Article Contributed on: 9/12/2007 5:02:06 PM
Evergreen is often the getaway destination for metro Denver residents who seek cooler temperatures, friendly people and the best of mother nature's beauty; but there is so much more!
Thanks to Art for the Mountain Community , a local nonprofit organization, there is also an impressive collection of sculptures to be discovered.
Enter this mountain enclave and enjoy throughout the community the diverse beauty of 23 sculptures that have been purchased by individuals and organizations to remain in Evergreen on a permanent basis.
Don't stop there. Recently installed in June, 16 additional sculptures complete the 2007-2008 AMC Sculpture Walk. Even life-long residents are surprised to discover new sculptures that seem to bring quiet corners alive.
AMC seeks to provide a wide variety of all types of sculptures.
A life-size bronze girl,"Tween" cuddles a small rabbit just down from the Baskin-Robbins on Main Street, while a giant, 15-foot steel elephant raises his trunk with joy on Meadow drive. Unique to the sculpture walk this year is the first wall piece that hangs across the street from the Little Bear at Creekside Cellars.
Golfers quickly discover the giant metal sunflower that blooms in front of Keys on the Green at the Evergreen Golf Course, and "Chickadee," a life-size Great Dane stands outside the local pet store, Chow Down, off the frontage road of Colorado 74.
Volunteer board members send out a call to artists and from an impressive pool,select a predetermined number of sculptures. Each artist receives a stipend in exchange for sharing their art with the community for a year. The community is encouraged to pick up ballots, or visit the website to vote for their favorite piece. The winning sculpture's artist then receives a cash award for the People's Choice Award. New this year, a Juror's Award will be presented.
The current sculpture walk will reamain in place until June 7, 2008 when a new collection of works will be installed for the annual show. Already, one piece, "Tween"by artist
James Haire, has been purchased by a private individual. All sculptures are available for sale.
AMC has recently made a call for entries for a permanent outdoor sculpture, to be placed in front of Evergreen's new Mt. Evans Hospice & Home Health Care building. The new sculpture will be selected and placed in early 2008.
Sculpture Walk brochures with maps are available at businesses throughout Evergreen. For more information look to
www.mountainart.org.
Anne Vickstrom is an arts columnist for the
Canyon Courier