Tempe Bicycle Action Group and Farmer Avenue BICYCLE PUBLIC ART
TBAG and the Mitchell Park Neighborhood are moving forward with an exciting bicycle public art project for 2012. In the fall of 2011 a committee made up of a public artist, Mitchell Park neighbors and TBAG board members conducted a competitive artist and concept selection process. More than 15 fifteen Arizona public artists were considered. A Tempe-based artist team by the name of coLAB was selected in December.
The concept for the public art (see attached images) involves bicycle sculptures and large boulders that will be placed in 4 locations along Farmer Avenue (between University Drive and 13th Street) that will serve as a permanent monument to the importance of bicycling in Tempe, the contributions of TBAG to the community, and help deepen the emphasis of creating bikeable, sustainable corridors for our town and to serve as a model for land use and transportation. In the words on the artist team, coLAB: “The people-powered vehicle (bicycle) is immensely efficient and useful, and can drastically change the outlook for future balance between man and nature.”
The city of Tempe and TBAG is currently working with the artist team to finalize designs. Construction of the artwork is expected to happen late Spring/early Summer 2012, with a dedication ceremony anticipated soon thereafter. This important project will help transform the street and further emphasize TBAG’s role in shaping Tempe and beyond as a bicycle region.
Eric Iwersen
480-239-9593
Check out the concept pdf: TBAGbicycleART.pdf
