Tempe
Dale Eldred - Time Garden
300 Orange Mall, Tempe (ASU)
Longtime sculpture department chair of the Kansas City Art Institute, Dale Eldred, was fascinated with light. He would use various materials in his pieces to reflect and diffract light to remind the viewer of our connection to it. This giant sculpture, Time Garden, follows in those same footprints. As the sun moves across the sky, these three reflective panels, twenty-two feet in the air, send that light in different directions, following the passage of time. They look very futuristic against the buildings of the Arizona State University campus. One downside to viewing this piece now, originally installed in 1990, is that trees have grown to block the view of parts of the poles and reflective panels. Though we love our shade trees in the Valley of the Sun, I would hope the trees could be trimmed to allow for full enjoyment of this very intriguing work.
Eldred was highly regarded from an early age, influencing many of his students. Eldred also had the opportunity to collaborate with architects and other artists in large scale projects. He lost his life during the 1993 flood of the Missouri River that flowed into Kansas City and Eldred’s neighborhood.
Be aware that parking at ASU can be challenging. Taking Light Rail is always a good option. You can also visit the Arizona State University Art Museum and get a two hour parking pass in their limited space parking lot. There are many public art pieces on campus, so do walk around and keep your eyes open.
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