Art in Public Places

Art in Public Places

By Jackson Shoaff-Bembry

The room was no bigger than a small college classroom and to add to the atmosphere it was hot, stuffy and the hum of the ceiling lights was extremely noticeable. The room consisted of five people sitting on one side of a long table facing four others each wearing a collage of dress clothes, polo’s and khakis. Along the perimeter of the room was a cornucopia of individuals packed in tightly like a can of sardines trying not to overflow right out of the room.

This was the meeting of the Art in Public Places board. A board consisting of local community volunteers and individuals nominated to the board. The board’s job is just what the title says. They are responsible for promoting art in the Fort Collins community and selecting artists to work on that art.

Some of the past projects have included alleyways transformed into urban art by local youth artwork and paintings done on utility boxes around Fort Collins. The painted utility boxes can be seen on the corner of Mulberry and Mason streets as well as on the corner of Mountain and Mason streets.

At this particular meeting the main focus was on the donation of a statue of a hockey player by Sandra Kobalt Hau Foundation to be placed at the entrance to the Edora Pool and Ice Center.

Sandy Hau for which the Foundation is named was a local volunteer at EPIC and was an integral part in acquiring the funding for the second ice rink to be constructed at the ice center. A mother of 5, Hau passed away from cancer and thus the Sandra Kobalt Hau Foundation was created in her honor.

“This statue is not just to honor Sandy Hau, but to tell our story and recognize all those people through the sport of hockey, that have touched the future,” said Rhonda Rodriguez, member of the foundation.

The Sandra Kobalt Hau Foundation was appealing to the Art in Public places board because they felt it was time the sport of hockey and Sandy Hau were recognized for all it does in the Fort Collins community.

The statue would be of a 10-year-old child skating with a hockey stick and donning the Northern Colorado Youth Hockey logo created in 1987. Local artist Steve Kramer sculpted the statue.

“The sculpture has an oversized jersey and large socks because I wanted the sculpture to capture the idea of youth and wanting to be a pro and wanting to score,” said Kramer.

The statue is entitled, “Next Goal,” representing the way in which hockey inspires local youth to reach for their highest goals and strive to always do their best says the foundation.

After the presentation given by the foundation the Art in Public Places board voted on whether or not to accept the artwork donation to be placed in front of EPIC.

The donation passed unanimously.

Also during the meeting the board chose an artist to do a sculpture that would divert water in the Poudre River to a learning center in Fort Collins. The artist chosen was Lynn Hull. Hull will be responsible for creating a sculpture that blends in to the surrounding area as well as enhance it. Construction is slated for sometime in the coming summer.