6th ave asphalt art
Painting a safer, more joyful gateway to downtown
On Saturday, October 22nd, 2022 Tucsonans of all ages and abilities came together to transform the street between Children’s Museum Tucson and Armory Park. Over 300 people helped prep planters and paint murals designed by Tucson artist, Yu Yu Shiratori, during an all-day block-painting party complete with food, music, and play.
Photo credit: Logan Havens
About the Project
Background
The 6th Avenue transformation was a “lighter, quicker, cheaper” initiative intended to calm traffic, improve connectivity, and enhance safety and comfort for everyone using the street, especially people on foot. Living Streets Alliance and Tucson Dept. of Transportation & Mobility applied for a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative in 2021, landing Tucson as one of 25 communities selected.
The initial concept:
Through a mix of paint, planters, flex posts, and other strategies, the project aimed to improve traffic safety in the area. The image below shows the different enhancements that were initially proposed (note: the areas in orange are where colorful murals would be painted on the asphalt).
- New crosswalks: Two additional crosswalks added to the area on the east and west legs of the 12th Street & 6th Avenue intersection
- Enhancements to existing crosswalks: Refreshing of paint to make the north and south crosswalks more visible; shortened crossing distances for people on foot
- Curb extensions: Mural art will extend the curb on all four corners (also known as “bulb-outs”) to narrow the intersection. This helps calm traffic by slimming down the intersection and it also creates more space for people on foot and using mobility devices to enjoy
- Turn-lane mural: A mural will extend the entire length of the block helping deter illegal passing on the left
- New mid-block crossing zone: A wide crossing zone and temporary curb ramps will improve the connection between Armory Park and Children’s Museum Tucson, making it safer and easier for families coming and going to each destination to cross the street
About the Artist + Artwork Design
A public call to artists was made and a finalist was selected by a panel of community stakeholders and public artists from Tucson. Yu Yu Shiratori was the artist selected, who then created three street mural designs and three color palettes for the public to weigh in on. The concepts were developed incorporating ideas and stories shared by Tucsonans through pop-up engagements, oral histories, and workshops hosted by the project team in 2022. The public voted on the three concepts and color palettes to choose the winner.
In the end the concept titled Gratitude was the most popular. It was further refined by the artist to be straightforward to implement by volunteers during the block party. Here are what the final mural design looked like (right) and how it looked once implemented (below):
Photo Credit: BG Boyd Photo
Artwork Description
"Symbolic depictions of the cultural and natural history of Tucson. The visual language of the work is informed by Tucson’s natural beauty, history of the people and the gratitude to the land that has fostered a caring and vibrant community." Yu Yu Shiratori
Key Project Goals
- Improve walkability, street and pedestrian safety, and increase foot traffic in the designated area.
- Transform the block with a visually appealing artwork that inspires and uplifts residents and visitors.
Photo by Logan Havens
Impact
The project team is still gathering “after” data to compare to statistics and surveys gathered before the project began. In the meantime, 6th Avenue is already benefiting from some clear improvements:
A new, permanent mid-block crossing between 12th and 13th Street: This crossing creates a much safer way for families to get across the street between Children’s Museum Tucson and Armory Park. It also proves added ADA access to the block.
Two new, marked crosswalks at the intersection of 12th Street and 6th Ave: These crosswalks make it much easier for people driving to anticipate people crossing on foot, and where.
Enhanced public space: 33 large planters and upward of 150 native plants were added to this stretch of 6th, making it a greener, friendlier, and more enjoyable space to be in.
Artist Statement
Mural Title: "Gratitude"
"Sixth Ave will be enhanced by asphalt murals to enhance safety and comfort for all. The artwork explores the history and significance of tile and mosaic art in Tucson. Each tile is influenced by ideas directly from the community: care, growth and vibrancy. The visuals also pay respect to the rich history of the land and peoples of the area who resided here before the official formation of the city. Flora elements are hybrid representatives of three important crops of the southwest: corn, squash and beans. Fauna and celestial elements are representative of the growth, regeneration and potential for our community." Yu Yu Shiratori
Photo by Logan Havens
THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this project possible!
Artist Yu Yu Shiratori (left), City of Tucson Livability Project Manager Gabriela Barillas-Longoria (middle), LSA Executive Director Emily Yetman (right)
This project was a collaboration between Living Streets Alliance and Tucson Department of Transportation & Mobility made possible in part through Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative grant program, with local support from:
The "Green Team" volunteers planting 33 planters. Plants donated by local community partners: Pima County Native Plant Nursery and soil by Tank's Green Stuff (Photos by Mamta Popat)
City of Tucson Department of Transportation and Mobility Director and his daughter (left) and Deputy Director and his family (right)
