The Fountain of Youth
Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden
Snapshot
The Fountain of Youth, Elsie McCarthy Park
City of Glendale, AZ (2015)
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With the foundation of a summer youth program, I partnered with local group homes that housed homeless teens to create a collaborative art piece that revitalized a vandalized fountain into a vibrant planter and mural that explores the cycle of life, the importance of our youth and the hope and pride that can come from being a part of a team while contributing to the community.
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Budget included youth workshops, design, fabrication, and installation.
Conception
The concept for “the Fountain of Youth” was derived from the old, vandalized fountain that we would be transforming through the course of this project. Working with 2 different group homes of teens, ages 12-17, through a series of 8 workshops, we discussed concepts of being forever young and its allure (to those aging) and imagery depicting life stages. The mural design was created collaboratively, and hundreds of handmade tiles were made for the fountain area of this contemplation garden.
Creation
The teens created individual, personalized tiles to be a permanent part of the installation. Their drawings and handprints were also included in the mural that surrounds the “fountain”.
Completion
Completed in 2015, The Fountain of Youth is part of the Elsie McCarthy Sensory Garden located at 7676 N 54th Lane, Glendale, AZ, open to the public daily. Enjoy the colorful murals, touch the beautiful tiles and listen to the water fountains and the sounds of nature.
