AURORA AKIMBO
A monumental sculpture for the edge of a park along a major highway
Aurora, Colorado
The Public Art for Expo Park was inspired by the Park’s recreational function as well as its presence as a gateway to the City of Aurora. The northern edge of Expo Park at Alameda Boulevard is an introduction to Aurora’s wealth of resources and beauty. Aurora is blessed with a system of parks that celebrate Colorado’s natural beauty while revealing the transition from mountains to plains. Expo Park shares in this legacy, offering recreational activities that have access to views of the Rocky Mountains. “Aurora Akimbo” celebrates the Park’s functional beauty while acknowledging its presence as a gateway to Aurora.
The design consists of 3 large sculptural elements at the northern edge of the Park. Rising 24 feet above ground, the pieces are made of molded fiberglass with a structural steel skeleton. They are aligned with Alameda Boulevard and the Park’s bike path, making the pieces visible for both Park users and Alameda drivers. As celebratory elements at the edge of the City, they welcome people to Aurora while drawing attention to Aurora’s parks and recreational facilities. For drivers and passengers on Alameda, the pieces announce their arrival into the City of Aurora.
The design for “Aurora Akimbo” was inspired by the activities of Park users. Starting with a large abstract “A” in honor of Aurora, these monumental forms shed their inhibitions by cartwheeling across the Park landscape. While throwing caution to the wind, the pieces are designed to delight in their physical form while participating in the playful activities of the Park.
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