DIA corrals mane attraction
By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published February 12, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.
Updated February 12, 2008 at 1:54 p.m.
Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. © The Rocky
Mustang, a sculpture by well-known artist Luis Jimenez, has arrived at Denver International Airport, and is being unveiled this morning.
Photo by Chris Schneider © The Rocky
Construction worker John Van Auken removes a brace as they install the Mustang sculpture at DIA today. The sculpture is over 30 feet tall. The artist, Luis Jimenez, of Hondo, N.M., was killed on June 2006 when a segment of the sculpture fell on him as it was being hoisted.
Workers on cranes stripped plastic wrap and duct tape from a 32-foot-high mustang sculpture today, revealing a bright blue face and fire engine red eyes.
The mustang greets drivers as they approach Denver International Airport and is the first startling thing visitors see as they depart the airport to the Mile High City.
"As I was leaving last night, I couldn't stop the tears, it was so beautiful," said Rudi Cerri, public art administrator for the city of Denver.
That was when the mustang looked more like a zebra, striped with tape.
"The lights were shining on it and it conveyed such a sense of power," Cerri said.
The horse is rearing on its hind legs, its four legs cocked, its eyes facing Pikes Peak.
Said Matt Chasanski, also a public art administrator: "It just speaks to power and movement and energy, like so much of the artist's work. A lot of Luis' work was about movement through time and space."
The mustang's creator, Luis Jimenez, was killed in 2006 when the torso portion of the sculpture swung out of control and fell on him while it was being hoisted in his New Mexico studio.
Chasanski said the development of the West hinged on the horse. "This shows its impact, powerful and dominant."
Cerri added, "It's a bold piece for a bold landscape."
--Bill Scanlon
Story from today's Rocky
Sixteen years, four missed deadlines, two lawsuits and one death later, the long-awaited sculpture Mustang finally has been lassoed.
The 32-foot-tall rearing blue fiberglass horse with fiery red eyes left California on a flatbed trailer late last week and arrived at its new home at Denver International Airport on Sunday.
The sculpture, designed by the late artist Luis Jimenez, was installed Monday on a dirt mound between the inbound and outbound lanes of Pena Boulevard, before the inbound road branches off to the east and west terminals.
"Luis loved the spot because he thought of the purple mountains' majesty, the idea of this rearing horse looking at this incredible landscape," Kendall Peterson, public art administrator for the Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, said Jimenez's ex-wife told her.
Jeff Green, an airport spokesman, said Mustang is sitting on a concrete base and bolted to steel. You can't miss it if you travel to DIA, and it will be lit at night.
"When you're right underneath it, it's extraordinarily big and a spectacular silhouette," Peterson said.
The artwork was commissioned by the city of Denver in 1992 for delivery in 1996. But it was hobbled by a series of delays, from legal battles between the city and Jimenez to unmet deadlines by the artist.
One of the most recent setbacks was the death of Jimenez, who was killed in June 2006 when the torso section of the horse swung out of control and fell on him while it was being hoisted in his New Mexico studio.
After Jimenez's death, the artwork got caught in probate for months, but eventually was transported to California for engineering upgrades and repairs to its fiberglass skin.
The sculpture was trucked to Denver in taped protective wrapping, giving it a zebra look. Removal of the wrapping was postponed until this morning because of inclement weather Monday night, Green said.
Sculptor William Goodman, a longtime friend of Jimenez, who was known for larger-than-life sculptures that incorporated Chicano and Mesoamerican imagery, said the artist would be pleased that Mustang has been finished.
"I don't think anyone should feel disappointed that it wasn't actually finished by him," Goodman said in a telephone interview from his home in Tinnie, N.M.
"It was definitely his project from beginning to end," he said.
--Daniel J. Chacon
Sculpture's journey
Luis Jimenez, an award-winning artist, was commissioned to create a 32-foot horse sculpture, called Mustang, for display at Denver International Airport. The artist lost his life and the city's cost more than doubled on the road to the sculpture's installation.
1992: City of Denver commissions the sculpture for $300,000 with a 1996 delivery date.
2001: The city changed the planned location of Mustang to inside the terminal, from a site on Pena Boulevard.
2003: After several delays, the city sued Jimenez to get its $165,000 advance payment back. Jimenez, countersued because DIA wanted to place his sculpture inside.
2004: An agreement was reached calling for Jimenez to meet certain deadlines leading to installation of the piece and Mustang would be installed outside. Jimenez would receive the remaining $135,000 on his contract.
2005: Jimenez continued to miss deadlines.
2006: Jimenez was killed when part of the sculpture fell on him in his New Mexico studio.
