Client: City of Scottsdale

Overview

“Pinball Wizard” by Annette Coleman is a dynamic public art installation with colorful stained-glass mosaics on 28 spheres and domes. Over 23,000 pieces of glass were hand-cut into different shapes that dance with light in any weather. The spheres and domes are perched on a concrete bench with inset waves of vertical-colored glass.

Scottsdale Public Art worked with artist Annette Coleman to design and install mosaic artwork enhancements at the Stetson Plaza Splash Pad in Old Town Scottsdale. “Pinball Wizard” references popular games to evoke a playful nature for the splash pad. The effect is a fun and sophisticated look that activates the splash pad and surrounding gathering area.

Goals

Old Town is a historic and vibrant area in downtown Scottsdale, Arizona. It has multiple restaurants, bars, galleries, and retail shops and is a popular tourist spot. The City of Scottsdale wanted to attract more families to Stetson Plaza by installing a user-activated and low-water-use splash pad featuring a public art component. The goal was to provide children and adults with a place to play and relax in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale.

Additional Information

Since 2020, Scottsdale Public Art has worked with Hoverlay to create augmented reality (AR) experiences for their permanent artwork collection. This feature adds a unique layer to the artwork. Included in this AR collection is an experience for “Pinball Wizard.” Using the Hoverlay app on your mobile device, Annette Coleman describes what inspired her to create “Pinball Wizard” while virtual 3D mosaic pinballs are propelled into the air and bounce around as if they were in a pinball machine.