New artwork coming to Loveland’s public places

Every season is art season in Loveland, but this summer, the city's Arts in Public Places program is taking creativity to new heights. On Thursday at the monthly meeting, the Visual Arts Commission took action to bring new installations to the Rialto Theater, the Civic Center building and Loveland Public Library, and heard more about the upcoming return of an iconic sculpture.

After more than three years of languishing at the Loveland Fire Rescue Authority's training center, the blue horses of Equinox will soon be galloping along railroad tracks at a new location. According to Loveland Cultural Arts Director Susan Ison, there is just one more hurdle to clear before the reinstallation of the city's largest public art piece can be scheduled.

That means the massive piece could be in its new home near the Ranch Events Complex by late summer, barring the unexpected.

Equinox is the creation of Loveland artists Doug Erion, Doug Rutledge and Jack Kreutzer. Measuring 50-feet by 96-feet, it was originally installed at U.S. 34 and Interstate 25 in 2014 to serve as a gateway to the city.

A little over five years later, in January 2020, the 13-ton piece was removed from its home on the overpass to accommodate the I-25 North Express Lanes project, which redesigned the interchange.

The sculpture is destined for a spot on the northbound side of I-25 where it will be visible to motorists traveling in both directions. The site was selected in 2021, but long months of negotiations with Larimer County over cost-sharing, maintenance and other details prolonged the process through last year.

The city and county finally came to terms in January and signed an intergovernmental agreement in February.

In the subsequent months, Ison and her team have been working out the final details of the complex task. An allocation of $70,000 has been set aside for the installation costs, a 40% increase from 2014.

Most of that will be going to Hoff Construction, a general contracting company owned by VAC member Greg Hoff. At Thursday's monthly VAC meeting, Loveland Public Art Manager Suzanne Janssen announced that his bid of $61,445 was the lowest of the three submitted in response to a call from the city. The two others were $147,425 and $110,494.

"I think you’ll all be happy with that amount, as opposed to the other amounts that were submitted, which were significantly higher," she told the commissioners.

According to Ison, Hoff Construction was involved in the original installation project for Equinox, and has long been under contract with the city to perform work on smaller jobs, such as moving sculpture or pouring pedestals. That, plus the low bid, made Hoff the logical choice for the job, she said.

"I was very careful about that, because we know that it can be perceived as a conflict of interest," Ison explained. "There was an advantage to having someone who's done it before, but if someone else had come in with a lower bid, they would have got the contract."

Still left unfinished are some minor structural repairs to Equinox. KL&A Engineers and Builders, an engineering firm owned by artist Rutledge, has been retained to complete that work. Once complete, then the city will select an installation date that is "sometime before winter, but probably not before the sculpture show," Ison said, referring to the annual Sculpture in the Park festival, coming to Benson Sculpture Garden on Aug. 11.

The Devereaux Room at Loveland's Rialto will soon be home to a new acoustic art piece aimed at bringing warmth, color and sound enhancement to the minimalist meeting space.

Three artists presented their proposals for the project to VAC jurors on Thursday. Among the entries were cascading wall sconces made from the wood of upcycled drum shells, a colorful fabric triptych and a dramatic handmade felt panel.

Jurors voted to select one of the projects, and will inform the winning artist next week.

Janssen also announced the final candidates for two upcoming mural projects, at Sunnyside Park and the Loveland Public Library. The former will be on the park's maintenance shed, which has been subject to repeated graffiti and vandalism. The mural is a bid to curb that, Janssen said.

The new library mural will be in the children's section and will complement the existing story room mural, Janssen explained.

"That is to present a little bit more diverse offering and be able to show people of all colors and ages," she told the commissioners. "So that anybody who enters the library can see themselves reflected back in that artwork and make them feel as if they belong in the space."

The finalists will be invited to present their concepts at the VAC's August meeting.

Finally, the commission voted to place four paintings purchased by the city at the 2022 Governor's Art Show and Sale in various locations around the city.

"Angel Wing," by Mountain View High School student Dylan Goode will be installed in the teen center at the library. The very tempting "Jubilee" painting of a dozen donuts will go in the Loveland Museum, while "Fervent Reclamation," by Jen Starling, will be placed outside the Devereaux Room. The fourth painting, "Standing Strong," featuring a bison, will be hung outside of City Council chambers in the municipal building.

Art in Public Places will also be bringing new art this year to the Olde Course golf course, a bridge on First Avenue and the new Madison Avenue roundabout.

For more information about the program and public art in Loveland, visit lovelandpublicart.org.

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