By Mike Sunnucks | Rose Law Group Reporter
A large mural of John McCain in Old Town Scottsdale is back on hold.
The Scottsdale City Council was slated to consider ‘The Maverick Mural’ at its meeting today. But the mural item has been taking off the council agenda. The council doesn’t meet again until August 27th.
Thamarit Suchart, a principal with architecture firm Chen + Suchart Studio LLC, has been working to bring the McCain mural to life. He said the item was taken off the council agenda so it can be continued to a future date as mural backers work out details with neighboring property owners.
The mural would be 30 feet by 141 feet on the north façade of a two-story commercial building. The mural would consist of 30,000 pictograms representing the five C’s of Arizona Copper, Cattle, Cotton, Citrus, and Climate.
The McCain mural would be located at 4235 North Marshall Way near Fifth Avenue.
The size, location and political nature of the mural has prompted some concerns from neighboring property owners. Suchart hopes to the mural will still be installed at its original proposed location.
Scottsdale’s Development Review Board approved plans for the mural in December. Artist Aaron Bass, Chen + Suchart Studio and property owner Eric Marvin are advocating for the Mural.
McCain died last year. He was elected to six terms in the U.S. Senate, was the 2008 Republican presidential nominee (losing to Barack Obama) and spent more than five years as POW during the Vietnam War.
McCain was also a frequent foe of President Donald Trump.
McCain and Trump clashed throughout the latter’s 2016 presidential campaign and after Trump become president including over health care. The Scottsdale City Council has received emails and correspondence supporting the McCain mural along with those concerned about the political nature and size of the Maverick Mural.
