Dan Matarazzo, Landscapes of the Sacred #3

I experienced all six of Edward Casey’s “moments of nature” at sun devil stadium in Phoenix, Arizona. The stadium itself is a culture monument built atop the sacred desert landscape which frailly holds on to life. The Salt River flows next to the stadium, creating a natural barrier from which one must cross to gain access into the valley of the sun. Immediately after you enter, the red dirt and sand mix with the golden sun. The colors blend together in the horizon as the desert dunes and mountains touch the sky. Sun devil mountain towers above the stadium, which can be seen from below or inside sun devil stadium; from this mountain sits a golden and maroon ‘A’ that serves as a universal symbol for the university, stadium, and city. The ground itself is a charred maroon from the intense heat and sun that dominates the region. The red dirt sets the overall theme of the place and anchors the stadium into the Earth. Past sun devil mountain, is Camelback Mountain, the various random peaks fade into the wild desert with Camelback Mountain is the boundary between civilization and the wild. The atmosphere of Tempe Arizona, and sun devil stadium is an intense and fiery place where God’s influence can be seen everywhere.