2007: The city took possession of the sculpture in mid-October. The piece took a detour to California for repairs and safety upgrades. A budget of $350,000 was approved to rehab the sculpture, ship it, install it and dedicate it.
chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099
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February 11, 2008
10:47 a.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
Silly art project, looks like Quick Draw McGraw on meth. Why can't we just have an airport?
February 11, 2008
11:07 a.m.
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jamesdenver writes:
Sure - a bunch of boxy buildings and filthy concourses ala MPS or Detroit's old airport would be much better.
Art and design make cities memorable. Live with it.
james http://www.futuregringo.com
February 11, 2008
12:07 p.m.
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Diff writes:
Being an Airport, shouldn't this be the other kind of MUSTANG -
the P51 variety?
February 11, 2008
12:14 p.m.
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bjclark writes:
Mr. Jimenez's work is some of the most unique sculpture ever created, and this could be his masterpiece. His work amazing blends his heritage with contemporary culture and materials in a completely unrivaled way. Denver is lucky to be receiving such an important piece from an artist that will go down as one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century.
February 11, 2008
12:19 p.m.
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AC writes:
DIA is fine without it. It's a plastic horse twisted out of shape and painted in weird colors. What's it have to do with the airport? I'm not there to look at art, I'm there to get outta town. Jimenez even wanted red lighted eyes in it, and the FAA said he couldn't since it was going to be under a runway approach and could mimic a navaid. Silly.
February 11, 2008
12:44 p.m.
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Diff writes:
Art is art and I don't deny that this is a work of art. Fine and good.
But I do have to ask - did the city of Denver and the airport authority spend $2 million on this? $300,000 I could live with, even tho making the argument that city tax dollars would be better spent elsewhere - but $2 milllion
What are we thinking?!?
February 11, 2008
1:58 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
"appraised at $2 million". Yeah...sure. Art appraisals can be done by anyone, so they're as valuable as crab dung on the ocean floor. I value my doodles to be worth $1 billion dollars, so having taxpayers pay me $100 million to display them to the public is a BARGAIN! And as bjclark claims about this piece of "art", my doodles are "some of the most unique ever created". They are "my masterpiece". That should make them worth millions of taxpayer dollars!!!!
$600,000 for some dead guy's idea of "art" that was 12 YEARS behind schedule! ZERO for needy people!! Art over people!!! Yeah, we sure have our priorities straight in Colorado!
February 11, 2008
3:36 p.m.
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Scott writes:
Smells like a bunch of horse<dung> to me ;-)
Scott
February 11, 2008
4:19 p.m.
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temurlan writes:
Yeah, all of the light posts along pena blew down in the wind...shall we repair and strengthen them or put up a really tall horse sculpture. Springs on the way, I give it 2-3 months before the horse blows away. DIA is where new ideas and technology go to die. But it still beats every other major airport in the country.
February 12, 2008
12:33 a.m.
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Chadley25 writes:
Let me get this straight... the art was commissioned in 1992 for delivery in 1996, and TEN DAMN YEARS after the due date, Jiminez STILL hadn't gotten around to finishing it?
It almost seems ironic or karmic that the silly thing fell on him and killed him, doesn't it? It's quite sad, obviously, what a way to go... but still.
February 12, 2008
1:55 a.m.
Suggest removal
SteveM writes:
With all due respect to the posters of this thread, but most of your commendts make no sense or do not apply. Allow me to direct you to (http://www.denvergov.org/Public_Art_P...)
"Under the leadership of the citizens of the City and County of Denver, an adopted city ordinance requires that capital improvement projects and bond monies with construction and design budgets over $1,000,000 must allocate 1% of the estimated construction budget for the acquisition of public art."
Therefore 1% of the cost of DIA had to be used for the acquisition of public art of which the Mustang was only 1 small part of the huge art budget (1% of 5 billion).
"The money could have been used for better things" argument doesn't hold up any more that it would to say "a new football or baseball stadium" which together cost almost a billion dollars could have been spent better. There's always a 'better' way to spend the money.
As for why does there need to be art at an airport, again, this is an immature comment. Why does their need to be decoration of anything? Aesthetics improve the quality of life. There didn't need to be a fountain in the middle of the main terminal. There didn't need to be gargoyle statues in the luggage area. There doesn't need to be one pound of gold on the dome of our capitol building. Adornments and beautification of manmade structures has been something we humans have done for thousands of years. It's not necessary, but we like it. All houses could be painted white (paint being used to protect the wood of a house at its basal purpose).
February 12, 2008
7:15 a.m.
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sqjnk writes:
hey stevem
thanks for ruining everyone's complaining session with some thought and maturity. it's so much easier to moan and whine when you turn your brain off.
February 12, 2008
7:30 a.m.
