Jack Knife

This public art project is a contemporary response to the historical character of Scottsdale, known for its Western roots. “Jack Knife,” the sculpture by Arizona artist Ed Mell, is constructed of cast bronze with a black and blue-green patina, supported by a cast-in-place concrete base with architect-designed bronze recognition plaques. Set in a roundabout in an area of town known for its art galleries, the sculpture is encircled in native desert plants. Each of these natural materials requires virtually no maintenance. The integrally dyed concrete has weathered beautifully and provides a subtle contrast to the commercial character of the street.

We hoped that our use of no-maintenance materials, and native plantings, would ultimately have a ripple effect on the context area. Oddly enough, this street had design guidelines that prohibited native plantings. As a public art project, we were able to overcome this restriction and provide a compatible context with the Western-themed sculpture.

Low water use plantings are periodically hand watered by City of Scottsdale staff. We did not want to utilize typical drip irrigation systems, which are usually only necessary until native plantings are established.

There is a precise interface between the artist’s sculpture and the architect’s design for the base. Materials are integrally dyed cast-in-place concrete and cast bronze, neither of which require maintenance.

The project stands as a recognizable permanent artifact and a positive reflection of the collaboration that occurred between the artist, architect and landscape designer.