Those who follow artist Hugo Medina on Facebook probably remember when he invited artists to paint 80 wooden panels for a huge project he kicked off at the Phoenix Festival of the Arts. During the three-day event last December he asked local creatives to paint 80 panels and placed blank panels in-between, inviting anyone -- artist or not -- to create something. There were only two rules: it had to be positive and it had to be inspired by downtown Phoenix.
See also: Creative No. 70: Hugo Medina Phoenix Artists Jay Atherton and Ann Morton Give Hance Park a Creative Facelift
The end result was 160 eight-by-four-foot panels that would become a gigantic 1,280-foot-long mural to be placed at the PHX Renews site on the northeast corner of Indian School Road and Central Avenue. It may have taken a few months, but it's finally time to install the art -- and Medina could use some help.
The lot rejuvenation project falls under the umbrella of Keep Phoenix Beautiful, an affiliate of the Keep America Beautiful program dedicated to "recycling initiatives and education, litter reduction, beautification, and community improvement activities."
PHX Renews is a city-led initiative to turn the city's empty lots into space the community can use. The project centers around a vacant lot at Steele Indian School Park, which is being temporarily transformed into a multi-use public space. In addition of the gigantic mural, the PHX Renews project will bring community farming, outdoor education space, and other art displays to the 15-acre lot.
Medina said he'll curate the placing of the panels around the space, with some being set along the fence to be visible from the street and others scattered along the paths within the space.
He's asked volunteers to help with the hanging, bolting, and sealing on Saturday, June 8. The process will begin at 7 a.m. and continue throughout the day. Parking for the event will be at Steele Indian School Park. For more information or to RSVP to the event, visit the Facebook event page.
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