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DahmersCookbook writes:
Well SteveM did you ever notice the Mile High Stadium mustang? This is not art, its A sorry rip-off! Blue fiberglass! Excuse me while I vomit on the ceiling! How about finishing the 3rd lane on I-25 towards Ft.Collins. Then blow money on junk "Art". Siphon the money out of the "DIA Budget" and finish some projects. Poor guys dream was to be the 1,000,000th idiot to do A horse piece. Where did art go?
February 12, 2008
8:20 a.m.
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Scott writes:
SteveM and sqjnk must be a lib arts professors at Coke U. Back when I was taking my "draft dodger" (lib arts) courses an English anthology that was required reading ALWAYS put down popular literature as "immature." The loser that put together the English anthology that I had to muck through was a Ph D professor. Hmmmmm, a similarity here. The self anointed "intelligentsia" putting down those of us who work for a living.
Scott
February 12, 2008
8:34 a.m.
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Fitzy31 writes:
It looks like some kind of trippy zebra.
February 12, 2008
8:55 a.m.
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Giovoni writes:
Scott...
Who suggested your writing was popular? Immature, uninformed, vapid, maybe. Popular... no.
February 12, 2008
8:57 a.m.
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Giovoni writes:
SteveM is correct though. This and many other works of art are mandated by law. It's too bad this piece went over budget and late. But just for that reason it's a perfect work to be displayed at DIA.
February 12, 2008
8:58 a.m.
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DahmersCookbook writes:
"trippy zebra", that would be A great idea! It's duct-tape and ceran wrap. It's blue lead based paint on fiberglass! Reinforement to those who think we are toothless hillbillys' here in CO.
February 12, 2008
9:08 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
stevem..... ROFLMAO! You actually swallowed that line? BWWAAHHAAA!!!
Great lines in Colorado political circles..."Sorry, I had to waste taxpayer money because its the law!"
What next? An ordnance requiring politicians to accept bribes and when caught they claim "the law made me do it!"? ROFLMAO at these morons that swallow such nonsense!
February 12, 2008
9:30 a.m.
Suggest removal
Diff writes:
SteveM:
"The money could have been used for better things" argument doesn't hold up ...
What do you mean it doesn't hold up. Spending 2 million on health care, or maybe for more recreation programs, or at the library, or in the schools - wouldn't be a better use of $2,000,000 than a piece of sculpure? that gets delivered over 10 years later than the contracted for and at a cost more than 6 times the original amount! Had this been a basic business transaction for say new water coolers in the terminal, would you have been as allowing for the cost to jump by 6x and a ten year delay in having them installed! The contract would have been null and void, and the city would have sought someone else to fulfill the need. Your arguing that its OK just because it was voted in, or that it is only 1% Lets pass a law that we take just 1% for this and 1% for than and another 1% for something or some body else - next think you know our taxes are up by 10 or 20%... Come-on - get a clue!
February 12, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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Chal writes:
Geez, that thing is UGLY---it looked better all wrapped up like a zebra. Oh well, when the spring chinooks come it will blow away . . . . .
February 12, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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gwats writes:
I drive out to DIA at least twice a day. I better get used to looking @ this thing.
February 12, 2008
9:48 a.m.
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ColoNative writes:
For all of you blindly accepting tax increases in Colorado, this is your just reward. For those of you who think that outlandish and garrish are equivalent to art, this is your piece.
For the comment regarding late and over budget, yours is the most appropriate. A blue ass is quite appropriate to match the canvas peaks over what was once good farmland.
February 12, 2008
9:52 a.m.
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AC writes:
Yikes, a gelding it ain't!
February 12, 2008
10:05 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
Maybe the homeless, starving, orphans, and shut in elderly will get some joy from knowing that art fans in Colorado have a new boondoggle to brag about.
February 12, 2008
10:09 a.m.
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BlueSled writes:
That horse is going to scare my kids! It does fit however with the rest of the weird art at the airport. Just search the web to see some of the bizzare murals that are already in DIA.
February 12, 2008
10:12 a.m.
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jscou writes:
I like it better wrapped.
February 12, 2008
10:15 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
Paint.... $200 Materials.... $500. A handful of art nuts admiring a $600 thousand taxpayer funded giant blue jack*ss.... priceless.
February 12, 2008
10:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
Diff writes:
I thought they kept the animals at the circus inside the tent?
Looks like something from a nightmare ...
I have seen that color before, but I was REALLY sick!
February 12, 2008
10:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
tannerstrand writes:
I want to make sure I understand this. The state spends over 6 million on a water fountain that was installed in the main atrium of the airport, which was over 2 years late. 6 MILLION on a water fountain??? And then we put up the scary black and blue bruise of a horse for another 2 million?? Let's see, thats 8 million dollars spent of two art 'attractions'. I don't even want to know what we spent on rest of the artwork.
