Public Art Walk

The History of Fountain Hills Public Art

(And how two people had the foresight and ingenuity to start this magnificent collection)

Jerry and Jackie Miles have lived in Fountain Hills since 1986. While neither is artistically inclined, Jackie is musical and Jerry very creative. Throughout their married lives they have visited many art galleries and museums and have enjoyed collecting pieces of art for their home.

In 1997 two coincidental events took place that set in motion the beginning of the Fountain Hills Public Art collection. Jackie Miles became one of the founders of the Fountain Hills Arts Council and Jerry Miles was elected Mayor of the town. Through Town Council Resolution 1997-44, the Arts Council became the authorized agency of the Town for the development and promotion of Public Art in Fountain Hills.

After the death of Jerry’s mother in 2001, the couple decided to purchase a piece of sculpture in her honor and to place it in their hometown of Fountain Hills. They chose the piece by Jason Napier, “Precious Cargo” which was placed near the then new Community Center. In that same year, Jerry Miles, who was also a board member of the Library Association, convinced that board to purchase Mark Lundeen’s, “A Good Book” and place it just outside their building.

These two pieces, placed in the area now known as the Milestones Sculpture Garden, began the Town of Fountain Hills’ magnificent Public Art collection.

Money was always difficult to come by to purchase more pieces for the collection but with Jerry’s creative mind he developed a variety of ways to convince the town’s residents to make donations. He also convinced the town council to pass a “percent for public art” which provided limited funding from commercial construction.

Jerry and Jackie Miles have always envisioned that Fountain Hills would become famously known for its Public Art collection and that people from all over the world would someday visit it. For over ten years Jerry and Jackie have attended the Loveland Colorado Sculpture Show where they have personally met world-renowned artists and viewed their exquisite works from which much of the Fountain Hills collection has grown. However, Jerry and Jackie have also chosen works from local artists which have given a very personal pride to the collection.

Jerry and Jackie’s unique expertise in choosing art has resulted in a Public Art collection that spans all forms of art and will reach 100 pieces by the Arizona Centennial of 2012. To honor the founders of the Fountain Hills Public Art, Jerry and Jackie Miles, the collection has been named, “Milestones: A Desert Odyssey through Public Art.”