Hello Friends,
Thank you to everyone who helped us kickoff summer vacation at the Ward 4 Splash Bash, and grand opening of Purple Heart Park’s new splash pad. The splash pad is free and open daily from 8am to sunset. I enjoyed talking with so many families and listening to what matters most to you. One common theme is how much the community enjoys the Houghton Road widening and public art “Stone Poneys.”
The horse forms are mirror images of Donovan, Olmstead & Slenning’s “Mare and Foal” sculpture at Houghton and 22nd Street, which are constructed from steel rod, steel plate and granite. Rock is piled into the cage structure to create the illusion of horses by the roadside drinking from a small body of water (integral colored concrete and glass). Three gabion benches of rock and glass are in the background. The spelling of the name “Stone Poneys” is meant as a tribute to local music icon Linda Ronstadt’s original band. This is a posthumous collaboration with artist Lauri Slenning, as the horse forms were based on her original Mare & Foal maquette.
Did you know 1% of all capital improvement projects over $100,000 in the City of Tucson and Pima County goes toward public art? Since 1986 more than 300 pieces of public art have been completed in the Tucson region. You can view an interactive map to learn more about each piece at www.artsfoundtucson.org
The Call for Artists has been published for the Valencia Road: Kolb to Houghton project. The goal of public art in Ward 4 is to embody our community’s values by celebrating Tucson’s rich culture and unique environment. Artists and artwork are chosen through a fair, equitable and informed public art selection process involving a broad array of stakeholders and the surrounding community. The Artist(s) are selected through an open and competitive process. Let us know your thoughts on what you would like to see as public art on the Valencia Road project by completing the survey at https://bit.ly/3GjjZ6z
To stay up to date on all things in the City of Tucson Ward 4 visit www.tucsonaz.gov/ward4 or www.facebook.com/CouncilwomanLee
-Nikki