Soar! Thunderbird Field
Snapshot
Soar! Thunderbird Field
Glendale, AZ (2024)
Site-specific public art, designed to commemorate the historic Thunderbird Field.
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Built in 1939, it became a premier training facility for over 10,000 pilots worldwide.
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By 1945, the field was no longer needed for pilot training; it was sold as surplus for $1.00 and became ASU's Thunderbird School of Global Management.
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The open land, once an airfield, was recently sold to become new housing.
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The City of Glendale wanted to document its rich history.
Conception
The monument is located at 14636 N 55th Ave in Glendale, AZ, within a 30’ easement. It commemorates the history of Thunderbird Field and features a 16’ x 16’ space with a ceramic and steel sculpture of the Stearman PT17 airplane, educational panels, seating, and handmade tiles created by over 100 students from Kachina Elementary School. The design also includes a compressed granite pad, cast-in-place concrete seating, information panels with cast aluminum plaques, and steel letters identifying the site as Thunderbird Field.
Creation
Airplane fabrication took place at my studio, while sitework was being done. The Fine Art & Creative Environments crew worked with students and staff of Kachina Elementary School to make the tiles for the yellow wings of the plane. Other tiles were created in the studio and combined with commercial tile to make the colors of the plane. Ceramic tiles were used for color because they remain unfaded, even in the harsh Arizona sun. Site work, including path work of decomposed granite, concrete molds, and casting of podiums, benches, and sculpture footer, was done by a subcontractor. The installation of the airplane, podium plaques, and steel logo insets required teamwork. So glad to have a great team!
Completion
The installation was completed in February, and the dedication event took place on March 18th, 2024. Solar lighting has been integrated to highlight the piece after sunset. I am very thankful for my studio assistants, subcontractors, and the City of Glendale for making this project possible.
You can see Thunderbird Field in action and the Phoenix area as it used to be in the 1942 film "Thunder Birds: Soldiers of the Air," which is available on YouTube.
