Phoenix Street Art is More Than A Few Strokes
By Madeline Bates
The first impression of downtown Phoenix is different for everyone From convention-goers to business owners, students and snowbirds, downtown Phoenix has colors that set it apart from other major cities.
Public art has become a trophy of Phoenix’s downtown district as DTPHX Inc. — an organization designed to improve downtown Phoenix — has commissioned several different murals to become city landmarks in hopes of adding joy and value to the property.
R.J. Price, Chief Growth Officer for DTPHX is committed to using public art as a vessel for improving the city experience.
“If you want your building to fit into the environment, you should include public art into your plans,” Price said in regards to urban developments.
According to Realtor.com, public art has the potential to increase property value by over 20%.
This cites the evident growth of New York City’s Highline, a neighborhood with a reclaimed and abandoned railroad track, that saw over 1.3 million people in the first year public art was added to the area.
But Price claims that this is what makes Phoenix special.
“When you’re a city that doesn’t have the same density as New York, San Francisco or Chicago you need to plan for experiential elements,” Price said.
He has become committed to the “sidewalk experience” that has helped major cities–especially Phoenix–look cleaner and more colorful.
While art can improve a city's look, graffiti and vandalism are almost always inevitable.
Earlier this year, a south-facing window of the Walter Cronkite School in downtown Phoenix was tagged with several messages including ‘1488’ across a window image of a photo exhibit from the war in Ukraine.
Adam Wolfe from ASU Police confirmed that the perpetrator was a student and that the tag was meant to be neo-Natzi hate speech.
“1488,” refers to the 14 Words of David Lane, a white supremacist leader who died while imprisoned in 2007, as well as “Heil Hitler” as ‘H’ is the 8th letter of the alphabet. Other parts of the tag included the name of the photographer being showcased in the exhibit and other markings that could not be identified.
The marking was discovered in the early morning and the suspect was arrested that evening.
“People who do graffiti are usually pretty proud of it,” Wolfe said. “They are not hard to track down.”
This is only true in some cases as Phoenix spent over two years looking for a graffiti tagger who went by the alias of “Meyoe.”
Toby Manuelito was arrested as a suspect with over 314 graffiti incidents across the city of Phoenix according to AZ Family.
To combat vandalism issues such as this, DTPHX has assembled the “Clean + Green Team,” a city-funded group employed to many types of improvement projects from removing graffiti and weeds, to replanting trees and other greenery downtown.
It was reported by AZ Family that Manuelito caused over $38,000 in damage between January 2020 and April 2023. This included damage to public art that helped members of the community feel a connection to the art’s message.
Tiesha Harrison, a Phoenix artist is the owner and founder of “I AM Undefined Art” which has a creative emphasis on inspiration and healing.
Since losing her sister to domestic violence in 2019, Harrison has worked with other survivors to use art as a method of expression.
“What people are doing here has meaning,” Harrison said when talking about the Phoenix art scene.
She prides herself in being a “change agent” when it comes to expressing grief and struggles with mental health.
Harrison has worked with inmates, students, and members of other marginalized groups to help them use art as a way of telling their story, in hopes that hers will inspire them to break away from traditional therapeutic methods.
This works to inspire all to perform, create and change.
By Madeline Bates
The first impression of downtown Phoenix is different for everyone From convention-goers to business owners, students and snowbirds, downtown Phoenix has colors that set it apart from other major cities.
Public art has become a trophy of Phoenix’s downtown district as DTPHX Inc. — an organization designed to improve downtown Phoenix — has commissioned several different murals to become city landmarks in hopes of adding joy and value to the property.
R.J. Price, Chief Growth Officer for DTPHX is committed to using public art as a vessel for improving the city experience.
“If you want your building to fit into the environment, you should include public art into your plans,” Price said in regards to urban developments.
According to Realtor.com, public art has the potential to increase property value by over 20%.
This cites the evident growth of New York City’s Highline, a neighborhood with a reclaimed and abandoned railroad track, that saw over 1.3 million people in the first year public art was added to the area.
But Price claims that this is what makes Phoenix special.
“When you’re a city that doesn’t have the same density as New York, San Francisco or Chicago you need to plan for experiential elements,” Price said.
He has become committed to the “sidewalk experience” that has helped major cities–especially Phoenix–look cleaner and more colorful.
While art can improve a city's look, graffiti and vandalism are almost always inevitable.
Earlier this year, a south-facing window of the Walter Cronkite School in downtown Phoenix was tagged with several messages including ‘1488’ across a window image of a photo exhibit from the war in Ukraine.
Adam Wolfe from ASU Police confirmed that the perpetrator was a student and that the tag was meant to be neo-Natzi hate speech.
“1488,” refers to the 14 Words of David Lane, a white supremacist leader who died while imprisoned in 2007, as well as “Heil Hitler” as ‘H’ is the 8th letter of the alphabet. Other parts of the tag included the name of the photographer being showcased in the exhibit and other markings that could not be identified.
The marking was discovered in the early morning and the suspect was arrested that evening.
“People who do graffiti are usually pretty proud of it,” Wolfe said. “They are not hard to track down.”
This is only true in some cases as Phoenix spent over two years looking for a graffiti tagger who went by the alias of “Meyoe.”
Toby Manuelito was arrested as a suspect with over 314 graffiti incidents across the city of Phoenix according to AZ Family.
To combat vandalism issues such as this, DTPHX has assembled the “Clean + Green Team,” a city-funded group employed to many types of improvement projects from removing graffiti and weeds, to replanting trees and other greenery downtown.
