Archive for the ‘Public installations’ Category
Sunday, March 21st, 2010
I recently made a proposal to the RGSR board for a project at the newly renovated & remodeled building which now houses the Welcome Center & the Depot for the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad.
There are three individual window openings high in the walls of this grand new space which are great for windows depicting scenes of the railroad and our glorious Colorado landscapes.
My proposal was accepted and newly easeled in my studio is the first of the panels; the little old yellow depot which will soon be moved to Monte Vista.
Tags: Depot, proposal, railroad
Posted in Depot, New work, Public installations, Rio Grande Scenic Railroad, Welcome Center, Work in progress | No Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
On September 26th, 2009, the installation and unveiling took place at the visitor’s center with a crowd-filled lobby. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar pulled the coverings from the panels and spoke a few words in honor of “Public Lands Day”. Park superintendent Art Hutchison spoke as well and introduced me to talk about the project and my relationship to the Sand Dunes.
I was also honored by the park staff and the “Friends of the Dunes” with a reception for my friends and family after the unveiling.
The first time I visited the dunes was as a young girl on a Scouting trip. Little could I know that someday I would be honored to have such a piece of my work displayed in this park. Since coming to the valley in 1969 as a college student, and later marrying and raising my family here, I have been to the dunes numerous times to camp and hike.
Thus things have come full circle.
Tags: completed project, Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park & Preserve, Sec. of the Interior, unveiling, visitor's center
Posted in New work, Public installations, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
In this, the largest and final piece of the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve project, is found the high mountain area of the environment. Here dwells the big-horn sheep, with a bald eagle soaring overhead. Ponderosa pine and greenery in fall colors cover much of the rocky landscape where also bloom Indian paintbrush and the Colorado state flower, the blue and white columbine.
Tags: Bald eagle, big-horned sheep, CO. columbine, Indian Paintbrush, landscape, ponderosa pine
Posted in New work, Public installations, Work in progress | No Comments »
Monday, November 9th, 2009
This panels shows additional dunes fieldd, contrasted with the snowy spires of the Crestone Needles towering into the Colorado sky. Fall colors are visible in the distant landscape and more golden aspen frame one side. The Medano rushes by a mother brown bear and her cub, and on the far right is a ponderosa pine with a portion of the bark peeled off for medicinal purposes by Native American people. In the lower left corner is a cut-throat trout, found in the brooks and streams of the area and the lower right corner depicts the vibrant color of the mountain bluebird.
Tags: aspen, brown bear, Crestone Needles, cut-throat trout, dune-field, fall foliage, mountain bluebird, ponderosa pine, Sand Dunes
Posted in New work, Public installations, Work in progress | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
In the third panel of this project are found the highest dunes in the dune field, towering against the blue and white of the high valley sky.
Here are often found the “Chinese wall” effects along the tops of the dunes, formed when moisture and wind conditions are right for the phenomenon.
The Medano flows along the outer edge of the dune field, to later seep and disappear into the sands farther west.
A large bull elk grazes in the tall grass .
Among the animals found here are Ord’s kangaroo rat and the short-horned lizard, whose spiny camoflage fades perfectly into the sandy environment.
Tags: "Chinese walls", elk, Medano, Ord's kangaroo rat, short-horned lizard
Posted in New work, Public installations, Work in progress | No Comments »
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
This is the first of the five panels to be installed in the visitors center of the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve near Alamosa CO.
This panel depicts the wetland areas which edge the western side of the dune field. This area has an abundance of wildlife and shown are sandhill cranes in flight and the pronghorn antelope.
The corner insets feature the sunflower on the left, whose blossoms blanket the open field surrounding the dunes with a carpet of brilliant yellow for most of the summer season. Also found only in this vicinity is the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, with its iridescent carapace.
In the lower right corner is a pair of sandhill cranes, whose migratory path leads them to graze in fields of the San Luis Valley in the in the early spring and again in the fall. These magnificent birds can reach 46″ in height and can have a wingspan of over 6 feet. Their calls can frequently be heard before they become visible when the flocks pass overhead.
Tags: antelope, Great Sand Dunes National Park, sandhill cranes, sunflowers, tiger beetle, wetlands
Posted in New work, Public installations, Work in progress | No Comments »
Monday, June 8th, 2009
This is the second panel of the Great Sand Dunes project.
Depicted is lightning striking the dunes, which results in ‘fulgarite’ formations made when the electricity from the lightning melts the silica in the sand, and the big dipper, which represents the “night Sky” program in the NPS.
Here also are mule deer, very numerous in the area. The corner inserts are yellow Elephant ear cactus on the left and Indian points representative of those found at various sites around the San Luis valley.
Tags: Big Dipper, elephant-eat cactus, fulgarite, Indian points, mule deer, NPS night-sky program
Posted in New work, Public installations, Work in progress | No Comments »
Sunday, May 24th, 2009
Right around Christmas of last year I was approached by Art Hutchison, the Superintendent of GSDNP&P and asked if I would consider doing an installation for the Visitor Center similar to the one I did the previous fall at Great Basin. This project would be a bit smaller; around 28 sq. ft.
Since my installation at Great Basin had been featured on the web-page of the NPS site, I have had a couple of interested inquiries.
After further planning & a few meetings, it was agreed that the “Friends of the Dunes” would purchase the supplies, and I would donate my time and skill in exchange for the title of AIR.
As this park is practically in my own backyard here in the beautiful valley where I have made my home for nearly 40 years, I am once again humbled by the honor of creating work to be a part of our great National Parks.
Tags: Add new tag, Artist in Residence, Great Sand Dunes Nat'l Park & Preserve, National Park
Posted in New work, Public installations, Uncategorized, Work in progress | No Comments »
Thursday, November 20th, 2008
The installation went smoothly and with no major mishaps. The potluck was wonderful and I was so glad to be able to introduce my family to the great people I have met and worked with here.
I am pleased with my work, and upon final inspection after installation, found nothing I would change. Often I am my own worst critic.
I will always remember this experience and all the people who helped make it possible. I am a lucky woman indeed.
The project installed!
Tags: art, commissions, great basin national park, projects, residencies, stained glass, windows
Posted in Public installations, Work in progress | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 11th, 2008
Final panel
I begin to cut the final panel of this project.
This piece features the bristle-cone pines growing from the rocky slopes, the Wheeler Peak snow-field/glacier and a final branch of golden aspen leaves.
At this point I can’t wait to have the whole series out of my cabin windows and installed permanently at the visitors center. Until that is accomplished, I will be anxious.
The park is hosting a potluck on Nov. 13th for the presentation of the project. By then my husband and son will be here to spend a few days and help me pack up.
Tags: art, aspen, bristlecone pines, commissions, glacier, great basin national park, leaves, projects, residencies, stained glass, Wheeler Peak, windows
Posted in Public installations, Work in progress | No Comments »
