Shade structure by day. Solar-powered street lights by night.
Downtown Phoenix welcomed the new public art piece “Shadow Play” by artist Meejin Yoon last night to the Roosevelt Row Arts District. Standing tall on Roosevelt Street between Third and Fourth streets, this functional public art piece is a part of the greater Roosevelt Streetscape project to create a more pedestrian- and bike-friendly thoroughfare.
![shadowplay](https://dtphx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/jjkkk.jpeg)
The cloud-like structures were inspired by the Phoenix sun and, together, the near-white canopies filter the sunlight and capture the breeze to create an oasis-like refuge in the city.
According to the artist, the geometry of the structures ensures there is shade at the hottest times of the days, but they also allow morning shadows to playfully animate the ground during the cooler hours. The metal is also coated in a material that is resistant to heat and allows for easy graffiti removal.
Words cannot do Yoon’s work justice, and so, take a look at some of the beautiful photos captured by the social media community at the public art dedication.