MESA, Arizona—Oct. 19, 2015—Four Mesa Community College students will have their artwork installed in the Tempe Town Lake area as part of a collaborative art initiative by the public arts programs from Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler and Surprise. Out of eight students selected, four were MCC students—Jephyr Curtis (Mesa), David Higley (Apache Junction), Ashley Bennardo and Lisa Bernal Brethour (Tempe).
The platFORM initiative creates opportunities for student artists/artist teams to place existing, or propose new, sculptures for placement in public places. The project aims to provide experiences and education for students, from the application process through installation, in hopes of preparing emerging artists for future public art opportunities and to gain wider exposure for their artwork.
The artworks, installed during September and October, will be on display for the duration of one year on the grounds of Hayden Flour Mill, at the northeast corner of Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway and the Tempe Bike Corral at the corner of Rio Salado Parkway and S. Ash Ave.
MCC art faculty Linda Speranza said she is thrilled that her students’ artwork will be part of the platFORM display.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to have the students' artwork displayed in a high-profile location where thousands of people will have an opportunity to appreciate their interpretations," said Linda Speranza, MCC art faculty. "It is a special honor for our community college students considering the competition was open to artists up to graduate level."
MCC art student and Tempe resident Lisa Bernal Brethour, 46, said she drew her inspiration for her artwork, Rain Song, from growing up in southern Arizona on the edge of the desert. The sculpture is a square column with a different image on each side.
“Just as the monsoon storms begin in the south, the narrative will begin on the south face with the cicadas,” Brethour said. “The east face depicts the clouds and wind that blows in from the east in the summer. The north face depicts the monsoon rains. And just as the storms end in the west, the west face shows the resulting green desert cactus and flowers that have benefitted from the rains.”
Brethour said she typically participates in street painting events in which her murals are temporary and wash away a few days later.
“The experience of creating public art is so rewarding to me that I have wanted to create more permanent public artwork,” said Brethour, who completed her associate’s degree in Fine Arts in May 2015. “platFORM has given me that opportunity and has been a true learning experience of what is involved in creating permanent artwork on a large scale. My future career plans are to create fine art sculpture, and this fits right in line.”
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Contacts
Dawn Zimmer, 480-461-7892, dawn.zimmer@mesacc.edu
Sally Mesarosh, 480-461-7283, sally.mesarosh@mesacc.edu
About platFORM
In its second year, the public art programs from Tempe, Scottsdale, and Chandler have joined forces in platFORM, an initiative to create opportunities for student artists/artist teams to place existing or propose new sculptures for placement in public places. All sites have various sized concrete and metal pedestals or platforms available for sculpture mounting and placement. Students currently enrolled in an arts program at any university, community, or private college within the state of Arizona are eligible. For more information, visit www.platform-az.org.
About Mesa Community College’s Art Program
Learning to create effective art and design can be challenging in a variety of different ways. The fully accredited MCC Art Department has highly qualified professors who understand these challenges and inspires students to reach their greatest creative potential and sharpen their artistic skill set. Whether a student is seeking a degree, planning to transfer to a university, or taking classes for personal or professional enrichment, the Art Department can help students reach their goals. MCC features degree tracks, certificates, and courses in drawing, painting, ceramics, design, art history, computer graphics, and photography. For more information, visithttps://www.mesacc.edu/departments/art.
About Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College is nationally recognized for its service-learning, civic engagement and innovative educational programs, which include university transfer, career and technical, workforce development, and life-long learning. Host to 40,000 students annually, MCC offers more than 195 degrees and certificate programs at its two campuses and additional locations. MCC’s student body hails predominantly from the East Valley of Phoenix and includes Veteran, American Indian and International students who enrich the learning experience. Award-winning faculty are dedicated to student success providing the education and training that empowers MCC students to compete locally and globally. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, MCC is one of 10 colleges that comprise the Maricopa County Community College District. The District also includes the Maricopa Corporate College and two skill centers. For additional information, visit mesacc.edu.
Mesa Community College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) http://www.ncahlc.org, 800-621-7440.
The Maricopa County Community College District is an EEO/AA institution and an
equal opportunity employer of protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.