TABY Ribbon Cutting Event on Thursday, July 29!

Jul 28, 2021 | News, Press Release, Public Art, TABY

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Transportation Art By Youth Summer Program

RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

July 27, 2021 – Join the City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility (DTM), Office of Ward 1 City Council, the Pima Association of Governments (PAG), and the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona (AFTSA) in celebrating the completion of the Transportation Art by Youth (TABY) Summer Project on South 12th Avenue – Irvington Road to Drexel Road. The ribbon cutting ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. at BK’s located at 5118 S. 12th Avenue, on the southwest corner of Wyoming Street and S. 12th Avenue. Speakers will include Ward 1 Council Member Lane Santa Cruz, Director of Transportation and Mobility Diana Alarcon, Executive Director of AFTSA Adriana Gallego, the Teaching Artist Tony Plak, the youth artists, and others. Light refreshments will be provided.

Thursday, July 29, 2021
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.
BK’s on South 12th Avenue (5118 S. 12th Avenue)

Artist Tony Plak led the eight-week summer program with nine youth artists from across the region-primarily from the south and west side. One of the goals of the program was to provide youth with an opportunity to be employed and participate in all phases of the design and installation of a public artwork under the guidance of a professional artist.

The artist led the youth through the public art design process and production of artwork that will become part of the streetscape of one of the most significant commercial corridors in the city- South 12th Avenue. The artwork is a series of acrylic murals painted on 10, 39-by-24-inch planters, that will be placed between the sidewalk and the roadway along the corridor. “I really like these types of projects,” said Plak. “Apart from me being able to work on a new project; I am helping young artists to start venturing into public art where they can experience the sensation of sharing their works of art, not only in art galleries or in studios but also in public streets where people can observe the art that young people are doing.”

Council Member Lane Santa Cruz chose the location to beautify the recently completed South 12th Avenue Complete Streets project. “I am thrilled to unveil the incredible artwork by our youth artists as part of this year’s TABY program,” said Santa Cruz. “Each of the planters designed and painted documents the rich cultural traditions of our community.”

The murals will celebrate the cultural significance of the commercial corridor and the surrounding neighborhoods while meeting the needs of the community by creating a more walkable environment that encourages business activity and promotes active transportation. An additional benefit of the project is to improve pedestrian safety along the corridor.

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