TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON" -- ANOTHER HEAT RECORD IS BROKEN IN PHOENIX.

THIS ONE INVOLVES CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF OVER 100 DEGREE HIGHS.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, A NEW POLL REVEALS THE BIGGEST BARRIERS TO ARIZONANS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION.

>>> AND NEW PUBLIC ART EDUCATION RECALLS HEATING AND COOLS STATIONS IN RESPONSE TO URBAN HEAT.

THOSE STORIES AND NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TODAY ANNOUNCED PRICING FOR THE FIRST DRUGS INVOLVED IN PRICE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN MEDICARE AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

NEGOTIATED PRICES TAKE EFFECT IN 2026 AND EXPECTED TO SAVE MEDICARE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

THE INITIAL TEN DRUGS ARE BLOOD THINNERS AND ARTHRITIS MEDICATIONS ALONG WITH WIDELY USED AND EXPENSIVE DRUGS TAKEN BY MEDICARE ENROLLEES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE GOVERNMENT DIRECTLY NEGOTIATED WITH DRUG MANUFACTURERS ON THOSE RECEIVING MEDICARE.

>>> RETAIL SALES INCREASED MORE THAN EXPECTED.

COMMERCE DEPARTMENT REPORTED SALES INCREASED 1% AFTER A .2% DROP IN JUNE.

ECONOMISTS SAY WHILE CONSUMERS ARE MAINTAINING SPENDING, THEY'RE DOING SO BY CHOOSING LOWER PRICED SUBSTITUTES.

TODAY'S REPORT COULD AFFECT THE FED'S NEXT MOVE.

A QUARTER-POINT RATE REDUCTION IS CONSIDERED THE MOST LIKELY COURSE OF ACTION.

>>> FORMER TRUMP WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF MARK MEADOWS WANTS ARIZONA CRIMINAL CASE MOVED TO FEDERAL COURT.

MEADOWS IS CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ELECTION SUBVERSION BUT LAWYERS FILED COURT PAPERS SAYING HIS INDICTMENT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO FORMER POSITION IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THUS, THE CASE SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO FEDERAL COURT WHICH COULD INTRODUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF FEDERAL IMMUNITY PROTECTION.

A DISTRICT JUDGE SCHEDULED A HEARING FOR SEPTEMBER 5.

>>> AND FIVE PEOPLE WERE CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF MATTHEW PERRY INCLUDING TWO DOCTORS AND LIVE-IN PERSONAL ASSISTANT.

THEY ARE CHARGED WITH SELLING AND DISTRIBUTING KETAMINE WITHIN THE FINAL WEEK OF HIS WIFE.

HE WAS FOUND OF AN ACCIDENTAL KETAMINE OVERDOSE IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR.

>>> TODAY MARKS THE 81st STRAIGHT DAY OF TEMPERATURES IN PHOENIX TOPPING OUT ABOVE 100 DEGREES.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 76 STRAIGHT DAYS IN 1993 AND HAD THE SECOND HOTTEST JUNE AND HOTTEST JULY ON RECORD.

WE'RE NOT GETTING MUCH RELIEF WITH OVERNIGHT COOLING.

JOINING US IS ASU CLIMATOLOGIST RANDY CERVENY.

I BLAME YOU.

>> I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS!

>> THIS IS A NEW RECORD, WE BLEW PAST THAT ONE, THERE IS NO END IN SIGHT.

>> NO END IN SIGHT.

WE'LL HAVE THE NEXT WEEK ABOVE 100-DEGREE TEMPERATURES.

THE MONSOON PRECIPITATION, WHAT LITTLE WE'VE HAD IS SHUT DOWN FOR A WHILE.

WE'RE GOING TO BE DRY AGAIN FOR THE NEXT WEEK.

TED: YET, THIS SEEMS LIKE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE 115, 117, 118 DAYS.

HAVEN'T HAD AS MANY OF THOSE, ARE WE WRONG THERE?

