In old spaces, comes new art.
A Denver couple has brought some new life and color to an area of the city that was once a romantic and well-frequented spot with this innovative 3D art project titled, "Color Field".
Sediment Pond in City Park was built in 1917 and "constructed as a man-made work of art inspired by Monet’s composition of still water, weeping willows, and lily pads," according to city records. In 1925, the area was incorporated into DeBoer Canyon as part of a renovation of that area, and then, after a flood in 1970, the ponds were drained and became another of the city’s forgotten places.
The site is no longer a forgotten and overgrown space, thanks to Sarah and Joshua Palmeri.
The husband-and-wife team, also known as Two Palm Studio, both work in creative areas; Sarah is an abstract artist, Joshua is an architect. They wanted to fill the space with a new purpose and make it colorful and beautiful once more. Joshua works as a city planner for Denver, so they were able to make the idea a reality after some hard work and a lot of planning.
The couple got some financial backing from Denver’s “P.S. You are Here”, which is a "citywide creative placemaking and neighborhood revitalization program that cultivates collaborative, community-led outdoor projects in Denver’s public spaces."
"Color Field" is a relatively simple project. The duo created the three-dimensional piece by painting 6,000 wooden dowels in different colors, then planted them in the six beds. The design is a nod to Monet and the exaggerated colors and hues he used in his paintings; the same way the original pond project was inspired.
Check out this video by Josh Palmeri explain more about the project:
The stakes are placed in the ground eight inches apart from each other, at the height lilies would be if they were floating on the ponds. Though the project was originally intended to be much larger and have students and other people involved, the coronavirus pandemic changed the vision and construction slightly. Despite that, the finished product is quite beautiful and draws visitors into an area of City Park that most simply pass by.
The temporary art installation is open to exploration, and both dogs and people are welcome to explore and enjoy. "Color Field" will be up until September and is located in the southeast corner of City Park, near the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Courtesy of the "Color Field" website
Have you explored the "Color Field" art installation in Denver? What other old and forgotten places in the city would you want to see turned into art? Share your ideas with us in the comments.