West Valley city lights up night with heart sculpture

PHOENIX – A public art installation is brightening a Phoenix-area median and while officials are encouraging admirers, they’d prefer viewing be done at a safe distance.

The 7-foot heart sculpture “Al Querido” sits on a stretch of Avondale Boulevard near Interstate 10 in the West Valley city of Avondale. At night, the heart and other features on the median light up.

It’s drawing attention and if you want to take a photo, that’s great, but don’t cross the busy road to get to it.

“Al Querido is strategically positioned in such a way that it’s highly visible on either side of the road, and is intended to be viewed from your vehicle. For everyone’s safety, please do not cross this busy road,” a city spokeswoman, Pier Simeri said in a press release.

The sculpture created by Arizona artist Stephen Fairfield includes several smaller mesh hearts around it and is part of $854,000 worth of landscape improvements made along the median since September 2020.

The project, which was completed in April, added trees, rocks, flowers and colorful lights to the strip of land from the freeway to Van Buren Street.

Turning on the power to the heart recently was the final touch.

“We are excited to finally see it light up The BLVD,” Simeri said.

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