Over 24 million vehicles pass through the interchange at Interstate 25 and U.S. 34 on an annual basis, according to Suzanne Janssen with the Visual Arts Commission. And 1 million of those visitors are on their way up U.S. 34 to Rocky Mountain National Park.
What better way to welcome visitors to Loveland’s art community than with an art piece visible from the interstate?
Five finalists have been selected from among 143 applicants that submitted proposals for an art piece to be placed at the Interstate 25/U.S. 34 interchange. Proposals were due by the end of April and applicants submitted conceptual sketches for the location on the southeast corner of U.S. 34 that will host a large piece of artwork visible to passing cars but without pedestrian access.
The VAC members believe that this beautification of the interchange is merited because of Loveland’s commitment to the arts.
CDOT guidelines stipulate several criteria for the proposed piece: no bright colors or colors that look like traffic signs, no kinetic elements or water features, no lights or reflective pieces, no company symbols. Artwork should be socially acceptable and integrate well with the surrounding environment. Artists must demonstrate that the artwork is safe to motorists.
The budget by the VAC for the artwork is $225,000 with an additional $25,000 being used for administrative and request for proposal expenses.
The judging panel consists of representatives from the Visual Arts Commission, Colorado Department of Transportation, Loveland Public Works department and two Loveland citizens. The panel honed the applicants to 16, and then to five finalists in May.
The five will present quarter scale models of their design idea at a Visual Arts Commission meeting at 5 p.m. on July 11. If the sculpture is 40 feet, the model will be 10 inches.
“Because the site is so immense, we really want people to see comparison-wise what the pieces are going to look like on that site and how it will feel on the site,” Janssen said.
As usual, this VAC meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Rialto Theater Center instead of the Loveland Museum/Gallery to accommodate more people.
After July 11, the five models will be on display at the Loveland Public Library. The panel will reconvene in September at the commission meeting to ideally name a top choice.
“We encourage people to give feedback. The feedback will be considered at the Sept. 12 meeting,” Janssen said.
Jessica Benes can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 530, or jbenes@reporter-herald.com. Follow her on Twitter: @JessicaBenes. Read her blog at jessicabenes.com.
