There's a date!

Attention everyone wanting to know more about when Janet Echelman's dynamic sculpture, "Her secret is patience," will be installed:

At the Art, Space, and the City public art symposium/lecture on Thursday, Ed Lebow, City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture director, said that Janet Echelman's long-awaited dynamic sculpture, "Her secret is patience," will be installed the week of March 9th. This is the same week as ASU's spring recess.

In related news, the Dean's-eye view webcam from the College of Public Programs will come back online soon. Stay tuned...

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Downtown Phoenix Civic Space and "Her secret is patience"

We at the Downtown Phoenix campus of ASU are very excited that the new Civic Space will be opening soon (the signs say March 2009 and the progress on the park would seem to agree with that!). With how University Center is set up, the windows I look from most of the time overlook the construction scene outside.

So here are some pictures from the Downtown Phoenix Civic Space that I have taken in the past year:


If you cannot see the slideshow, click here to access the individual pictures

I have learned that the "Dean's-eye View" webcam of the construction site will come back online in the coming days as we get closer to the installation of Janet Echelman's art installation, "Her secret is patience". Our sources say that it should be installed next month.

And you'll know that we'll be taking pictures of it!

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Her secret is patience

I just returned from an interesting lecture given by Janet Echelman, the designer of the art installation that will move above the Civic Space park in downtown Phoenix.

Until now, the working title for the piece was "Sky Bloom". Tonight, she revealed her official name for the project:

"Her secret is patience"
(adapted from Emerson, "Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience.")



Cheers-
Edward Jensen

Downstairs at the University Center cafe

In the past, I have refrained from making this a blog of commentary and opinion. A recent experience at the ground-level cafe of University Center has led me to divert from this history.

My office here at ASU is on the 6th floor of University Center. While I usually pack my lunch and bring it down, there are times when my sweet tooth gets the better of me and so I go and get a cookie from the cafe. During the summer, a large (read: 8-inch diameter) cookie was $1.89 and served with a smile. During the summer, the cafe was staffed by adults who were nice and knew what they were doing.

Today, that same cookie was $2.19, smaller, and there was not even as much of a "thank you, come again" after my purchase. The workers there? I would surmise that they were three student workers.

Nor do they know how to make my favorite espresso beverage, an iced caffè americano. Simple: four shots of espresso into a glass filled to the brim with ice. (Not the other way around.) Top it off with cold water. (Not hot water.)

Now, I have nothing against student workers. But I think that everyone should say "thank you" after any purchase even if they don't necessarily mean it. Otherwise, it sends a signal that you're not welcome and don't come back.

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

know99 at Taylor Place

As part of its 99-second story series, Phoenix educational access channel know99 interviewed Jennifer Shea, director of operations at Taylor Place, the Downtown Phoenix campus's new residential hall.


if you cannot see the video, click here

Cheers-
Edward Jensen

El Portal at Cronkite/Eight?

The Downtown Phoenix Journal is reporting that El Portal, a Mexican restaurant presently at 2nd Avenue and Grant, will open up a second restaurant at the new Cronkite/Eight building (adjacent to University Center).

Their present location is at 2nd Avenue and Grant south of downtown Phoenix. They're open 7:00am-2:00pm every day of the week.

More information: DPJ article and Google Maps review

Cheers! - Edward Jensen

Cronkite/8 building tour

Yesterday, 30 April 2008, I was privileged to see the inside of the new Cronkite/8 building directly north of ASU University Center.


if the slideshow does not work, go here

Cheers! - Edward Jensen