Public Art Tour

Grab your friends and fam, hop in the car and take a ride around town as First Friday takes you on a tour of local art murals, sculptures and public art.

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You Are Amazing

LOCATION
Happy Puppy; 2187 McCulloch Blvd N, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403

CREATED
2021

ARTIST
Jayarr Steiner, a Tempe muralist.

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
First Friday created a grant for a new mural in Downtown Lake Havasu City. Happy Puppy is one of the newest businesses to join Downtown, and was a perfect candidate for the grant. First Friday connected Tempe muralist Jayarr with owner Garrett and together they created a piece that speaks to our growing Downtown and the vibrant desert we live in. This piece took two days and is the newest mural to bring joy to our community.

Where the Mountains Meet the Sky

LOCATION
Between Havasu Hardware and Jersey’s

CREATED
2021

ARTIST
Students of Pam Reinke’s Art Academy. (13 kids ages 9-16, plus parents helped)

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
”I wanted my Art Academy students (who have been with me for five years) to experience the pride in contributing to their community in a creative way. We had just done an art history lesson on Ted Harrison, an artist from the Yukon who did beautiful graphic landscapes where the values are shapes rather than blended. The results were gorgeous so I suggested that style for the mural and asked interested kids to submit their designs with an application.”

Cupcake Mountain

LOCATION
Inspire Church; 2139 Swanson Ave

CREATED
2019

ARTIST
Kolleen Bookey, a Havasu muralist.

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
The Vice President of HAPA is a member of Inspire Church and discovered that they wanted a landscape mural with palm trees that featured a Havasu icon. “Cupcake Mountain” is well-recognized and loved by all Havasu residents and is a landmark of Lake Havasu.

John’s Rock Garden

LOCATION
Near 2009 Magnolia Dr on the Pima Path

CREATED
2018

ARTIST
John West

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
The goal is to beautify the area that connects to the Pima Wash walkway. The project was inspired by a rock garden the artist made during his childhood.

Desert Garden & Farm to Table

LOCATION
The KAWS; 2144 McCulloch Blvd

CREATED
The Desert Garden Mural (inside) was created in May/June 2019. Farm to Table began in May 2020.

ARTIST
Rachel Kaiser

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
Desert Garden was created to bring a warm, earthy feel to the space to fit with any type of gathering. The owner (Regan Ross) had always been called by her father, “his desert flower” so the concept developed from there.

The Farm to Table was completely Rachel’s vision as she was chosen through a call-to-artist initiative with HAPA. She has created two messages-- symbolism of a community supporting farmers and producers and the act of bringing people together at one table in a world that’s becoming increasingly divisive and isolated.

Classic Cars

LOCATION
2079 McCulloch Blvd

CREATED
This piece was the first mural of the Havasu Area Public Art (HAPA).

ARTIST
Amy Novell, a mural artist from Tucson, AZ.

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
The Hodel’s contacted HAPA to create a car mural on their wall facing Hodel Way. HAPA raised funds by approaching Havasu car enthusiasts and asked if they would donate to have their car on the mural.

Color Block

LOCATION
300 block London Bridge Rd. (Hospice of Havasu to LH Museum of History)

CREATED
2018

ARTIST
Artists include Nathan Adler (massive, hyper bright hot air balloon photo, wrapped by Tek Wrap); Aymie Spitzer (colorful shapes/general design); Deb Riva (metal artwork).

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
The idea to create a demonstration piece was initiated when ZMC Hotels expressed concern over the appearance of the area as his customers looked out the front of the Hampton Inn. Having significantly invested in renovation improvements at their location, ZMC Hotels was intrigued by the idea of seeing improvement along London Bridge Road, making the expanse more appealing for their clientele, as well as the community at large. The Partnership for Economic Development partnered with Hospice of Havasu, Chamber of Commerce, Go Lake Havasu, LH Museum of History and ZMC Hotels.

Share the Road

LOCATION
585 N Lake Havasu Ave

CREATED
2019

ARTIST
Jaque Meng, owner of Q Gallery

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
“Share the Road” is a memorial, a safety reminder to motorists, as well as a work of art. A local bicycle club approached HAPA to create a mural that would memorialize four Havasu cyclists who died on Havasu highways. Not only did they approach us with the idea and a donation, but they also had a willing building owner with a wall visible from Hwy 95.

Lake Havasu Lighthouses

LOCATION
Along Beachcomber Blvd on the Island, around Lake Havasu and on Chemehuevi Indian Reservation.

CREATED
Since 2002

ARTIST
Lake Havasu Lighthouse Association

MESSAGE BEHIND THE BRUSH
The goal of the lighthouses is to honor historical lighthouses throughout the United States and give light to those on Lake Havasu. Learn more here.

photos courtesy of Go Lake Havasu