Julie Ray Creative

It's been 8 years, and my Chandler Arts Commission service is done! I served two terms, plus an additional 2 years of someone else's term. Let me count the ways this experience has been valuable to me:

Lesson 1: Publicly funded art opportunities are essential for artists to earn income and gain credibility and visibility in the community. I saw the behind-the-scenes of the public art process while selecting artists for public art projects including the Tumbleweed Recreation Center (pictured). While I was on the Commission, the City started a project to beautify traffic control boxes. Many artists received their first public art commission through this project.

Read the other two lesson on my blog post!
https://julieraycreative.com/chandler-arts-commission/

Photo 1: “Sunset Flight”: coLAB Studio sculptural art installation and shade canopy
at the Tumbleweed Recreation Center. Installed May 2025.
Photo 2: Julie with Tucson artist Jessica Gonzales in front of her

Photo 3: Artist Giovanni Dixon in front of his "Legendary" mural honoring the famous Chandler boxer Zora Folley.