Coming Home

Sometimes there are pieces of art that folks drive by all the time and never have the opportunity to really take in. Such is the case with this piece called Coming Home. It stands overlooking the Platte River at the intersection of Santa Fe and Prince St in Littleton. I've driven by this location many times, but to get more than a fleeting glimpse at the sculpture I had to park at a nearby shopping center and walk a block. 

The life-sized sculpture was created in 1987 by Susan Grant Raymond. It depicts a farmer walking with two horses. His son sits atop one of the horses and foal grazes in the grass behind them. Scenes like this probably played out many times along the Platte River a century or so ago. Nowadays, the same journey is made by joggers and bikers utilizing the Platte River Trail on a daily basis. It's worth taking a diversion off the trail to get a close-up look at this impressive sculpture.

Living Wheel Park

The town of Parker came to be due to its important location at the intersection of the Cherokee Trail and the Smokey Hill Trail. The Twenty Mile House was a spot where travelers would stop, at the intersection of what is now Parker Road and Mainstreet. And yes, in Parker it's "Mainstreet," not "Main Street." A small park, Living Wheel Park, now sits at this location. It's not a park with picnic tables or playgrounds, but there are a few items worth taking a moment to appreciate.

One of the most prominent features is a large and detailed sculpture by Ralph Crawford called Run to Twenty Mile. It depicts a stagecoach drawn by six horses bringing travelers to Twenty Mile House. 

Though I love many of the art we find around the Denver area, pieces that celebrate our region's western heritage are often among my favorites. This piece is particularly detailed. I may be wrong, but one of the individuals riding in the stagecoach sure looks like he could be Buffalo Bill Cody.

Nearby, is a sculpture called Self Made Man by Bobbie K Carlyle. It depicts a man carving himself out of stone.

The actual wheel-shaped area that gives the park its name is dedicated to honoring our nation's military. The center of the wheel features a sculpture of an eagle called Patient Warrior. The piece is by sculptor Christopher Romero.

To the west side of the wheel, another sculpture serves as a memorial to all US veterans. The plague indicates that it exists as result of an Eagle Scout project conducted by a local youth.

Living Wheel Park is located at 18995 Mainstreet in Parker.

Cowboy's Day Off

If you love public art displays, especially ones with a western feel, Golden is the spot to visit.  Many corners in downtown Golden feature art displays.  One of the most dramatic is Cowboy's Day Off, which can be found on the northwest corner of 11th Street and Washington Avenue.

Created by artist Michael Hamby, this piece depicts a cowboy pulling a fish out of the water.  This particular sculpture has occasionally had need of repairs.  Apparently, people think it's a good idea to swing from the cowboy's fishing rod.  People are dumb sometimes.

Frontier: Catch

My recent trip to Community Park in Broomfield gave me the opportunity to see several outdoor art displays.  This one was particularly intriguing to me as I have a fondness for art that depicts Colorado's western heritage.  It's called Frontier: Catch.  According to the title plaque at the base of the piece, if you happen to have $9,500 burning a hole in your pocket...it can be yours!  Or, I guess, you can just stop by Community Park and take a look.  It's on the west side of the Mamie Dowd Eisenhower Library, which is inside the park.