The word “majestic” gets tossed around a lot these days. We don’t doubt that one cookie was great or that the laser light show you saw was spectacular, but we’ll bet a penny they weren’t majestic. That word should be reserved for things like “Resilient Light,” the sculpture by Isaac Caruso. The 20-by-20-foot rising phoenix (bird) sculpture literally weighs a ton, and is lit internally by LED lights, so when the skies are dark, it’s an unforgettable beacon that links north and south Phoenix. It’s no slouch by day, though. Its fiberglass body also catches the eye in the daylight, creating colors that draw you in. The project, commissioned by Valley Metro, took seven years to complete and was worth the wait. The bird, its feathers rising upward and its fiery palette, is ever-symbolic of finding personal strength in a naturally challenging environment.
A news piece about my first sculpture, “Resilient Light”
https://www.kptv.com/video/2025/06/06/artwork-celebrtates-phoenixs-south-central-light-rail/
A live news interview about my sculpture, “Resilient Light”, in South Phoenix, Arizona
This is an excellent interview by Channel 3 Tv about my sculpture, “Resilient Light” in South Phoenix. It’s a collaboration with Valley Metro.
A Fiery Ode to the City of Phoenix
An excellent article written by the Arizona Republic about my sculpture, “Resilient Light”. It was reposted on AZCentral.com.
“This large, rising Phoenix sculpture is internally lit to serve as a beacon in the night. It signifies a nexus to South Phoenix, where much of this city originates. The fiber-reinforced plastic body is light and translucent but allows for a charge of color both day and night.
The Phoenix honors the cyclical nature of life in our community, and the resiliency of its people. The light inside is a metaphor for the fire within all of us to thrive in this environment.
Isaac hopes Phoenicians will find meaning in its strength, and that it will inspire them to progress our legacy as people of the desert.”
https://www.valleymetro.org/about/artsline/artsline-sherman-st-central-ave
An article by the Downtown Phoenix organization!
Commissioned by Valley Metro. The fiber-reinforced plastic body is light and translucent but allows for a charge of color both day and night.
“The sculpture is internally lit to serve as a beacon in the night. It signifies a nexus to South Phoenix, where much of this city originates.
It honors the cyclical nature of life in our community, and the resiliency of its people. The light inside is a metaphor for the fire within all of us to thrive in this environment.
I hope Phoenicians will find meaning in its strength, and I hope it will inspire them to progress our legacy as people of the desert.” (@isaac.caruso on Instagram)
