AA rider’s rider’s guideguide to publicpublic art art onon RTD’sRTD’s transittransit systemsystem Table of Contents Introduction ....................................2-3 Central Light Rail Stations 30th • Downing ...............................4 25th, 27th, 29th • Welton .......................5 16th • California ..............................6 Convention Center • Performing Arts ............7 Colfax at Auraria .............................8 10th • Osage .................................9 Alameda ....................................10 I-25 • Broadway .............................11 Central Platte Valley Light Rail Stations Union Station ...............................12 Pepsi Center • Elitch Gardens .................13 INVESCO Field at Mile High. 14 Auraria West Campus ........................15 Southwest Light Rail Stations Evans ......................................16 Englewood .................................17 Oxford • City of Sheridan .....................18 Littleton • Downtown. 19 Littleton • Mineral ...........................20 Southeast Light Rail Stations Louisiana • Pearl .............................22 University of Denver .........................23 Colorado ...................................24 Yale ........................................25 Southmoor .................................26 Dayton .....................................27 Nine Mile ...................................28 Belleview ...................................29 Orchard ....................................30 Arapahoe at Village Center ....................31 Dry Creek ..................................32 County Line .................................33 Lincoln .....................................34 Bus Stations and other Transfer Facilities Civic Center Station ..........................36 Market Street Station .........................37 Colfax and Federal ........................38-40 Tufts Flyover ................................41 How to Ride RTD .......................42-43 Light Rail System Map ...................44-45 Introduction You’re probably familiar with art walks…but did you know that in metro What kind of art will you Denver, you can take an art Ride? see on RTD? Thanks to RTD’s art-n-Transit program, As you ride RTD, you’ll notice two types of public you can enjoy an eclectic array of public art art. The first consists of art enhancements — artistic pieces at more than 30 light rail stations and elements incorporated into the design of the transit bus terminals throughout the metro area. station. These include windscreens, benches, This brochure is designed to help you take a canopies, railings and other basic architectural self-guided tour of those artworks and learn features that provide functional benefits and more about the art behind the transit. make stations and terminals easily identifiable. The true centerpieces of the art-n-Transit program What is art-n-Transit? are the site-specific commissioned artworks. These murals, mosaics, sculptures and other Since 1994, the mission of RTD’s art-n-Transit imaginative installations were created by artists program has been to enhance the design, hired to produce unique works of art that reflect aesthetic quality and user friendliness of the surrounding community and add an identifying transit projects, as well as to foster transit- element to the neighborhood. Community oriented community development. members participate in the selection process for each of these commissioned art projects. The art-n-Transit program is based on RTD’s belief that public art helps provide a stronger We invite you to take a ride on RTD and connection between neighborhoods and transit. get a first-hand glimpse at one of the metro Installing artwork at transit facilities creates a area’s most innovative art collections! sense of community and provides opportunities to celebrate the diverse cultural, ethnic and historical richness of the many communities RTD serves. In addition to enhancing the beauty of the entire transit system, public art also helps discourage vandalism and graffiti. 2 3 central corridor 30th • Downing 25th, 27th, Light Rail Station 29th • Welton Light Rail Stations Lady Doctor Untitled Jess DuBois Darrel Anderson Dedication Date: 1998 Dedication Date: 1996 This sculpture pays tribute to the first Five Points’ legacy of great music and African-American doctor licensed in the community served as the inspiration State of Colorado, Dr. Justina Ford. During for these colorful mosaics, located on Dr. Ford’s 50 years of practice, she delivered the light rail station access ramps. over 7,000 babies. The artwork is located on the plaza along Downing Street. 