February 12, 2008
10:32 a.m.
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DahmersCookbook writes:
Its malnourished and disurbingly veiny. Perhaps this is for the riders of the apocalypse. Giant clip-art tatoo anyone?
February 12, 2008
10:39 a.m.
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dirkle writes:
First honest reaction: sorry, but: - UUuuuuggggly! a blue friggin' horse? Are you sure it's BLUE enough?
Strike one!
February 12, 2008
10:39 a.m.
Suggest removal
Patriot writes:
Just another example of the taxpayer getting fleeced again, this thing is atrocious and should be recycled for scrap. BJClark, must be blind to think this is a masterpiece, my 5 year old could do this and get in done in less than ten years. What a JOKE!
February 12, 2008
10:59 a.m.
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Achilles writes:
I think the ugliness of the airport and the hideous blue horse will prepare visitors for the atrocious Denver Art Museum. Visitors will truly think Denverites have horrible taste in beauty. Then the visitors will tour the rest of Colorado and fall in love with the state. But, as they arrive back at the airport to depart from Colorado, they will once again be reminded that Denver is not quite ready for prime-time.
Thank God for Denver's saving grace: Coor's Field.
February 12, 2008
10:59 a.m.
Suggest removal
reddog writes:
Its hideous looking, what a waste of $$$$$
February 12, 2008
11 a.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
"As I was leaving last night, I couldn't stop the tears, it was so beautiful," said Rudi Cerri, public art administrator for the city of Denver.
"As I was sitting at my kitchen table, I couldn't stop the tears trying to figure out how I could pay my $200 a month rent on my one room apartment, $400 for monthly medicine to keep me alive, $100 a month on utilities to keep the heat on, and still have anything left on my $700 a month social security check to be able to find something to eat this month. Rudi Cerri and some people in Denver get teary eyed over a $650,000 piece of art. Someday, they will be in my shoes. And then they will get teary eyed thinking about how some people value art more than helping people," said Clarice Harris.
February 12, 2008
11:02 a.m.
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Achilles writes:
That sculpture looks like the sort art spray painted on a wall in a Los Angeles ghetto.
February 12, 2008
11:04 a.m.
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Kslayer writes:
I agree Reddog. What an ugly thing for people to see when they come into Colorado. The thing looks evil. It already killed its creator.
February 12, 2008
11:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
skleepit writes:
Wait till you actually see this thing. It's even more appalling in person. It looks like the horse was mistreated, not feed for months and has a cattle prod up its a**!! My god, you artsy fartsy people are absolutely crazy. It's just as bad as all that farm trash you all left behind and call art. I can assure you that everyone I know who flies here will laugh their asses off. Good grief. The other thing that bothers me is that we pay good wages to these people who pick these damn things out. I say they owe back the last 10+ years of their wages to compensate those of us who have took at this abomination.
February 12, 2008
11:11 a.m.
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Scott writes:
Giovoni: Not MY writing, but "popular" authors, i.e, not Hemingway, Shakespeare, etc.
Scott
February 12, 2008
11:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
Achilles writes:
Anyone want to see a truly beautiful Mustang sculpture? Check out the Mustangs of Las Colinas in Texas:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgur...&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522mustangs%2Bof%2Blas%2Bcolinas%2522%2B%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en...
February 12, 2008
11:19 a.m.
Suggest removal
lawguy writes:
ugly, very very ugly
February 12, 2008
11:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
thinky1 writes:
Wow, that thing is SCARY. Are those VEINS on the side? Jesus, it looks like some sort of zombie horse.
February 12, 2008
11:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
ColoNative writes:
Paul Bunyon had his fabled blue ox, Babe. Now Denver has its own blue ass. It needs a name. How about Bubba, the Blue Ass?
February 12, 2008
11:35 a.m.
Suggest removal
bjclark writes:
"Reinforement to those who think we are toothless hillbillys' here in CO."
After reading the responses to this article, why would anyone think that? Maybe because you all act and have the cultural awareness of toothless hillbillys? It's too bad Mr. Jiminez's creation doesn't fit into your little box of what you think art is, or good art, for that matter, but for those of us that actually open our minds and take the time to study the art for what it is really appreciate it.
Furthermore, it's not a "rip off" of the mile high bronco, it's called "referencing" . THAT'S WHY IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR DIA, you toothless hillbilly.
February 12, 2008
11:53 a.m.
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BroncoDan writes:
There's obviously been a mistake...it's a Bronco and the mane needs to be orange!!!
February 12, 2008
12:01 p.m.
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AC writes:
Or "predominately orange!"
February 12, 2008
12:04 p.m.
