An eclectic mix of people and music can be found every third Sunday at Civic Space Park (deboard light rail at Central Station). The event is called Civic Space Jam – a free dance party in the heart of our urban core. The late afternooon/early evening event is a great way to bring the weekend in for a nice soft landing with some cool tunes and fun people. One of the event organizers, Anthony Hart (aka DJ Hartbreaks) is a friend. I’ve been wanting to do a profile on his event ever since it started late last year, but we could never coordinate schedules. Before too much time passed, I figured I would corner Hart for an interview by text message, which just so happens to be my first ever text message interview (I’m not sure if this is a sign of advanced technology or an indication of where my career is headed). Here is our text conversation in its entirety. The text conversation took place April 13th around 10:15 p.m. I was at home on my sofa and in my footie pajamas while DJ Hartbreaks was at Downtown hot spot Lost Leaf.
Tony Arranaga: Are you working?
Anthony Hart: Nope. Lost Leaf. Why?
TA: Wanted to ask you about Civic Space Jam for a blog post. Anything different happening this weekend compared to previous jams?
AH: It’s gonna be warmer!
TA: Any suggestions on what people should bring?
AH: Squirtguns! Water balloons! Popsicles! Ice cream! Cold Water! We’ll have free ice tea.
TA: Awesome. You know I’m using all this for a post so only answer what you want in print/text. 
Are you happy with the turnout at previous Civic Space Jams?
AH: Absolutely! If you’ve been coming each month since November, it keeps growing and getting bigger/more packed and popular every time.
AH: Everyone needs to spread the word and tell their friends, whether they live/hangout Downtown or not — but ESPECIALLY if you do. We started this from the ground up, little to no flyering (flyers/advertising), totally do it yourself/grassroots and the turnout/support has been amazing.
TA: and it’s FREE! Is Civic Space Jam family friendly or should people leave their kids at home?
AH: Dude. It’s an all ages event, outdoors in a beautiful park (Civic Space Park) that has a ton of potential. Seeing kids drance, draw (with chalk on the sidewalk) what they want/contribute to a mural, has been awesome. Phoenix needs more fresh, community oriented events like this to bring people together. Hopefully things like CSJ are still going and continue to grow as these kids do. We’re one of the largest cities in the US and need to show it culturally.
TA: I agree. I think there’s alot to do here in Downtown. Phoenix is such a cool city – people should get out and explore!
AH: Alot of the people that come to CSJ I see at bars and downtown, parties, or are DJs/musicians themselves in addition to being parents. For once they can make a family day/night of it and not have to worry about a sitter.
TA: Sounds good. Thanks Anthony!
Civic Space Jam takes place the third Sunday of every month at Civic Space Park, which is just north of Central station (Central and Van Buren). The event takes place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and is free to the public. Dress code: casual/day at the park. If you’re interested in finding out more information about Civic Space Jam, check out the Facebook fan page. Click here to read details about the park and the public art display called Her Secret is Patience. Information on how to ride the light rail can be found on my Web site here.
Her Secret is Patience
Thursday, March 11th, 2010Say what you will about the floating sculpture in Downtown Phoenix, but it’s magnificent. I’ve heard it referred to as a jellyfish, a uterus, a travesty, beautiful, bold, stupid, a waste. It was installed on March 18, 2009 and even when it was just a rendering it caused such a hullabaloo between people (like me) defending it and people who wanted to see it never happen. It’s fascinating that before the sculpture was even it up it caused so much dialogue but that is exactly what public art should do: bring people together to discuss ideas. Downtown Phoenix is lacking in quality public space and this piece was designed to be part of a new park that was under construction. The park is now open and is next to a light rail station, the new ASU Downtown campus, and Central Station in the heart of Downtown. (Local blogger Yuri Artibise wrote about the pros and cons of the park in a piece here.)
Overall, I like the park and think it has the potential to become a destination, and the floating sculpture will be a main driver behind that. I predict the sculpture will become iconic, something that people who visit the city will go home and say, “You’ll never believe what I saw in Phoenix.”
Art, by definition, should say something. This sculpture says that Phoenix is a city willing to think outside the box and is ready to grow up and have its own identity. Creating such a unique pedestrian location, not on the fringes of the city, but smack-dab in the middle is an achievement of people thinking smart and big and is a major step forward for a city so dependent on cars.
The City of Phoenix has an interesting past with public art. During the construction of the 51, a lot of money was spent installing public art along the freeway. The art consisted of oversized ceramic pots on the side of a major road. I have one main objection: the art was on the side of a major road! A person cannot truly appreciate art while flying by it at 65+ mph and giving it an accidental glance.
But Her Secret is Patience is in a public park that people can get to by walking or taking the light rail. It’s in a park where the community can gather and relax and sit under trees and read and throw a football.
I hope this will be a catalyst that brings more people with vision to Phoenix because the city needs better vision and new ideas. We need better architecture, pedestrian friendly streets, and reasons to be downtown. Her Secret is Patience is just the beginning.
Tags: ASU Downtown, civic space park, downtown phoenix, Her Secret is Patience, METRO light rail
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