A rendering by STG Design illustrates AZ(Land)’s vision for its public art temporary shade structure that will be constructed at Steele Indian School Park (photo courtesy of AZ (Land)).
¡Sombra! Experiments in Shade is a public art project developed by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture to address extreme urban heat in Phoenix. Winner of a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Public Art Challenge, this project showcases the solutions that arise when artists partner with civic leaders.
The “¡Sombra!” temporary installations will be installed in the spring of 2025 at each of the selected parks and then be relocated to Steele Indian School Park in September 2025 for a one-day, family-friendly festival featuring activities for children, food and music. Prior to that, dozens of auxiliary events will be held at the selected display parks, including Los Olivos Park, Steele Indian School Park and Sunnyslope Park.
In March, AZ(Land) began hosting fabrication workshops at the future site of their Shades of Resilience project at Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road. In April, the group will host a third “Art of Adobe Brick Making” workshop, April 5, two “Corn Husk and Dying” workshops, April 12 and 19, and two “Plastic Flowers and Heat Index” workshops, April 26 and May 3. Their shade installation will be unveiled May 10.
An artwork open house, “Reflections on Sunnyslope,” will be held April 5 at the Sunnyslope Community Center, 802 E. Vogel Ave. Residents can join project artist Jessica Arias and share their ideas and contribute to the public artwork project for Sunnyslope Park. The shade project will be unveiled at the park on May 17. In addition, Shomit Barua will unveil a project at Los Olivos Park, 2802 E. Devonshire Ave., on May 10.
To learn more about the ¡Sombra! project or to find other events, visit www.sombraphx.org.