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BlueSled writes:
From Wikipedia: Pale Horse
The fourth horseman (on the pale, or sickly horse, which may be the source of the notion of "pestilence" as a separate horseman) is explicitly named Death.
The Greek word interpreted here as "pale" is elsewhere in the New Testament translated as "green." The horse is sometimes translated as "pale," "pale green," or "green." The pale greenish colour of the fourth horse could mean fear, sickness, decay, and death.
February 12, 2008
12:13 p.m.
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benn writes:
ha! Good call BroncoDan!
February 12, 2008
12:14 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
"....those of us that actually open our minds and take the time to study the art for what it is really appreciate it...."
Appreciate it? Sounds like the words of people who desperately want to appear intelligent and cultured, but fail to realize they just look like clowns by pretending such a monstrosity is "art".
I've got some doodles that you can "open your minds and take the time to study and really appreciate it..." Just cough up another $650,000 of wasted taxpayer funds and I'll ship it right over to the Boulder head shop where all the art nuts can "admire and appreciate it".
February 12, 2008
12:16 p.m.
Suggest removal
skleepit writes:
Hey bjclark, you are so much better than everyone else on the planet. Atleast in your mind, what little of it you have left. The damn thing is ugly. I could look at it for hours and I still would not change my mind. The only way it would look better would be to put a drape over it! Not all art is good art jack ass.
February 12, 2008
12:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
Achilles writes:
The eyes really do light up? I thought Gene was joking. It reminds me of an amusement park ride.
Denver should have aimed for something much more significant like the Colossus: http://www.unmuseum.org/colrhode.htm
Denver should have built the eighth wonder of the world.
February 12, 2008
12:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
violinga1 writes:
OMG, just plain awful and silly. Is this a joke???? I want my tax money back.
February 12, 2008
12:38 p.m.
Suggest removal
FMFarmer writes:
I am not an art lover per se, but I do understand and agree with the notion of spending part of a construction budget on art and other aesthetic details. That said, this thing is UGLY and OVERPRICED. If my company budget overran like THAT for a purchased piece of equipment like THAT, I'd be out of a job.
My recommended solution: Quick, before they dismantle the $250 million automated baggage system, let's load this thing up in one huge plainly marked crate, hopefully it'll get lost in there forever.
February 12, 2008
12:42 p.m.
Suggest removal
Jim writes:
Unlike most of the desktop critics in this forum I will wait to pass judgement on this piece until I have seen it in its geograhic context. If it proves wildly unpopular Denver can sell it to a Nevada brothel for a chunk up front and a piece of the action.
February 12, 2008
1:10 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
One more time, folks, you can complain about the art but you can stop with the "waste of taxpayer money" and "I want my tax money back." This is DIA; there is no taxpayer money involved. It's your airline tickets paying for this.
Even the sales taxes generated at DIA come back downtown and don't stay at the airport. It's a user-pay system out there, including the "art."
February 12, 2008
1:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
Scott writes:
John_II,
The Mustangs of Las Colinas are truly a classy display. So why couldn't the jerks at "Democrats In Action", DIA, hire a real artist, say like Robert Glen?
Scott
February 12, 2008
1:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Darwin writes:
Patriot, "...this thing is atrocious and should be recycled for scrap." No, don't recycle it. Advertise it to the art lovers on the east coast and left coast, they will pay 10 times its cost to DIA.
FMFarmer: "My recommended solution: Quick, before they dismantle the $250 million automated baggage system, let's load this thing up in one huge plainly marked crate, hopefully it'll get lost in there forever." You are on to something. Actually bundle the baggage system and the horse as "art" and sell it for $500,000,000. The above mentioned art lovers will be fighting for it. lol
February 12, 2008
1:44 p.m.
Suggest removal
Diff writes:
>AC
So you think this money just falls from the sky?
IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY! No mater what pipeline you want to say it comes in on!
The consumer ultimately pays ALL Taxes!And this is a perfect example of wasting it.
Tell me ONE legitimate good thing that will come for the general public from this huge blue horse statue being displayed at DIA?
I just hope it does not get blown to bits and one of the pieces flys out to a runway and gets struck by an airliner moving at 120 MPH.
Oh and BTW:
I'll complain about all I dang well want to!
February 12, 2008
1:48 p.m.
Suggest removal
rickg19611 writes:
great logic AC...."It's not taxpayer money because the taxpayers paid user fees through their airline tickets at DIA, which is what the politicians used to buy the art."
Of course, the art nuts want to lie to citizens and claim that the politicians went around and collected "donations" from people when they spent the $650k on this nonsense. Or maybe the politicians pooled their OWN personal money to pay for it (yeah... in an art nuts dreams!).
