The GEOPA Project:
Finding a Sense of Place Through Public Art
By: Kristen Forbes
[This article was published in the Fall 2008 edition of Wavelength Magazine].
Finding a Sense of Place Through Public Art
By: Kristen Forbes
[This article was published in the Fall 2008 edition of Wavelength Magazine].
“Phoenix is nationally known for its public art,” says Elayne Achilles, past director of educational programs for Maricopa Partnership for Arts and Culture (MPAC). Despite the abundance of public artwork that exists in the area, however, Achilles says many of the pieces remain “hidden treasures.”
What better way to reveal hidden treasures than to go on a treasure hunt? The GEOPA Project: Finding a Sense of Place Through Public Art, was designed by MPAC to encourage community members to find and explore the artwork that exists within their surroundings.
“The reason we’re doing this is to help families and children understand the importance of art and culture in their community and in their lives,” Achilles says.
A selection committee comprised of local public art consultants, technologists and educators chose 21 pieces from throughout Maricopa County to be included in the project. An all-inclusive curriculum, used in classrooms for the pilot project, encourages engagement and inquiry and was designed to meet the Arizona State Standard for the Arts.
With ASU professor Alice Christie, Ph.D. serving as consultant and project leader, the GEOPA Project combines art and technology by including the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receivers in its curriculum. Those without access to receivers should not be deterred – Achilles says they add a fun component, but are not necessary to locate and enjoy artwork.
Following is a list of the selected pieces. (For more information and accompanying lessons and activities, go to www.alicechristie.org).
What better way to reveal hidden treasures than to go on a treasure hunt? The GEOPA Project: Finding a Sense of Place Through Public Art, was designed by MPAC to encourage community members to find and explore the artwork that exists within their surroundings.
“The reason we’re doing this is to help families and children understand the importance of art and culture in their community and in their lives,” Achilles says.
A selection committee comprised of local public art consultants, technologists and educators chose 21 pieces from throughout Maricopa County to be included in the project. An all-inclusive curriculum, used in classrooms for the pilot project, encourages engagement and inquiry and was designed to meet the Arizona State Standard for the Arts.
With ASU professor Alice Christie, Ph.D. serving as consultant and project leader, the GEOPA Project combines art and technology by including the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) receivers in its curriculum. Those without access to receivers should not be deterred – Achilles says they add a fun component, but are not necessary to locate and enjoy artwork.
Following is a list of the selected pieces. (For more information and accompanying lessons and activities, go to www.alicechristie.org).
"Art is a Guaranty of Sanity," created by 97-year-old Louise Bourgeois, is a highly polished steel mirror cut into a spider-web pattern. It stands at around 90 feet tall.
At the center of the "Barry Goldwater Memorial" is a nine-foot bronze statue of the senator created by Joe Beeler.
At the center of the "Barry Goldwater Memorial" is a nine-foot bronze statue of the senator created by Joe Beeler.
A flattened barrel cactus inspired Norie Sato to create "Cactus Mirage," a translucent wall through which 5,000 reflective dots shift and shimmer in reaction to sunlight and wind.
Artist Jim Budish cast his "Chancey the Rabbit" sculpture in bronze after sculpting in low-density foam with a hot-knife, then adding clay to the surface.
After taking photographs of a Mesa rainstorm at dusk, Beth Galston created two ribbons of colored glass to capture the imagery of the photos. The glass is attached to guardrails on the second and third levels of the Studios buildings, forming "Color Walk."
During a yearlong project, McClintock High School students worked alongside artists to craft handmade ceramic tiles, which were incorporated into "The Elements."
Joe Tyler cut more than 6,000 individual leaves in the arching branches of the welded steel weeping willow tree created especially for "Fire Station #30."
In "Fragmented Landscape" by Ned Kahn, thousands of small aluminum panels perforated with varying sizes of holes make up two shade screens that are activated by wind to create a photographic image of sand dunes.
Created by internationally acclaimed artist James Turrell, "Knight Rise" is one of only three skyspaces open for public viewing in the United States.
