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Description:
This campfire on the edge of the water was inspired by the Native
American legend of the “Great Spirit.” The story, passed down
through the generations, tells of the Great Spirit assigning
guardianship of the earth, wind, fire and water to different races
of people and also assigning each of these basic elements to one of
the four coordinate directions: “To North, the Great Spirit Gave
Fire.” Using the geometric center of Tempe Center for the Art’s
semi-circular plan, a line extends through the Papago Buttes,
Camelback Mountain and beyond, connecting to a much larger connects
the individual to this greater perspective.
Funding:
The project was funded through city of
Tempe Capital Improvement Project Percent for Art funds.
Artist biographies: Mayme Kratz was
born in San Diego Country, Calif., and has lived in Phoenix since
1986. She is self-educated and focused on her creative life at an
early age. She apprenticed with artist James Hubbell in her early
20s. Her solo exhibitions include: The Tucson Museum of Art and The
Tacoma Museum of Glass, as well as group exhibitions at the
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Phoenix Art Museum and Blue
Star Art in San Antonio. Mayme was visiting artist at Pilchuck Glass
in Tacoma, Wash. Currently, she is the artist in residence at the
Desert Botanical Garden. Her work is in many private and public
collections throughout the United States and has recently been
acquired by the Bechtler Arts Foundation in Charlotte, N.C. She is
represented by and exhibits regularly at Lisa Sette Gallery
(Arizona) and Anne Reed Gallery (Idaho).
Mark Ryan grew up in the
desert near Phoenix. He received his initial training in
architecture at the University of Cincinnati, while also lettering
in intercollegiate athletics. As an undergraduate he spent time in
Greece, through the University of Illinois, studying urban design
and later did his graduate work at the Architectural Association in
London on a Foundation Scholarship. He lived and worked in Germany,
Italy, England and numerous parts of the U.S. before returning to
Phoenix to open his own studio. He is involved in public art, in
addition to architecture, and is a visiting professor in the School
of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at Arizona State
University.
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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