Functional Art at Anderson Park: A Colorful Landmark Added to Jackson
Written and Photographed by Maddie McMurry
A new splash of colors and shapes has arrived in Anderson Park, transforming one of downtown Jackson’s underutilized spaces into something practical and intentional. The recently installed functional art piece, created by the San Francisco-based artist team, Looking Up Arts, blends creativity and community into this addition to downtown. The installation is located by The West TN Farmers’ Market and it serves as both a gathering space and a vibrant visual landmark.
When the team from Looking Up Arts began dreaming up the design, they started not with their own ideas, but with Jackson’s. They studied the geometry and shape of the park’s existing green awnings, using those forms as the foundation for their structure. From there, they researched the local culture and history, wanting to know the stories that define the city.
The Looking Up Arts team members who worked on this project include three artists: Srikanth Guttikonda, Josh Zubkoff, and Fonda Tong. Together, they have been working on this project since last December, with each person taking on a different table and chair design.
“We wanted the design to come from the place itself,” Srikanth Guttikonda shared. “To honor what already makes Jackson special.”
Their research led them to include elements in the design from the Farmers Market, a cornerstone of community life and a hub of color and texture. The flowers for sale inspired bright, organic patterns. The surrounding trees and natural landscape inspired the shapes that now cast shifting shadows across the park. And even the night sky above West Tennessee, with its constellation of stars, became part of the story woven into the design.
In the center of the tables and chairs, you will find a large yellow sculpture that adds to visual experience. This piece was inspired by the music at theAMP, with musical elements included in the design. The guitar featured in the design of the center sculpture is the guitar of Jackson’s own Carl Perkins.
Each member of the team brought their own perspective and interests to the table. Using digital design tools, they blended individual sketches and concepts into one cohesive piece — one that reflects both their shared creativity and Jackson’s character.
The result is a work that’s as functional as it is artistic: a shelter, a space to gather, and a visual art piece all in one.
In addition to the shapes of tables and chairs and the interior sculpture, each piece has lighting inside, creating lanterns in the dark. The lighting is completely customizable depending on the season, or even with the beat of the music at an AMP show.
“We wanted to make sure it was going to last. Each piece is welded together and each piece should last at least 25 years without getting any rust on it, which we were really excited by,” Josh said.
For the Looking Up Arts team, the process of creating public art is as much about learning as it is about creating. “As an artist, you have to be willing to do jobs you never thought you’d do,” they said, reflecting on the technical challenges behind their installations. Over the years, they’ve picked up skills in engineering, metalwork, and protective coating—practical knowledge that ensures each piece endures for a long time.
While the Looking Up Arts team was in Jackson, they met with a group of sculpture students from Union University and gave them advice about a career in making artwork similar to this. They encouraged young artists to approach their craft the same way: to never stop learning and to keep expanding their skill sets beyond what they might be trained in.
While most artists would naturally see feedback as a barrier, they view it as an opportunity to grow. The team welcomes input from the community, often adjusting their designs so that the final piece feels true to the space and the people who will experience it.
The installation was designed to bring a sense of joy and warmth to the downtown area, becoming an invitation for residents and visitors to pause, gather, and take in art within their everyday activities.
The team’s hope was to create a colorful landmark that feels welcoming and alive, much like the farmers market and theAMP. As the sunlight shifts throughout the day, the artwork’s patterns and colors radiate across Anderson Park, creating moments of quiet wonder for those who pass by.
As I stepped back and observed the crowd who attended the public reveal of this functional art project, I was reminded that for Jackson, art doesn’t just belong in museums or galleries; it can live right here in our shared spaces, adding color and connection to everyday life.