Cactus Wren Mural – Palomino Library

2017
Palomino Public Library – Scottsdale AZ

After being commissioned to paint the mural for the library I wanted to pick a bird that was indicative of the area so I went for a walk in the mountains across the street from the library. I thought “the first bird that shows himself to me will be the bird meant for this mural” and sure enough not 10 feet down the trail a Cactus Wren squawks at me from a Saguaro!  Cactus Wrens are intelligent, intense, gregarious, inquisitive, and loud birds (perfect for a high school/library!) They also have beautiful geometric and organic patterning on their feathers. Pulling from the patterning found on the Cactus Wren the mural image turns into mountain-shaped triangles. The symbolism of the triangle is rich and varied – for this project, I was drawn to the original Phoenicians’ symbolism of a triangle as a “tent door” or a gateway – much like a library can be to another world.  The triangle is a symbol that embraces both male and female divinity and balance – from those triangles, another patterned mountain distributes arrows to symbolize change, direction, and meditation on one’s next move in life.