proposal

the Civic Center Axis
The Civic Center Axis area can be made more intelligible. I propose to visually activate the space around the monumental architectural structures which populate the western part of the axis. Along Colfax and Fourteenth Avenues there are and will be various locations for sculptural elements which can aid in leading the eye around this Civic Center area. At various points (to be determined in the next stage) sculptural elements can be integrated with the new architecture in the Civic Center. These elements should have a corresponding form-language and visually relate to each other. At the same, time they must be able to function as independent features of the Civic Center.

Along with the curved lines of the sculptural elements, which are mostly horizontal and askew, they will keep the eye moving along the avenues. The curved elements will appear intermittently, at points on the musical bars - the trees.

the form
I propose to make movements like pen strokes in the air, in sweeping curves, - like those in sketches by Rembrandt. In some cases they can be used independently of each other, and at other times in combination, to amplify the chosen direction. The curves will be made by bending stainless steel pipes of various lengths and diameters.

These curvilinear sculptures must embody and manifest space, with their movements away from the buildings - not curving towards them and enveloping them - ignoring the space which it is all about. They should act as a reflector, keeping the movement active and the space in motion. The building's wall will act as a tangent plane.

As the rolled pipes will be seen from various and continuously changing angles. They project themselves as dynamic elliptical shapes.

the material
The intangible, thin Denver light was an incentive for me to want to use stainless steel. I plan to grind the surface lengthwise to produce bands of reflective surfaces which will give a glimmering to brilliant effect.

potential locations Click to see the spot plan.
Aside from Justice Plaza there are various possible locations along the perimeter of the Civic Center Axis; some of these are functional within the scope of my proposal. To arrive at a comprehensive proposal, I would need to gather much more information about the many factors to be taken into account. Here I will name the locations which seem most interesting at this stage:

• the green spaces around the courthouse and detention center buildings,
• the north wall of the Post Office and Parking Garage Building, which can act as a reflector for the curved movement initiated by a second curvilinear construction projecting from Gene Amole Way into the space of Fourteenth Avenue. The upward curve from street level would be taken up by a single sweeping movement up and away from the facade of this building.
• the areas, projecting along the north and south axis of Civic Park, around which Colfax and Fourteenth Avenues turn. These are the focal points along the axes of both avenues. As the specific proposals for sculpture in these areas can be developed in the next phase I have given examples of the type of work I envision here. Click here to see them.
• The Gene Amole Way location between the detention center and the courthouse - the Plaza. See the culmination below.