New public art in downtown Mesa

The City of Mesa is expanding its selection of art throughout its downtown through new public art installations, from new statues to a striking mural by a famous artist.

Nick Willis, Chair of Mesa’s Museum and Cultural Advisory Board, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the recent installations, specifically the new mural at Mesa Arts Center by renowned artist Shepard Fairey, who is widely known for the 2008 Barack Obama “Hope” campaign poster.

The push for these new works of art to be added to places like Mesa’s city hall, the Mesa Art Center and the idea Museum came from wanting to continue previous efforts for art in the downtown area. “Art has always been a key part of makes Mesa unique,” Willis said. “20 years ago when we built the Mesa Arts Center, that started the revitalization of the downtown area in Mesa, and that has only pushed forward since then.”

One of the new works include “Strada” by Adrian Yu, outside of City Hall. The name refers to the geological lines in a canyon panels, and includes LED screens displaying air quality and wind analysis in the area under the curves. Another new piece is “Convergence” by Will Clift, a large statue made of carbon fiber composite and steel, now inside of City Hall that represents the “public and private meeting together in city hall” according to Willis.

One piece that has especially stuck out to the public though is the new mural at the Mesa Arts Center by famous street artist Shepard Fairey. It’s the artists first mural to be done in Arizona. So how did this collaboration between Mesa and the man behind the Obama “Hope” poster exactly come to be?

“He did an exhibition at the Mesa Art Center, and he was so struck by are climate action plan, that he agreed to do this mural with us in collaboration,” Willis said. “It’s about a conversation between humans and are climate, and also there’s some justice elements in there which he’s known for.”