“DCAE plays an important part in supporting the vibrant cultural life of the cities participating in the program. Public art adds meaning to our cities and uniqueness o our communities,” said Lone Tree’s art curator, Sally Perisho.
Douglas County invited sculptors to submit entries through CaFE last February for the 2014-2015 Douglas County Art Encounters public art program, and a selection of 23 sculptures by 20 artists was chosen for display in four communities through June 2015.
Selections were made by the Public Art Advisory Committee. It is comprised of staff and community members representing each area. A jury from this committee chooses finalists and the jurisdictions rotate positions each year to determine the order in which they will select pieces. This is done in multiple rounds until each jurisdiction has chosen the entire number of pieces it wants.
Lone Tree, Parker, Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock participate. The program is backed with Scientific and Cultural Facilities District funds, but since Castle Rock is not in the district, it sets aside money from the Philip S. Miller Trust.
Each year, visitors to the sculptures are invited to go online and vote for their favorite, and the winner receives $1,000. Each participating artist receives $500 for each piece installed.
The City of Lone Tree selected seven pieces, which will be shown at the Lone Tree Arts Center and The Vistas at Park Meadows.
The Town of Parker will place six pieces, including at Parker Adventist Hospital, along Mainstreet and at O’Brien Park.
The Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association will place seven sculptures at Civic Green Park, the James LaRue Library, recreation centers at Eastridge and Southridge, Town Center North and Town Center South.
In Castle Rock, sculptures will be placed at Butterfield Park, Festival Park and Red Hawk Golf Club.
Sculptors whose work will be shown are:
● Lone Tree: Ivan Kosta, Andrew Libertone, John Wilbar, Michael Mladjan, Sherrill Stone, Charlotte Zink and Shannon Sargent.
● Parker: Scott Mohr, Lee Proctor, James Haire, Sherrill Stone, Doyle Svenby, Shohini Ghosh.
● Highlands Ranch: Jeane DiRicco-Cable, Ivan Kosta, Robert Henderson, Pokey Park, Ryszard Wagoner, Kirsten Kains, Bob Heintzelman.
● Castle Rock: Ivan Kosta, Barbara Baer, Kevin Shaffer.
For more information, photos and an opportunity to vote for a favorite, go to douglas.co.us/artencounters.
