PUSH DOWN & TANGO is a public community arts installation I designed to shift the paradigm around illness in my home town and nationally. The work grew out of my own experience with tango lessons which I took in spite of chronic pain and fatigue.

Backers of the project sponsored Resiliency Roses in honor of survivors they admired in exchange for having their honoree's names hand lettered on the piece's dance floor, surrounding the Loyalty Leaves.

By highlighting the resiliency of survivors, the project empowered viewers and participants to keep illness in perspective; to consider taking dance or other healthy risks to enlarge their experience even while experiencing symptoms.
Over 120 people helped create the work. Read more by clicking the Artist's Statement link above.

Statement
PUSH DOWN & TANGO view from outside
2014
pink lamé, denim, wire, medicaiton bottles, photograph-labels, laminate flooring, sharpie
Rose Cluster: 59" diameter Loyalty Leaves: 36" x 24" each
PUSH DOWN & TANGO view from inside the post office
2014
150 medication bottles were used to create the Loyalty Leaves.
PUSH DOWN & TANGO view from the side
2014
The piece was viewed from inside and outside the downtown post office.
There are a total of 120 Resiliency Roses - 60 on the front of the armature and 60 on the back.
Pedestrians on downtown Mill Avenue enjoy PUSH DOWN & TANGO.
Community businesses donated materials and space for Maker Parties.
Community members stepped forward to help the artist purchase, measure, cut and fold fabric in preparation of the Resiliency Rose Maker Parties.
Mothers and daughters sewed side by side at the second Maker Party.
The artist coaches a Maker in sewing a Resiliency Rose at the first Maker Party.
The artist at the 5th Maker Party, Andara Senior Living, Scottsdale.
15 seniors gathered to learn how to make Resiliency Roses.
Senior community member hand sews Resiliency Rose at Maker Party.
The aritst coaching 2 Makers at Gangplank, Chandler Maker Party.
These men had never hand sewn before but this didn't stop them from learning a new skill while shifting a paradigm.
A group of Makers at the Gangplank, Chandler Maker Party.
Makers came to the party because they wanted to celebrate the resiliency of their loved ones. The Maker Party was advertised through Gangplank's Meet Up and on Facebook.
Makers creating Loyalty Leaves at the Ideas Squared Maker Party.
New friendships were formed when strangers gathered to label the medication bottles for the Loyalty Leaves.
The artist stretching the final layer over the Rose Cluster armature
Beneath the fabric is an armature made from wires, wood, duck tape and a layer of quilted fabric.
The aritst playing with friend Blair Schweiger after designing the Rose Clusters on the floor.
The artist outlined circles using masking tape on the floor so she could design the Rose LCuster front and back before pinning them on the armature.
The artist's friend Blair Schweiger helps pin Resiliency Roses to side one of the Rose Cluster.
The artist handlettering the honorees' names on the dance floor.
The artist chose a Buenos Aires-inspired font called "Milonga" (the name of a tango dance) for the lettering.
Honorees' names handlettered in Buenos Aires inspired font
PUSH DOWN & TANGO sticker design seen in progress.
"Push Down & Tango" was inspired by a special moment when the artist was staring at her medicaiton bottle top which read "Push Down & Turn". She thought to herself, "These are tango instructions!"
Carrying the Rose Cluster on installation day
Installing the Rose Cluster inside the Post Office window
Carrying the dance floor to the site on installation day
Creating Loyalty Leaves using diagram and numbered system
PUSH DOWN & TANGO street view
2014
Viewers included State University of Arizona students, their families, city employees, tourists, local families and business owners.
The artist handed out PUSH DOWN & TANGO stickers to direct guests to the project during the Tempe Festival of the Arts.
PUSH DOWN & TANGO exterior view
Makers and backers at the PUSH DOWN & TANGO opening reception.
The artist with backer-helper Lisa Kelly.
Backers of the project received rewards; signed photos of the finished project, poems and stickers..


All images copyright Crystal Daigle 2022

An Icompendium Site