Marshall Way Bridge Underpass Al Price		Print This Page Email This Page

Update

Introduction
Phoenix artist Al Price is designing an artwork to enliven the Marshall Way Bridge underpass experience for pedestrians. Price found the underpass a desirable location for his art because it provided large surface areas on which to cast changing shadow patterns. The underpass offers fifty-six feet of flat and convex walls and ground planes that converge in a dramatic squeeze.

Art Concept
The artwork will animate the underpass and provide an attraction that excites the traveler’s perception of light and form. The motion of the viewer moving through the underpass will simulate the effect of kinetic art—pedestrians will notice the appearance of a changing artwork caused by optics rather than by moving parts. Price continues to refine the dimensions and scale and evolve the design of the artwork to accommodate condition changes in the underpass.

History

•  Al Price has been working in association with the City’s consultants on the Arizona Canal Project.

The design team considered a number of potential applications including as a feature in the underpass, of the bridge canopy, or of the bridge area-light, and the intention was that art contribute to pedestrians’ experience of the bridge and underpass as downtown destination points.

•  April 12, 2005: Public art staff gave an update to the SPA Board (formerly the PACC committee) about developments in the design, to accommodate changes in the dimensions of the underpass.

•  February 10, 2004: Public art staff gave an update to the SPA Board (formerly the PACC committee) about developments in the design.

•  June 26, 2003: Design development kickoff workshop with the artist and the project team.

•  June 10, 2003: SPA Board approved the preliminary concept.

•  May 9, 2003: Al Price showed his concept to PACC members at his studio in Phoenix.

•  May 1, 2003: Al Price presented his preliminary concept and fielded questions from the public. Feedback was positive.

•  Dialogue with City maintenance staff and the Public Art Program collections staff was initiated in April 2003 and issues of safety and maintenance are being carefully considered during the design process.

•  January 14, 2003: PACC approved Al Price approved as the project artist.

•  December 10, 2002: Marshall Way Bridge underpass project approved by PACC.

•  December 4, 2002: Project team meeting about the potential art integration artist selection process for the Marshall Way Bridge underpass.

•  November 14, 2002: PACC Informational Meeting about the Arizona Canal Bank Improvements and the Public Art Programming Statement. The document identifies goals, potential art opportunities, and a general schedule (derived from the City's schedule for the canal bank improvements). Contributors to the statement included members of the Arizona Canal Bank Improvements design team, City staff, the PACC chair, and public art program staff.

Project Manager

Jana Weldon 

janaw@sccarts.org

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