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wednesday, December 1, 2010
Denver Civic Center Holiday
Looking
northeast at
"The Bronco Buster" and
part of downtown Denver 1988
Blanketing the lawn of
Civic Center Park are 18" of a beautiful, crystalline,
"mile high" snowfall.
Denver is famous for the possibility of very large
storms, but the abundant sunshine always rescues us
and
tames the storm.
Civic Center Park is located near the
intersection of Broadway and Colfax Avenue.
Graciously, J. Mullen donated "The Bronco Buster"
Statute in 1919, and reflects Denver's early western
heritage.
In this image, we are in the middle of the park, looking
Northeast, towards
the Voorhees Memorial Seal Pond and the buildings
beyond.
The snow is radiating...
glistening sparkles of white and silver...
it is quiet, the air is crisp...
cloudless.
This is our Holiday Card
to everyone who has helped in the vision for these
images to be viewed. It is a process that involves many
people and their respective talents.
This is a Holiday Card to individuals and companies that
have appreciated our work. This work was created to be
seen; we made a gift, your appreciation is a gift; the
cycle continues for all of us.
We thank all visitors to our site; we work hard
and have fun making a great site for you. We've had
many, many comments and questions from viewers.
We are very happy and proud to be part of the strong
artistic and educational community of Denver.
We wish everyone a safe, peaceful and grateful holidays!
For additional images and
commentary, please
refer to the Denver section.
Salida Cabin and Salida Smelting Company Stack
Salida cabin and smelter smokestack in the
Arkansas Valley. Looking west -
the
Sawatch Mountain Range beyond 1986
Here we are, a few miles
north of Salida on the high plains of the Arkansas
Valley with tumble weeds and Yucca plants, and the Arkansas
River just beyond the enormous Salida Smelting Company
Smokestack.
My childhood friends, Mark and Speedy, lived in Salida
for a long time and I would sometimes visit.
River Rats, skiers, teepee's and the "Vic". Some great
times back in the 70's - 80's. Salida is a very special
mountain community and area.
The smelter smokestack was built in 1915 and tops out at
365 feet. The company was functional only from
1920-1925.
The narrow cabin still holding up... I walked around the
field of melted snow, looked west towards Monarch Pass
and the Monarch Ski area.
My buds lived west of the smokestack, between the river
and a junkyard; need I say more.
Happy holidays from the high-high plains of the
Arkansas Valley and Salida area!
Breckenridge Brewery
LoDo
A chilly December morning across from 2220
Blake Street, soon to be a
wonderful brewing
company to warm up the block 1991
Breckenridge Brewery was
very progressive to move into "that area", "at that time"
- on the edge of lower downtown, before Coors Field.
Warehouses on both sides, the Denver Tent Company on the
left, the Kaminsky Barrel Company on the right, and the
northeast
corner of the future Coors Field was half block away.
Springtime,
near the opening date for the brewery
1991
Breckenridge Brewery in lower downtown was a trend
setter, it has done very well.
Let's have a toast of fine brew. A handshake, a smile, a
wish to all, a pleasant holiday season!
For additional images and
commentary, please
refer to
the Coors Field section.
Denver Hyperbolic
Paraboloid
Mid 1500 Tremont Street looking northeast towards
May D and F Department Store on 16th Street 1989
Pei - Cobb and Partners
contributed to the total project design. The whole
project was made up of three different buildings/projects.
I.A. Pei designed his building with four equally large
sloping "A" Frame support beams. An ice
skating rink on 16th Street and immediately east of the
hyperbolic paraboloid would complete
the design known as the Zeckendorf Plaza. It was
an invitation to people to mosey under it's roof, then
through its doors.
Wonderful displays delighted us, large overhead windows
came to a peak...
This view above is from Tremont, but the design was the same on
all four sides.
The roof was designed to twist and bend to create a
dip, or "saddle roof". Officially it is called a Hyperbolic Paraboloid; you will
have to figure it out yourself, my math was bad.
The May D and F Department Store had retail in the
Paraboloid; the larger areas of the May D and F
Department Store was
immediately south.
The Hyperbolic Paraboloid dimensions were 132 by 113
feet and 4 stories tall.
It was a very, very cool building - subtle, sleek
and graceful, strong, inviting.
It had long lines and long curves...
Well, it ended a real messed up deal, the structure
was demolished and the adjoining small outdoor ice
skating rink with it.
How can a city lose a wonderfully designed iconic
building, and...an ice skating rink as well?
That is just...just so, un-Christmas!!
That hurt, it would be nice to have them back.
No happy ending on this one, the Grinch messed us up
bad.
We moved on, hopefully learned something and are a
little more the wiser.
Brighter days are always ahead, and many dreams for a
great future for Denver.
On Dander, on Blitzen, on Rudolph...
May your holiday bag have lots of fun and laughs and
wonderful memories for the whole year.
For additional images and
commentary, please
refer to the Denver section.
- Kim Allen |
