26 Feb 27th-March 5th, 2025 phoenixnewtimes.com PHOENIX NEW TIMES | NEWS | FEATURE | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & CULTURE | MUSIC | CONCERTS | CANNABIS | embrace new and inventive ways of incor- porating heat relief into their art. The art pieces are intended to be temporary, and as per the rules of the grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, they will come down and go back into the hands of the artists once the project is over, according to Brown. This gives artists more room to explore with materials and shapes. Bobby Zokaites, a sculptor who special- izes in large-scale, colorful structures, said that the temporary nature of the project allows for much more creative experimen- tation. Because most public art has to with- stand Arizona’s intense weather for years, it tends to require heavy, durable materials that can be expensive and difficult to work with. “Aesthetically, we’re getting a lot of bang for the buck,” Zokaites says, “because when you do permanent projects, most of the time, they’re very heavy.” Zokaites’ structure will involve several woven panels shaped like leaves, created by members of the community, suspended on a pergola structure bolted to a bridge in Cortez Park in West Phoenix. Those who weave the panels will have their choice of color for the material, leading to what Zokaites says will be a colorful, fun structure. “That’s one of the magical things about art, is being able to take a very monotonous thing and shine a light on it,” Zokaites says. “You know, it’s akin to smelling the desert after it rains. There’s just like a slight change in your senses and how you perceive things and it causes this acknowl- edgment of beauty.” Along with innovative materials and shapes, many of the artists are experi- menting with what it means to provide relief from the sun, with art pieces reflecting on various themes from lost history to new uses of classic comfort items. Luke Haynes, a trained architect and quilting artist, says that his piece will use fabric as a heat shield — from the other side. Blankets protect against the cold by trapping body heat, but Haynes’ project will use quilts to act as a shield against the sun, a reversed, but similarly effective, use of fabric. “The only difference is a bit of distance,” Haynes says. “If you make a blanket and use it on your bed, it’s shielding the heat from leaving. In this case, you’re shielding the heat from making it down.” Feng-Feng Yeh, a Tucson-based chef and artist who founded the Chinese Chorizo Project, which seeks to spread the story of the historic fusion food of Mexican and Chinese communities in Tucson, said that she wants to use her art piece for “¡Sombra!” to share the stories of those who have lived through discriminatory practices. Her project will incorporate Chinese shadow puppetry to highlight stories of redlining, the denial of financial services such as home loans to people who lived in certain neighborhoods, as well as showcase the solidarity between minority communities shown in her Chinese Chorizo Project. “I’ll be collecting stories of people who lived in these neighborhoods near Eastlake Park and in the redline districts of Phoenix, and trying to lift up these stories that haven’t been told,” Yeh says. “Because when we’re able to relate to each other and tell each other’s stories, we’re able to see each other better, and help each other when we need help.” A large part of the project is community engagement, according to Brown of the city’s arts and culture staff. The art pieces aren’t meant to just be looked at or stood underneath — they will help to educate viewers about the importance of shade and heat relief, and relate directly to the communities in which they go up with engaging opportunities. Pieces will begin to go up around Phoenix starting early next year, and the project will culminate in September 2025, when a one-day festival in Steele Indian School Park will showcase all of the art pieces. After the festival, the sculptures will come down and be returned to the artists. But Brown and many of the artists hope that “¡Sombra!” will help pave the way for artists to be more engaged in civic projects. “We are really interested in taking lessons learned and utilizing that into permanent installations,” Brown says. Feng-Feng Yeh, a Tucson-based chef and artist, wants to use her art piece to share the stories of those who have lived through discriminatory practices. (City of Phoenix) Made for the Shade from p 25 Questions? Feedback? 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