Client: City Of Pueblo and Colorado Department of Transporation
Location: Pueblo, CO, United States
Completion date: 2014
Artwork budget: $300,000
Project Team
Public Art Agent
Bill Zwick
City of Pueblo
Client
Karen Rowe
CDOT Region 2
Artist
Ken Williams
Williams Studio
Industry Resource
Doug Stout
DS Masonry
Overview
The selection criteria were based on artistic merit of past work, appropriateness of the art medium as it related to the bridge structure, durability & ability to withstand use and climate extremes, maintenance regime (including anti-vandalism approach), response to knowledge of local culture, heritage, history and identity and references with similar work and satisfaction of previous installed public art works.
Goals
The local community has identified public art as an important element of the aesthetic of the 4th Street Bridge Replacement Project. In 2003, the community participated in the 4th Street Bridge, SH96 Over the Arkansas River Design Charette sponsored by the Colorado Department of Transportation. As a component of the community driven design charette the “Gateway Monuments” were given a high ranking as an important aesthetic for the new bridge.
Process
In 2010, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Region 2 had entered into an agreement with the City of Pueblo to commission public art for the new 4th Street Bridge. CDOT provided the funding for the project in the amount of $305,000 and the City provided the project management and procurement of the public art for the bridge. Monument bases were built into the bridge project in anticipation of commissioning an artist to construct “Gateway Monuments” on them, two on each side. The selection committee consisted of a public art manager, the Pueblo Performing Arts Guild, adjacent property owners, Downtown Association, City Council representatives and Colorado Department of Transportation staff. Upon receiving 21 entries and creating a shortlist of three artists Ken Williams Studio was selected as the finalist to perform the project for the $300,000 commission. The sculptures consist of a 30 foot high column of masonry with sculpted and glazed brick from the Williams Studio from Pueblo. The work took approximately six months and was completed in the fall of 2014.
Additional Information
The sculptures are viewed by over 20,000 vehicle trips per day. The bridge with art work is the Gateway to Downtown Pueblo, Colorado.