Tempe City Council is holding the first public hearing on March 6 to approve a fund transfer to support wall repairs at the Mill Avenue underpass, allowing for the inclusion of artwork in the area.
The fund transfer, totaling $51,299, will come from the city’s capital improvement program’s municipal art fund if approved. Council’s final hearing for the transfer is scheduled for its March 27 meeting.
Rebecca Blume Rothman, community services manager for public art, wrote in a city staff report that council can transfer a part or all of any unencumbered appropriation balance from one department to another through an ordinance like this.
“In this instance, the funds will be going from the Community Services Department to Public Works Engineering to add electrical conduit to the wall repair for future art upgrades at the Mill Avenue underpass,” Rothman stated.
Council made a request in 2023 to make efforts to include artwork at the Mill Avenue underpass, and Tempe’s public art team conducted a search to ultimately commission Joe O’Connell Creative Machines to make a schematic design for the site.
Sun Garden, the chosen concept, consists of sculptures along the west side of the road that were inspired by surrounding gardens. This initial concept was further developed to include two art elements that will complement each other.
The first element is a series of 15 sculptures that align with planters on the west side of the road.
Rothman stated these sculptures, “are inspired by natural forms and made from steel and a polycarbonate material that brings color to the site using the sunlight during the day and ambient light at night.”
The second element is a lighting feature that shines colored light at night on the walls and underpass.
However, before installing the sculptures, Rothman said significant repairs are necessary along the planter walls, which is why council is considering this fund transfer to cover the repairs.
“After the wall repair is completed this spring, the artist intends to install the sculptural works in the summer of 2025,” she wrote.
As for the lighting element, it will be installed pending the addition of two transformers by Arizona Public Service Co. to supply power to the site at a later time.
To prepare for that, the city asked contractor Builder’s Guild to include the addition of conduit for future electrical upgrades, including the artist-designed lighting. This contract was reviewed by council on Feb. 20.
Tempe City Council will meet at 6 p.m. March 6 in the council chambers at Tempe City Hall, 31 E. Fifth St. Meetings can also be watched via Cox Cable Channel 11 and at www.tempe.gov/tempe11.
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Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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