Art summons
Puzzle piece tickets sent out for countywide mural project
Community members who received a goldencolored puzzle piece in the mail may be reminded of the popular film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.”
However, instead of an invite to a land of sweet decadence, these “golden” tickets are to serve as a summons to paint a “gridded” portion of one of three murals that are to be completed throughout Yuma County. Each invitation includes a golden puzzle piece and instructions indicating which mural to go to and how to participate.
The Yuma team for the Arizona Creative Communities Institute (AZ CCI) created the project in order to assemble murals across the community. Not only will the murals be for the community, but they will be painted by the community as well.
The three large murals will be located in three sep-
arate locations: San Luis Ariz., near the Big Curve in Yuma and in the Foothills. AZ CCI team members say no artistic or painting experience is required.
Team member and director of the Littlewood Fine Art and Community Co-Op Isaac Russell said in total, there were 23 applicants for the Creative Communities project.
“There were 23 communities that applied for the grants for this project,” he said. “It’s in its inaugural year. Only nine got it and we are the only community of the nine that are doing a project like this. No others were doing community murals.”
When thinking of a project, Russell said AZ CCI members were prompted to identify an issue within their community and how they can address it in “a meaningful way through art.” He added that members felt that since there is so much diversity in Yuma, they could work to bring the community together.
“There are sort of these different islands or stove pipes that don’t always cross pollinate here,” he said. “They don’t interrelate as often as a very, very healthy community would and we decided to address that as a problem. This would tie the community together through a sort of painless art process.”
According to Russell, each mural will be assembled by 200 golden ticket invitees from all regions of the county with a goal of having participation from across the county and different walks of life.
Approximately 1,500 mailers are to be sent to area residents. Those individuals who would like to receive an invitation can enter their name by Oct. 10 at artsyumaazgov.typeform.com/to/rXrO0K
“Each envelope mailed, itself, is a collectible work of art that was created with a custom linocut and stamped by volunteer artists and community members,” said Arts and Culture Program Manager Lindsay Benacka, a member of the Yuma AZ CCI team, in a statement. “In addition to the golden puzzle piece and instructions on how to participate, the summons also includes a coloring page. One of our goals was to make a special and fun package that anyone would be excited to receive.”
Designs on the envelopes vary, Russell said. Once an invitation is received, participants will each have a two-week window to paint their piece of the puzzle. Though the AZ CCI hopes to get as much participation as possible, they expect that there will be those who do not show up.
“Of course, not all invitees will attend a painting session, so there will be ‘gaps’ in the murals,” Russell said in a statement. “These are intended and important. They will cause our community to ask questions about the ‘gaps’ between people and places in Yuma County — why they exist and what they mean.
“It’s part of the story too,” he added in an interview with the Yuma Sun. “What does that say about community? What does that say about their perception or how they value public art?”
Russell noted that those who receive a puzzle piece but do not wish to participate can pass their invitation along to someone who does wish to be a part of the project.
A City of Yuma press release shows team members of the Yuma AZ CCI group include Benacka; Russell; Cari Jean Nelson, former ceramics instructor, Kofa High School; and Maria McKivergan, owner and licensed professional counselor, Desert Counseling.
Additionally, artists involved in the project’s concept and design include Brad Downey, Lia Littlewood and Lucinda Yrene. AZ CCI is funded by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, ASU Herberger Institute and the Southwest Folklife Alliance.
“The AZ CCI Yuma group hopes these conversations change the landscape of our communities as much as the murals change the faces of the buildings they’re on,” the Yuma AZ CCI team said in a statement. “Through art, the making and discussion of it, we can all find common ground and, ultimately, become a stronger, more vibrant, and cohesive community.”
Mural painting is to commence on Oct. 14 and be finished by Oct. 31, Russel says. He added that the first 200 invitees to show up at each location with a golden ticket puzzle piece will be accepted to participate in the project. Each invitation is individually labeled for a location, to get a mix of community members.
“So, someone in San Luis (Ariz.) may get an invitation to come to a mural painting in the city of Yuma,” Russell explained. “That way, it will get community members out and about to not only mingle, but see different parts of Yuma County.”
Russel said the full design of the murals will be revealed once they are completed.
Invitations for the project include more information for participants. To follow the project’s progress or to inquire about an invitation, community members may:
• Call the Yuma Art Center at 928-373-5202.
• Call the Littlewood Fine Art and Community Co-Op at 928-276-3724.
• Visit the project on Facebook at facebook.com/DIYMurals.