Client: Arts Foundation for Tucson

Overview

Peaceable Kingdom is a series of 3 monumental letter-shaped shadowbox sculptures that spell “Z-O-O”. The large-scale sign welcomes and directs visitors to Reid Park Zoo, a local zoo in Creative Machines’ hometown of Tucson, Arizona. The sculptures feature a wide variety of detailed stainless steel animal cut-outs thoughtfully arranged into three layers. All of the 20+ animals represented in the sculpture can be found in the zoo and reflect beloved zoo animals and local fauna. Peaceable Kingdom invites interaction by providing a fun place to sit or pose for a photograph. At night, warm internal lights glow from within the sculpture, bringing the internal ecosystem of the shadowboxes to life. The sculpture greets visitors to the zoo from both near and far, operating as a recognizable landmark for Reid Park Zoo and the nearby park.

Goals

Our goal for this artwork is to help visitors form positive memories of visiting the zoo and see themselves as part of the animal kingdom. We want to help zoo-goers develop an understanding of how all lifeforms are interconnected. Peaceable Kingdom is intended to be a landmark for the Zoo by aiding in the placemaking goals of the park as well as helping pedestrians and motorists with wayfinding.

Additional Information

Dimensions: 30’ L x 2’4” D x 11’ 1/2” H Media: stainless steel, laser-cut powder-coated stainless steel, LED lighting, electronics, Line-X