The Watchers

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"My latest public art installation, the Watchers, has been installed at the corner of Central and Monroe in Downtown Phoenix. My work is rooted in storytelling and this project leans into that. This corner is rich with history, and there was so much to explore visually in highlighting the area. I worked with [City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department], [Downtown Phoenix Inc.], and [Hotel San Carlos] to learn their stories and what they hoped the art might explore.

This corner holds the historic Hotel San Carlos, the Professional Building, and the former Chase tower, now being rehabilitated. Cornish Pasty operates out of another early building on the corner across the way. I loved hearing from the hotel proprietors about the hotel’s rich history, from ghost stories to Old Hollywood glamour, to the innovation of the building itself at the time of its creation. I also dug into the visual history of the Professional Building, one of Phoenix’s best examples of Pueblo Deco architecture. It appears in the opening sequence of Psycho, which got this Hitchcock fan’s wheels turning.

I also spoke with Downtown Phoenix [Inc.], whose goal was to highlight everything going on Downtown today, from the Phoenix Convention Center to sports and entertainment. As I pieced together the history of the corner along with what this area is today, I was struck by the idea that the two buildings have stood sentry, witnessing 100 years of change. Inspired by Rear Window, I explored how the buildings and those who have looked from the windows have witnessed the ever-evolving Downtown landscape. Now, as the Chase tower is rehabilitated, the two buildings, in conversation across this corner, continue to witness Phoenix becoming.

In the final artwork, you’ll see stylized versions of the Hotel San Carlos and the Professional Building, with my own take on the Pueblo Deco detailing under the windows. The two side panels reference the windows of the Chase tower reflecting the sun back at them. Each window tells a story of Phoenix: scenes of artists and musicians, nods to the newer architecture the buildings have watched rise, our food scene, sports. It’s a celebration of Phoenix, an ever-evolving place we’re lucky to call home." (@liztaylorcreative on Instagram)

Address

2 E Monroe St
Phoenix, AZ 85004