"Art on the Streets" in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs is one of the most unique and beautiful cities in the country. Sitting at the base of Pike's Peak gives it a picturesque quality. For the last 6 years, the Springs has sponsored "Art On The Streets". The major backing comes from U.S. Bank. Colorado Springs is the host.

The show consists of artists from the Colorado area and from across the country.They enter pieces in this show and are judged by an acting juror. The pieces are left on public display for one year. Each year, after the end of the show, Colorado Springs takes the ones that are popular and places them in permanent locations. Pieces are added yearly to this collection.

2007 has already proven to be popular among the public viewers. Throughout a 12 block area of downtown, pieces are placed, where they look natural. As traffic is monitored to each site, necessary re-arranging of pieces is sometimes required.

This year there are 14 new pieces to view. These added to the previous permanent purchases, as well as the numerous pieces of art from various resources, give Colorado Springs Downtown Area an animated, almost art museum outdoors, feel.

The 14 new pieces seem to have been purposely crafted for this area. One of my favorite is "Ham & Eggs". A bronze pig, lying down with a chicken on his back, seems right at home on the corner of Tejon and Pikes peak ave. Placed in the flower garden on the corner, the pig seems to become 3-D in the early morning sunlight.

Each piece was crafted from durable and safety minded materials. They are set to withstand the harsh Rocky Mountain winters, as well as the summer heat.

All of the art is inspiring and fun. When you take the stroll from beginning to end, you feel very much at home in Colorado Springs. All of the artists had specific reasons for their pieces. They are all very personal and meaningful.

1.Nun More Happy-Gene Adcock designed this bronze piece from seeing how peaceful the nuns at his daughter's school were. This piece sells for 14,000.00.

2.Nessy-Lani Andrews crafted this piece from old chrome bumpers and welded steel. She was inspired by the Loch Ness Monster. This piece sells for 4,800.00.

3.Black Mail 1,2,3,4-Atomic Elroy was trying for the "visual pun" with this piece. Made from old reserve mail boxes. Each one has a different message on the side. One sells for about 1500.00. All four go for about 5,000.00.

4.Little Leo and His Magic Bowl-Kimber Fieberger was the designer of this darling sculpture. Made from bronze this piece is right at home at Tejon and Platte ave. It sells for 10,000.00.

5.Baseball-Tom Henderson-Tom wanted to remind people of the better days of the past with this huge fiberglass sculpture. 18,500.00 is the asking price for this great item.

6.Freedom-Victor Issa-This magnificient bronze statue represents what everyone wants. 38,000.00

7.Welcome-Margerit Kosta-This quaint, quiet piece, made from concrete, mounted on wood, framed in steel, represents the Slovik tradition of offering bread and salt. The traditional dress is represented. Asking price is 7,500.00.

8.Ham & Eggs-Diane Mason-My favorite piece. Made from bronze. Diane says a friend suggested she add her chickens to her work. She decided on this. Her piece sells for 10,500.00.

9.Best Seat In The House-Diane Mason-Another wonderful piece by Diane. Bronze sculpture of her chickens, sitting on a stool. This sells for 17,500.00.

10.Wind Dance-Tom Newport-Taking stainless steel and using a water jet to cut intricate triange shaped designs, gives this piece life. When you walk around this wonderful sculpture, you feel like it is floating in the breeze. Sells for 6,000.00.

11.Pillars Through Time-Sue Quinlan-Crafted from concrete and steel, this pieces begs tolerance and change. With various scenarios dried into the concrete, this artists wants to make a statement of unity. Unique piece.
It sells for 12,000.00.

12.Farmer's Moon-Reven Swanson-The huge glass medallion, surrounded by enamel painted steel, glows in the sunlight of downtown. Standing way above the heads of all, it gives the image of the harvest moon in the fall.
Sells for 7,800.00.

13.Asterik-Doyle Svenby-Painted Steel Asterik was created so the viewer would feel uplifted and happy. Sells for 9,800.00.

14.Tangram of Rest-Aaron Williams-Made from flat and diamond plate steel, this sculpture is functional and beautiful. You can actually sit on this piece. Standing back looking at this magnificient piece is very compelling to the eye, with the geometric patterns glowing in the sun. Sells for 2,500.00

Colorado Springs is already a magnificient place to visit or live. As they add the wonderful art pieces to the downtown area, it is fast becoming among the top arts cities in the country. The "Art On The Streets", program allows everyone to enjoy great art. It is a free exhibit and is a wonderful stroll around the wonderful city of Colorado Springs.You feel as though you are strolling through a picture. The scenery as well as the art, is magnificient.