I am currently working with Aaron Whelton on a new public art sculpture project for Sand Hills Prairie Park in the Forest Hills development in Stapleton. Not far from where I grew up and went to high school, this is an amazing opportunity to get back to my home town and get to practice my craft. What we are envisioning will transform an otherwise mundane space into something exceptional. This is a preview of what we have in mind.
The site for the project is this pedestrian underpass in Sand Hills Prairie park with Central Park Boulevard running over it.
The theme of the park is based on sand hill landscape formations that existed in the area before the building of Stapleton Airport. The concept emerged from the idea of sand formations. We designed a sculpture of sand dunes that will be approximately 116′ long and 23′ wide. The model looks like this.
The sculpture will be hung from the ceiling of the tunnel for a very surreal effect as you move through the space.
Rather than decorate the entrances to the overpass we wanted to transform the space inside the tunnel itself. The sculptural members will be painted a white to brighten the space and hopefully the whole effect will make it a destination to be experienced.
The tunnel is also oriented almost due east and west which at sunrise and sunset should allow the reflective nature of the sculpture change with the light and color at different times of the day and year.
We are right now finalizing the design and going through all of the steps for approval required by the various stakeholders. Keep your fingers crossed and we should be installing in the early fall 2016.
David