Colorado Public Art

Yesterday’s passing of artist Jeanne-Claude, who was working with her husband, Christo, on the “Over the River” installation over the Arkansas, reminds us that Colorado is full of public art. They made their name in Colorado history with the “Valley Curtain,” which hung in Rifle, Colorado for one day in August, 1972. (Christo says he is planning to continue with the “Over the River” project.) Colorado is full of public art. The Colorado Council on the Arts has produced a number of publications, including booklets entitled Everywhere You Look and Art in Public Places, as well as a 40th-anniversary commemorative video about the arts in Colorado. But they are not the only agency to have produced publications (available from our library) about Colorado art. The Department of Transportation, for example, issued a booklet in 2004 about Wall Art on the T-Rex Project. Also, the Colorado Legislative Council has produced Memorials and Art In and Around the Colorado State Capitol. Finally, the City and County of Denver has produced an excellent guide to public art within Denver, grouped by location to facilitate walkability. Take a look around – Colorado is filled with public art.