Aurora Akimbo

Part of what this blog is all about is celebrating things we pass by all the time and don't really think much about. You know, they're the things that maybe once upon a time we looked and thought, "oh, that's kind of weird and interesting," but now it's just an everyday thing. As if three giant letter A's doing flips could ever be an everyday thing! Which brings us to this unique piece of art in Aurora.

Located at the north end of Aurora's Expo Park, this piece called Aurora Akimbo is quite the landmark for drivers heading down Alameda Ave.  Though they don't look quite the way you're first grade teacher would've wanted you to draw write them, these three giants are supposed to be A's doing cartwheels. Not only does the A stand for Aurora, but also Aspirations, and Achievements. The piece was created by artist David Griggs in 2007 and it's made of cast fiberglass.

You can't miss this unique piece as you zoom down Alameda, but if you want to get a close up look, you're going to need to park at the south end of the park, off of Exposition Ave. It's a short hike up the park trails to the north end where the sculpture sits. The address of the park is 10955 Exposition Ave in Aurora.

Evergreen Lake Trail

It's a beautiful holiday weekend in Colorado! Yesterday, we took the opportunity to head up to the mountain town of Evergreen to take our dog for a stroll around the Evergreen Lake Trail. The lake is located in Dedisse Park which is just west of downtown Evergreen.

The lake can be a busy place, with paddle boating in the warmer months and ice skating in the colder months. Parking places were a bit hard to come by yesterday. The short walk around the lake was a lot of fun, though. We even got a small rain shower to help cool things off a bit.

The east side of the lake is marked by Evergreen Dam. Built between 1925 and 26, the dam sees a constant flow of water cascading over it and continuing down Bear Creek as it twists its way through the front range toward Morrison.

There are a number of pieces of art which can be found near Evergreen Dam, and several more which can be found on the other side of the lake, near the Lake House. One of the pieces depicts Olympic figure skater Peggy Fleming, who trained, as many Olympians do, in Colorado Springs, and who remains a resident of Colorado. The sculpture was just dedicated in 2020.

Whether you're into nature or art, the Evergreen Lake Trail is a wonderful spot to spend some time away from the city.  It is located just off of Bear Creek Rd. on the west side of Evergreen.

Title Unknown

Kelle III by Tom Ware

Ann Louise by David Wright

Mountain Man by Frederic Remington

Bear Chair by Julie Jones Denkers

Peggy Fleming Tribute by Harold Linke

The three wood carvings above can all be found near the dam.

This small memorial is also found near the dam. 

Rickenbaugh Park - Children's Hospital Sculpture Garden

The area around the intersection of Colfax and Interstate 225 in Aurora is a bit of a medical hub. Actually, that's an understatement. It's a HUGE medical hub. Several hospitals and medical training facilities are located in the space of just a few blocks. One of the largest facilities in the area is Children's Hospital. Since it's no fun being in the hospital, and it's even less fun having a kid in the hospital, Children's has a very welcoming feel. Among the features is a sculpture garden in the front of the facility known as Rickenbaugh Park. It is worth a visit even when you don't have a loved one spending time at the hospital.

Let's take a look at some of the pieces you'll find.

Harlequin by Craig Ponzio
This piece is visible from Colfax as you drive by the hospital

La Dolce by James Vilona

Eclipse by Jesus Moroles

Star Catcher by John King

Bench by Jesus Moroles

Name and artist unknown

The Classics by George Lundeen

Tres Osos by Dan Ostermiller

Fat Happy by Barrett DeBusk

The adjacent hospital parking structure also features some unique artwork that appears to have been created by some of Aurora's youngest citizens.

Children's Hospital is located at 13123 E 16th Ave in Aurora. That address can be a bit misleading, though. Think of it this way, it's one block west of I-225 off Colfax. 

The Dream Tree

I've traveled to many places around our country, both large and small. There are some small towns where Walmart seems to be the hub of activity. I mean, when you don't have much in the way of museums, theaters, etc...I guess Walmart is the place to be. One thing I haven't seen at many Walmarts, though, is an art installation. The Wal-Mart in downtown Englewood, however, happens to be adjacent to the Museum of Outdoor Arts. So, ladies and gentlemen, I give you what may be the only Wal-Mart that is part of a museum.

The display called The Dream Tree is on the west side of the store. It was created by a local artist named Todd Siler. The artist says the piece is "a mosaic of motivational thought that inspires action." It certainly isn't what you'd find at the average Walmart, I'll give you that.

The piece is located a block or so away from the other displays the make up the Englewood campus of the Museum of Outdoor Arts. Next time you're checking out that museum, be sure to venture over and see it. Or, pop over to view it before you step inside to stock up on cat food or peruse the bin of six-dollar blu-rays. It's located at 601 Englewood Parkway in downtown Englewood.

