Heat control is a big project for Phoenix. These 9 artists will create more shade in city parks

Beating the Arizona heat is no easy task. But shade can provide temporary relief for residents seeking refuge from 90-degree temperatures, and can be an opportunity for art.

The Phoenix Arts & Culture Department commissions shadow installations created by public artists. It is called the public art project “¡Sombra!” and nine artists were selected to create temporary installations in various city parks.

“We worked with the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation to help us identify areas in the city that were hotter. We also considered other factors, such as whether the site was large enough to accommodate a temporary installation,” said Carrie Brown, who works for the city.

“Our project focuses on extreme urban heat, and so the artists we selected will create shadow installations to address that local societal issue,” she said.

Brown said they had determined which parks would get the installations.

“We worked with the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation to help us identify areas in the city that were hotter. We also considered other factors, such as whether the site was large enough to accommodate a temporary installation,” she said.

The project is funded by a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The artists will work with residents and city officials to finalize their design concepts, with their work set to be unveiled in the spring of 2025.