For many, space travel is unrealistic – spaceships are expensive, and interplanetary exploration doesn’t fit in with a 9-to-5 schedule.
But soon, Durangoans dreaming of voyaging through the solar system will just need a pair of sneakers and a walk along the Animas River Trail.
Durango-based artist and self-proclaimed space nerd Turner Wyatt has been working to install a to-scale model of the solar system along the Animas River Trail.
He wanted to capture a sense of how large and beautiful the solar system truly is. So, along with a team of nine other artists and support from the Durango Creative District, which helped him obtain lodgers tax funding, Turner has worked to create unique sculptures portraying the solar system’s grandeur.
“There are many to-scale solar and solar system installations around the country, and I thought it would be beautiful to have one in Durango,” Wyatt said. “I thought that we could do a better job of being more creative in terms of how it looked, and have it align with sort of the personality of Durango itself.”
The plan, he said, was to position models of the sun and eight planets along the trail set to the same scale as the actual solar system – one to 670 million, he said. Pluto was not included because if it was put in to-scale, it would be in the Three Springs subdivision, and the Animas River Trail ends before reaching the neighborhood.
Who was involved?
Artists Bryan Saren, David Mallin, Dominique Giglio, Erik Nelson, Riley Wanzek, Steve Williams, Dylan McClain, Dalton Bevill and Suzie Grimm each created a plant with their own creative spins and mediums.
Each sculpture is mounted on a granite pedestal crafted by Family Craft Memorials, with plaques designed by Jamie Wanzek and engraved by WildMtn Innovations.
Durango Parks and Recreation and the Durango Creative District provided support.
He wanted to hire artists to make each planet and have them collaborate on overall spirit of the project, while allowing them total creative agency in deciding their medium.
“The only thing that was dictated was the size,” Wyatt said. “We ran the calculations to see, OK, if there was a sun that was 8 feet across, how big would the rest of the planets be, and what would the distances be between them?”
Durango Creative District Executive Director Kathryn Waggener jumped at the idea.
“I LOVE the artistic freedom taken by each artist to have their mounts and display all unique,” she wrote in a text message to The Durango Herald. “It really makes the entire project so unique and dynamic.”
Wyatt said the exhibit cost about $52,000, with most of the money coming from the Durango’s lodgers tax.
“I absolutely love the lodgers tax program, and think it’s one of our most wonderful community assets here,” Wyatt said.
From 2023 through 2024, Wyatt and his team designed each planet to withstand Durango’s weather and complement the natural environment, according to a city news release. He said it ultimately was a community effort.
“We’re really proud of how we were able to collaborate with so many local folks to make this happen,” he said. “It was close to 20 local people and organizations that were involved in this project.”
Seven of the nine pieces have been installed, Wyatt said. The original goal was to have the installation in place by Oct. 17, but it has faced several delays – mostly because of vandalism and theft.
“The last two planets that were going to get installed today got delayed. Plus, someone stole earth,” Wyatt wrote in an email to the Herald on Oct. 17.
The statue of Uranus, which was erected near Nature’s Oasis south of downtown Durango, was removed after it was knocked over and its pedestal was marked with graffiti. Luckily, the stolen statue of Earth is being remade by stained glass artist Dominique Giglio and metalworker Trevor Pepperdine.
Waggener said the city is working to help prevent future theft and vandalism. Making sure the pieces are well-engineered and anchored to withstand someone pushing them or making off with a piece was paramount, she said.
“In terms of vandalism, potentially incorporating dark-sky compliant lights with (the) sculptures could be a deterrent, but unfortunately potential vandalism is an unavoidable risk with all public art,” she said. “My hope is that next year as we create more engagement opportunities around Durango’s public art platform, that pieces will gain in prominence and dissuade vandals from viewing public art as free game.”
Wyatt remains undeterred. He has received overwhelming community support and sympathy amid setbacks. He wishes well to whomever stole Earth and knocked over Uranus.
“If someone still feels compelled to destroy, they must be struggling themselves,” he said. “You have to have compassion and just think that someone’s really struggling.
“This project really is meant to be supportive of our community by making Durango more beautiful and by illuminating the common ground that we have as humans on this tiny, tiny planet in this vast, infinite universe,” he said.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
