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Description:
A primary goal of the Warner Ranch Homeowners Association was to
bring shade to the park, which had previously been just a large,
open grassy space. Consistent with this objective, the artist
developed an art plan for Hanger Park which encircles the existing
playground with a decorative sidewalk, playful ramadas and shade
trees. The structures vary in size and are fabricated with
perforated sheet steel and tubing supported by galvanized pipe legs.
Each Ramada is painted a different color. Defining the entrance to
the parks playground are concrete seats shaped like old-fashioned
milk bottles, with the perimeter of the park being encircled with an
image laden decorative concrete sidewalk eluding to the areas rich
historic past.
Funding:
The project was funded through city of Tempe Capital Improvement
Project Percent for Art funds.
Artist biography:
Laurie Lundquist is a nationally known artist who resides in Tempe.
She has been active in the local community for many years. Since
receiving a Masters of Fine Art degree in Sculpture from Arizona
State University, she has been prolific with the creation of many
important local public art projects. She has exhibited both
nationally and internationally, and has received numerous awards and
grants for her work including multiple Valley Forward Design
Excellence awards, NEA initiative grants and a Tempe Beautification
Award.
Artist statement:
My intent is to refer to the farming lifestyle, which led to Tempe's
settlement. Hanger Park was given its name to honor a family that
lived and worked for generations in the Kyrene District. The Hanger
family developed a thriving dairy business that was a cornerstone to
the rural community. At this point in time most traces of the
agricultural history of the area have been erased by residential
development. The new residents recognize the importance of keeping
some record of the local history alive for future generations, and
Hanger Park is a place where memories and imagination can give life
to local history. The sidewalk encircles the playground and is
embedded with images of local history as drawn by schoolchildren.
The shade ramadas are in the form of simple clothing items that may
have been worn by the farming families. Seen from above the whimsy
and nostalgia of coveralls and dresses dancing, as they do on
clotheslines, the armadas provide an invitation to enter the park.
Once in the park images of cat fishing, dairy farming and domestic
life will keep the stories alive. |
