Flagstaff's Southside has just been enriched with a hefty dose of local pride, thanks to two new public art installations designed to honor the area's history, community, and culture. The City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences program is behind the latest additions, and they've made it clear: this project is by the community, for the community.
In Cleo Murdoch Park, visitors can now admire "Rustle," an 8-foot-tall weathering steel piece crafted by artist Beth Nybeck. This isn't your standard run-of-the-mill sculpture—words and phrases, sourced from Southside residents themselves, weave through its leaf-like design to narrate the area's collective story. According to a statement obtained by the City of Flagstaff, Nybeck's work was chosen by a panel packed with representation from within the Southside community, ensuring that the final product is not just public art, but a public articulation of the Southside's own voice and memories.
It all started in 2024 with a focus group of locals hashing out which themes hit home hardest for the Southside. They landed on points like neighborhood unity, equity and justice, and the importance of not letting the past recede into oblivion. The City then cast a wide net, harvesting personal histories through an online survey that drew responses by the dozen. "Community input has been central to this project from day one,” said Jana Weldon, program manager for Beautification, Arts & Sciences. “Shared stories have directly shaped a sculpture unique to the Southside." And now, everyone who chipped in a thought, a word, a memory, has been asked to come on down and witness the ribbon-snipping, marking the official introduction of Rustle to the neighborhood.
Steps away at the Murdoch Community Center, the "Historic Dunbar School Plaque" comes with its own tale to tell. Artist Marie Jones is behind this piece, with an assist on the historical narrative by Dr. Ricardo Guthrie. It doesn't just sit there looking pretty, though. An interactive twist lets visitors catch a glimpse of the Dunbar School's original foundation stones beneath the surface. Former Mayor Coral Evans spurred this project into existence after flagging up that a commemorative plaque had gone MIA over the years. Weldon commented on the project's roots, saying, "Recognizing the significance of that history, our team felt it was important to reinstall a plaque that honors the legacy of the school and celebrates the contributions of Paul Laurence Dunbar, principal Cleo Murdoch and principal Wilson Riles."
These installations are more than just eye candy. They're a tribute and a touchstone to the spirit of the Southside—a place where stories told in steel and stone promise to outlast us all. For those licking their chops for more info, they can ping [email protected], but let's face it, these works really speak for themselves.
