The first two unveiling events for ¡Sombra! Experiments in Shade, a public art challenge to address extreme urban heat in Phoenix is coming up in April.

On Saturday, April 19, head to Cielito Park for Rincón de Color by artists Jose Benavides and Joe Ray. The work and unveiling party will feature Oaxacan alebrijes-inspired shade canopy, a solar-powered misting system, student artwork, live music, and free food.

Then on Saturday, April 26, discover The Burrow by Josie Davis and Jenny Boehme at Roesley Park. The new installation will feature an interactive, shade-giving sculpture modeled after Arizona’s resilient desert tortoise. A real tortoise from The Phoenix Zoo will be on hand for the festivities.

Both events are hosted by the Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture and are free and open to all.

These are the first of nine installations of the ¡Sombra! Experiments in Shade project, part of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge, which tasks civic leaders and artists to work together to find solutions for some of the cities’ most pressing issues.

The city of Phoenix is one of eight cities awarded $1 million from Bloomberg Philanthropies as it seeks to find solutions for urban heat.

The ¡Sombra! artists’ shade installations will be unveiled from April through June and will be on view for a limited time through September.

Visit sombraphx.org.

*

Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.