Selfie-Friendly Works of Art in Arizona
You’ve got to have photos to show for your vacation. As much as friends and family will claim to be jealous, they’ll want proof that you went somewhere pretty; how better than a self-portrait or posed family shot taken with a piece of curious local art? And for children who can hardly sit still for a photo or teens who use their cameras as minute-by-minute mirrors, the following sites will add a dimension of intrigue to each snap.
Scottsdale
“Welcome to Old Town Scottsdale” cowboy sign: A very tall, double-sided cowboy figure stands on a prominent corner in the “souvenir district” of Scottsdale. It’s not silhouetted in motion-simulating neon like flashier cowboy signs in Nevada—and that’s just fine with scores of daytime picture-posers ’round these parts. • FIND IT: northeast corner of Scottsdale Road & Main Street
Tempe
“Greetings from Tempe” mosaic niche: At a perfect height for two children to sit upon and one to stand between them, this colorful, tile-laden statement piece is particularly fun for young siblings seeing their big brother or sister off to college at ASU. • FIND IT: east of Mill Avenue between 5th & 6th Streets
Mesa
Downtown Mesa’s sculpture collection: Three or more sculptures per block, per-side-of-street line the sidewalks of downtown Mesa. A variety of artists and styles are represented, and most are at a scale that makes interactive selfies easy. Favorites include a polar bear and cubs, Humpty Dumpty and an old-time newspaper boy. • FIND THEM: Main Street between Morris Street and Sirrine Street/Centennial Way
Goodyear
“The Ziz” baseball monument: Baseball fans, regardless of team affiliation, should trek to the Cactus League stadium of the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. Donald Lipski designed a spire-like sculpture of a seemingly stretched, red-stitched baseball to be as tall as the distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. • FIND IT: Goodyear Ballpark, 1933 S. Ballpark Way
Flagstaff
Lumberjack statue: Fabricated to be Paul Bunyan for a themed cafe along Route 66 in the early 1960s, this 40-foot character was later co-opted by Northern Arizona University (nickname: the Lumberjacks) and placed outside the student athletics venue. • FIND IT: Walkup Skydome, 1705 S. San Francisco St.
Tombstone
“The Town Too Tough to Die” street marker: Strike your own tough pose in front of this low billboard. Then wander Allen Street’s row of Old West businesses and attractions on the lookout for a (staged) gunfight to photobomb. • FIND IT: Allen Street between 3rd and 6th Streets
