Client: City of Peoria, AZ
Location: Peoria, AZ, United States
Completion date: Jan 01, 2020
Artwork budget: $12,000
Project Team
Artist
John Randall Nelson
Nelson Public Art
Public Art Director
Susan Hardiman
City of Peoria
Fabricator
Ron Ruff
R.J. Ruff and Co.
Overview
“Birdsong for Wiley”, Sited at Peoria Public Library, Peoria, AZ, 2020.
“Birdsong for Wiley” is a lark and a fantasy. Like Edward Hick’s “Peaceable Kingdom”, here the Coyote lays down with the Roadrunner, taking a break from his scripted role.
The title refers to Wile E. Coyote, the antagonist of the Roadrunner (beep beep), but also gives a nod to William T. Wiley, the West Coast Funk artist who had an outsized influence on my own work.
Goals
The goal was to create a signature artwork for the Peoria Public Library.
Process
John Randall Nelson and Ron Ruff partnered with the City of Peoria to produce "Birdsong for Wiley" After discussing a concept and direction with Peoria Public Library and the City of Peoria, we presented several ideas. With feedback from the selection committee, the Coyote/Birds theme was chosen.