Joe Cole was a welder who dabbled in steel and bronze sculpture as a pastime, but eventually left the profession in 1993. But 30 years later, Cole rekindled his creative passion by creating an urn for the family’s deceased dog.
Meanwhile, the Northglenn man’s mind was filled with an owl’s “ooh!” He then decided that he needed to sculpt something to pay homage to the owl that lived in a tree in the forest.
“The conclusion was that I estimate it took 40 hours to create the bird sculpture and the grasping limbs,” Cole said. He spent another 30 hours adding three more owls and a tree trunk.
He later added moss to symbolize growth, a snail to symbolize patience, a tree stump to symbolize a helping hand, and a mouse to symbolize courage. The result was Cole’s design of a steel sculpture entitled “Hu What, Where and When,” which will be on display this year at the E. B. Raines J. Memorial Park in Northglenn.
His work also appears in Castle Rock and Alamosa. But the Northglen exhibition has special significance for the 60-year-old artist as it is his first attempt to show his work to the public.
“I want to share with the public…Northglenn is my only home and I want to share a part of myself,” Cole said via email. “Three out of four is not bad.”
The front ridge is dotted with other sculptural projects cast in bronze and steel frames by Colorado artists of various backgrounds that capture the eye with humor and mysticism. Artists say the metropolis provides a conducive environment for their projects, both emerging and established artists.
Charlotte Zink, whose home studio is in Berthoud, produced Eternal Echoes for an exhibition in Northglen. But her work is already on display in several places in Denver, some permanently.
Zink said they include Sculpture for Rent in Westminster, Art on the Street in Lafayette, Art in Public Places in Longmont, heArt in Lyons, Hudson Gardens in Littleton, Douglas County Art Encounters, “The Art of Sculpture 2C in Havana” in Evergreen and Aurora.
Bill Bunting’s song “With Wings Like Eagles” also appears in Northglenn. The same sculpture is part of a yearlong project through the Douglas County Art Encounter program at Sterling Ranch in Littleton, he said.
He said he has other sculptures in Brighton, Monument and Alamosa that will be on display this year.
City officials said Cole, Zinke and Bunting’s work is part of Northglenn’s annual effort to educate more people about the unique nature of outdoor sculpture.
The exhibition at E. B. Raines J. Memorial Park, sponsored by the Northglenn Foundation for the Arts and Humanities, features six new sculptures as part of the city’s 2024-2025 Art March program. The sculptures, including works by Cole, Zink and Bunting, were selected by a diverse committee of volunteers in February and will be displayed in the park throughout the year, officials said.
Other titles and artists selected for the 2024-25 season include: Diego Harris for “Spiral Vortex”, Di’Jean Jorunner for “Solar Lion” and Kirk Cease for “Magnify”. Photos of the work can be found on the Northglenn website.
The annual Art Parade program is an outdoor exhibition of loaned sculptures funded by NAHF and the Adams County Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Artists loan their work to the program for the year, and park visitors are asked to vote for their favorites using paper ballots available at the Northglenn Recreation Center and online. The deadline to vote on this year’s sculpture is November 1, 2024.
The sculpture receiving the most votes, dubbed “The People’s Choice,” will be purchased by NAHF and donated to the City of Northglenn for permanent placement in the city. Sculptures are also available for sale.
The new sculpture will remain at E.B. Raines Jr. Memorial Park until May 2025. The park is located at 11701 Community Center Drive, a half-mile south of 120th Avenue and Grant Street in North Glen and south of the new Webster Lake Boardwalk.
NAHF is a nonprofit organization that provides funding for the city’s “vibrant theater, public arts and other cultural endeavors.” NAHF was founded in 1990, according to its website.
A native of New Orleans, Zink came to Colorado and received a bachelor’s degree in studio art and art education from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After working in a variety of mediums for the past 25 years, Zink created Zink Metal Art with her partner Ben, Zink said.
She said Zink created the steel “Eternal Echo” in 2022 after losing someone special to her. Zink said the sculpture symbolizes the beauty of the vast universe.
“We are all just a speck of dust on this planet, hoping to explore and share life together, the incredible gift of life that we have all been given,” Zink said. “As we come together, let’s make the most of our amazing gifts. Ashes to ashes, ashes to ashes, to contemplate and celebrate our wonderful journey and to be a part of this beautiful universe.”
Bill Bunting said his irony, “With Wings Like Eagles,” inspired those who watched it. The piece is also one of his favorites, he said via email.
“I decided to exhibit this piece in Northglenn because I have always had a strong interest in Native American culture and Western history, and I enjoy sharing that with others through my art,” Bunting said.
Bunting said the sculpture’s “eagle wings” were inspired by the belief of most Native American tribes that eagles and eagle feathers were sacred, carrying their prayers to the Creator, combined with references to ancient Isaiah. An excerpt from the text of the Book reads: “Those who wait for their Creator will soar on wings like eagles.”
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Post time: Sep-30-2024
