RECYCLED ART RECYCLED AGAIN
Goodyear residents will pay another $10K to maintain artwork which most likely never should have been placed outdoors... while another part of the structure is dismantled, removed, and recycled.
Goodyear City leaders continue to wrestle with artwork which - most likely - never should have been placed outdoors. The hot, sunny Arizona climate has taken a toll on the structures, and it’ll cost taxpayers another $10,000 this summer.
For my original report, please visit “DISMANTLING SHINE, SHIMMER, & SPARKLE” on my Substack from December 2022.
“Watersource” is the main structure. You can see it standing just southwest of Roscoe Dog Park on Estrella Parkway. The once-sparkling, taxpayer-funded structures were hailed as “shimmering gems.”
PICTURED: “WATERSOURCE” - JUNE 1, 2023
Today, the metal components are faded and rusted. The recycled components are cracked and broken. The glass bottles are broken, and filled with dirt and debris.
TODAY UPDATE: The supporting element and shade structure - originally settled nearby on the Public Works Building site - were removed a couple of weeks ago. In-house, Goodyear City workers were assigned to tear down and recycle the structures which cost, quote, “no dollars” by taxpayers.
The entire project - the three pieces combined - originally cost taxpayers more than $60,000. The estimate to clean and paint the main structure is roughly $10,000.
The City tells me it has not yet been able to make contact with the artist, Marta Thoma Hall. In my last report, I covered her business ventures and other artwork… some of it dismantled in other cities, as well. I have not yet heard back from Marta, either.
This video shows one of Marta’s pieces being returned to her by the City of Palo Alto.
City Staff Report LINK
Our [Palo Alto] Public Art Master Planning consultants had the following to write about “Go Mama”: Because fencing the sculpture will compromise both the streetscape and the work; and because the artwork is poorly fabricated, it should be considered for deaccession.
“Go Mama” was returned to the artist, the same artist as “Watersource”, in March 2018.
Guylene Ozlanski, Arts and Culture Coordinator for the City of Goodyear, tells me once the City purchases artwork, the City owns the rights to do with the art what it wishes. Whether to maintain it or decommission it, the decision is no longer up to the artist.
“The materials didn’t stand the test of time as we would have liked,” notes Ozlanski.
The largest structure of “Watersource” still stands. Rusted. In need of refurbishing. Its facelift is scheduled for June/early July. It’ll get a good cleaning and coat of paint. “Something to be proud of,” says Ozlanski.
JEN’S TWO CENTS
To be clear, I place no blame on current Goodyear staff. The artwork was commissioned prior to current staff. I believe they’re doing the best they can with the situation in which they find themselves. I thank Guylene Ozlanski for graciously returning my calls for information!!
GOOD NEWS ABOUT GOODYEAR CULTURE
Monday night, Goodyear City Council convenes in a Work Session to hear 2023 Community Survey results. You could argue results are dismal overall… with residents’ opinion of well-planned commercial growth at 48%…. but…
“Ratings for educational, arts, and cultural opportunities have improved, and residents report higher levels of engagement at community events.”
Guylene Ozlanski was happy with this news when I told her over the phone. She mentions the pandemic was a time to spur creative ideas in engaging residents and getting citizens off screens. As a result, Guylene has been able to build a more diverse and greater sense of community in Goodyear… something we can all celebrate!
COMING UP: Also be on the lookout for repainted benches in the historic Palmateer Park and new sculptures near the Goodyear Police Department.
We’re also jazzed about the public art being installed behind City Hall in the Bullard Wash. It’ll be unveiled at a City Council Meeting July 10th. See you there!