Catch the streetcar and you’ll catch art at most every stop. Poetry will stream at 11 of the platforms without major installations. The words you’ll find over the launch weekend are by Tucson’s Poet Laureate Rebecca Seiferle.
And the major art installations? Here’s a guide:
“Poet”
Jay Ritchey
“Poet,” by Simon Donovan and Ben Olmstead, is at the eastern-most stop of the Modern Day Streetcar.
By Simon Donovan and Ben Olmstead, East Helen Street and North Warren Avenue. The 6-foot-tall head, covered with cutout steel letters, is meant to represent all poets.
“Pen/Sword”
Pen/Sword, by Rafe Ropek, East Second Street and North Highland Avenue. Public art along the route for the Modern Streetcar at 2nd St. and Highland in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by Martha Lochert
By Rafe Ropek, East Second Street and North Highland Avenue. The installation is made up of abstract forms of letters and quill pens.
“Flight of Time”
Martha Lochert
Flight of Time by Susan Wink, East University Boulevard and North Third Avenue.
By Susan Wink, East University Boulevard and North Third Avenue. The steel structure depicts mechanical gearshifts inspired by the streetcars of the 1800s. The canopy overhead is a model of the solar system.
People are also reading…
“Nancyplants Island”
By Mary Lucking and Pete Goldlust, North Fourth Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets. Fourth Avenue’s funky vibe is mirrored in this piece, with bright colors and what the artists called “psychedelic cactus forms.”
“Calabashes”
By Eric Powell, Sixth Avenue at East Broadway and at East Congress Street. The gourds are companion pieces at these two stops, a block separating the two. Gourds were once used to transport water here.
“Untitled”
Untitled by Joe Tyler, North Church Avenue at West Congress Street. The yucca has 100 leaves, one for each year of Arizona’s statehood, the stalk lists the names of the state’s 15 counties. Public art along the route for the Modern Streetcar at Broadway and Congress in Tucson, Ariz. Photo by Martha Lochert
By Joe Tyler, South Church Avenue at West Broadway and North Church Avenue at West Congress Street. Arizona’s five C’s — cattle, citrus, climate, copper and cotton — inspired the Broadway side of the work. On the Congress Street side, the stop celebrates Arizona’s centennial with a century plant with 100 leaves, each representing a year of Arizona’s statehood.
“Wandering Stars”
By Joe O’Connell and Blessing Hancock, West Cushing Street and South Granada Avenue. A column at each stop has a button you push to change the colors of the stars.
“Nuestras Raices/
Martha Lochert
Nuestras Raices/Our Roots by Cristina Cardenas, Avenida del Convento at West Congress Street.
Our Roots”
By Cristina Cardenas, Avenida del Convento at West Congress Street. The piece depicts Tucson’s rich history and deep roots near the Santa Cruz River. Check out the tiles on the platform, celebrating some of the people who have been important in our community.
