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Description:
This transit shelter has a circular bench made of brick and
flagstone that appears to have date palms growing from it. The
trunks are composed of river rock. Welded steel with powder coating
is utilized for the palm fronds and lighting represents the dates.
The flagstone seating was crafted from the neighboring historic
church's original flooring, which was removed during remodeling. The
title is a play on words referring to how as passengers wait for
their ride, they may meet someone new, as
well as enjoy the steel palm above.
Tempe’s goal with its Artist Designed Transit Shelters is to
encourage people to use the public transportation by making it
attractive, innovative and functional.
Funding:
The project was funded through City of Tempe Capital Improvement
Project Percent for Art Funds made available through the Tempe
Transit Tax.
Artist biography:
Joe Tyler was born and raised and lives in Arizona. His work
is inspired by the horticultural landscape of the Sonoran Desert. In
1972, Tyler received his Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona
State University in Horticulture. He earned his Masters of
Environmental Horticulture at ASU in 1974. Tyler’s works can be seen
all over Arizona as well as in Germany, Japan, California, New
Mexico, Texas and Nevada. Tyler has received many awards for his
work and has held several professional positions in the field of
horticulture and education. He has created public art for the cities
of Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tucson and Yuma and public art for
major business corporations. He lives and creates his art in
Surprise.
Artist statement:
I wanted to pay tribute to the historical facts surrounding date
palms in my design of this transit shelter. Around the mid 1880s the
first date palm trees were imported to the United States from the
Middle East. The former University of Arizona Citrus Experimental
Station, located where Arizona Mills Mall now stands, was the first
place to grow dates for cultivation in the U.S. It was important to
make historical references to Tempe by utilizing local materials. I
used river rock from the nearby bed of the Salt River, brick from
the Phoenix Brickyard dating back to the 1920s and flagstone from
the original flooring of the historic St. Mary’s Church east of the
transit shelter. |