Economics 101 - "A tax "is not a voluntary payment or donation, but an enforced contribution, exacted pursuant to legislative authority" and is "any contribution imposed by government entity whether under the name of toll, user fee, tribute, tallage, gabel, impost, duty, custom, excise, subsidy, aid, supply, or other name."
February 12, 2008
1:57 p.m.
Suggest removal
Achilles writes:
Thanks for that link ToeNee. Those pictures are beautiful. It's such a shame Denver didn't seek something similar. Instead, we get ghetto art.
February 12, 2008
1:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Spencer writes:
DIA is the nicest airport that I have seen. I'v seen quite a few airports. It is just a little far away. I thought this was something they were going to put up at Invesco.
February 12, 2008
2 p.m.
Suggest removal
timeandagain writes:
bjclark -
you are a pompous a$$!! when public money is being used to finance this silly piece of "art", it better fit into someone's "little box"... and from the overall sentiment here, it doesn't appear to. or maybe the rest of us have better things to do with our time than "study art for what it truly is..."
get a life!
February 12, 2008
2:12 p.m.
Suggest removal
JWR writes:
Hello Everyone,
I think this is another problem of City Yard Art. They would not hesitate to issue a removal notice or be fined by the zoning department, Etc. if you placed
similar art in front of your house (or trailer). Driving downtown up Speer or by 14th and Broadway leaves the expression of art in question and is on the verge of grafitti because of the competition over
our tax dollars that the city has to spend on something. These artists are definitley not homeless, wht not give the money to more benificial already over taxed social programs- like the Samaritan Shelter, Etc.
February 12, 2008
2:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
me2 writes:
Once again, Denver just tried too hard. If it can`t be good art it can be explode in your face art.
February 12, 2008
2:55 p.m.
Suggest removal
AC writes:
Scott: “So why couldn't the jerks at "Democrats In Action", DIA, hire a real artist…”
DIA was a bipartisan project pushed every bit as much by the heavily Republican pro-growth business community as by any politician.
Diff: “So you think this money just falls from the sky? IT'S TAXPAYER MONEY! No mater what pipeline you want to say it comes in on! The consumer ultimately pays ALL Taxes!And this is a perfect example of wasting it. Tell me ONE legitimate good thing that will come for the general public from this huge blue horse statue being displayed at DIA? I just hope it does not get blown to bits and one of the pieces flys out to a runway and gets struck by an airliner moving at 120 MPH. Oh and BTW: I'll complain about all I dang well want to!”
So be ill-informed if you so choose. But some day you’ll learn there is a difference between tax dollars and consumer dollars, Diff. I know many people who’ve never contributed ONE CENT to DIA because they just don’t fly anywhere ever. Taxes you have to pay, plane tickets you don’t have to buy. DIA does not have one red cent of taxpayer dollars in it. And if you’d read my earlier comments you’d see I think the horse is among the stupidest things I’ve seen out there. I didn’t defend it, I’m just pointing out the vapid commentary by the great uninformed masses.
Rick: “great logic AC....It's not taxpayer money because the taxpayers paid user fees through their airline tickets at DIA, which is what the politicians used to buy the art. Economics 101 - "A tax "is not a voluntary payment or donation, but an enforced contribution, exacted pursuant to legislative authority" and is "any contribution imposed by government entity whether under the name of toll, user fee, tribute, tallage, gabel, impost, duty, custom, excise, subsidy, aid, supply, or other name."
Thanks, Rick, I know it was great logic. There is no local tax money used at DIA. It’s USER FEES. I don’t have to pay it if I don’t use it. Don’t buy an airline ticket, and you’ll never give one penny to the Big Blue Horsie. You don’t have that choice with taxes.
February 12, 2008
3:01 p.m.
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Diff writes:
AC,
Talk about uninformed masses - check the one between you ears!
February 12, 2008
3:27 p.m.
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AC writes:
Diff:
Typical reaction from someone who didn't know what he was talking about, got called on it and has to save face! Nice try though! Better luck next time.
February 12, 2008
3:31 p.m.
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reddog writes:
The point is its ugly and whoever thought this thing looked good ought to be at least sent back to art school. I can see better horse sculptures at lakeside park and they probably only go for a thousands bucks. As I said "What a waste of $$$"
February 12, 2008
3:57 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
AC... you need to spend some time learning basic economics.
A USER FEE is a TAX. Your claim that no local tax money was used, is false. Or to say it more accurately, a LIE.
Using your gaping wide holes of logic, "I don't have to pay if I don't use it", then income taxes are not taxes if I don't use the services the government provides? Or property taxes are not taxes if I don't send kids to public school?
It's basic economics, that any freshman learns in Econ 101. You can call it anything you want, but anytime a government entity INVOLUNTARILY takes money from you.... it's called a TAX.
