The City of Flagstaff’s beautification, arts and science programs are entering the new year with a bang, with more than 20 projects scheduled to be completed by 2025. Small and large-scale installations will continue to connect residents and visitors with their surroundings, transforming everyday spaces into fascinating ones. Landmarks and gathering places.

Art glass facades and monumental sculptures will adorn the new Downtown Connection Center, scheduled to open this spring. Illuminated at night with lighting effects, the colorful glass above the entrance lobby displays a peaks design of overlapping ponderosa pines and pumas. Immediately to the east, a sculpture titled Southside Grove is constructed of weathered steel ponderosa pine trees with telescope-inspired “trunks” and prismatic branches arranged in a circle. The trees represent a strong, interconnected Southside community. In the center of the grove is a granite expedition schedule. The southern trunk and timetable work together to mark the vernal and autumnal equinoxes with a solar disc in the center.

A new group of artists has been selected for the second year of the Multicultural County Park Sculpture Exhibition, which opens in May. The project, located in Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park, features impressive steel, stone, and wood sculptures by artists Oliverio Balcells, Isaac Caruso, Joe Ray, Lance Yazzie, and Adrian Wall. Masu. The five large-scale works reflect diverse cultural expressions and aim to spark conversation, foster exchange, and foster a deeper appreciation of art and culture. The project is a partnership between the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County and began as a dialogue between the City of Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts and Sciences, and Indigenous Initiatives programs.

The city plans to expand its popular traffic light cabinet art wrap, turning utilitarian cabinets into vibrant, eye-catching works of art that add a pop of color and character to the streets. The initiative, now in its fifth year, primarily showcases local artists. The city and Arizona Public Service (APS) have entered into a pilot contract to install 10 APS utility cabinets throughout the city. We will be recruiting one or two artists in early 2025. Artists of all experience levels are invited to submit proposals.

Each spring and fall, artists, community members, nonprofit organizations, schools, and local businesses are invited to apply for Beautification in Action (BIA) grants. This bi-annual grant program awards up to $7,500 for streetscape art and beautification to make our communities more attractive, welcoming and memorable. From community gardens and benches to neighborhood trails and murals, BIA-supported initiatives revitalize local spaces and create engaging and enjoyable experiences. More neighborhoods can benefit from recently increased grants.

Upcoming projects include Dark Sky Brewing, Flagstaff CSA & Local Market, Culinary Concepts, and the Sheep Crossing Trail cosmic ray tunnel mural. Application deadlines for BIA grants are March 15th and September 15th.

The Beautification, Arts, and Science Department prioritizes collection management and maintenance, cataloging the City’s public art collection in the Public Art Archive, an online and mobile database of completed public art from across the United States and abroad. https://publicartarchive.org/collections/The-City-of-Flagstaff-Public-Art-Collection), ensuring that existing artwork is maintained through cleaning and repair. Some Flagstaff monument signs will undergo renovations, while artist Eric Ryan Simmons’ large-scale sculpture “Motion” at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport will receive a new coat of paint to enhance its visual appeal. is scheduled to be carried out. These efforts ensure that public works of art continue to have an impact for years to come.

Remembrance and reflection are at the heart of Rasul, a large-scale sculpture by artist Beth Nybeck that will be installed in Cleo Murdoch Park next fall. The 8-foot-tall artwork takes inspiration from leaves and incorporates quotes from people connected to the South Side that answer the question, “What should we never forget?”

Finally, Beautification, Arts and Sciences will continue its partnership with Creative Flagstaff to support the arts and science nonprofit sector with consequential operating and project grants to be distributed in 2025.

Beautification, arts and science grants, and public art initiatives are funded through a dedicated bed, board, and beverage tax. FBN

Written by Kristen Kurzido

Cristen Crujido is the Beautification, Arts, and Science Project Manager for the City of Flagstaff.