Members of The Sedona Women are all smiles after donating $10,000 towards the installation or art at the “Y” roundabouts. Pictured are: Martha Mertz, Sharon Angelo, Constance Loet, Gail Moore, Sandy Brandvold, and Karen Strauch. Photo by Tommy Acosta

City and community work together on art project for roundabouts

By Tommy Acosta, Associate Editor

SEDONA, AZ - March 25, 2009 - When one comes into a world-renowned community and destination place like Sedona it is vitally important that what they see first reflects the beauty and artistic animus of the community itself.

The City of Sedona takes this responsibility seriously and through its Arts & Culture Commission and its various committees such as the Arts in Public Places Committee, it works to foster growth in all aspects of arts and culture; protect, enhance and advocate excellence in the arts for Sedona and its visitors.

Last week the Arts in Public Places Committee met with The Sedona Women organization to discuss art that would be placed at the roundabouts at the “Y” once all construction and landscaping is finished.

SR179 Project Manager Carl Burkhalter spoke on ADOT’s position on art enhancement for the roundabouts and the various parameters involved in choosing and installing art at these locations while The Sedona Women announced they were contributing $10,000 in seed money for art at the roundabouts and to “ignite community enthusiasm.”

Mr. Burkhalter said ADOT welcomed community art at the roundabouts but of primal importance was that the art did not distract motorists or cause accidents.

“ADOT’s main concern is safety and traffic,” he said. “All we are asking is that you don’t put something in there that will distract motorists. We don’t want people stopping to take pictures.”

He said ideas for art at the roundabouts should first be sketched out and then presented to ADOT for “pre-approval” before the committee or commission presents their suggestion to the City Council for final approval.

He said ADOT will follow through with previously approved landscaping enhancements at the roundabouts that include trees planted in the middle of the roundabout circle and an eight-foot diameter pad in each roundabout built to accommodate future art. A small circular, red-brick wall will be built around the inner circle.

“We are putting in what the council has approved,” he said

He said there is no height restriction to the art placed in the middle of the roundabout.

“There is no need for people to be able to see the other side of the roundabout,” he said.

He said there will be electricity running at the site to illuminate the art should lighting be necessary.

“We just don’t want anything too flashy,” he said.

He also said that any new enhancement to what has already been approved must come with an additional maintenance agreement between ADOT and the city.

He said there will also be a 60-90 day approval process.

Members of The Sedona Women spoke and presented ideas at the meeting, explaining why they wished to get involved.

“We look to the future of Sedona as a city dominated by art,” said Wendy Jacobson, a TSW member. “We hope to ignite community enthusiasm by donating $10,000 for art at the roundabouts.”

She explained her organization began looking at current landscaping at roundabouts in other cities and the art used to get a better understanding of what could be done.

“We know you have your priorities and we don’t want to take on your jobs,” she said. “How will it happen? Where will the money come from? Who will be the artists chosen. These are questions we are looking at. It’s a fascinating endeavor. We have a lot of talent in Sedona.”

Ms. Jacobson said members of TSW would want to serve on an Art in Public Places sub-committee to be part of the process.

APP member Dennis Ott welcomed the offer.

“This was out dream years ago,” he said. “I applaud you. It gives us something to chew amongst us.”

Mr. Burkhalter said ADOT hopes to have the roundabouts landscaping done at the “Y” and ready for the installation of art in the next eight months.

He cautioned there would be no advertising allowed to be displayed anywhere in the roundabouts.

He also said there would be no time limit as to when art can be installed at the roundabouts.

MEI Xwei Wong, APP chairperson, expressed excitement for the project and working with TSW members to develop art for the roundabouts.

“I’m very excited about it,” she said. “I know what we put in there will be considered a landmark. It can really say a lot about us as a city. We need to look at how it will be handled and funding. We look forward to collaborating with you.”

“We need to develop a solid foundation, a process and a definition on how we will partner with you,” Mr. OTT added.

TSW member Constance Loet summed up the unified effort in a typical Sedona fashion.

“It is an exciting process,” she said. “Magical! In giving our contribution to you and working with you we know it will be magical.”