Ghost Trolley

I grew up in the Chicago area, where trains are a big part of life. My father took the train into the city every day, and such was the case for many of my friends' parents, as well. When I came to Denver in the early 90's, however, trains were not a part of the public transportation system. That was soon to change, though, as the Light Rail came to town shortly after I did, and has been growing ever since. Denver does have a history with train transport, though, that goes back way before the 90's. Back in the late 1800's, trolleys took travelers across the city and surrounding area. That history is celebrated with a sculpture called Ghost Trolley.

The very slender sculpture sits in a unique location; in a median strip on Colfax in Aurora. Colfax is, of course, Denver's most notable thoroughfare, linking the city with Lakewood to the west and Aurora to the east. Trolleys were a regular fixture along Colfax until Denver's trolley system was taken out of service in the mid 1950's. This "ghost trolley" certainly lives up to its name.  When lit at night it does give off a bit of an eerie vibe.

The sculpture has been on display since 2007. You probably don't want to try and get too close to it. The median strip where it sits is not meant for pedestrians and cars zoom pretty fast down Colfax. You can view the piece safely from the sidewalk in front of Aurora's Martin Luther King Jr Library. 

Virere

Nobody likes weeds. Pulling them is my least favorite aspect of lawn care. Keeping a healthy-looking green lawn is challenging enough in Colorado's climate without having to worry about weeds. What drives me nuts, even more, are those annoying weeds that pop up in the cracks of the sidewalk, or in the median strips of our neighborhood streets. So, it's a bit strange that we have a piece of art in Englewood which seems to depict greenery growing in a spot where it shouldn't.

Virere is a piece by Lawrence Argent that sits in the median strip just south of the intersection of Broadway and Yale. Argent is best known here in the Denver area as the creator of the piece at the Colorado Convention Center called I See What You Mean, also known by locals as the "Big Blue Bear." This piece marks the northern border of Englewood. Once you've passed the big blades of grass, you're in Denver. The name of the piece means green in Latin.

I may not like grass that grows in the cracks of the road, but I can appreciate this unusual piece of art. It's a fun landmark to designate where you are along South Broadway. You can visit this piece yourself at the intersection of Broadway and Yale in Englewood. Just be careful crossing the street if you plan on getting close. The traffic moves fast on Broadway.

Museum of Outdoor Arts - Down Englewood Parkway

A few posts back we took a look at some of the pieces that adorn the courtyard at Englewood City Center as a part of the Museum of Outdoor Arts. Well, there's actually much more to see if you head east down Englewood Parkway from the courtyard. Let's take a look.

Marzocco Lions

Three Gossips by Harry Marinsky

Stargazer by Madeline Wiener

Marble on my Mind by Madelin Wiener

Porcellino
Note: A duplicate of this statue can be found in front of one of the office buildings at the museum's display in Greenwood Village.

Sullivan Gateway

Though located a block south of Denver's City Park, the Sullivan Gateway serves as the entryway to one of the city's most beloved recreational areas. It sits on Colfax Ave and leads to the City Park Esplanade, which runs past East High School to the park. After years of deterioration due to the elements and vandalism, the gateway is once again an impressive sight in the middle of the city. 

The gateway was built in 1917. It features two curved terra cotta walls, each with 40-foot tall Doric columns featuring a sculpture atop.  The sculptures represent Colorado's history of mining and agriculture. A fountain is also a part of the gateway. The gateway is named for Dennis Sullivan, a Denver pioneer who made his fortune in the mining industry.

Due to it being located adjacent to East High School, the gateway is a popular hangout for students. In other words, it's seen a lot of hard use over the years. Thankfully, efforts in recent years have helped restore this majestic entryway to its previous glory.

Unfortunately, many visitors to City Park may miss the Sullivan Gateway, as it is slightly separated from the rest of the park. Be sure to see it for yourself at 2551 E Colfax in Denver, right next to East High School.

Museum of Outdoor Arts - Englewood Station

We've taken a look at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in some previous posts, but there's a lot more of this museum to experience. It exists in several different locations around the Denver area, and, despite its name, it does include some indoor galleries. Though, with the world being what it is right now, the indoor portions of the museum are currently closed. However, a visit to the museum's downtown Englewood location still gives you the opportunity to see many interesting pieces that are out in the open. Here's a look at a few of the pieces you can experience.

Resistance by Leslie Temple

I'm afraid I don't have the title or artist of this piece, but we'll just call it what I'm sure most kids call it...Giant Watermelons.

Bagatelle by Barbara Baer

Duo by Lin Emery. This sculpture changes its look every few seconds as it moves with the wind.

Bathroon People by Andy Miller

Mujer Del Lago by Tom Ware

Brooklyn Bridge by Red Grooms

Two Open Treapezoids: Excentric V by George Rickey

Horizon by Amy Laugesen

These pieces can all be viewed in the courtyard of the Museum of Outdoor Arts at 1000 Englewood Parkway in Englewood.