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

PROBLEM IS OUR HIGHS, SAY, 10, 15 YEARS AGO WE WERE ON THE ORDER OF 105, 106.

LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR THEY ARE ON THE ORDER OF 110, 112.

TED: BASICALLY THERE IS MORE VOLATILITY.

YOU USUALLY SEE THE 105, 115 AS OPPOSED TO TO THE STEADY 112s.

>> IT'S NOT THAT VOLATILE, IT'S JUST BEEN 110 DEGREES, JUST BEEN REALLY HOT.

NOT LIMITED TO JUST PHOENIX BY THE WAY, BUT PHOENIX IS MANIFESTING IT BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CITY.

TED: PHOENIX, THE HEAT ISLAND INDEX IS MAKING IT HARDER, IS IT NOT?

>> ADDS THREE TO FOUR DEGREES TO THE HIGH TEMPERATURE THAN OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE.

BUT THE BIGGER SITUATION WITH REGARDS TO MONSOON IS THE VALLEY SITUATION.

THE EDGES OF THE VALLEY TEND TO GET MORE PRECIPITATION THAN THE CENTER OF THE VALLEY, AND THE CENTER OF THE VALLEY IS SKY HARBOR AIRPORT WHERE WE MEASURE EVERYTHING.

TED: WHEN WE SEE STORMS, FOUNTAIN HILLS, CAREFREE AND WICKENBURG AND GILA BEND, I FEEL BAD FOR THEM.

THEY WEREN'T GETTING THE STORMS WE WERE GETTING, NOW THEY'RE GETTING ALL THE STORMS WHY.

IS THAT?

>> IT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

MONSOON STORMS ARE CONVECTIVE, BASED OFF OF HOT AIR.

LOOKING AT A PAN OF BOILING WATER.

THERE IS A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF CHAOS ASSOCIATED WITH FIGURING OUT WHERE THE STORMS HIT IN THE VALLEY.

TED: WE'VE HAD HEAT CHAOS IN THE VALLEY.

WE HAVE A MAP TO SHOW THE REST OF THE STATE.

I'M NO CARTOGRAPHER, BUT WE ARE DOOMED HERE.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT SCALE HERE, THE DARK RED IS THE WARMEST WE'VE SEEN IN THE 130 YEARS OF RECORD ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, AND THAT'S SHOWING UP SOUTHWEST.

THE EAST COAST HAD A HOT SUMMER AS WELL.

TED: YEAH.

>> BUT NOTICE THAT THE LACK OF BLUE ON THERE.

THERE ARE NO PLACES, NO COUNTIES ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY BELOW NORMAL IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE THIS SUMMER.

TED: ALL RIGHT, EVERY COUNTY IN ARIZONA IS GETTING BLASTED HERE.

IS THAT THE NEW NORMAL?

>> IT SURE HAS BEEN THE LAST COUPLE YEARS.

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT CLIMATE CHANGE, WE WANT TO LOOK AT TRENDS.

ANY ONE YEAR PROBABLY ISN'T ANY GOOD MEASURE OF WHETHER IT'S CLIMATE CHANGE OR NOT.

WHEN I START SEEING 2023 BEING SO HOT, YOU REMEMBER LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR BEING SO HOT.

IF WE SEE THIS HAPPENING AGAIN NEXT YEAR, WE'RE SEEING A TREND THAT'S HAPPENING AND MUCH EASIER TO SAY YES, THIS IS CLIMATE CHANGE.

THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT'S NORMAL.

>> THE NEXT MAP IS THE MONSOON, AND THE MONSOON, THOSE OF US WHO LIVE IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE VALLEY, NO GREAT SHAKES HERE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS MAP?

>> INTERESTING.

WE'RE SEEING A BIT OF A DICHOTOMY ACROSS THE STATE.

TUCSON HAD A GOOD MONSOON.

TED: SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE ALWAYS GETTING HIT DOWN THERE.

>> THEY HAD ABOUT DOUBLE MONSOON RAINFALL.

