Tricia Ward

[4][5] Her work combines collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches that include physical transformations of derelict urban environments into "pocket parks," environmental remediation, cultural and educational programming, public policy and civic engagement.

[10][11] However, the majority of her work has been undertaken in Los Angeles, through the nonprofit organization that she founded and led, ACLA (Art Community Land Activism), originally known as ARTScorpsLA.

During that time, Ward produced mixed-media sculpture and assemblage, while also developing a hybrid concept blending art and parks, an offshoot of her work then with New York's Green Guerillas.

[4][16][14][23] Writers have noted her methodology's focus on gaining community acceptance—often taking up residency among them—its flexible mode of light, nonprofit management (as opposed to the rigidity of city agencies), and fairly "radical notion of public space as continually contested territory belonging to no single owner permanently.

[3] Art writer Michael Brenson described Ward's approach as premised on equity, inclusiveness, conversation, non-judgment and a commitment that includes "her willingness to make this involvement part of everyday life for an indefinite period.

[2] In the later show, "Reflections of Kingship" (Galveston, 1986, with Marianne van Lent), Ward exhibited an altar-like work (Tableau of Incantations), masks, and textured sculpture using found objects that a review described as "three-dimensional cave paintings" offering modern interpretations of ancient themes and animal motifs.

[3][7][13][30] Over time the site was developed into a multi-level community park, with olive trees, herb, vegetable and flower gardens, quirky statues, furniture, and a pond.

[30] ACLA's next large project, undertaken in 1995, was Spiraling Orchard, which involved the reclamation of a half-acre, toxic and non-arable, former oil field in the transitional Temple-Beaudry neighborhood.

[8][34][35][36] Some of ACLA's other projects included Studio Chinatown, a community center and performance space offering classes, art studio space and cultural programming;[16][37][9] the Francis Avenue Garden Park in Koreatown, developed between 1996 and 1999;[3][38] and "Beat the Drum Fest," a multi-ethnic drumming festival organized by Ward in 2002 and presented at the Craft and Folk Art Museum and Ford Amphitheater in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

They worked with diverse Detroiters and organizations to transform unused buildings and vacant lots on a city block, including two rehabilitated houses that would serve as student residences, a community center and an art park.