4 5 central corridor 16th • California Convention Center • Light Rail Station Performing Arts Light Rail Station Photo by Ron Ruscio Ha-no-oo Star Calendar Doing Your Dance in Denver Scott Parsons Dwight Atkinson Dedication Date: 1997 Dedication Date: 2007 A 500-square-foot granite mosaic walkway. An interactive light installation using sensors “Ha-no-oo” is the Arapahoe word for “galaxy.” and light helps visitors perform their own Just as the stars are used for navigation, “Dance of Denver.” As a dancer operates the artist Scott Parsons relates the light rail system, a variety of illustrations and slogans station as “a metaphor for navigation.” The light up on the stainless steel mirror, providing mosaic itself represents the 10,000-year amusement and faux guidance, whimsically history of native migrations as displayed in defining the three areas of Denver dance: the night skies above Colorado, recorded commerce, nature and sport. The installation in 21 indigenous languages. The mosaic is adjacent to the southbound boarding area. walkway is adjacent to the light rail tracks. 6 7 central corridor Colfax at Auraria 10th • Osage Light Rail Station Light Rail Station Bookmark Denver Colorado Mestizaje Donna Billick Emanuel Martinez Dedication Date: 2002 Dedication Date: 2003 Two terrazzo benches with book replicas are The sculpture is a synthesis of images that bench backs and seats. The images on the represents Mexican culture through the bench backs portray Denver and Colorado. 1960s civil rights movement, to the United The theme of the books was selected to Farm Workers labor struggle and the urban honor the multiple institutions committed Chicano movement. The sculpture is located to the education and enlightenment of their on the lawn north of the station plaza. community. The benches are on the plaza between the light rail tracks and the campus. 8 9 central corridor Alameda I-25 • Broadway Light Rail Station Light Rail Station Hand Up The Welcoming Committee Scott Donohue Elaine Calzolari Dedication Date: 1998 Dedication Date: 1997 Two statues show diversity and history These three modernistic granite monuments throughout the world. Each figure is made were created, in part, from sculptures up of different patterned sections and makes salvaged from demolished buildings. Some a composite of many people from various of the main components include materials cultures, races and times. The statues are from an old mausoleum, fragments from located northwest of the bus drop-off area. granite quarries and other architectural remnants. Ms. Calzolari’s vision for this sculpture was to inject humor and add the stamp of humanity in an almost sleek, manufactured environment. The sculptures stand in the island south of the bus gates. 10 11 cpv corridor Union Station Pepsi Center • Light Rail Station Elitch Gardens Light Rail Station Winter Crossing Seven Sisters Stephen Batura David Griggs Dedication Date: 2002 Dedication Date: 2002 This 8 x 24 foot mural is located above Seven sculptures are along the wall between the entrance to the pedestrian walkway the light rail platform and the Pepsi Center. inside Denver Union Station from the Through a joint project with the Denver Wynkoop Street entrance. The mural is a Urban Renewal Authority, these whimsical representation of a steam freighter crossing figures were designed to acknowledge the a viaduct-type bridge in winter. Its muted playful attractions of the Platte Valley. colors of green, blue and yellow have been coordinated to fit in with the décor of the historic Denver Union Station. 12 13 cpv corridor INVESCO Field at Auraria West Campus Mile High Light Rail Station Light Rail Station Pig Skins Destinations Troy Corliss Donna Billick Dedication Date: 2002 Dedication Date: 2003 Five oversized terrazzo footballs tilted in A gateway arch is between the station and different angles give the appearance of the Auraria Higher Education campus. The wobbling balls on the main plaza of the light idea suggests the transformation education rail station. Each football represents a different provides the students in their journey into the era in the development of the “pigskin.” world of opportunities. The items on the arch are a compilation of sports balls, a gold nugget and maize representing important elements from the past and present in Auraria’s history. 14 15 southwest corridor Evans Englewood Light Rail Station Light Rail Station People Hereabouts Glass Panel Windscreen Overland Neighborhood Association Outdoor Museum Ray Tomasso Jack Unruh Dedication Date: 2000 Dedication Date: 2000 The Overland Neighborhood Association The glass panel windscreen in the center of presents a series of text and image historical the platform portrays the interaction between vignettes about the area in an outdoor the dreams, hopes and aspirations of society museum exhibit. Over 70 small panels are and the entropy caused