The Phoenix Bird

 

When I was shopping last Saturday, I saw this vehicle with a Phoenix Bird painted on the front of it.  I just had to snap a photo and add it to my Phoenix Bird collection.

Unfortunately, it was painted on the front of one of these monstrosities.  I really can't fathom why anyone would want one of these ugly cars.  

Phoenix Bird....Update

 

Here in the desert Southwest, we've reached that time of year when being outside is uncomfortable and for some dangerous.  I decided to scroll through some posts from years past during this time of year.  I wanted to see what photos I was out taking during the hot June days.

In 2009, I found a post showing this wonderful Phoenix Bird sculpture located at the entrance to Town and Country Shopping Center.  It's my favorite of all the different interpretations of this mythical bird.

I decided to get an update of that old photo and this is the result.

That plaque in the background reads:

"The Phoenix"

Symbolizing power, beauty and constant youth.

Dedicated to the memory of artist Paul Coze.  

Gifts of Art

When I was at the Phoenix Public Library last February, I wandered around admiring the various art works that are scattered about the building.  This one is called "Ranch in the Hills" and it was painted by Howard Post, a well known Arizona artist.  Mr. Post was born and raised on a ranch near Tucson.  He graduated from the University of Arizona and taught art there for two years before becoming a commercial artist.  In 1980, he decided to start painting what he knew best, Arizona ranching life.  You can find his paintings in museums and galleries all over the country.

Not far away I found this wool tapestry called "Phoenix Bird" by Ronald Cruickshank.  Mr. Cruickshank was a Scottish weaver who combined modern designs with his medieval style of weaving. (This one was framed behind glass, sorry about the glare.)

Both of these art works were gifts to the Phoenix Public Library from patrons who contributed them so they would become part of the permanent collection.

New Color for a Phoenix Bird

A few years ago, I was posting photos of all the different versions of the Phoenix Bird that can be found within the city.  One of them was this stylized version.    Back then, it was all metallic.  Recently I drove past this building and saw that it had been painted a bright yellow. At first I wasn't sure about that color but the more I look at it, the more I like it.  It looks good against the blue sky reflected in all that glass.

P.S.  I notice that in the top photo I captured a reflected image of a mural I posted back in 2013.  That mural has been there a very long time even though the salon it was on has been gone a long time.

High Flying Phoenix Bird

I found this Phoenix Bird perched up high on the top of this lacy, metal holiday tree in downtown Phoenix.  Tomorrow I'll show you where I found this new holiday decoration.


I have a new post on Sharon's Sojourns today.  I've had Venice on my mind lately.

The Phoenix Bird

I haven't posted a Phoenix bird in quite awhile because I had captured all the ones that I knew about.  However, recently I found this one at the entrance to housing area that is attached to the Phoenician Resort.  He looked pretty good against that  cloud spattered sky.

His partner was on the other side of the entrance with a large tree behind it.  I'll keep my eyes open for more. I never know where I'll find one.

Phoenix Bird

Sorry for the late post today.  This Ed Mell Phoenix Bird is located in a plaza area in downtown Phoenix.  It  was commissioned back in 2006 as part of an arts and culture celebration.

I love Ed Mell's art so this one was fun to find.

Colorful Phoenix Bird

I discovered another Phoenix Bird this time in a residential neighborhood on the fence of a house.  There is no explanation as to what it is doing there.  I can only guess that the owner of the house found it somewhere and decided it would look good on his fence.  Or, maybe he actually created this himself.

My Favorite Phoenix Bird

My favorite depiction of the Phoenix Bird is this one that stands at the entrance to the Town and Country Shopping Center.  This shopping center is one of the city's oldest with brick sidewalks and a "country" feel.  However is has undergone some modernizing lately.  Luckily the quaint core of the center is still in tact with newer building around the outside.  This Phoenix bird is constructed of steel and stained glass.  I'm always watching for the sun to light up those colorful wings but so far I've not caught it at the right time.  This photo, taken on a dull day shows the colors of the glass the best I've seen.

Stylized Phoenix Bird

Another one of our many Phoenix Birds today.  I'll bet that many people who live here don't even realize that this is a depiction of that famous mythical bird.  It's a very modern, stylized version that sits in front of a high-rise office building on Central Avenue.

The Phoenix

Here is another depiction of the Phoenix Bird.  This on is the mosaic style sign on the side of an apartment building that goes by the name "The Phoenix".

Phoenix Bird...as a mural

I found this Phoenix Bird in an alley in downtown Phoenix painted on the side of a building.  I couldn't find an artists name.

I don't think there is any message here.  It's just another artistic version of our namesake.

Another Phoenix

I posted a photo of this Phoenix Bird once before but it was 5 years ago.  Where does the time go!

This one is located in the Garfield Historic district.  I think it was put there to highlight the resurgence of that neighborhood.

The artist for this one is Joe A. Tyler and it was created with funds from the City of Phoenix Streets Percent for the Arts project.

Musical Phoenix Bird

This depiction of the Phoenix Bird might take a little imagination from some people.

This one can be found in the entrance courtyard to the Musical Instrument Museum and  it therefore, has a bit of musical instrument theme to it.

This sculpture was created by Louis Halleux, Belgian sculptor.  He named the piece appropriately enough "Phoenix".

Phoenix Bird

I told you a while back that I wanted to do a series on the many versions of Phoenix Birds that appear all around the city so I'm going to pull some in over the next few months.  I found this one just this last weekend on the front of a mid-town hotel.  This style of Phoenix bird is an almost exact copy of the one that is used on all official City of Phoenix documents, business cards, etc.

See what I mean?  Here is a copy of the official bird that I found on the internet.

Above is a photo of where I found this Phoenix Bird, at the Clarendon Hotel.  The hotel is located in a very unlikely spot on a quiet street in the mid-town area of Phoenix close to where I used to live.  It was purchased a few years back by a new management company and they have turned the hotel into a very eclectic place.  

The Phoenix Bird

Phoenix Daily Photo has hit a bit of milestone today.  This is the 2500th post!

I thought I'd celebrate the occasion with one of the many iconic Phoenix Bird depictions that I see around town.  I really should do a series on these various statues.  There are quite a few to be found in our fair city.  

Garfield Rising

Across the street from the Alwun House is this art work called Garfield Rising named for the Garfield Neighborhood where it is located. It was created by artist Joe A. Tyler and commissioned through the street transportation capital “percent for arts” program.  It is a beautiful piece depicting the famous Phoenix rising from the ashes.

Rising Phoenix

Last November I posted two photos from the Town & Country Shopping Center. You can see them here and here. I failed to show you this exquisite Phoenix Bird sculpture that has been the symbol for this center all these years. The sculpture is made of steel and stained glass and in the morning you can see the light filtering through the glass as you drive by.

There is a dedication plaque next to the sculpture that reads “The Phoenix, Symbolizing power, beauty, and constant youth. Dedicated to the memory of artist Paul Coze and the City of Phoenix”