Willco Art and Design
1417 S. Grandview Drive
Tempe, AZ 85281
480.894.6211
Education
M F A, Sculpture, Arizona State University, 1990
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, 1985
B F A, Sculpture Maine College of Art (formerly Portland School of Art), 1984
Nursery Mgmt (Landscaping) Certificate, Pennsylvania State University, 1975
Art In Public Places
Rain Shelter at Mesa Art Center, Mesa Arizona, 2009
Suspended chrome raindrops provide canopy and refer to rain in the desert.
Crosscut Canal Multi-Use Path, Scottsdale, Arizona 2008
Design Team collaboration with Studio MA and HDR Inc. special focus on McDowell road underpass gabion terraces and “Swimming Dream” imagery.
Western Canal Multi-Use Path, Tempe, Arizona 2006-2008
Design Team Collaboration with EPG Landscape Architects,
Acequia Trail Overpass, St. Francis Drive Santa Fe, New Mexico. Selected in collaboration with: Eastman and Orr; Anticipated start date July 2008
Papago Portal, Valley Metro Rail, Tempe Arizona 2004-2008
Entry ramp refers to regional canals that have polished the desert.
Flyover Pedestrian Overpass, US 60 and Country Club Way; Tempe, Arizona 2004
Light blue steel bridge spans the freeway east of McClintock Road.
Water Muse, Town Lake Marina Lagoon, Tempe, Arizona 2004
The Muse is a water feature designed to improve water quality in the Rio Salado Lagoon.
Lay of the Land, Phoenix, Arizona 2003
Streetscape improvements for a new elementary school include: a naming game for landmark mountains and rock formations visible from site and playful benches at crosswalk.
Sweet Acacia Project (SAP), Scottsdale, Arizona 1999-2000
Sandstone channels function as a tenuous irrigation system sustaining Acacia trees in the entry Plaza of the Central Arizona Project (CAP) water treatment plant.
Mountain Pass Pedestrian Bridge, Phoenix, Arizona 1995-1998
Piestewa Peak mountain range visible from the site provides cues for this "ghost mountain" safety cage. Located on highway 51 North of Thunderbird and south of Greenway Road.
Fire Station # 12, Phoenix, Arizona 1997-98
Design of entry court yard features shade structure shaped like a skewed ladder and Aloe vera garden.
Papago Arroyo Wildlife Corridor, Tempe, Arizona 1998-1999
Artwork for this corporate development takes the form of a wild desert wash running through the center of the campus.
Stone Boat Habitat, Tempe, Arizona 1996
Design of this flood basin features boat shaped tables, stone walls and native plants.
Hanger Park Ramadas, Tempe, Arizona 1995-1997
Steel shade ramadas simulate the image of farm clothes blowing in the wind.
Habitat For Learning, Sunny Slope Elementary School, Phoenix, Arizona (1995 –1996).
Landscape created with children to promote environmental education.
Rio Salado Bike path, Tempe, Arizona 1995
2 mile bicycle/pedestrian path features imprints of fish that used to swim in the Salt River
Mitchell Park Spine, Tempe, Arizona 1994-1995
Seven grass hillocks curve around volleyball court providing seating and definition.
Elevated Desert, Mesa Community College (south end), Mesa, Arizona 1991
Concrete pillars elevate a desert landscape providing shaded seating below.
Selected Exhibitions
Canalscape; ASU Art Museum, Sustainability Show 2009
Wishing Well for Thirsty People, Tempe Public Library in collaboration with daughter Katie.funds collected distributed as drinking water to homeless. 2007
Cultural Landscapes, Center for the future, Slavonice, Czech Republic, 2006
Flood, Ice House Alternative Art, Phoenix, Arizona: March 2005
Ecovention, Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 2002
Sites Around the City, Algae Garden, ASU Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona 2000
Oil & Water, Arizona Museum for Youth, Mesa, Arizona 1999
Humanchine, Museum of Neon Art, Los Angeles, California 1998
Surface Tension, Joseph Gross Gallery, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson Arizona, 1997
Lagoon Research Project, Exploratorium, San Francisco, CA 1993-997
Reuse Refuse, Honolulu Academy of Art, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1994
Artland, Arizona Museum for Youth, Mesa, Arizona, 1994
Alternativas, X'TeReSa, Mexico City, 1994
RE: recycled materials, Step Gallery, Tempe, Arizona, 1994
The Nature of the Machine, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago, Illinois, 1993
Awards
Governor’s Pride in Arizona Award, FlyOver Bridge across US 60 at Country Club Way, Tempe Arizona 2004
Valley Forward Design Excellence Award, Marina Water Muse, 2004
Americans for the Arts, Public Arts Network, Year in review, 2004
Papago Salado Design Competition, NEA competition, 2003 Phoenix, Arizona,
City of Tempe Beautification Award, Papago Arroyo, Phase II 2001
City of Tempe Beautification Award, Papago Arroyo, 1999
Valley Forward Design Excellence Award, Mt. Pass Ped. Bridge, 1998
Valley Forward Design Excellence Award, Rio Salado Bike path, 1997
Public Lectures
“Personal view of Public Art” Cultural Landscapes Symposium, Center for the Future, Slavonice, Czech Republic, October 2006
“Bridging the Mainstream”, Keynote for Alumni weekend, Maine College of Art; Portland, Maine October 8, 2005
“Creativity in Transportation Design”, North Carolina transportation Symposium Hendersonville, North Carolina January, 2005
“Reconnecting a City to its Source, Public Art successes on the Phoenix Canals”. Americans for the Arts; Public Art Network Pre-conference: Washington DC July 16, 2004
“Giving Voice to the Environment ”Talking Out Loud Lecture Series, Telluride, Colorado June, 2004
“Expanding a Regional View” in conjunction with the annual Four Corners Juried Exhibit, Durango Art Center, Durango, Colorado January 20