ACCORDING TO COUNTYWIDE DATA, MARICOPA IS ABOUT NORMAL AND THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE IS BELOW NORMAL, SO WE'VE HAD A GOOD MONSOON FOR THE SOUTHERN PART, THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE NOT SO WELL.

TED: THAT'S RELATIVELY NORMAL IN THE SENSE THEY ALWAYS GET MORE RAIN THAN WE DO, DON'T THEY?

>> NOT NECESSARILY.

WE HAVE YEARS WHERE THE RIM FIRES, BIG THUNDERSTORMS THAT BREAK ACROSS THE MONGOLLON RIM.

THIS YEAR IT'S MORE OF THE STORMS COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH, WHICH PEOPLE CONSIDER TYPICAL MONSOONAL FLOW, BUT IT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR, HAPPENS TO TUCSON IS GETTING ALL THE RICHES.

>> THEY SURE ARE, ALONG WITH WICKENBURG.

>>> NEXT MAP IS TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL COMING UP FOR I BELIEVE THE FALL, CORRECT?

>> YES.

TED: WHAT DO WE EXPECT?

WHAT ARE WE LEARNING FROM THE MAP?

>> THE MAP FROM THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, AND IT JUST CAME OUT TODAY, FOR OUR FALL WEATHER.

WHAT WE SEE ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE IS TEMPERATURE, AND THE GREAT WORD ABOVE THAT THE PROBABILITY OF HAVING ABOVE-NORMAL TEMPERATURES, HOT.

IN OTHER WORDS, ARIZONA IS LOOK PARTICULARLY GOOD FOR NEW MEXICO AND FOR EASTERN ARIZONA.

ON THE RIGHT-HAND SIDE, WE'RE SEEING PRECIPITATION AND THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD CHANCE THAT NEW MEXICO IS GOING TO BE WELL BELOW NORMAL IN TERMS OF PRECIPITATION.

WE ARE LIKELY TO BE FAIRLY DRY IN THE FALL.

TED: THAT'S LA NINA, ISN'T IT?

>> THAT IS LA NINA.

WHAT WE'VE HAD HAPPENING OVER THE SUMMERTIME.

LAST WINTER WE HAD ELUNFORTUNATELY IT HAS BROKEN DOWN FOR US.

OTHER PEOPLE DON'T LIKE EL NINO, WE LIKE IT BECAUSE IT GIVES US RAINS, BUT IT'S BROKEN DOWN AND MOVING INTO LA NINA.

TED: I ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT, WE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU COME ON THE SHOW, EL NINO, LA NINA.

WHEN DO WE KNOW THAT WAS EL NINO, THIS IS LA NINA?

WHAT TIME OF YEAR DO WE SAY -- >> IT VARIES FROM YEAR TO YEAR.

WE LOOK AT TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THE TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN DETERMINE IF WE ARE IN EL NINO OR LA NINA.

IF THEY ARE COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, THAT'S LA NINA, WARM TEMPERATURES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS EL NINO.

WE HAVE WATERS FROM SOUTH AMERICA THAT ORIGINATED IN ANTARCTICA, PUSHED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS COLD.

TED: MIDDLE OF SUMMER YOU KNOW THE DIVIDING LINE.

IF IT'S COLD IT'S LA NINA, IF IT'S WARM, FOR THE MOST PART?

>> YEAH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO START IN THE SUMMER, IT CAN HAPPEN ANY TIME OF YEAR.

WE SEE IT MOST EVIDENT IN CHRISTMASTIME.

EL NINO IS THE CHILD AND REFERS TO THE CHILD IN CHRISTMAS.

TED: LAST QUESTION, WE'RE IN LA NINA NOW, BUT COULD IT CHANGE?

COULD WARMER WATER HIT?

>> I WISH IT COULD SAY IT DOES.

BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE VERY FAST.

THAT'S WITHIN OF THE THINGS ABOUT THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

THE PACIFIC OCEAN IS SO BIG THAT IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THE CHANGES TO TAKE PLACE.

SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR FROM CHANGING TO EL NINO OR LA NINA OR BACK.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE PRETTY ASSURED EL NINO OR LA NINA GOING INTO THE FALL.

THAT MEANS OUR TWO FAVORITE WORDS HOT AND HOT.

TED: RANDY CERVENY, ASU CLIMATOLOGIST, SOMETIMES YOU BRING GOOD NEWS AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.

>> DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER.

>> THANKS.

.

TED: A NEW POLL BY THE GROUP EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA LOOKS AT THE IMPORTANCE OF A POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION, AND THE REASON WHY MANY ARIZONANS AREN'T PURSUING AN EDUCATION BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR MORE ON THE SURVEY AND THE RESULTS, WE WELCOME RICH NICKEL, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: EVERYTHING TO GAIN, THIS CAMPAIGN.

GIVE US INDICATION WHAT THIS IS ABOUT AND WHAT YOU HOPE TO ACHIEVE?

HEARD DIVISIVE NARRATIVE, POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, IS IT WORTH IT?

WHAT WE THINK ABOUT IS THE DATA THAT COULD TELL THAT STORY.

WE DO THE BIG REPORT CALLS BILLIONS TO GAIN WHICH SHOWED VERY CLEARLY THAT EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL IS REALLY WORTH IT.

WE HAVE TO GET THE WORD OUT TO THE PUBLIC.

HOW DO WE DO THAT?

WE STARTED THIS CAMPAIGN CALLED EVERYTHING TO GAIN AND IT SAYS THAT ARIZONA HAS EVERYTHING TO GAIN, IF WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE LIVING IN ARIZONA GET THAT DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE OR INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CERTIFICATE, YOU KNOW, THROUGH TRAINING AND EDUCATION AFTER HIGH SCHOOL.

WE'RE TRYING TO DO THINGS NOW GET THE WORD OUT THAT IT IS VALUABLE, IT IS WORTH IT, AND WE NEED THOSE PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THIS 21st CENTURY WORKFORCE.

TED: NOW THE LATEST POLL LOOKS AT WHY SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T PART OF THAT WORKFORCE.

THE REASONS THEY'RE GIVING.

WHAT DID YOU FIND?

WE DID A POLL EARLIER THIS YEAR, VOTERS IN THE STATE BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF EDUCATION AND POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION AND BELIEVE IN OUR UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES.

THEN WE WANTED TO FIND OUT, IF WE ASK YOUNG ADULTS WHAT WERE PRIMARY BARRIERS SINCE WE KNOW PEOPLE KNOW THE VALUE OF IT TO COMPLETING POST-SECONDARY INFORMATION, WHAT WOULD WE FIND?

WE WANTED OUR OWN INFORMATION.

COUPLE OF THINGS STOOD OUT HERE.

SOME WERE SURPRISING, SOME WERE THINGS WE KNEW BUT LEAD TO CLEAR DIRECTION FORWARD.

BY FAR, NO MATTER WHAT OTHER QUESTIONS WE ASK, COST IS STILL A NUMBER ONE ISSUE AND COST ADJACENT TO THE TUITION, LIKE CHILD CARE OR LIVING IS THE SECOND BIGGEST THING.

A LOT OF THE OTHER THINGS WE HEARD ABOUT, ACCESS AND EDUCATION DESERTS OR MAYBE POLITICAL IDEOLOGY, IT'S NOT PROVING OUT IN THE POLLING.

COST AND AFFORDABILITY IS PROVING TO BE THE MAJOR BARRIER.

TED: AND SEEING IN NUMBERS HERE, 62% OF MOMS CITE COST, 44% OF DADS CITE COST BUT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE THE DADS AND THE MOMS TOO, BUT SAYING THAT NOT ONLY IS IT THE COST BUT THEY CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO WORK TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

>> RIGHT, SO IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE, RIGHT, AND WE'VE ALWAYS KNOWN THAT THOSE STUDENTS WHO AREN'T ABLE TO START WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL, THEIR CHANCES OF EARNING THAT DEGREE OR CERTIFICATE GO DOWN PRETTY FAST AND WE'RE FINDING OUT WHY.

