Shared Terrain 2007
Fifty-one thousand small yellow and gold flags, one for each ASU student, have been “planted” on the lawn of Grady Gammage Auditorium as part of the latest public art collaboration between Arizona State University and the City of Tempe.
"Grow Where you're Planted," by Tempe artist Chris Coleman, was installed February 10, and over the next four weeks, the 8-inch flags will evolve from a densely structured pattern on the Gammage lawn to a more organic arrangement in Tempe’s Birchett Park, where they are scheduled to remain through April 1.
The artwork represents the journey of ASU students who study on campus, then leave to share their knowledge with the community.
“Shared Terrain” explores the blurred territory and shared history where the university meets the city. Pedestrians and passengers of the thousands of vehicles that pass through this area receive a new perspective on familiar territory, and develop an awareness of site-responsive artwork. The artist was selected by a panel of representatives representing ASU, City of Tempe staff and Tempe community members.
This exhibition furthers the arts district concept of Mill Avenue, which begins at Gammage Auditorium and includes the Music Building, ASU Art Museum and the Ceramics Research Center, and several School of Art galleries.
What’s next? Check out the lawn in mid-May as Seattle artist Nicole Kistler will create a “river” of lawn animals as they seemingly leave a performance at Gammage, or come from class, and head purposefully toward Mill Avenue.
This is the second shared-terrain exhibition sponsored by ASU and Tempe. The first, featuring artwork in ceramics, mixed media and polyurethane, appeared from December 2004 through May 2005.
