Description
The Bridges of Flagstaff Installation of the Inaugural ArtX Festival 2023 is an artistic representation of Four Ways that Our Beloved City Acts as a Bridge.
- Earth to Sky: 1st Dark Sky City, Home of the Lowell Observatory
- Civilization to Nature: Nature Dense City; Urban Trail, Many Parks
- Education to Opportunity: Home to NAU + Friendly to Small Local Business
- History to Innovation: Home to Indigenous Cultures- Navajo/Dine & Hopi, Route 66, Old West, Railroad + Cutting-Edge Businesses & Avante-Garde Art & Culture Scene
The 4 Spiral Pathways represent our spiraling galaxy, with its glowing lights and local stones, as well as the Four Directions. We aim to acknowledge the indigenous cultures on whose ancestral land we stand by aligning the bridges with the cardinal directions and including colors representing them.
The surrounding river of fabric alludes to Oak Creek and the Colorado River, our sources of life-giving water.
Together the real version of all these elements create our amazing city!
The installation has space in the center for prayers/good thoughts that we invite YOU to make within.
- Choose a Bridge & Path
- Collect a Pebble
- Walk the Wheel
- Pray into your Pebble
- Add your Pebble & Prayer to the Central Spiral
- Repeat as Desired
Inok Alrutzis an artist, designer, entrepreneur, and mother to 4 wonderful children. A lover of fine art, culture, spirituality and humanity, her diverse interests led her to obtain a BA in Anthropology from ASU. She was the owner and curator of Perspectives Studio Gallery in Uptown Sedona from 2009-20011. She currently owns and operates MIZ BIZ LLC, which offers digital bookkeeping & small business services for holistic entrepreneurs. Since relocating to Flagstaff in 2021 from NY, she has opened ReFab Revolution, a clothing company that features UpCycled + ReStyled Apparel + Accessories for All People, selling at local Flagstaff markets and online.
Meg Kabotie Adakai is a mama of two beautiful children, an educator, an artist, and a lover of nature and community. She holds a degree from NAU in Biomedical Science and Psychology. She was born and raised in Flagstaff, and comes from a line of Hopi artists on her father’s side, whose work can be found throughout Northern Arizona and the world. She is a board member of Flagstaff Foodlink and the Indigenous Circle of Flagstaff, and serves on the Indigenous People’s Advisory Council of Coconino County. She currently manages Flagstaff Community Markets, and teaches children about nature and community.
Brandon G. Rawls is an artist and musician, leading a local favorite band, Summit Dub Squad, and an NAU graduate. He has shown his work in several local galleries and various art festivals and events throughout his 20 year residency in Flagstaff. His Artistic inspirations draw from his Native American (Navajo) and African American roots, as well as from the beauty of the local landscape. He is a lover, supporter and creator of beauty and artistry in many forms including painting, poetry, song-writing, and performing. His son is also a showing and performing artist and a student of the arts.
Seth Holland is a native of Flagstaff, an entrepreneur, a musician, and an active lover and supporter of local art and creativity. He is the founder and owner of the local sustainability-focused business, Rooftop Solar, and an NAU graduate with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, as well as a practicing professional engineering draftsman. He is a recorded & performing musical artist, formerly the leader of the locally popular band Telescope, currently sharing his productions as Choo Pow on Spotify. He has also raised three lovely daughters, and is highly regarded in the Flagstaff community for his support of great ideas.
