15 Years of Community Mural, Tempe, Guide du visiteur et quoi faire à proximité

The 15 Years of Community Mural is a public artwork at 5th Street and Maple Avenue in Tempe, Arizona, painted by muralists Isaac Caruso and Jesse Yazzie. It puts faces from Tempe's story on a street wall, so an ordinary corner becomes a short lesson in the people who shaped the city.

The story behind it

The mural is a collaboration between two Arizona artists. Isaac Caruso, a Phoenix native, has painted dozens of murals around the state, often honoring public figures and themes of community and togetherness. Jesse Yazzie, originally from the Navajo Nation, has painted more than 20 murals in downtown Phoenix and the surrounding area. The two have worked together before, including on a mural honoring Calvin Goode.

The wall features prominent figures from Tempe's history. Among them are Love Hatton Jordan, an Arizona State University graduate, and Neil Giuliano, a former mayor of Tempe. Rather than a single portrait or monument, it reads as a gathering of local people, which fits the title.

What to look for

• Look for the portraits of real Tempe figures, including Love Hatton Jordan and former mayor Neil Giuliano, and notice how each face is treated as part of one shared scene.
• Compare the two artists' hands: Yazzie's work often draws on graffiti elements and strongly contrasting Arizona colors, so see if you can spot where bold color and lettering style come through.
• Step back to take in the whole wall first, then move closer to see the brushwork and small details in the faces.
• Notice the setting itself, a street corner where passers-by become part of the picture the mural creates of the community.

Tips for your visit

• The mural is on an outdoor wall at a street corner, so you can see it from the sidewalk. Ten to fifteen minutes is plenty for a good look and a few photos.
• Tempe gets very hot, so go in the morning or late afternoon, when the light is softer for photographs and the walk is more comfortable.
• It sits close to the Arizona State University area, so pair it with a wander through the nearby streets rather than making a special trip.
• Bring a phone or camera and read about the people shown before you go, since the portraits mean more when you know who they are.

See it on a quest

The mural is one stop on Highlights of Tempe: The Troll of Tempe Town Lake. You reach it on foot as part of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot, which makes you look at the wall far more closely than a quick photo would. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever suits you, with no guide and no group to join.