It’s been a full month now, since I got to Mesa, Arizona… for the winter that is. We liked it here right away – the freeway system is well planned and very artful. There is surprisingly much vegetation and the bouganvillea and lantana welcomed us in bloom.

But it’s the freeway art that’s really intriguing. I’m not talking grafiti. I’m referring to the interesting medallions on the walls and innovative use of southwestern motifs painted in various colors of earth-toned gravels. As a fiber artist, I’m intrigued by the inspiration these motifs imprint on my creative arts brain cache. As a landscape designer, I’m delighted to see the use of these natural materials to create art that so beautifully fits in with the surroundings and maintains the essence and sense of place.