Fourth horse to join Alterra ‘herd’

An iconic splash of color in Alterra will soon become even more vibrant. 

The herd of three colorful equine statues at West Alterra and North John Wayne Parkways will greet a new member, Estrella, by Casa Grande-based artist Mauriel “Mory” Morejon. 

Morejon painted the sculpture yesterday, depicting a vivid Arizona sunset paired with saguaros, horses and mountains.  

“We’re planning on installing it on Tuesday morning as the fourth horse of the ‘herd’ over at Alterra,” said Quinn Konold, a spokesperson for the city. 

Estrella will be the 19th horse installed in the city as a part of a Public Arts Initiative by City Manager Rick Horst. The first ten horses were unveiled in March 2021 and nine more were unveiled in February last year, not all of which have yet been installed. 

The city has also erected artwork of the non-equine variety. Decorated traffic boxes and murals installed around town are part of the initiative. 

Morejon’s horse stands out from the other 18 already installed as it was painted only a week before its expected installation. 

Estrella will join “Koolines from Fiji” by Mai May Talwing; “Maricopa Ties” by Maria Pour; and “Earth Spirit” by Troy Talmadge. City officials introduced those horses July 10 and left a vacancy for Estrella. 

This is not the first piece Morejon completed as a part of the city’s Public Arts Initiative. He painted “By the Trail,” a desertscape mural that spiffed up the side of the Maricopa Museum and Visitor Center in July.