R. Phillips Sanderson Sites

"The Cochise County Courthouse contains several pieces of New Deal art. 'A Cavalcade of Cochise County History' is depicted in six bas-reliefs that line the entryway. R. Phillips Sanderson was funded by the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration to produce these plaster sculptures. On the second floor landing hangs another WPA commission, an impressive relief map of Cochise County created by artist George Sellers. Forty-four pounds of screws, nails, tacks, and over 2,000 cups of plaster were used to create the map."

"To portray 'beauty, toil and simplicity' was the goal of artist, R. Phillips Sanderson, when he designed the 'Copper Miner.' Sanderson had moved to Bisbee during the Depression and worked as a commercial artist. He was paid $30.00 per month by the Federal Emergency Relief Administration during the six months it took to complete the statue. Bisbee native, Lee Petrovitch, posed for the artist. The statue was cast in concrete and covered (metalized) with a thin layer of copper. The statue was dedicated to all of the miners who had worked in Bisbee mines."