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New public artwork by world-famous artist brightens up Scottsdale roundabout

New public artwork by world-famous artist brightens up Scottsdale roundabout

A new public artwork by internationally recognized artist Phillip K. Smith III has been added to the Scottsdale Public Art Permanent Collection.

“TRI-HEX-CIRC” is a vertical, painted steel sculpture located at the Raintree Drive and Hayden Road roundabout in north Scottsdale. The sculpture transforms geometrically from a circle at the base to a hexagon in the middle and finally to a triangle at the top as it rises more than 50 feet, interacting with the ever-changing desert light and vast sky.

“I hope ‘TRI-HEX-CIRC’ becomes a visual icon for this part of North Scottsdale — a sense of knowing where you are when you see it,” Smith said.

Scottsdale Public Art, part of the nonprofit Scottsdale Arts, commissioned Smith for the project on behalf of the city of Scottsdale.

Smith’s work was recently on view at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), which is also run by Scottsdale Arts. In 2022, the Southern California-based artist, whose work focuses on light and space, was the seventh artist in the “Architecture + Art” series with the exhibition “Phillip K. Smith III: Three Parallels.”

Since then, Smith has had another solo museum exhibition, “Light + Change,” at the Palm Springs Art Museum and was the first artist commissioned to create an artwork for the Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda show in Nora, Italy, with “Nora Mirage.”

“It’s exciting to have an artist of Smith’s caliber in our collection because it brings national and international attention to local artists and also supports their careers,” said Kati Ballares, director of Scottsdale Public Art. “It’s important to have a public art program that has a balance of international artists and local artists.”

A trained architect and practicing artist, Smith is at home in both worlds. While his work is primarily based on making objects, it also seamlessly integrates its surroundings.

“TRI-HEX-CIRC” directly addresses the movement of the sun to create an ever-changing light and shadow icon for North Scottsdale. The entire sculpture is cut at a 30-degree angle, creating 32 slices, all 12 inches high. The gap between each slice increases as the artwork rises, creating a floating feeling and allowing the desert air and sky to penetrate the artwork.

Tanya Galin, public art manager at Scottsdale Public Art, can’t wait for residents and visitors to drive around the roundabout and see how the lights and shadows of “TRI-HEX-CIRC” change throughout the day.

“You drive by it in the morning on your way to work and it’s a different color than when you drive by it in the evening on your way home,” Galin said. “I love that it represents the environment; it reflects the environment. That’s what I appreciate about the work. I like that it’s public art in an unexpected place.”

After a 12-year process of bringing “TRI-HEX-CIRC” to life, Smith’s career and drawing style have evolved, but one thing has remained the same: his enthusiasm for public art.

“I love interacting with public spaces that aren’t normally identified as traditional art venues,” Smith said. “There’s an exciting disruption that happens in the decision to exhibit art outside the white walls of a gallery or museum. Public art is free, open to the public, and has the ability to transform the public’s perception of spaces that have become ‘normal.’”

SCOTTSDALE ARTS — SCOTTSDALE PUBLIC ART

Scottsdale Arts is a regionally and nationally significant, multidisciplinary arts organization offering an exceptional diversity of programs through its six divisions: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA), Scottsdale Public Art, Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation, Canal Convergence, and Civic Center LIVE. Scottsdale Arts creates diverse, inspired arts experiences and outreach opportunities for the community while fostering active engagement in the arts among individuals, businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies. Scottsdale Public Art’s mission is to be a leader in defining public art through creative placemaking, signature cultural events, exhibitions, and installations—contributing to the creative, cultural, and economic vitality of the community. Founded in 1985, Scottsdale Public Art enhances the quality of life for its residents and visitors through more than 150

Photo: Brian Passey

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