Heritage Murals
Everybody Needs a Rock/Desert Dwellers Mural
Joel D. Valdez Library, 101 N Stone Ave, Tucson, AZ
The Desert Dwellers Mural reflects the joys of living in the desert.
In honor of what would have been Byrd Baylor’s 100th birthday, we joined Pima County Environmental Quality’s celebration to honor the stories and poems of this award-winning, local author. The signature event was the unveiling of their mural by another heritage area treasure, Joe Pagac, at the Children’s Room at Joel D. Valdez Library in downtown Tucson. Drawing inspiration from Baylor’s children’s book, Everyone Needs a Rock, and the phrase, “Fresh air and sunshine make me smile,” the mural aims to convey the joys of desert living. It reflects the warmth of the sun on your skin, the scent of creosote after rainfall, and the gentle rustling of small creatures enjoying a sunny rock.
To connect Pagac’s and Baylor’s two forms of storytelling—visual and written—we created this supplementary handout which translates objects and ideas depicted in the mural from English and Spanish into the first languages of this region, O’odham and Yoeme, languages at risk of being lost altogether.
Practice these words…
Roll them around on your tongue…
Every time you see a rock, say roca… hodai… teta…
If you meet someone who speaks these languages, ask them to help you pronounce them.
In this way, you can make a deeper connection with the ancestral people of this land and their heritage. You will understand each other better and begin to build a foundation of respect. And you will also help keep these original languages alive.
Learn more about the background of this amazing visual storytelling here. And checkout Baylor’s books through the Pima County Library.
Meet the Artist – Joe Pagac
Joe Pagac is a Tucson native, a full-time artist, and a world traveler. When he isn’t out painting around the country he is finding ways to immerse himself in nature where he draws his inspiration. His ultimate goals are to bring more appreciation to the plants and animals that surround us, and to make people smile.