Posted on

Shrine To Humanity, 2017

The Hanzon Shrine to Humanity featured five temples built and designed by Paulo Wellman, then hand-painted and embellished with artistic symbols of the chakra system, as well as steel bells with ornate mallets for festival goers to chime.  Over 200 hand-sewn and dyed silk flags, invoking prayer flags, adorned the sanctum, while four proud hand-dyed rainbow flags crowned the perimeter.  There were also four hand-painted ‘contemplation benches’ pointed toward the beautiful shrine for festival go-ers to sit a moment and reflect upon what Gay Pride really means to us as individuals, communities, and nations.  The lavish  colors were not only eye-catching and upbeat, but also paid tribute to Gilbert Baker, the artist and gay rights activist who first designed the rainbow flag, and who passed away in March of this year.

Continue reading “Shrine To Humanity, 2017”
Posted on

Orlando Massacre Memorial, 2016

Visitors sign messages on an 8-by-8-by-10 foot black box serving as a memorial for the 49 killed early Sunday at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Thousands gather at the Denver PrideFest celebration at Civic Center Park in downtown Denver on Saturday, June 18, 2016. The festival lasts through Sunday with the annual Gay Pride Parade starting at 9:30 a.m. at Chessman Park heading west down Colfax Ave. to Civic Center Park. (Photo by Kathryn Scott Osler/The Denver Post)
Continue reading “Orlando Massacre Memorial, 2016”
Posted on

Cabinet of Curiosities & Impossibilities, 2010

Original cabinets dated from the 16th century and were entire rooms of specimens. The most famous, best documented cabinets of rulers and aristocrats, members of the merchant class, and early practitioners of science formed collections that were the precursors to the museum. In the Cabinet of Curiosities & Impossibilities, MOA seeks to recreate the wonder and contemplation once aroused in the 19th century cabinets. Located in the Englewood indoor gallery of the Museum of Outdoor Arts.

Continue reading “Cabinet of Curiosities & Impossibilities, 2010”
Posted on

Chandelier Chardin, 2007-2008

The title of this chandelier is in honor of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, a French Jesuit priest, paleontologist, and philosopher who discovered Peking Man. Chardin specifically conceived the idea of Noosphere. The Noosphere is represented by the geometric platonic solids imagery at the top of the chandelier, and evolves in to the highly organic shapes found at the bottom. The chandelier is made of steel, antique Italian chandelier parts, and contemporary glass pieces that have been cold worked, sand blasted, slumped, draped and torch worked. The chandelier is lit with small LEDs in the antique portion of the work. It is approximately thirteen feet at its widest point and descending from the ceiling close to forty feet.
The antique chandelier was discovered by Marjorie and Cynthia Madden on a trip to Italy in 1982, and remained in storage until being incorporated in to this new work. The Chandelier Chardin was designed by Lonnie Hanzon and fabricated by Bella Glass.

From the Museum of Outdoor Arts

Continue reading “Chandelier Chardin, 2007-2008”