February 12, 2008
4:23 p.m.
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AC writes:
Rick – you make me laugh!! *I* need basic economics? Hahahaha!!
A user fee is not a tax. My claim that no local tax money was used is not false, your claim that local taxes were used *is* the lie. Your pathetic example of incomes taxes isn’t even parallel. It’s exactly backwards and proves *my* point, not yours. You must pay income taxes even if you *don’t* use some of the services those taxes pay for. You MUST pay school property taxes even if you have no kids in school. Yeesh, that proves MY point! That’s the whole point, man. If you don’t buy a plane ticket or go out to DIA and but a hamburger, you will never pay one red cent toward ANYTHING at DIA. There are NO city taxes used at DIA. Even the Denver cops out there are paid out of the airport revenue fund, and not from the city general fund.
You don’t get it. At DIA, the government isn’t taking ANYTHING from you involuntarily. You are a user of the facility if you fly, and for that, you are a volunteer consumer. I think you’re the one who needs to head back to schooling.
February 12, 2008
5:04 p.m.
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Finn writes:
Amen AC. It's really not that complicated Rick and Diff....at least it shouldn't be.
February 12, 2008
5:26 p.m.
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Luv_Chan writes:
I can't say I enjoy the wild color of the mustang, but such a huge piece of art like that does amaze me. Though it did take Luis quite awhile to get started before it finished him up, I have to say that if your going to die and leave something behind, this is one heck of a something. Art definetly varies from people to people, so I can't expect anyone to agree, but I enjoy his art and I like this one quite a lot.
One thing I got to say is, I'm dissapointed in the way I've seen lots of comments attack others for their own opinions and comments. I'm sure respecting others on the internet probably never existed but you'd sure think you'd be at least considerite enough to not bash others opinions and hope to get the same respect of no-one bashing you in return.
February 12, 2008
5:55 p.m.
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Achilles writes:
"Art definetly varies from people to people, so I can't expect anyone to agree, but I enjoy his art and I like this one quite a lot."
What a meaningless statement. As if beauty were something so difficult to measure. You know, I know, and everyone else knows a beautiful thing when we see it.
Let's stop calling things "art". That is meaningless. Sure, an ugly blue horse sculpture can be called art. Apparently, so can a crucifix in a jar of urine: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piss_Christ
What we desire is beauty. Beauty is not a mystery; we all know it when we see it. For example, who thinks this is not beautiful: http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/36894#...
February 12, 2008
7:33 p.m.
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rickg19611 writes:
AC..... so you claim to know more than hundreds of economics professors!
Try refuting this defintion from the "Dictionary of Economics", 3rd edition.....Tax - "An involuntary payment imposed by government authority. Common forms of taxes include, but not limited to, toll, user fee, tribute, tallage, gabel, impost, duty, custom, excise, and subsidy."
Guess you should have spent more time in economics classes.... and less time worshipping goofy art.
February 12, 2008
7:44 p.m.
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AC writes:
Sorry, Rick, but you're wrong. There is no city tax money used at DIA. What you're missing is that the user fees at the airport are not involuntary. They are completely voluntary. Your own example -- you still have to pay school taxes even if you don't have a kid in school, that's a tax; you still have to pay income taxes to support various government services you might not use, that's a tax -- shows you to be wrong.
But on the other hand, you DON'T pay a single red cent in "user fees" at DIA if you don't fly. Bzzzzzzttt!! That's your own example there, contradicting you.
If airport user fees it were a “tax” they would be subject to TABOR vote, but they are not.
My point stands: No tax dollars went into any of the DIA art. Guess you should have spent more time in the real world.
And as for your snide remarks about my opinion of the art, if you'd been reading instead of trying to backfill your losing argument, you'd see that the VERY FIRST COMMENT on this story is mine, and it is highly critical of the art. Scroll on up again and read it. So much for your powers of observation.
February 12, 2008
10:15 p.m.
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DKB writes:
Beautiful! I can't wait to see it in reality!
February 13, 2008
2:41 p.m.
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Logan5 writes:
As someone who has actually seen the "mustang" I would say that from a distance it looks pretty striking, especially because of its setting. Up close, however, it's Mister Ed gone bad; demented, emaciated, and with the red eyes, more than a little evil looking. United had better increase the class size for their fear of flying classes as this thing will definitely inhabit the nightmares of white-knuckle flyers.
By the way, why is it that so many in the art world today judge the merits of a piece of "art" by how controversial or "edgy" it is? The classical definition of art is something that is inspirational and beautiful, and that displays the great skill of the artist. Instead, our society has devolved to the point that anyone who merely says that they are an artist IS one. And anything they produce, no matter how repulsive, simplistic, or childish, is automatically presumed to be art. Extra points if it happens to greatly offend a particular portion of society.
