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Description:
This freestanding sculpture is made entirely from scrap metal from
the former Ash Avenue Bridge. The metal has been allowed to rust,
adding a warm finish. It is located near Tempe City Hall.
Funding:
The project was funded through city of Tempe Capital Improvement
Project Percent for Art funds.
Artist biography:
Lyle London studied with sculptor Varujan Boghosian and numerous
visiting artists (Larry Zox, Dimitri Hadzi, Robert Indiana, Jack
Zajac and others) at Dartmouth College in the late 1960’s. Zajac’s
style of biomorphic abstraction has had a lasting influence on his
work. After several years of carving stone and practical experience
in the art bronze foundry, he began working primarily in metal. The
intimate scale and pronounced formalism of earlier cast bronze
pieces have given way to an increasing body of large scale
commissioned works mostly in copper and stainless steel. Another
important change in London’s work has come from incorporating a
greater sense of spontaneity and fluidity through the use of
high-tech fabrication techniques. Sculptures integrating water
features and kinetic motion have appeared since 1985.
Artist statement:
I composed the sculpture, which is a pure abstraction from steel
scrap recovered from the old Ash Avenue Bridge over the Salt River
that was demolished in 1994, thus the title “Organic Reunion.” The
piece was exhibited in a show titled “Pieces of Ash” at the Tempe
Fine Art Center and included several other pieces constructed of the
bridge remnants, as well.
The Tempe public art program is managed by city
of Tempe Cultural Services staff
with input from the Tempe Municipal Arts Commission, a 15-member,
mayor-appointed advisory board.
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