Artlink and Espiritu Loci Inc. Commission Eight Large-Scale Artworks to Celebrate Downtown Neighborhood

Artlink Inc. in partnership with Arizona Strategies, Espiritu Loci Incorporated (ELI), and Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Arizona 2D Project (ULI2D) announced the artists commissioned to produce large-scale murals for a new Arizona Public Service (APS) electric substation, located on a prominent corner of Roosevelt Row in the Evans Churchill neighborhood. Eight murals up to 28 feet tall, totaling 5,750 square feet, produced by ten artists will celebrate the arts and vitality of this renowned downtown Phoenix neighborhood.

Downtown Phoenix has undergone a great deal of growth over the past few decades and is expected to see even more expansion in the years ahead. APS is providing safe reliable power to the area already and is constructing new infrastructure to support the future growth of the downtown area, the highest concentration of APS customers in the state. APS recently completed an extensive community engagement assessment that occurred over a four-year period focused on selecting and designing a one-acre property for a new substation in the downtown area.

APS hired Arizona Strategies and Espiritu Loci Incorporated, to lead the site selection process and develop a site-specific design solution. Working in partnership with the community and the City of Phoenix, a commitment has been made to create murals that wrap the exterior of the substation, alongside metal work, sculpture, creative signage, clever wayfinding, decorative pavement, and rooftop gardens. ELI partnered with Artlink Inc. to facilitate an open call to artists, who were invited to submit their portfolios for consideration for the mural panels.

Following a review of submissions by a panel comprised of community members representing Roosevelt Row and the Evans Churchill Neighborhood, the following artists and artist teams were selected for the project from the 62 that submitted: Brian Boner, Tato Caraveo, Lalo Cota, Lauren Lee, Dwayne Manuel, Natasha Martinez & Anitra Molina, Such & Champ, and Shela Yu.

“The overarching goal of the project is to celebrate the arts and vitality of the Roosevelt Row Arts District in the Evans Churchill Neighborhood, along with the artistic community's contribution to the unique spirit of the area,” said Trevor Barger, CEO of Espiritu Loci Incorporated. “The artists that have been selected are so talented and we cannot wait to see the beautiful pieces they create.”

The artists selected will not only help create an integrated development project that minimizes the impact of the necessary utility elements on the vibrant urban fabric, but also contribute to a significant public art project that will welcome the world to one of Phoenix’s renowned arts districts. The project, located on the prominent corner of Roosevelt and 7th Street, is positioned at a dynamic intersection as a reflection of a city's culture.

Artlink Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of connecting artists, businesses and the community, has helped Espiritu Loci Incorporated find local artists for this project.

“We are honored to work in partnership with a selection panel representing the Roosevelt Row and Evans Churchill community on a project that celebrates the area's artistic expression,” said Catrina Kahler, the president and CEO of Artlink. “It was a challenging selection given the level of talent within the mural artist community. The artists ultimately selected are not only gifted in their craft, but also have personal connections to the neighborhood. We look forward to sharing the artists' stories as they bring their beautiful artworks to life.”

In addition to murals, sculptures, colorful chairs, “Instagrammable moments” and other pieces of art will be included throughout the project to transform the block-long stretch into a unique and welcoming space.

Construction is underway. Painting will start in early February and the installation of the artistic elements will be completed by May 2022.

To learn more about Espiritu Loci Incorporated, visit espirituloci.com or Arizona Strategies, visit arizonastrategies.com. To sign up for updates and for more information about Artlink, please visit artlinkphx.org, or connect via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. To learn about ULI’s ULI2D project, visit arizona.uli.org.

To learn more about the selected mural artists: Brian Boner, Tato Caraveo, Lalo Cota, Lauren Lee, Dwayne Manuel, Natasha Martinez & Anitra Molina, Such & Champ, and Shela Yu.

About Espiritu Loci Incorporated
Espiritu Loci Incorporated is a Phoenix-based placemaking and development assistance firm that specializes in assisting people to create spirited, one-of-a-kind settings for life. For those who want to create special places that continue to make a difference for generations to come, in alliance with our clients, we co-create a custom vision and spirit for each property. Our work maximizes the true value of the land and delivers an amazingly high level of community and quality of life.

About Artlink
Artlink keeps the arts integral to our development by connecting artists, businesses, and the community. Founded as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization by artists in 1989, the Artlink name is a guiding principle for the organization, as it supports stakeholders of the arts and culture community, amplifying its collective strength. For more information about Artlink, please visit artlinkphx.org/. Connect socially with Artlink on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.