In 2003, Shaw and three other artists were selected by Valley Metro Rail to provide artwork for the four Apache Blvd light rail stations in Tempe. Each artist was asked to focus design efforts on an element, location or station feature. Suikang Zhao (New York) was assigned entry elements. Dan Corson (Seattle) was assigned lighting and light elements. Christine Bourdette (Portland, OR) was assigned greenwall locations. Shaw (Seattle) was assigned station pavements. The artists created a design suite of complementary artworks examining regional and local context, community, and civic energy.
Shaw designed mosaic areas in each station pavement and specified the Evaporation/Condensation configuration of the station unit pavers. Shaw also created the Apache Stories Project, a library of anecdotes and stories relating experiences of people who live, work or otherwise access the Apache Blvd area of Tempe. The stories are from all ages, and all times. The stories were collected through appeals and referrals. These stories are adapted and edited for use as text medallions. These text medallions are stainless steel cutouts scattered throughout the art elements of the four Apache Blvd stations.
Link to Apache Stories Project
Shaw’s artworks for these stations in Tempe, AZ were fabricated and installed in 2008
