AROUND DENVER

The Iconic Statues of Denver

By Natalie Hustead and Siet Milne-Wright

Denver is a city rich in culture and art, and we at the Docket are taking a moment to note some of our more spectacular sculptures around Denver. “Blucifer” –the most famous sculpture in Denver– is not the only mega-sculpture that graces the Mile-High city! Denver is home to mega public art like the famous “Big Blue Bear,” the iconic “I-25 French-Fries” and the rarely functioning “River Bridge.”

All these sculptures are local legends with fantastical nicknames revealing the delightful imagination of Coloradoans. In fact, there are so many incredible, and interesting sculptures around Denver, that the Docket team struggled to narrow it down to just a handful within a quick drive of Downtown.

The second most famous sculpture in Denver, “the Dancers” has captured a moment in time beside the Denver Center of Performing Arts for Denverites of all ages. And everyone may know the Dancers well, but have you seen “Umi”?

What about “National Velvet,” or “Broken, But Together”? Denver is home to world-class public art and here is a shortlist of sculptures you know, and some you may have never heard of. These public art sculptures are all thought provoking, and worth the quick drive for a daytime expedition to something different around Denver.

Dancers

Artist: Jonathan Borofsky 

Location: Denver Center for Performing Arts

Benefactor: City and County of Denver 

Completed: 2003 

Material: Steel and Fiberglass 

Story: The 60-ft tall sculpture frolicking in front of the Denver Center for Performing Arts was designed to “capture the energy of the complex.” The 25-ton structure sits in Sculpture Park, the outdoor venue situated between the DCPA and Speer Blvd. Music festivals, movie nights and community events attract Denverites in droves, emulating the energy of the “Dancers.” Internationally famous sculptor Jonathan Borofsky highlights the idea that “Everything is connected; All is one” in all his works. The song “Let’s Dance,” composed by Borofsky and Samuel Conlogue, plays continuously from five speakers installed at the base of the piece.  

National Velvet

Artist: John McEnroe 

Location: Highline Pedestrian Bridge

Benefactor: City and County of Denver 

Commissioned: 2007 

Completed: 2008 

Material: Epoxy resin and fiberglass 

Story/Purpose/Statement: A traditional object, an obelisk, crafted with nontraditional materials. McEnroe is a visual artist who enjoys using surprising media to draw the eye. Despite the whirlwind of controversy and confusion surrounding the “message” of the piece, the artist insists it is as simple as something to look at. When he was approached by the City and County of Denver for a sculpture, he was midway through this design and the committee gave it the green light. The mold for the installation was the very media that inspired the artist: industrial-grade nylon filled with sand and manipulated to create the floppy look of the finished product. You may ask yourself, “Where does the title of the piece come from if it has no political, social or intellectual message?” During the construction of the piece, the 1944 film “National Velvet,” starring Mickey Rooney and Elizabeth Taylor, inspired him with the provoking nature of the words. 

Umi

Benefactor: Aurora Highlands 

Location: Higan Park in Aurora Highlands River Walk

Commissioned: 2021 

Completed: 2023 

Material: Glass fiber reinforced concrete 

Story/Purpose/Statement: East of the city of Denver, past rail crossings, distribution centers and warehouses lies the growing community of Aurora Highlands. Amidst the new construction, extra-wide traffic lanes and sweeping views of the front range is Hogan Park; this work-in-progress green space melds into the contours of the surrounding area. 

It is here that you can find “Umi,” a 21-foot-tall sculpture depicting the artist’s perception of the idea of “Gaia.” Appearing to grow out of the earth, “Umi” was the first sculpture to be installed as part of the “Art in the Park” program in Hogan Park. Daniel Popper, the South African sculptor, hopes that “Umi” will encourage spectators to reflect on how Gaia and urban development can interweave into sustainable balance, in the same way one might reflect on how to balance individual needs with the demands of society. 

Broken But Together

Artist: Michael Benisty 

Location: Hogan Park

Benefactor: Aurora Highlands 

Commissioned: 2022 

Completed: 2024 

Material: Mirrored, polished steel 

In the same park as “Umi” you can find broken lovers locked in an embrace. Michael Benisty is a well-known sculptor whose works have been featured at events around the world including Burning Man. His works foster the feelings of imagination and connectedness.  Towering over the park, the 25-foot installation reflects the surrounding landscape as clearly as it reflects the importance of finding healing and community in one another. 

Lowry Sundial

Artist: Jesse Clark 

Location: Great Lawn West

Benefactor: Lowry Redevelopment Authority for the Lowry Community 

Commissioned: 2003 

Completed: 2004 

Material: Aluminum  

Glinting in the sun as you drive west down 6th Avenue, the “Lowry Sundial” sparkles like a science fiction monument. Inspired by the nearby Lowry Airforce Base, the Sundial’s point aligns with the North Star to provide a functioning time piece as well as a telltale landmark in the area. Yet another example of the integration of artistic green space and a respect for the history and beauty of Colorado.  

Articulated Wall

Artist: Herbert Bayer 

Location: Denver Design District

Benefactor: Denver Art Museum 

Commissioned: 1984 

Completed: 1985 

Material: Concrete and Steel 

The iconic yellow statue along the freeways has long been used by local residents as a landmark known as the “I-25 French Fries,” but its lesser-known true name is “Articulated Wall.” Inspired by the smaller-yet-similar articulated wall designed by Bayer for the ’68 Olympics, “Articulated Wall” in Denver is over 20 feet taller than the original. 2 million pounds of concrete were used to fabricate the thirty-two slabs that comprise the installation. The last sculpture completed by the artist before his death, the visual obstruction of I-25 was viewed as a challenge worthy of an artist of his esteem. Appreciating the relationship spectators of the 1980s would have with such a giant outdoor sculpture, Bayer indicated plans for a park or promenade around the piece but was unable to complete the draft before his death. As it is, “Articulated Wall” now stands in the parking lot of the Denver Design District on South Broadway.