sculpture

Muse

May 15, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 38 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Got to take my mom out for coffee this morning, extending Mother’s Day another day. We had to make up for lost time – this is the first time we’ve been together for Mother’s Day since I moved here in 2013.

Dallabetta’s Muse is a coffee shop located on the premises of a sculptor’s studio. The sculptor is Jane DeDecker, and her husband Kyle Dallabetta runs the coffee shop. Coffee and goodies are great, and so is the atmosphere. Sculptures and art are everywhere, including functional exit signs, railings, fixtures and parking signs.

Should’ve gotten photos of the inside, but you’ll just have to check it out yourself if you haven’t yet and are in the area! Note the hours are quite limited (open till about 3 on weekdays – don’t trust the Yelp page linked to above for hours!).

 

Monkey Business

May 9, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 34 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

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Here’s another sculpture just around the corner from our house. This one stands facing the studio of its sculptor, Mark Lundeen. The kids like to stop and look in the cup for loose coins (there are sculpted ones in it already), or sometimes they’ll put coins in it. It’s a pretty elaborate “take a penny leave a penny” container!

Faces Bridge

May 2, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 30 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

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Loveland has an extensive recreation trail that loops the city, with only a few incomplete segments and plans to connect them. Unfortunately, repairing the trail had to take priority over extending the trail after the 2013 flood. And finally, today, one of my favorite sections was open again.

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I only saw Faces Bridge once or twice before today. We moved here in late June 2013, and I explored the trail and discovered these sculptures under the bridge that summer. Then in September came the flood, and this section of the trail including the pedestrian bridge over the river was destroyed.

So it was a pleasant surprise when I went running this morning and discovered it was open again at last.IMG_3634

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A closeup of two faces on the outside of the bridge (yeah I think that’s an alien on the left!):

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I also love seeing these swallow nests under bridges along the trail.

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Here’s a closer view of some:

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And an over-the-shoulder look from the sidewalk on Wilson Avenue, where I got off the trail to loop back home.

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And More Sculpture

April 25, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day 24 in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.IMG_3611

Just about every day I walk Silas to school, and we pass Bruce Gueswel‘s studio.

I’ve always adored these works he makes from rocks that are displayed in the windows, and was intrigued to find out that he also makes artwork and chairs for Chipotle. Often when we walk past in the mornings, we can see employees at work inside.

While there’s already a good deal of bronze sculpture being made in Loveland, it’s fun to see someone working with a different medium.

Benson Sculpture Garden

April 18, 2017 — Leave a comment

Day eighteen in my “Leaving Loveland” challenge.

Just north of Lake Loveland is the Benson Sculpture Garden. Each summer sculptors from all over the world gather here for Sculpture in the Park, “America’s largest outdoor juried sculpture show and sale.”

The show has been going on for 34 years, and each year proceeds from the show are used to add more sculptures to the park. So there’s a lot to see here!

And like a lot of locals, I drive past this place all the time and have only actually explored it a few times while I’ve lived here. So today between dropping off a thrift store donation and getting an oil change, I stopped and took a few photos. These particular sculptures are all within a few steps of each other.

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The Conversation (marble, by Madeline Wiener) is also a bench, like those old-fashioned loveseats, where two people sit like the people in the sculpture are sitting. You can just sit in their laps and have your own conversation!

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Cultural Pedestrians (cast concrete & steel, Sue Quinlan).

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The proportions on this one are so fun. Nothing unusual with the camera, I just stood in front of it to take this photo. Here’s its title and sculptor information on its nameplate, by that fantastic right foot:

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And seen from the back:

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My kids love this interactive sculpture. You can stand there on that stone and join the circle holding hands.

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It’s called Circle of Peace, bronze, by Gary Price.

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And here’s another bench where you can join the sculpture, They Are Waiting, bronze, by Nnamdi Okonkwo. I love the weight of these waiting figures. I think they’ve been waiting a long time, and they remain steadfast and present in their heavy wait.