PxlDan
A hodgepodge of creative endeavors
Some may consider it to be a small art town, but Loveland Colorado boasts an impressive collection of public sculptural art (over 200 pieces). It helps that Loveland is home to what is generally considered the best bronze foundries and bronze sculpture artisans in the country. However, it seems that a new sculpture entitled 'Triangle' has some residents upset because the proposed location will be near where their church is being built. The three nude figures in the sculpture are arranged in an acrobatic triangle that the artist says represents the need for people to support each other for humanity to succeed. According to the City of Loveland Visual Arts Commission the three figures symbolize Health, the Environment and Security. The photo here is a small version of the final, which is currently in a Loveland foundry. There is a detail photo of the unfinished work here.
The artist, Norwegian born Kristen Kokkin, is influenced by the European tradition of figurative sculptors such as Michelangelo and Rodin. Personally, I would love to have this piece in my neighborhood. More often than not our public art is along the lines of wild horses, children fishing and the frontier family gazing bravely into the future. Which is fine and makes sense given that public art is often a memorial to how us tax payers that purchase the art want our civic pride portrayed. However, doesn't it some time seems a bit banal? When considering these sentimental memorials and feel good work the undoubtedly talented Regional artist Glenna Goodacre comes to mind. There is a reason this work is popular, but I am thankful that there is room in our community for different (and sometime controversial) voices. 
Besides, controversial public art serves the important role of sparking public discourse over the meaning of art. Or even what is art anyway? Dissing art is part of what makes art fun too. For example, Denver's "Dancers" frolic in front of the Performing Arts Center like two jubilant giant aliens. The Jonathan Borofsky sculpture cost $1.58 million to construct; making it the city's most expensive public artwork by a long shot. The area was originally intended as a sculpture garden but any new piece would be dwarfed by the six-story tall spectacle. Borofsky is well known for the "Hammering Man" projects; such as the piece in front of Seattle's Art Museum. Denver's ‘Dancers” does have it’s supporters and, well…
A new piece of public sculpture planned for the Denver Performing Arts Complex may yet displace the goofy entrance canopy at the Denver Art Museum as the most reviled object in the local art world. If the winning entry in a recent competition--Jonathan Borofsky's as-yet-untitled monumental six-story-tall sculpture of conventionalized dancers made of white fiberglass-coated steel--is ever actually erected on the DPAC lawn, the only question left will be whether to laugh or cry. - Westword 1998
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