What are hotshots, and who were the 19? Some choose to share history or stories through avenues such as movies, plays, books, museums, and even art. By creating this mural, the goal is to answer the above question, give reverence to the men who heroically gave their lives to save ours, as well as honor the men that continue to put their lives on the line to protect us today.
Intro
This collage-style mural makes up 462 square feet of acrylic-painted artwork, created on 11 separate aluminum panels. These panels are installed here on the exterior walls of the historic Prescott Chamber of Commerce building, which used to be a firehouse and jailhouse in the late 19 th and 20 th centuries. The artist chose to paint the mural on panels instead of directly on the wall for several reasons. First, this decision aimed to preserve the integrity of the historic Chamber of Commerce building. Additionally, by using panels, the mural could be easily removed if the adjacent lot underwent development, rendering the artwork unviewable. Moreover, this approach allowed for the flexibility of breaking up the mural into different sizes and reinstalling it in various interior or exterior locations if needed. The mural itself serves as a visual representation of what it means to be a Hotshot while specifically commemorating the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who tragically lost their lives battling the Yarnell Hill Fire. It encompasses a wide range of elements, including their actual portraits and names, their fire station, helmets, tools, and buggy. It also features the sacred historic Juniper tree they saved, the dropping of slurry, the fence of gifts, the map of the meticulously crafted Memorial Trail, as well as their motto and quotes from Superintendent Eric Marsh’s “Who We Are” letter.