ART IN THE PARK
Art in the Park at Hogan Park at Highlands Creek
We invite you to explore the region’s newest Art Walk experience. Throughout the 2-mile length of Hogan Park at Highlands Creek, more than 20 installations have been thoughtfully curated and will be installed over the next several years to be a part of a permanent collection that is available to the public to view. Art in the Park encourages creativity, sustainability, positivity, community and hopes to inspire future generations.
DANIEL POPPER
South African born Daniel Popper is a multidisciplinary artist who has become known worldwide for his awe-inspiring and thought-provoking sculptures. His large-scale, figurative works explore the connection between humans and nature and have been exhibited in numerous public and private spaces across the globe.
Daniel’s art installation in The Aurora Highlands is “Umi.”
If you would like to visit Umi, here’s a link to her location on Google Maps.
UMI
Umi is an extraordinary embodiment of the interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world, inspired by the profound concept of Gaia as envisioned by environmental scientist John Lovelock. In his holistic understanding of the Earth as a self-regulating organism, Lovelock introduced Gaia, the primordial mother and ancestral goddess who shaped and nurtured all life. Umi, meaning ‘ocean’ in Japanese, merges the essence of woman and tree, intertwining these metaphors of Gaia to create a captivating, sculpted form.
This installation represents a harmonious blend of art and nature, a testament to the enduring bond that unites us with our environment. As Umi stands tall, she invites viewers to contemplate their connection to the Earth, encouraging a profound sense of wonder and a renewed commitment to safeguarding our planet’s future.
May Umi serve as a symbol of unity, inspiration, and reverence for the magnificence of Mother Earth, reminding us of our role as custodians of this wondrous living organism. In the spirit of Gaia, Umi embraces us all and calls upon us to cherish and protect the delicate balance of life that sustains us.
GILLIE AND MARC
British and Australian artists Gillie and Marc are behind this new sculpture and the Statues for Equality movement. Known for their innovative public sculptures that convey messages of love, equality and conservation, Gillie and Marc’s work has captivated audiences worldwide, making a profound impact in over 250 cities. Recently, the New York Times called the duo “the most successful and prolific creators of public art in New York’s History.”
They began their Statues for Equality movement to balance gender and racial representation in public art. By crafting bronze statues of inspirational women, like U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey and Eleanor Roosevelt, they aim to not only honor women’s contributions to society but also promote a balanced portrayal of gender in public art across the world.
Dr. Ford stands as a towering figure in medical history, embodying the spirit of resilience and dedication. Despite facing systemic racism and sexism in the early 1900s, she forged a unique path in healthcare, delivering over 7,000 babies and providing vital medical services to immigrants, people of color and the impoverished for five decades from her home in Denver.
DR. JUSTINA FORD
Over the past 15 years, 99% of our sculpture commission requests have been for statues of men. When we dug deeper, we found this to be a global issue compelling us to pledge our creativity towards rectifying this imbalance. Stories like Dr. Justina Ford’s deserve to be memorialized, and we are profoundly honored to be a part of creating a space for people to connect within The Aurora Highlands and draw inspiration from her remarkable journey for generations to come.
LISA SOLBERG
Lisa Solberg is an American artist born in Chicago. She is recognized for her multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional art. In her work, Solberg unravels the Nature of Existence. Her artistic voice is both mystical and romantic, natural and undeniably human. Solberg studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2001 and received her BFA at University of Colorado at Boulder. Solberg’s former years as an athlete turned into a professional ski career until 2006. She currently lives and works in New York City.
Lisa’s first art installation in The Aurora Highlands is “Totem Triad.”
If you would like to visit Totem Triad, here’s a link to the location on Google Maps.
TOTEM TRIAD
The intention with my work is liberation. It is syncretic- connecting that which is within us, our humanity, to a universal truth.
Within the grounds of Totem Triad lies Mt. Venus, the center point of the entire space withholding all of it’s elements. Engraved upon the top rock is the 8-pointed star for Venus… follow the arms out from the star and you will connect with the Totems.
The totems are inspired by the concept of portals or gateways into sacred spaces. My viewpoint is syncretic and universal. I honor all the native tribes and ancestors that passed through this land with this work.
HUNTER BROWN
Over the last 10 years Brown has created works that can be found in private, commercial, and public art collections in over 25 states and 3 countries. He continues to push outside the box by working with collectors and curators to create innovative design solutions in a variety of formats ranging from small-scale works to monumental public art installations. With emphasis on movement, elegance, space-activation and balance, Brown’s sculptures explore the potential for expressive variety in steel. Each of his designs aim to provide a unique spatial experience for its visitors, while also contributing to the visual identity of a place and catalyzing community engagement.
Hunter’s first sculpture in The Aurora Highlands is “Life Blood.”
If you would like to visit Life Blood, here’s a link to the location on Google Maps.
LIFE BLOOD
ASCLEPIUS
The latest art installation at The Aurora Highlands by Hunter Brown is a contemporary sculpture titled Asclepius. The sculpture is composed of twisting corten steel forms spiraling upward, fixturing a spherical polyhedron at its center. The artwork was inspired by the staff of Asclepius, which like the caduceus, remains the symbol of medicine today. The symbol depicts serpents spiraling upwards around a staff, while the Greek god, Asclepius represents rejuvenation and healing.
Weighing in at just under 3 tons, the piece stands 33 feet high and is erected near the site of the future hospital. The artwork can be seen from E470 as you approach the new off ramp that will become a main entry point to The Aurora Highlands community. While the iconic sculpture is interesting from the adjoining roads it is worth the walk down the walk path for an up-close experience. At night the sculpture is illuminated by programmed Color Kinetics lighting that brings the piece to life. It is Brown’s hope that the iconic sculpture will be received as a beacon of hope for both the community and visitors to the hospital.
If you would like to visit Asclepius, here’s a link to the location on Google Maps.
OLIVIA STEELE
Olivia Steele is a contemporary artist who has earned an international reputation for her spirited public designs at art events and festivals such as ART Biesenthal, Scope Miami, Burning Man and Lightning in a Bottle. Her art is collected and displayed globally in places such as Mongolia, Berlin, Los Angeles, Tulum, Mexico City, Bali and Colorado. Her statements suspend time and motion; within her Art are words of affirmation which have the power to change one’s mindset and entire day for the more positive. The interpretable phrases inhabit spaces of contradictory, confrontational or conciliatory meaning. These pieces of art crystallize the unity between landscape, semiotics and emotion that invites a myriad of avenues for contemplation.
PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AWARENESS
Click here to download a PDF map of the Public Displays of Awareness at Art in the Park.
