Initially, I was pretty perturbed by the Arc of History. In hindsight it was the outrageous “history” in the name. It was a bunch of rock slabs that had nothing to do with the amazing history of our area. I knew that the authentic history of our area is found in the award-winning Animas Museum, a 1904 gem that is woefully underfunded and under appreciated.
Over time and getting over my naming issues, I became very fond of the Arc. It has a clean dramatic style that is well suited for a busy corner where drivers wiz by and don’t have the time to appreciate a more detailed piece of art. I looked forward to travels by the Arc to see the amazing public additions to the piece. Ben Foisel’s dino head was wonderful; the Chinese dragon head was truly beautiful. Eggs, baby Arcs, baby dinos, wedding veils, and the crutches after vandalism were all endearing and make this a very interactive public piece.
I think we should keep the Arc. The city should make another effort to work with the artist to get the repairs done for the $28,000 insurance money. If the insurance money won’t completely cover the cost, fix the worst areas. The Arc should remain at the intersection, it should not be moved to City Hall or the Tech Center. To move the piece and not attempt to repair it is disrespectful. It should remain where it is as a bold statement that Durango appreciates art and art, even in the face of vandalism, triumphs. This is our piece of art and it has now become part of our history.
Ruth E. Lambert
Durango