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Phalanx of Angels Ascending
705 Building //705 N. Las Vegas Blvd. // Las Vegas
by D E B B I E H A L L
WATCHFUL EYE Phalanx of Angels Ascending mural honors iconic Blue Angel statue.
Back in the day, the iconic Blue Angel statue perched
with her beautiful smile. I love that about her.”
high over Fremont Street and Charleston Boulevard to
For over 60 years, from 1957 to 2017, the 16-foot-tall stat-
welcome locals and travelers. Now, a chorus of blue an-
ue, designed by Betty Willis (creator of the “Welcome to Fab-
gels watches over downtown Las Vegas as the Phalanx of
ulous Las Vegas” sign), stood over the Blue Angel Motel. The
Angels Ascending. Native Nevadan and artist James Stan-
property was demolished in 2015 and the statue was removed
ford designed and painted the mural in collaboration with
in 2017 with plans to restore and install it in its original setting.
street artist Cliff Morris.
Stanford wanted to capture the essence that Las Vegas
“I was raised a couple of blocks from the motel and
embodies a playful attitude without becoming insipid. The
we miss her,” says Stanford. “It was the brightest spot in
multitude of blue angels embraces the valley with the same
those days. She was not judgmental but was always there
loving message for all who view them.
50 SEPTEMBER 2019 Las Vegas