NUMBER ONE, IT COSTS A LOT, WHETHER THAT'S PERCEIVED A RULE OR NOT IT DOESN'T MATTER.

ONCE YOU START THAT LIFE, IT'S HARD.

THIS YEAR YOU THROW IN ANOTHER CHALLENGE WHICH IS SHOULD REALLY CHALLENGING ROLL-OUT OF THE FAFSA WHICH PEOPLE RELY ON TO GET THE FEDERAL AID.

YOU HAVE THE BIG AFFORDABILITY ISSUE AND PEOPLE THAT WANT TO GET IN FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES, RURAL COMMUNITIES, THEY HAVEN'T HAD AS MUCH LUCK COMPLETING THAT FEDERAL PAPERWORK THAT'S GOING TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THE PELL GRANTS AND WORK STUDY MONEY THAT CAN HELP THEM ACCESS.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A CHALLENGING COUPLE OF CYCLES WHEN IT COMES TO LEAVING A LOT OF MONEY ON THE TABLE AND NOT ENROLLING.

>> FEAR OF COURSE WORK, POLITICAL BIAS, LACK OF ENCOURAGEMENT, DISCOURAGEMENT.

THAT WASN'T A BIG DEAL FOR FOLKS WHO WANT TO GET THE BETTER EDUCATION.

>> WE FOUND THAT SURPRISING TOO BECAUSE WE HEAR A LOT OF THE NARRATIVE.

WE FIND A LOT OF THAT IS POLITICAL NARRATIVE MEANT TO BUILD BASIS.

THE REALITY IS IT COMES DOWN TO COST OF CHILD CARE.

GOOD NEWS HERE IF YOU WANT TO PUT THE SILVER LINING ON THIS IS COST AND CHILD CARE CAN BE SOLVED.

TODAY WE MAKE A DECISION IN THE STATE.

WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE COUNTRY THAT DOESN'T HAVE A TARGETED FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM THAT OUR STATE FUNDS DIRECTLY THAT HELPS OUR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES GO TO OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.

IT'S A DECISION WE'RE MAKING HOW WE INVEST OUR STATE'S RESOURCES AND CHILD CARE IS THE SAME WAY.

IF YOU'RE A FULL-TIME STUDENT YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPLEMENTS ON CHILD CARE.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR WORKING MOMS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND.

TED: SUBSIDIES REGARDING CHILD CARE, THE RATING LIST IS REINSTATED BECAUSE FEDERAL MONEY RAN OUT AND NOT ENOUGH STATE MONEY TO GO AROUND.

WHAT DO WE TAKE FROM THE SURVEY AND HOW BEST TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES, LAST QUESTION?

>> WHAT WE TAKE IS WE KNOW WHERE VOTERS STAND, KNOW WHERE THE BARRIERS ARE AND WE'RE GOING TO GO BACK OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR BEFORE THE NEXT SESSION STARTS, WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO YOU.

WHAT WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO FIND IS THE REAL CALL FOR TARGETED NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID IN OUR STATE FOR INVESTMENT THERE, AND THERE'S ALSO A CALL TO REALLY START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE SOLVE THIS CHILD CARE ISSUE.

THIS IS A BROAD ISSUE, NOT JUST HURTING THOSE WANTING TO GET AN EDUCATION BUT HURTING WORKING MOMS AND HURTING OUR COMPANY.

THIS IS A BROAD SOCIAL ISSUE THAT WE HAVE TO HELP SOLVE AND BOTH TAKE INVESTMENT AND BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON HOW WE GET THE REVENUE NECESSARY TO INVEST IN THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE PART OF OUR ONGOING ECONOMY.

TED: ARE YOU GETTING THEIR ATTENTION?

>> PEOPLE KNOW.

