Scottsdale Public Art pairs professional artists with university students for new public artwork

university students Jessica Arnold, Rigoberto Berber-Arias and Alan Estrada Sanchez. The students had a wide range of tasks to complete this project from working with Arizona State University’s architecture department to presenting to the Scottsdale Public Art Board for approval.

“Design ideas were collaborated with the public artist after imagery of cholla cactus skeleton presentations I created, and the muralist took my intention for the design and made it her own,” said student artist Jessica Arnold. “It’s really incredible to see our years of hard work and creative design ideas come to life.”

“This project included multiple artists, agencies, contractors and stakeholders and required a lot of coordination and many approvals,” said Tanya Galin, public art manager for Scottsdale Public Art. “Even though it was a challenge to manage, it was worth it; a once barren area is now filled with beautiful and inspiring public art.”

KSB wanted to include an educational component to the project, so Scottsdale Public Art paired  public artists Kelly O’Brien and Patrick Renner  of Houston’s Flying Carpet Creative Studio with

Flying Carpet Creative Studio produced five earth-cast concrete monolith sculptures for the site and collaborated with the student  team to create artistic metal elements on the bridge, sandblasted elements on the sidewalk path and hand-cast pavers. Part of the collaboration with the student team also included “Cholla Canal Water Resources Mural” by Kyllan Manney on the Scottsdale Water Facilities building.

Their work alongside the artists will have a significant impact on Scottsdale residents and visitors for generations to come.