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Peoria residents have a way to get around town and appreciate public art even without, you know, going around town and being in public right now.
Gov. Doug Ducey on March 30 declared a statewide “stay-at-home” executive order to help limit the spread of COVID-19, and the order will last until Thursday, April 30 unless extended. Since that time, agencies, communities and residents alike have come up with new approaches to maintain the spirit of activities prior to shelter-in-place lifestyles.
The city of Peoria has launched a virtual tour of its public art online at www.peoriaaz.gov/arttour. All 24 public art installations are featured for viewing with an interactive map.
“Residents can travel the city from the comfort of their own homes,” a city news release states.
“Flow,” for instance, is a mosaic dedicated in 2013 at Rio Vista Recreation Center, 8866 W. Thunderbird Road. Its artist, Valerie Theberge, graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute, where she majored in painting and drawing. She moved to China to study the Chinese language and Chinese painting before her art career took her to Hong Kong where she trained with a British company and specialized in the art of mosaics. She earned her master’s degree from the University of Hong Kong in 1999, has worked on projects in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, India, and the U.S., and currently works in her studio located in the Washington DC area.
Residents can also take a virtual look at “Be Water,” by artists Tom and Jenna Latka. Dedicated in 2010 outside the Peoria Branch Library, 98th Avenue and Lake Pleasant Parkway, is a sculpture described in the online MIT digital collection of public art as “earthiness of the extruded ceramics contrasts with the shiny stainless steel sheet metal attached to the arching side.”
Mr. and Mrs. Latka, of Pueblo, Colorado, have been professional artists for more than 30 years.
Also featured is “The Rescuers,” a bronze sculpture of a firefighter and police officer rescuing a young girl, which was dedicated in 2002 outside of Peoria Fire Department Station 197, 7758 W. Jomax Road.
Its creator, Art Norby of Carefree, has created more than 600 sculptures in over 40 years in a variety of subjects, including more than 15 large scale/public bronzes. In 2006 he was awarded a one-person exhibit of paintings and sculpture by the West Valley Art Museum, 8401 W. Monroe St.
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.
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