Tag Archive for: art

lifting the mushroom cap

Schroomzillah Gets a Major Makeover

A youth-created work of public art gets a stronger, more weather-resistant future.

In 2023, students from Nucla, Naturita, Telluride, and Placerville came together to create Schroomzillah — a colorful, whimsical sculpture that became Nucla’s first-ever youth-created public art piece.

For two years, Schroomzillah stood proudly through the extreme weather of Southwest Colorado. While the original sculpture proved remarkably resilient, the mushroom cap eventually needed more than a few small repairs. Rot in the wooden support pieces meant it was time for a major overhaul.

That’s where Norwood artist and musician Bob Hoehn and Telluride mixed-media artist Sarah Lewiecki stepped in.

Working together, Bob and Sarah developed a plan to rebuild the cap so it could better withstand the elements while preserving the bright, playful character created by the students.

The repair required completely replacing the wooden supports with metal, then incorporating fiberglass cloth, red fabric, Bondo, specialized red paint, and other materials and techniques to reinforce and weatherproof the cap.

But perhaps the most important part of the restoration is what wasn’t replaced.

The original skeleton framework created by the youth is still completely intact. That means the original silhouette — and the vision behind Schroomzillah — has carried through every repair and improvement.

The result is a Schroomzillah that looks much the same on the outside, but is significantly stronger underneath and better prepared for years of Colorado weather.

Created by young artists. Repaired by local artists. Built to last.

Schroomzillah is more than a mushroom sculpture. She represents what can happen when young people are given the opportunity to create something meaningful for their community — and when that community comes together to make sure their work continues to be seen, enjoyed, and celebrated.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Schroomzillah possible — from the young artists who dreamed her up, to the instructors who helped guide the project, to the local artists who helped give her a new lease on life.

Young Artists and Parents
Akyma Rynn, Alexa Caruso, Alkimia Worswick, Brady Ramirez, Braxton Quigley, Danny Ramirez, Evan Stogner, Ileeia Squires, Jocelyn Vose, Joe Caruso, Jonah Richardson, KaeKae Weimar, Megan Caruso, Mylee Rain, Paxtin Caruso, Shady Villaobos, Spring D’Angelo, Susan Rice, Vanessa Ramirez, and Xaden Caruso.

Instructors
Niel Ringstad, Keith D’Angelo, and Sherri Harvey.

Artists & Community
Bob Hoehn, Sarah Lewiecki, Raleigh Nentwich, Makayla Roster, and everyone else who contributed time, creativity, skill, and support to bringing Schroomzillah back stronger than ever.

Built by youth. Strengthened by community. Ready for the journey ahead. 🍄

We’re seriously excited about the Youth October Sculpture Build!

Here’s the scoop!

Dates: October 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29.

Expert artists/builders and an architect guide the students during the entire program. Participants are involved for as many days as they wish. The final sculpture will be on display in Telluride, Norwood, Nucla, and Naturita for part of the year. Participants will be named on signage with sculpture. Transportation, food, materials, and all safety gear provided.
Advance sign up was required for students coming from Nucla, Naturita, and Norwood to confirm transportation.

OUR EXPERTS: Keith D’Angelo, Niel Ringstad, and Sherri Harvey

They have guided the students during our discussions about this sculpture creation.

Email erin@rockymountainarts.org with answers or questions or to sign up!

Download the flyer

Huge thanks to our collaborators for this workshop:
True North Youth Program, Communities That Care, Wilkinson Public Library, Telluride High School.
impermanence

New Sculpture to be transformed by fire, Dec. 3

See Impermanence transformed by flames at Resurrection Dec. 3!

From an array of reclaimed and stripped old deck boards, Impermanence is well on its way to fruition for the Telluride Fire Festival. “This project has been a welcome creative challenge, and I can’t wait to share its transformation from a completed sculpture, to a flaming beacon, to ashes in the wind,” Says Cie Hoover

More about the Artist
Cie Hoover lives and creates his art in Ouray, Colorado. He’s had a passion for visual arts since the days of his youth. Cie worked in the Nashville music industry for over a decade, then toured full-time in North America with You Knew Me When. Afterwards, Cie immersed himself in the visual arts. His artwork is based in utilizing various types of wood to create wall-mounted and large sculptural works with depth and texture. Along with several public art installations throughout the state, Cie’s art can be found at Slate Gray Gallery in Telluride. Check out his creations on Facebook and Instagram.

Hex Machina: Gigantic, Interactive “Lantern”

Nate Robertson and Garrett Briones will be bringing Hex Machina, an interactive propane fire “poofer” or “boosh” effect. Essentially, this is a gigantic, interactive lantern: Visitors can push a button to release a burst of fire within the large steel hexagonal lantern which is seated above a 22 ft hexagonal steel framework. This flame effect is a high pressure propane system, utilizing structural steel fabrication to create a safe, stable fire sculpture. See and interact with Hex Machina Saturday, December 3.

The entirety of the supporting frame is composed of carbon steel 14 gauge-⅜in. thickness of materials. Six sections of fabricated 2’x1’x14 ga. square tubing supports connect from the bottom ⅜” thick, hexagonal baseplates, to a hexagonal plate connection plate at the top, forming a solid steel, monolithic structure.

About the Artists

Nate Robertson has a passion for sustainability when creating art. That sentimentality drives his creative process. Hey is experienced in building tiny homes, van-builds, shipping container builds, skoolies and off-grid applications, which inform and influence his art creations.

Nate started building at age seven for family businesses. He completed a welding certification program in 2012 and has spent the past decade incorporating all he learned into fabrication methods and processes, building everything from roller coasters to 60-ton stainless steel pressure vessels and everything in between. Nate connected with the NM’s Burning Man Regional in 2019, and fell in love. Now, he’s a Board Member! He says, “I’ll never stop making large scale fire art until the day I die if I have anything to say about it.”

Garrett Briones started woodworking with his father as a child. A knack for things running smoothly also inspired his degree in Flowology, focusing on making sure every aspect of life and work was streamlined for success. His true passion for fabrication began when he discovered tiny living, especially school bus conversions.Ccurrently, Garrett helps with SunBurn, NM’s Regional Burning Man. Garrett leads the DPW Dept. and creates large scale art for the event as well. Making art is his passion and always will be.