Broadway Road Street Improvements Preliminary Art Concepts
March 2014
Through a competitive process, a selection panel including Broadway Road neighbors, artists, and city staff chose local artists Laurie Lundquist and Rebecca Ross to aesthetically enhance the new masonry wall to be built on the north side of Broadway Road.
When learning about the project, here are some words we heard… character clean lines
mid-century modern
elegant
older 50s homes birds flying I like the way art travels along a big space color green, lush neighborhoods an oasis
easy maintenance Budget for planting?
playful
As longtime residents of the neighborhoods north and south of Broadway Road, the project artists first looked for inspiration from the area neighborhoods.
They began including other local examples.
They also considered the hedge of orange trees that has graced Broadway Road for decades.
The artists started their creative process by playing with light and shadow, leaf and branch shapes, and art effects that could be achieved by using the sun during the day and streetlights at night.
The artists began their screen wall design by considering these older neighborhoods with their lush foliage and irrigated yards. They imagined poetic phrases which they then spelled out in Morse Code.
They recalled what they remembered most about the Broadway Road foliage‐‐its orange trees. Words were spelled out using code, then translated into a design that could be integrated into the masonry block wall construction. Broadway Road Street Improvements ‐‐ Preliminary Art Concepts
Then, with similar “dots and dashes” of cut steel, the artists created “shadow makers” to reference the orange tree canopies, trunks, and branches.
Planned Broadway Road screen wall pattern (before artists’ designs) Artists will work with existing running bond pattern, affecting color and texture, and using standard 8”x8”x16” cinder blocks, as approved by ADOT.
Initial designs began to take shape, blending design, poetry, Morse Code, and shadow effects to create visual interest on the new wall.
Shade elements could create shadow effects on both north and south sides of screen wall if desired.
Preliminary Concept ‐ Morning and afternoon shadows
In order to maximize the aesthetic possibilities within the budget, the artists’ goal is to affect the wall texture and color and leave areas for additional art within the open areas of the wall design.
Preliminary wall design options
Preliminary wall design options
Preliminary
Initial ideas for wall art (to be inserted in areas with no decorative block treatment)
View traveling west (top) and east (bottom)
Initial ideas for wall art
“Pixelated Citrus” concept is shown with morning and afternoon shadows. Painted metal shadow makers would be attached to the wall to add color and shadow effects.
Initial ideas for wall art
The artists’ “Hedge Edge” concept refers to the hedges of orange trees currently along Broadway Road. Vertical shadow makers would be attached to the wall to add color and shadow effects.
Initial ideas for wall art
The artists’ “Hedge Edge” concept is shown here with morning and afternoon shadow effects. The vertical shadow makers add color and interest to areas of the wall without decorative block designs.
Initial ideas for wall art The “Hedge Edge” concept shown here is installed onto the block wall integrated with decorative block designs. Note that specific areas are designated as “plain” areas, left as spaces for sculptural elements to be added to the wall after construction. ^ Area designated for sculptural art ^
How you can get involved… Visit the artists’ display boards here tonight. Ask questions of the artists. Voice your opinion ‐ let us know which ideas you like best. Visit the city’s website and leave your comments. www.tempe.gov/broadwayroad Attend future meetings and share your opinion. Thank you for being here tonight!