A student-crafted sculpture is planned for the grounds of the Carnegie Building, and the public can weigh in on three finalists Wednesday.
Durango High School students designed the concepts and built models for the public and a selection committee to review, said Sherri Dugdale, assistant to the city manager.
“They are learning not just how to create a sculpture, but also how to put a proposal together,” she said.
Next semester, students will build the selected piece, she said.
The options include a figure with a man’s body and moose head, four blocks stacked atop one another, and a tree with books and pages for leaves.
The city has agreed to provide about $1,000 for the sculpture materials, Dugdale said.
“We don’t want them to have to scrounge for art supplies. ... We obviously want to pay for the piece,” she said.
The selected sculpture will become a permanent part of the city’s collection. It will sit on an existing empty base at the Carnegie Building, 1188 East Second Ave.
The youth art program has evolved over time. It started with the creation of the Trout Wall along the river trail that 27 students from across La Plata County created.
In 2010, the city created an art-on-loan program for youth, but they did not get much interest, and so they started a partnership with Durango High School.
As a result, the students built the Train Goes Round and Round currently installed behind the Durango Public Library.
“The art commission was just blown away at the quality of the piece, so we decided to keep it,” she said.
The public is invited to give input this week at the Durango Public Library. Public input will guide the city’s selection committee. A survey is also available on the city’s website.
The committee will likely make a decision in mid-May, she said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
If you go
A open house to help select student art will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Durango Public Library, 1900 East Third Ave.
The city is also accepting comments online at http://www.durangogov.org/virtualcityhall#
