NOTES FROM THE COMMUNITY		Print This Page Email This Page

Notes from the Community

What are people's perceptions of public art? The program regularly collects the general public's opinions about the City's public art and what it means to them. In this excerpt, you'll find short interviews from Scottsdale's public officials, local artists, and general members of the community.

Interviews:

• Sonnie Stevens -- Downtown Ambassador & Scottsdale Pride Community (April 15, 2004)

My favorite public art is the Phoenix Civic Plaza global spray fountain. In Scottsdale, it is probably the bronze with the dog holding the rein of the rising horse.

Public art, when displaying a variety of structures, medium and creativity with common materials enhances every location within the city. It is at pedestrian level and engages the stroller to stop and "relax," "consider" and "enjoy or not enjoy." These are all experiences that we hope for our local residents as well as the tourists.

Public art should never include inappropriate images or messages for a family experience. It should never be a political statement. It should never be over-bearing and out-of-scale to the surrounding environment.

As a resident of Scottsdale for more than 35 years, it saddens me to see our Civic Center Mall become a contemporary display of steel and concrete. The removal of mature trees and of major pedestrian-level flower-and-sitting venues was a mistake that cannot be corrected. In the summer the expanses of concrete and reduced shade make the area between City Hall and Scottsdale Center for the Arts an avoidance zone. The amphitheater, with the Louise Nevelson sculpture, lacks sufficient shade for summer concerts and events. The Yearlings are a positive introduction to our Civic Center.  However, tourists have to mash the grass to have pictures taken in front of it.  It should be configured to have appropriate stepping stones and a photo-standing pad to accommodate this.

As a Downtown Ambassador, I receive many comments from our City's guests.  The most common from my station at Brown/Main is that they HAVE NO IDEA THERE ARE ACRES AND ACRES OF CIVIC PLAZA beyond The Yearlings.  They get as far as the Old School House and retrace to Main/Brown as they are not encouraged/educated to continue to view other public art and buildings in the area.

COMMENTS ON FUTURE PUBLIC ART:

The southern canal project.  This space is very narrow and art should be limited to pedestrian mass and eye or below level.  This is not the place for massive structures in concrete.  There should be very few pieces so the pedestrian can enjoy the LANDSCAPING and stonework-pathway-walls.

The public art pieces by Elizabeth Conner planned for the Brown/2nd St garage area street side (Art for the Old Town District ) should be within the same parameters.  She was impressive in her public introduction on Tuesday, April 13th at the Community Design Studio.  She is "on target" to have it whimsical and focused on the historical record of Old Town.  This is NOT THE PLACE for massive pieces or pieces that fail to be recognizable objects.  Her concepts of a western boot, branding iron, cotton boll, etc. are appropriate.

• Bill Heckman (April 21, 2004)

Favorite Public Art- TIE

-Jack Knife by Ed Mell supports Scottsdale's cultural identity with a remarkable sculpture that combines contemporary style with a flavor of our western heritage in the form of a cowboy aboard a bucking bronco.  Ed Mell has become a nationally known local artist and Jack Knife greets our residents and visitors from the center of the West Main Street arts district.  I am proud to celebrate the art of one of our own fine artists with this symbolic work.

-The Pima Freeway Walls (The Path Most Traveled) by Carolyn Braaksma, Jeff Engelmann and Andrea Forman celebrates form and function by turning ugly freeway sound walls into a testament to our beautiful Sonoran desert environment.  I call this stretch of highway our own 'Scottsdale Canyon' with its soaring walls and magnificent etchings of desert plants and critters.

Public Art in Scottsdale confirms our identity as the cultural and arts capital of the southwest.  Our Old Town district was and remains a wonderful re-creation of the old west, but it is our fine art heritage that has endured and grown to become a world-class destination.  Scottsdale has built its image by offering the highest in quality of life, lifestyle and living due in no small part to our fine arts legacy.

Public Art can and should fill our community from border to border with a diverse range of art that can be a visual relief from the normal street and landscapes.  Public Art belongs in our parks, on our streets, beside and in our buildings.  The range of fine artists who have lived and worked in Scottsdale deserve to be recognized by their wide diversity of style and not defined by any single theme.  This investment in our identity supports the over 100 fine art galleries, our Cultural Center, Museums, legitimate stage theater and helps secure our future direction as the arts headquarters of the valley.  It makes Scottsdale a special and unique place among all others to live, work, play or visit.

There will always be disagreement about specific artistic forms and their appropriateness.  Many feel we should focus solely on being the 'West's Most Western Town'.  Others feel that these funds should instead be used for needed city services, but I believe that taken as a whole, our investment in Public Art supports our community goals well beyond the cost.  It adds significantly to our recognition, reputation and desirability as one of the finest places to live with the highest quality of life anywhere.

• Amanda Waterman (April 28, 2004)

Favorite public art: art that I can relate to and brings everyday things to life.

What does public art do for Scottsdale?: Creates an inviting, colorful, vibrant look to a growing city.

What should Public art include?: Art by contemporary (living) artists in addition to showing some canonical work.

What should Public art not include?: One type of art.  I.E. ONLY Native American art (let's have some diversity please).

What would you change?: Mediums - lets get all types out there...Not just sculpture or just prints, etc.

If you have any comments you would like to share:

Please leave a message on the Public Art Information Line at (480) 874-4645

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