EL ARCO | THE ARCH

Lies an arch crafted from concrete and ceramic tiles. Built amongst the newly developed communal area in downtown Garden City, El Arco features several images depicting the diverse people and culture in Garden City. The structure was commissioned by Garden City Arts and Downtown Vision using their public art fund. The two organizations gathered community feedback before commissioning the artist to create the next piece of public art in Garden City.

El Arco, otherwise known as The Arch, was completed in 2022 by artist Armando Minjárez. Originally from Mexico, Minjárez travels all over Kansas to create art and bring communities together. He is currently based in Wichita, Kansas, where he runs a design studio, Del Norte Studio, with a primary focus on ceramics in public and domestic spaces. He has created several works of art all over Kansas, but has 2 located here in Garden City; one being El Arco, and the other being the mural on the side of the Windsor hotel.

The arch was first constructed out of concrete before hundreds of tiles were then handmade by Armondo himself, as well as Carril Rego and Sergio Marques Hernandez, Armondo’s studio assistants. The tiles were then painted, with some of them featuring photo decals of historical pictures, including Garden City residents and events. The time frame of the building and completion of El Archo was particularly interesting as Covid-19 slowed down material delivery and raised the price of steel. This forced the artist to deviate from his original concept and instead include reflective ceramic tiles in place of the steel.