Tagged : public art

The light rail stations, one on 12th Street and Jerrerson heading east and the other at 12th Street and Washington heading west are full of colorful mosaics, tapestries of tile and photos of people, homes and surrounding neighborhoods.

The area and station are nicer than I expected, in fact its got something attractive and enticing to it. Along the main streets there are lots of low profile business buildings and I'm sure many make the trip via the light rail to get to work here. Eastlake Park is the main residential neighborhoods with quirky small and older bungalow and ranch homes.

There is a townhome complex, Renaisance Park, within walking distance. I think with some effort this could be a really cool area. It's certaily worth a visit. Make sure…

The light rail station at Indian School and Central Avenue is one where you can easily miss the next trail. It is filled with photographs of the areas history with photos from the early to mid century, often with a history from businesses and people who make this area what it is.  

It is a stop next to the Indian School Park on the East side and on the West an empty lot which only a year ago or so had a strip mall on it.  Now it's another vacant eye sore like so many that litter the area along the light rail: a lot awaiting better economic times.  Which means don't hold your breath.  

In fact, some of the art is very symbolic.  A mosaic in the sidewalk has been so worn one can barely discern it from the rest of the path and the light rail has…

The light rail station on 19th Avenue and Montebello is an end station.  You can't go any further North, at least not for a few more years.  Extensions are in the works, but it's will take some time.  This station ends at a mall and a busy intersection.  It's amazing how open the space around it is.  It an area ready to be built up, awaiting another boom or a deluge of people to Central Phoenix. 

It's not easy to find the public art here.  You'll need to look up and the description below the photo from the Metro Art Book, describes it well.

(Photos: Artur Ciesielski)

Light Rail Public Art From The 'Metro Art Book'

A terminus station on the METRO light rail starter line, the 19th Avenue and Montebello station is one of the tallest.…

This is an attractive station located on Apache Boulevard in Tempe.  Apache is a wide road and the surrounding architecture is mostly single story so the area feels very open and spacious.  The station itself is filled with colorful public are: it's dotted with sculptures, tile sculptures, inlaid tile, metal coins with messages. 

One could spend an hour or two just reading and enjoying the bursts of colors. The art here is a collaboration of four different artists.  The most imposing element are the hands reaching into the sky, but don't skip the details, like the pavers in the middle which relate stories and anecdotes collected from the Apache neighborhood.

photos: Artur Ciesielski ©

Metro Public Art

"Artwork at the four stations…

The 7th Ave. & Camelback area is somewhat a victim or a slowing economy and low quality of housing toward the West and somewhat a lack of caring or funds from the owners. 

The area is dirty, run down and simply puts Phoenix in a bad light. The store fronts are empty, trash is all over. 

It need not be like this, especially on such a busy street.

"The profile of the light rail stations, progresses from the very tall 19th/Montebello station to a very low lying 7th/Camelback station. The artist, Phoenix resident, Nubia Owens, was tasked with creating artwork that fit this more neighborly scale. Owens responded by creating a carpet of over 200 terrazzo pavers that curve and wind around the platform in
a bizarre and continuously unfolding…

This station is called Park Central due to the location next to Park Central, an old mall transformed into offices with a few restaurants.  Park Central Mall was finished in 1957 which was on the outskirts of town.  It replaced an old dairy farm.  Over time the mall died out as people headed to newer enclosed malls. 

Today Park Central has some bad opinions and it could be used better, but Phoenix has space and there is no need to increase density to this area while so many other lots remain empty.  Some of the current occupants include The Good Egg, one of the busiest Starbucks in the city, a wonderful delicious Thai Basil plus locations for Banner Health Systems and St. Joseph's Hospital.

photos: Artur Ciesielski

The neighborhood is…

Do you want some of the better coffee in town and some decadent traditional, sometimes with a twist, pastries or just to hang out surrounded by an energy resonation inside and out? Then this would be your stop at Lux Coffee.

But, besides the coffee this stop is the main on off point for Central High, several historic neighborhoods and some businesses like the Slippery Pig Bike Shop.  A few large lots await the next building boom.

Photos: Artur Ciesielski

The Art At The Station

"For Al Price, a local artist and former teacher, the goal of the artwork at the Campbell station was to provide a dynamic and engaging experience for students attending nearby high schools and to create a feeling of elegance timelessness for the neighborhood.

A…

The Encanto & Central Avenue Station is surrounded by plenty of residential neighborhood and high-rises.