SO IT IS SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING, AND A LOT OF THE WAY THINGS HAPPEN A LOT OF TIMES IN ARIZONA, ONCE THE BUSINESS LEADERS START NOT BEING ABLE TO FILL THE JOBS, ONCE THEY START LOSING IMPORTANT PEOPLE IN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A CHILD AND CAN'T AFFORD CHILD CARE TO COME BACK TO THE JOB, OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE START SPEAKING UP.

ONCE THAT HAPPENS WE GAIN MOMENTUM QUICKLY.

TED: RICH NICKEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, SIR, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: A NEW TYPE OF PUBLIC ART IS COMING TO PHOENIX CALLED SOMBRA!

THE CELEBRATION OF SHADE, AND INVOLVES ARTISTS COMING UP WITH SHADING AND COOLING INSTALLATIONS TO HELP MITIGATE EXTREME URBAN HEAT.

WE LEARN MORE FROM KERRY BROWN AT THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND SHOMIT BARUA, ONE OF THE ARTISTS INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

TED: GIVE US A BETTER DEFINITION OF SOMBRA!

THE CELEBRATION OF SHADE.

>> GRANT FROM BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES, THEY AWARD $10 MILLION FOR LOCAL CIVIC ISSUES.

OUR PROJECT SOMBRA!

OR SHADE IS TO ENGAGE ARTISTS TO CREATE COOLING AND SHADING ENVIRONMENTS IN PHOENIX.

TED: THESE ARE TEMPORARY INSTALLATIONS?

>> YES, THE NATURE OF THE GRANT IS EXPERIMENTAL.

THEY ARE TEMPORARY SO THE PRESSURE OF BUILDING SOMETHING PERMANENT ISN'T THERE, WE CAN DECIDE ON NEW DESIGN TECHNIQUES, NEW MATERIALS, NEW INSTALLATION METHODS, GIVES US THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY OUT NEW THINGS.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A PILOT PROGRAM.

>> EXACTLY.

TED: SHOMIT, WHAT GOT YOU INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> A CALL FOR PROPOSALS THAT WAS SENT OUT AND I WANTED TO GET INTO THE WORLD OF PUBLIC ART, AND SO THIS WAS A REALLY -- IT'S VERY OPEN AND INVITING.

TED: AND INSTALLATIONS, YOU DO THAT KIND OF THING, DON'T YOU?

>> YEAH, BUT MOST OF MY PRACTICE IS INSTALLATION BASE, I WORK ON SPACES, SO MY MEDIUM, YOU CAN SAY IS SPACE.

TED: YES.

>> AND SO I BUILD SPECIFICALLY ECOACOUSTIC INSTALLATIONS, IT USES SOUND TO EFFECT A CERTAIN MOOD OR CHANGE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SPACE.

TED: LET'S LOOK AT YOUR INSTALLATION FOR SOMBRA!.

IS SOUND INVOLVED HERE AS WELL?

>> YEAH, YOU CAN'T SEE IT IN THIS, BUT THIS IS CALLED STANDING WAVE AND IT'S ACTUALLY INSPIRED BY PARAMETRIC ARCHITECTURE AND ALSO THE UNDULATING MOVEMENT OF WATER, AND SO WHAT I WAS TRYING TO CAPTURE IN THE SHAPE.

NOW WHAT YOU DON'T SEE THERE'S ALSO THESE SOLAR-POWERED SONIC MODULES THAT ARE EMBEDDED INSIDE THE STRUCTURE AND SO USES THE POWER FROM THE SUN AND CREATES A DIFFERENT ACOUSTIC SPACE.

WHEN YOU SEE IMAGES OF THE DESERT OR HEAR WHAT THE DESERT SOUNDS LIKE, YOU JUST FEEL HOT.

IDEA IS TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT IS INCONGRUOUS WITH THE SPACE AND EFFECT A CHANGE IN THE MOOD.