This type of art is just a childish, self-absorbed attempt to poke traditional society in the eye, and to be lauded as an "artist" for the effort. It is an outgrowth of the rebellious '60's, and should not be taken seriously. However, fellow travelers have managed to become art professors, art critics, gallery owners, etc. and have thus created a mutual admiration society which serves to reinforce the pretentiousness of all involved. A certain saying from a certain book comes to mind, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became as fools."
February 13, 2008
4:03 p.m.
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louriez46 writes:
Obviously, a lot of these people who don't like this sculputure are not horse lovers. I think it's cool. Sure beats the typical cliche Western art that we see throughout DIA and Denver. (although, some of that is very nice, too) Lighten up and expand your horizons, those of you who don't like 'Mustang.' This is definitely an eye-catching sculpture, and it sure beats the typical bronze sculpture of a cowboy chasing down a steer, or something similar to that. Many kudos to those who brought these piece to DIA.
February 15, 2008
2:19 p.m.
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elaineb writes:
F-U-G-L-Y!
February 16, 2008
6:24 a.m.
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Aloha65 writes:
Dear Logan5 (posted 15th) - PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT!
Your comments posted were a joy and refreshing to read - Honest and True. Vote Logan5 for President of the USA! Regards to all.
February 22, 2008
6:19 p.m.
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SuperBroncoFan writes:
What a great horse!!! I love it!!!
February 29, 2008
11:02 a.m.
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jferares writes:
AC, your logic is unsound.
The money that is collected and imposed from those that use DIA could be used on any number of things throughout the city. Where discretionary tax dollars are collected from does not necessarily determine where that money is spent - you're assumption is that this is the case. I do not argue against the point that Denver is required to spend on art as part of the budget for DIA... that's pretty black/white... do you think that all the money the city of Denver collected for having the World Series here was spent on art around Coors Field? Not likely.
As for the 'Mustang' sculpture itself. It's hideous. I can accept it as art, but there are other circumstances. Such a controversial work has no place outside the city's main airport. It's scary and cannot affect tourism for Denver in a positive way.
Try measuring that effect in terms of budget.
My opinion is that public funded art works are necessary, but should honor a certain level of taste. This artwork is hideous, and even if you like the look of it you MUST admit it is controversial. Traditional statues and fountains are not so controversial. It looks like a demon horse... the fact it killed its creator is fitting, though tragic.
March 6, 2008
9:34 a.m.
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JohnEB writes:
Two words: Butt Ugly
March 6, 2008
9:45 a.m.
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JohnEB writes:
Butt Ugly
March 6, 2008
10:26 a.m.
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JohnEB writes:
For 650,000 dollars you would think they could afford something that looks nicer and won't scare the begeezus out of people nor give children nightmares.
March 6, 2008
10:38 a.m.
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JohnEB writes:
AC,
The fees charged by airports everytime you take off or land are indeed considered taxes.
May 13, 2008
3:43 p.m.
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thisaintnobob writes:
This is the most hideous, grotesque, disturbing structure ever to appear on public display. If you agree, write Mayor John Hickenlooper directly at:
Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
City and County Building
1437 Bannock St., Rm. 350
Denver, CO 80202
Denver's stereotypical cow-town reputation is only further perpetuated by this macabre structure at our world renowned airport. Send Mustang to Greeley where it belongs! Better yet, send it back to California as a headstone for its creator.
July 25, 2008
8:36 p.m.
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ccwillb writes:
That is really really ugly. It may be art, but that is no place for it. I don't think a live mustange looks like that! Take it somewhere else.
January 19, 2009
11:53 a.m.
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DrKete writes:
Hahaha! "How many people would this money feed"? Are you serious? The person the uneducated just elected President is going to have a big party for $150 million! This is chicken feed compared to the audacity of that egomaniac! Besides, though it is a poor representation of a horse, it is interesting. And it has demon eyes! lol
February 10, 2009
8:51 a.m.
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Couerl writes:
I think it's a great sculpture. I wish Denver was a bigger sculpture town, but maybe we're still a bit too hillbilly.
February 14, 2009
12:44 p.m.
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RichardMcQ writes:
I saw a horse sculpture that was far more impressive when driving up Highway 74E towards Red Feather Lakes, CO .It’s life size and rearing up completely made of steel and amazing. The sculpture is located just off the road in Glacier View Meadows. FABOULOUS!
February 16, 2009
4:50 p.m.
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workboy writes:
I am annoyed that people will actually use the cop out line of "it's art." That is correct...the big horse is art. FYI, there is also such thing as lousy art. The big blue horse is also lousy art. If all you artsy people adore it so much, move it to the art museum.