Scrap Metal Sculpture Garden

Tucson, Arizona

Jerry Hall was not the kind of guy to let illness douse his creative fires. For decades the welder and self-taught folk artist transformed cast-off auto parts into a collection of whimsical figures to decorate his front yard. Even while undergoing chemotherapy for the colon cancer that would eventually claim his life, Hall continued to add to the sculpture garden, which eventually grew to more than 60 pieces. Two of the chrome-bumper figures (seen here in the rightmost photo in the bottom row) are even named "Mr. and Mrs. Chemo" to express his feelings about the disease. Hall passed away in October 2010; his wife Chris maintains the sculpture garden so that passersby may still experience her husband's joy in living.

Directions: 1402 E. Water Street (at N. Highland Avenue). Private residence; please respect the privacy of the residents. Always visible from the street. The cowboy sculpture is located one block south, in the roundabout at Highland Avenue and spring Street.

Last visited: March 2011 (Update January 2013: Reportedly, many of the sculptures have been auctioned off and are gone, but a few remain).

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.