The Emotion Sponge

Even the nicest, kindest people can become unhinged, and this is to be expected with something as valuable both personally and financially as a home. Most clients do not do this size or level of transaction regularly. Yesterday again I was reminded how important it is that we be the calm force of reason in the storm, focused on diffusing and diluting flare-ups and offering tangible, practical solutions to the multiple, nuanced complications that arise.

While we have to absorb so many of the issues and calmly respond by offering intelligent, practical solutions and action-steps interspersed with some calm-inducing words of wisdom, authority, empathy and kindness, we need to be reminded that all that absorbing we do needs to be wrung out regularly...not unlike a sponge. Hence the silly image above.

Maison’s time-saving technology provides a business infrastructure to minimize stress and improve efficiency. It also allows us, as agents more time to deal with these emotional aspects ....and have the time to re-charge batteries that are often drained to zero! We love what we do and the amazing clients we have the privilege of doing it for. 32+ years of combined experience and still going strong…

March 2022 Newsletter

Public art in Central Park

What does it mean? How much did it cost? And, who determines the pieces?

There are 16 public art pieces in and around the Central Park Neighborhood. Forest City's wanted to give meaning and enjoyment to public space by creating a sense of place with art. Ever wonder what the artists intentions were and how much they cost?

BALLOON MAN RUNNING

Artist: Sean O'Meallie

Cost: $85,000.

Meaning: This 12-foot high white sculpture is poised atop a 20-foot pillar and oriented toward the Central Park Station, as if he was running to catch the train.

THE EYE AND THE HORIZON

Artist: Ilan Averbuch

Cost: $150,000.

Meaning: The large empty space within the sculpture allows the viewer to observe changes in the immediate environment as he or she moves along the sculpture.

DRIFT INVERSION (CENTRALl PARK BLVD AND 54TH AVE)

Artists: David Franklin - Indianola, WA, Aaron Whelton - Portland, OR

Cost: $175,000.

Meaning: The public art installation one sees peeking out of the ceiling of the underpass beneath north Central Park Boulevard features a series of 258 yellow painted metal profiles  suspended throughout the 128’ concrete tunnel.  These dramatic shapes echo the sand dunes that covered this area long before it became the lively urban landscape it is today.  The artist’s intent is to create a sense of wonder and surprise for the pedestrians and cyclists using the tunnel. 

TALKING PARKING METERS

Artists: Jim Green assisted by Ryan Elmendorf

Cost: $100,000.

Meaning: Sound art is designed to humanize public space by playfully introducing unexpected sounds into the environment.  Talking Parking Meters is an interactive audio artwork located at the Eastbridge Town Center Plaza. This public art installation consists of three parking meters that play recorded audio clips.  A motion sensor activates the sounds when a person approaches the meters. One meter plays spoken greetings, another nature sounds, and the third transportation sounds.  

GEODES

Artists: Andy Dufford (Denver, CO)  

Meaning: The Central Park Boulevard Bridge serves as one gateway to the neighborhood. These embellishments on the Bridge take their inspiration from geode formations. Carved from limestone, each form is split in half and then split again to create surfaces that reveal the play of light and shadow throughout the day and at night. People walking or biking around the bridge can experience these geodes shapes. The shapes can also be appreciated by people driving by.

This project was funded, in part, by an allocation of $450,000 in public art funds provided by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority. 

WESTERLY SKY MARTIN LUTHER KING BOULEVARD BRIDGE EMBELLISHMENTS

Architect: Doug Lamson

Cost: $450,000 This project was funded, in public art funds provided by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority.

Meaning: MLK Blvd. serves as the primary east/west arterial roadway at Stapleton. This art piece’s 50-foot-high, steel towers grace the parallel spans of this bridge over Westerly Creek and also mark a major point of crossing a greenway system. This greenway is signified by the towers and overlook below the towers.

This project was funded, in public art funds provided by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority.

HAVANA LANTERNS

Artist: David Griggs (Denver, CO)

Cost: Funded by the City and County of Denver Public Art Program

Location: Havana Street adjacent to the Denver County Jail.

THE PICNIC

Architect: Gerald Heffernon - Winters, CA

Cost: $110,000

Location:  East 35th Ave and Xenis St).

Meaning: This sculpture tableau is based on classic, 18th century, European paintings about picnic themes. Instead of humans, it features four, elegant, bronze dogs lounging on a large, flat boulder as they enjoy a relaxed picnic. This combination of factors give the sculpture a pastoral, yet amusing, personality which will appeal to children and adults in this intimate neighborhood park.

THOUGHT BALLOONS

Artists: Marek Walczak -NY, Wesley Heiss - PA

Cost: $250,000

Location: Central Park Rec Center.

Meaning: In the Central Park Recreation Center you will find the Thought Balloons - large, black-glass frame placed on the north wall of the long, entry hallway. The artwork playfully inserts software-generated, textbased dialogue over the heads of people seated on the frame. The text will be updated, and you can add suggestions at ThoughtBalloons.org!

LAMINALIGHT

Architect: Steven Appleton (Los Angeles, CA) - Winters, CA

Cost:  This artwork is part of the public art collection of the City and County of Denver. It’s also on display in the Sam Gary Branch Library and managed by Arts and Venues Denver.

Meaning:  From sunrise to sunset, the daylight harvesting robot on the library rooftop tracks the changing path of the sun across the sky. The harvester captures a slice of strong sunlight. Mirrors then bounce concentrated light down a tube, where the LaminaLight sculpture softens the light with its cloud-like forms. Sculptural lamps also interact with the changing light levels.

TRADITION

Artists: Retired Firefighter Joe Cipri (Westminster, CO) 

Cost: $250,000

Location: Fire Station # 26 In Stapleton

Meaning: This artwork is a two-subject, bronze sculpture of a life-size firefighter proudly standing with one of the Fire Department’s trusted comrades, Chief, the firehouse dog. Since the early ‘60s, this loving canine has been a legend at the Denver Fire Department. As an honorary firefighter, Chief gave unconditional love and support to all who worked with him. When a long ring came in, Chief was the first to the rig. While working at a fire, he earned his keep by barking from the pumper-truck and keeping onlookers at bay. Chief eventually passed away and was the last Dalmatian to officially ride with the Denver Fire Department.

Who determines what public art is chosen for Stapleton?

The developer Forest City has a long-term commitment to public art & the community. As the community grows, the collection grows, and so does the experience. The Public Art Master Plan was adopted in early 2005. Community representatives carefully select the art. The committee evaluates art proposals based on criteria such as artistic excellence, suitability for the site, accessibility and sustainability. (Qualities of Stapleton itself.) There is a Public Art Advisory Committee that continues to explore new artwork for placement in carefully chosen locations throughout Stapleton – to inspire thought and conversation.

For more information, please contact Barbara Neal, Public ArtConsultant for Stapleton. barbneal@mindspring.com