, Rendezvous Ball Park, and the Old Mesa City Hall.

Donor: Joseph’s grandchildren, Jim Nesbitt, John Nesbitt, and Deborah Nesbitt Elliott (commission coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel).

The Wall Street Farmer

This sculpture by Art Norby or Carefree, Ariz., depicts W. Larkin Fitch, who with his wife, Anna, settled in North Mesa and farmed 700 acres. Larkin donated the land where Fitch Park is today and where the Chicago Cubs practice.

Donor: Larkin’s grandchildren, Jim Nesbitt, John Nesbitt, and Deborah Nesbitt Elliott (commission coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel).

The Citrus Grower

This sculpture by Art Norby or Carefree, Ariz., is dedicated to all early citrus pioneers in the Valley. This particular pioneer is Harvey Wood, a third-generation farmer whose family cultivated citrus in northeast Mesa. The sculpture shows Harvey doing what he loved best – spending time with his children in the citrus groves. Specifically, he is with his daughter Ashley.

Donor: Harvey’s wife, Cassandra Pomeroy Wood, and their children Lindsey, Ashley and Harvey, Jr. (commission coordinated through Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel).

Teaching Children Since 1878

This sculpture by James Avati depicts Mesa’s first teacher, Ursula Pomeroy, who in 1878 gathered children in a brush shed to give them lessons.

Donor: Mesa Public Schools and the Mesa Historical Society raised money for the piece.

Big League Dreams

These three boys playing baseball have added a youthful touch – and perhaps a bit of nostalgia for some – to the downtown community. The bronze pieces have been added to Mesa’s permanent sculpture collection and will be displayed downtown, including display on Main Street as part of the 7th Annual Sculptures In The Streets exhibit, which begins in November. They will also be displayed at HoHoKam Stadium just north of downtown during Chicago Cubs spring training in March and April.

Sponsors: Chicago Cubs, Mesa HoHoKams, City of Mesa, Mesa Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, and Mesa’s Permanent Sculpture Panel.

Family: Fundamental Unit of Society

After showing Family: Fundamental Unit of Society in the 4th Annual Sculptures In The Streets exhibit (fall/winter 2002/2003), artists Sandra Forsey and Sydney Knight of Peoria, Ariz., donated the steel piece (through Ultimate Imaginations, Inc.) to Mesa's permanent collection. The background of this sculpture is red to represent aggression, violence, shame and anger, and the holes represents how society can become fragmented. The people in the foreground are blue to represent purity, cleanliness, calmness and security, and as a family unit they give society strength, stability and organization.

Donors: artists Sandra Forsey and Sydney Knight

Tokyo Giants Lantern

The Tokyo Giants Lantern is a beautiful granite sculpture donated by Janet Ikeda (shown in the photo). It is currently not on public display, but watch for this fine sculpture in downtown Mesa in the very near future!

Sponsor: Janet Ikeda