South Side Light Rail Extension Needs La Phoenikera Artists
Have you noticed that all La Phoenikera Light Rail stations have some art pieces incorporated into their design? You might not know, but except for a few, most of them aren’t from local artists.
Suppose you are a visual artist in our city, especially a South Phoenix creative. In that case, you can submit your work to be selected for a public art display along the stations being built on the South Side.
That’s the good news. The bad news is that the deadline is close AF!
Valley Metro launched a call for artists some time ago, but few local artists, let alone artists of color, have submitted their proposals. That is one reason why the deadline to submit a proposal has been pushed to July 19.
Yes, it’s short notice, but this is your chance to design or create an art piece that could be considered for incorporation along the South Central Light Rail extension.
The station art must reflect the richness of La Phoenikera’s culture, especially South Phoenix’s roots and historical relevance.
Valley Metro will hold two workshops at Luna Culture Lab in Phoenix on July 13th and July 17th for artists who are considering applying.
The Sagrado Galleria also organized a workshop for July 15 at the gallery in South Phoenix.
Suppose you’re interested in art and the accurate cultural representation of the project’s development area. In that case, this is an excellent opportunity to inform yourself and ask Valley Metro staff questions.
Artists are selected by the Stakeholder Art Review Committee, which comprises residents who live and work in businesses along the tracks. They will have input during the projects’ development. It will also be important to ask Valley Metro about the diversity of that committee (do its members reflect the community’s demographics?).
Valley Metro spokeswoman Corinne Holliday says this is an excellent opportunity for local artists to get involved in public art projects of this scale. The selected artists will work with the design and construction teams, community leaders, and public officials.
This call is for all artists in La Phoenikera. The artwork does not need to have a specific theme or medium, but it must reflect the city and its culture.
The stations will connect downtown with the South Side and Baseline and are scheduled to be ready by 2023.
Do you have questions about the workshops? Call MB Finnerty, Public Art Administrator, at 602-332-4471 or email her at mfinnerty@valleymetro.org.
Follow this link to download the Art Project Request for Qualifications. To learn more about the project and the submission process, go to Valley Metro’s website.
Workshop Details
07/13 5:30 a 7:30 p.m. & 07/17 5:30 a 7:30 p.m. @ Luna Culture Lab, 803 E. Washington St.
07/15 10:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. @ The Sagrado Galleria, 6437 South Central Ave.