Two kinetic light sculptures transform sunlight into all the colors of the spectrum in Joseph McShane’s "Language of Light," a celebration of the Southwestern sun.
Hand operated wheels can be turned to direct water flow into underground pipes at Laurie Lundquist's "Marina Water Muse."
The galvanized chain-link safety cage in Laurie Lundquist’s "Nisbet Road Pedestrian Bridge" is designed to look like the jagged mountain profile of the mountains to the south.
Translucent blocks set in a grid-like pattern make up "An Open Book," a sculpture attached to the curved wall of the library’s meeting room. Each block focuses on one letter of the alphabet.
Lizards, desert plants, local landforms and Maricopa Indian patterns can all be found on the walls and ramps of Scottsdale's outer loop highway in "The Path Most Traveled," designed by artist Carolyn Braaksmith.
In "Fragmented Landscape" by Ned Kahn, thousands of small aluminum panels perforated with varying sizes of holes make up two shade screens that are activated by wind to create a photographic image of sand dunes.
Created by internationally acclaimed artist James Turrell, "Knight Rise" is one of only three skyspaces open for public viewing in the United States.
Two kinetic light sculptures transform sunlight into all the colors of the spectrum in Joseph McShane’s "Language of Light," a celebration of the Southwestern sun.
Hand operated wheels can be turned to direct water flow into underground pipes at Laurie Lundquist's "Marina Water Muse."
The galvanized chain-link safety cage in Laurie Lundquist’s "Nisbet Road Pedestrian Bridge" is designed to look like the jagged mountain profile of the mountains to the south.
Translucent blocks set in a grid-like pattern make up "An Open Book," a sculpture attached to the curved wall of the library’s meeting room. Each block focuses on one letter of the alphabet.
Lizards, desert plants, local landforms and Maricopa Indian patterns can all be found on the walls and ramps of Scottsdale's outer loop highway in "The Path Most Traveled," designed by artist Carolyn Braaksmith.
Joe Tyler created "The Reading Tree," a 25-foot tall steel tree sculpture with benches.
A firefighter and police officer rescuing a young girl are depicted in Arthur Noby’s monument-sized sculpture, "The Rescuers."
Over four years, 3,500 people created tiles, which artists Jeff East and Rebecca Ross used in their 545-foot long mural that represents the past, present and future of the Salt River area, "River Then, River Now, River Future."
The suspended metal sculpture "Staring into the Sun" was designed by Kevin Berry as a statement on the illumination of knowledge that comes from literature.
More than 1,000 individually hand-blown pieces of glass make up the 10-foot chandelier titled "The Sun and the Moon," created by Dale Chihuly.
Native and migrating butterflies can find food and habitat in Matt and Maria Salenger’s "Tres Rios Butterfly Garden."
Formed by a natural 20-foot drop along the Arizona Canal, "Waterworks at Arizona Falls" is a place where visitors can learn, interact and reflect.
***
Kristen Forbes is a freelance writer who lives near Portland, OR. To view her blog, visit www.krissymick.blogspot.com.
A firefighter and police officer rescuing a young girl are depicted in Arthur Noby’s monument-sized sculpture, "The Rescuers."
Over four years, 3,500 people created tiles, which artists Jeff East and Rebecca Ross used in their 545-foot long mural that represents the past, present and future of the Salt River area, "River Then, River Now, River Future."
The suspended metal sculpture "Staring into the Sun" was designed by Kevin Berry as a statement on the illumination of knowledge that comes from literature.
More than 1,000 individually hand-blown pieces of glass make up the 10-foot chandelier titled "The Sun and the Moon," created by Dale Chihuly.
Native and migrating butterflies can find food and habitat in Matt and Maria Salenger’s "Tres Rios Butterfly Garden."
Formed by a natural 20-foot drop along the Arizona Canal, "Waterworks at Arizona Falls" is a place where visitors can learn, interact and reflect.
***
Kristen Forbes is a freelance writer who lives near Portland, OR. To view her blog, visit www.krissymick.blogspot.com.
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