TED: THAT BASICALLY IS WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FROM THIS AREN'T YOU?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WANT TO REACH NEW ARTISTS WEEK NEVER WORKED WITH SHOMIT BEFORE, WE WERE EXCITED TO BRING NEW ARTISTS AND DO THAT BY CREATING THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY.

TED: WE HAVE A COUPLE UNIQUE DESIGNS.

TALK ABOUT THIS ONE, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS LOOKS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

>> IT'S A VERY EARLY CONCEPT.

NOT A FINAL DESIGN.

THIS IS A PROJECT LOCATED AT STEELE INDIAN SCHOOL PARK AND THE AIRTISTS ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH THE COMMUNITY TO CRAFT THE FINAL DESIGN AND THE DETAILS.

ONE THING THAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE PROJECT IS THE MATERIAL THEY USE, IN ADDITION TO THE METAL THEY'RE LOOKING AT CORN HUSKS, ADOBE BIKS AND THINKING ABOUT WEAVING IN PLANT MATERIALS.

SO WE'RE EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT COMES TOGETHER.

TED: THAT'S AT STEELE INDIAN SCHOOL PARK?

>> YES.

TED: SHOMIT, WHERE IS ON YOURS?

>> LAS OLIVAS.

NEAR THE BILTMORE.

TED: WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE HERE, AND THIS LOOKS LIKE A SHADE TURTLE AND I WANT YOU TO TELL ME IF I AM RIGHT OR WRONG.

>> YOU ARE RIGHT.

THIS IS INSPIRED BY THE DESERT TORTOISE, THE ARTIST HERE, WE'RE INTERESTED IN THIS ANIMAL HOW IT ADAPTED TO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST.

IT CAN RETAIN AND CARRY WATER FOR MANY, MANY MONTHS BUT WILL BURROW INTO THE GROUND FOR COOLING AND WHEN THEY GET UP AND LEAVE IT WILL CREATE SHADE FOR OTHER ANIMALS TO ENJOY.

IT TALKS ABOUT SHARING THE SHADE.

TED: LOOKS LIKE A KID MAGNET AND LOOKING TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN THE MAKING OF THE PIECE.

EXCITED TO SEE HOW THAT COMES TOGETHER TOO.

TED: FROM AN ARTISTIC STANDPOINT, DOES THIS INSPIRE YOU TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS ONCE YOU GET INVOLVED IN SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

ABSOLUTELY.

I FEEL MUCH MORE CONFIDENT ABOUT APPLYING FOR WIGGER PROJECTS, BUT SOUND IS A MEDIUM THAT DOESN'T GET A LOT OF SCREEN TIME.

TED: YES.

>> IT'S OFTENTIMES OVERLOOKED, AND SO HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD ON THAT IS PRETTY COOL.

TED: CARRIE, SOUNDS AS THOUGH ONCE THIS EXHIBIT IS OVER, THEY GO INTO ONE SPOT, IS THAT TRUE?

>> YES, THEY'LL BE INSTALLED IN PARKS AROUND PHOENIX BUT NEXT SEPTEMBER, ON THE 20th, THEY'LL BE REINSTALLED AT STEELE INDIAN SCHOOL PARK SO THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE EVERYTHING TOGETHER, CELEBRATE OUR RESILIENCE TO HEAT HERE IN THE REAL AND CELEBRATE THE GREAT WORK OF THE ARTISTS THEY'RE WORKING ON.

TED: IS THERE A CHANCE THAT SHOMIT'S PIECE COULD BE PERMANENT THERE?

>> WE ARE HOPEFUL THROUGH THIS PROCESS WE'RE ABLE TO DISCOVER PROJECTS AND MATERIALS AND PROCESSES THAT WORK REALLY WELL THAT WE COULD IMPLEMENT IN A PERMANENT FASHION.

TED: IS THIS AN ANNUAL THING?

>> NO, JUST A ONE-TIME THING.

TED: WHO KNOWS?

YOU NEVER KNOW.

MOVE SLOW, IT MIGHT GET SOMETHING DOWN THE PIKE.

CARRIE, SHOMIT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.