A suite of artworks tell the history of the neighborhood, which includes a historic Phoenix Indian School. Given the complex history of the site, the project included hundreds of hours of research in cooperation with community groups to ensure a broad and balanced telling of the stories that make up the area’s history. The project consists of three parts:

Fifteen sets of "memory markers" based on oral histories about the area are installed on the platform. Mounted on the station's vertical columns, each memory marker consists of between 3 and 5 baked enamel panels. Each 5 in. x 7 in. panel will feature a black-and-white historic photograph of a place near the station, with text and silhouettes printed on top. The text describes a memory of an event that happened at that site, and the silhouettes illustrate that memory in action. A long arrow will connect each series of panels, and point in the direction of the memory's location.

Near the ticket machines at the north and south entrance to the station, two 8 ft. x 10 ft. terrazzo "murals" are installed in the ground. Each mural features a photograph of Central Avenue as it looked in 2004 -- one looking north, the other looking south, before the light rail was installed.

Twelve 22" x 30" glass panels were mounted in a fence that runs along side the entry ramps to the platform. There are two groups with six panels in each: one at the north end of the platform, and one at the south. Since passengers will be seeing them as they walk both to and from the platform, each group is meant to be read left-to-right and right-to-left.

Date: 2008

Location:
Indian School Light Rail Station, Phoenix, AZ

Commissioning Agency:
Valley Metro Rail

Details:
Terazzo, baked enamel, stainless steel arrows, powder-coated steel frames, and glass with image interlayers.

Awards:
2009 Public Art Network Year in Review