It was reported by AZ Family that Manuelito caused over $38,000 in damage between January 2020 and April 2023. This included damage to public art that helped members of the community feel a connection to the art’s message.
Tiesha Harrison, a Phoenix artist is the owner and founder of “I AM Undefined Art” which has a creative emphasis on inspiration and healing.
Since losing her sister to domestic violence in 2019, Harrison has worked with other survivors to use art as a method of expression.
“What people are doing here has meaning,” Harrison said when talking about the Phoenix art scene.
She prides herself in being a “change agent” when it comes to expressing grief and struggles with mental health.
Harrison has worked with inmates, students, and members of other marginalized groups to help them use art as a way of telling their story, in hopes that hers will inspire them to break away from traditional therapeutic methods.
This works to inspire all to perform, create and change.
Phoenix Council Members Approve Ordinance of Accessory Dwelling Units
by Madeline Bates
The Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance on Sept. 6 to permit accessory dwelling units to be built on residential property.
Accessory dwelling units, commonly called ‘casitas’ or guesthouses, are common on large properties. “Casita,” Spanish for cottage or ‘small house,’ is a popular name throughout the southwest for a smaller house on the same property as the main house. Many are used for those with an elderly parent, grown children, or family members seeking asylum.
Councilmember Jim Waring was the only ‘no’ in the 8-1 vote. Waring, a sitting councilmember since 2011, expressed concerns during the formal session that his father had lived with him and his wife for several years before he passed away.
“I’ve been down this road,” Waring explained that his elderly father had lived with his family after becoming ill.
He also shared his concern for the excessive amount of short-term rentals. There are currently over 6,000 people who are unhoused in the city of Phoenix.
Though the Phoenix City Council is categorized as nonpartisan it still is mainly democratic with two Republican and two independent sitting members.
With many issues, the issue of affordable housing has begun a partisan discourse across the country.
Councilmember Debra Stark, a Democrat, was in favor of the ordinance, saying that the project needs to “get out the door.”
Stark made the motion to approve the ordinance.
“We, as a city, need to keep promoting the need to help pay for affordable housing,” Stark said.
When asked about Councilmember Waring’s vote of ‘no’, she referred to him as a “true Republican.”
“He stands by his principles and I admire him for that,” she said. The two noted that they have nothing but respect for one another.
“I hope they’re right and I’m wrong,” Waring said about his vote.
The two also agree on the potential cost. Affordable housing is classified as costing 30% of a household income, according to the representatives at Section 8 Office Phoenix Housing Department.
For a project under $50,000, the base fee for a permit in Phoenix is $231 with an additional fee for an extra $1000 of work. Additionally, Lowes lists a Douglas Fir 2x4 for $3.67, not including tax. Forbes reports that it would cost a typical builder $150 per square foot not including labor costs.
Betsy Graber, a Phoenix homeowner with a preexisting guesthouse, called her extra space a “waste” since she was using it as storage and not a housing unit.
If she were to connect the unit to the main house, she was quoted that it cost around $1000, not including an increase to the water and electric bill for the entire property. Comments about long-term costs were also brought up at the meeting.
Waring said that he wanted to focus more on “core city functions,” such as policing and over-taxation.
by Madeline Bates
The Phoenix City Council passed an ordinance on Sept. 6 to permit accessory dwelling units to be built on residential property.
Accessory dwelling units, commonly called ‘casitas’ or guesthouses, are common on large properties. “Casita,” Spanish for cottage or ‘small house,’ is a popular name throughout the southwest for a smaller house on the same property as the main house. Many are used for those with an elderly parent, grown children, or family members seeking asylum.
Councilmember Jim Waring was the only ‘no’ in the 8-1 vote. Waring, a sitting councilmember since 2011, expressed concerns during the formal session that his father had lived with him and his wife for several years before he passed away.
“I’ve been down this road,” Waring explained that his elderly father had lived with his family after becoming ill.
He also shared his concern for the excessive amount of short-term rentals. There are currently over 6,000 people who are unhoused in the city of Phoenix.
Though the Phoenix City Council is categorized as nonpartisan it still is mainly democratic with two Republican and two independent sitting members.
With many issues, the issue of affordable housing has begun a partisan discourse across the country.
Councilmember Debra Stark, a Democrat, was in favor of the ordinance, saying that the project needs to “get out the door.”
Stark made the motion to approve the ordinance.
“We, as a city, need to keep promoting the need to help pay for affordable housing,” Stark said.
When asked about Councilmember Waring’s vote of ‘no’, she referred to him as a “true Republican.”
“He stands by his principles and I admire him for that,” she said. The two noted that they have nothing but respect for one another.
“I hope they’re right and I’m wrong,” Waring said about his vote.
The two also agree on the potential cost. Affordable housing is classified as costing 30% of a household income, according to the representatives at Section 8 Office Phoenix Housing Department.
For a project under $50,000, the base fee for a permit in Phoenix is $231 with an additional fee for an extra $1000 of work. Additionally, Lowes lists a Douglas Fir 2x4 for $3.67, not including tax. Forbes reports that it would cost a typical builder $150 per square foot not including labor costs.
Betsy Graber, a Phoenix homeowner with a preexisting guesthouse, called her extra space a “waste” since she was using it as storage and not a housing unit.
If she were to connect the unit to the main house, she was quoted that it cost around $1000, not including an increase to the water and electric bill for the entire property. Comments about long-term costs were also brought up at the meeting.
Waring said that he wanted to focus more on “core city functions,” such as policing and over-taxation.