ARTIST'S BACKGROUNDS - Granite Creek Trail Mural Project

DAVID HIRSCHY

David spent summers in Prescott; he could be called a “Yavapai kid.”
He graduated Occidental College, and later joined the Peace Corps, where in 1968 he met and married the love of his life for the next 55 years, Marcella Flores.

After 30 years in New York, they couple to Prescott and begin a creative collaboration: silver-smithing, mixed media art and sculpting.

In 1966 with Marcella, he created Miramontes Studios, relocating the gallery in 2017 to 6^thStreet, where Marcella continues to display and sell their work, preserving David’s legacy. Miramontes is Marcella's family name.

David passed away on November 21, 2023.

DAVID AND MARCELLA

David Hirschy met Marcella Flores while David was serving in the Peace Corps, and Marcella was teaching at the American School in Medellin. They were wed on December 8, 1968, and their fantastic love story continued for 55 years until David passed in 2023.

His spirit will endure through the love and joy he shared with those fortunate enough to call him friend or family. His art legacy will live on in the art Marcella and her associates continue to produce.

GENE GALAZAN

1963-67

During the years of 1963-66, I received a Madison Art Center Purchase Award, Wisconsin Salon of Arts Award, as well as Milwaukee Art Museum Awards including in 1966, the Best of Show and $1,000 prize. The award winning sculpture was made of jagged sections of boiler plating and 6”x6” beams. It was 12 feet high and occupied a 12’x12’area.

In the summer of 1966, I earned an MFA in sculpture from UW-Madison.

I moved to L.A., CA in 1966 and had a One Person Show at the Esther Robles Gallery in 1967.

1974-1994

In 1974, I returned to Wisconsin and began work in cast bronze. I moved on to experiment in burlap, tree branches, paint and rope. My work was abstract and figurative in nature. I was part of a number of group exhibitions over this period of time. I also began to create performance works which used my sculptures and paintings on stage.

1995-2006

Leaving Wisconsin for Arizona, I fell in love with horses. For the next 11 years, I have created welded scrap steel life size sculptures of horses. The Phippen Museum had a show of these horses purchased three of these sculptures and another one was sold for $7000. I also donated 2 large horses and 4 small colts to the Phippen. The horses have also been exhibited at the Hahn-Ross Gallery in Santa Fe, NM as well as Prescott College. I donated 2 life size horses and 2 colts to the City of Prescott Valley and are grazing on Glassford Hill..

I completed a life size horse sculpture commission for a private client in Point Reyes, CA in 2004.

2006-2024

The city of Prescott Valley has 2 of my abstract large sculptures, one in Fain Park and one on the Civic Center.

I am currently negotiating with the City of Flagstaff to donate a sculpture in a public park space. I also have a sculpture in front of the library in Chino Valley.

The large horse and 2 smaller colts I am offering to donate to the City of Prescott may be my last horses. I have chosen a beautiful site for them along side the Peavine Trail.

JONATHAN DECKER

Jonathan began helping David Hirschy produce his large steel sculpture, and has been creating his own since that time.