|
Description:
The Crosscut Canal area provides
opportunities for non-motorized links between Papago Park’s cultural
and natural attractions and the surrounding community. The canal
itself provides a natural link between the Phoenix Zoo, the Desert
Botanical Gardens and the Arizona Historical Society Museum. This
project was part of the design for an 11-mile
loop path utilizing the Crosscut Canal, the Arizona Canal, the Grand
Canal, the Indian Bend Pump ditch and the Old Cross Cut Canal
alignment. The goal was to provide a path system that utilizes the
canals for bike and pedestrian connections in the Papago Park area,
as well as provide recreational opportunities. Barbara Grygutis
created granite shapes that relate to the surrounding geography and
are integrated into the project pathway.
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:
Barbara Grygutis was born in Hartford, Conn., and raised in Israel.
She received BFA and MFA degrees from the University of Arizona. She
has created works of art for public spaces since 1971 and has
completed 50 commissions of public art throughout the country.
Grygutis is a resident of Tucson and has more than 20 years of
experience working in collaborative situations to create
environmental works that give meaning and identity to public spaces.
She has completed projects throughout the United States, including
large-scale works in Arizona, Colorado and New Jersey. Barbara’s
approach to the creation of a work of art is to embody a universal
theme accessible to all age groups and to create a sense of
timelessness and beauty in the built environment.
Artist statement:
I create environmental sculptures of human proportions and reference
using architectural elements, familiar objects and elements from
nature. The works are large scale environmental sculpture. These
works of art are thematically based and are designed to create
visual statements relating to the communities or the sites for which
they are created. The works of art combine realistic images and
symbols with architectural forms to span a broad range of subject
matter and materials. Among the sculptural elements the viewer can
experience the interplay between art and nature. All of my public
works of art are envisioned to share the following qualities: to
create a place of reflection, a sense of timelessness, and a sense
of place and to provide interest to adults and children alike. |
