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. 🍄