Lower Downtown District, Inc.

FROM THE PRESIDENT...

Oct 26, 1999

The Millennium Marker Meets LoDo
By Larry Gibson
President, LDDI Board of Directors

The views were mixed, the group varied, but the discussion
focused on this one topic: is it good art? (and do we have
to agree?)

On September 9 at the Tattered Cover in Lodo, LDDI Board
members Gwen Anderson, Ron Straka and I were panelists at a
community forum for the proposed Millennium Marker project
at Union Station. (Other panel members included: Lewis
Sharp of the Denver Art Museum, Councilwoman Debbie Ortega
of District 9, Councilwoman Susan Barnes-Gelt (at large),
Kathleen Brooker of Historic Denver, Inc., Dana Crawford of
Urban Neighborhoods, Michael Paglia of Westword and Ron
Mason of Anderson Mason Dale Architects.)

Is it good art?

During the first hour, panel members shared their thoughts
on the Marker and its designer, architect Mario Botta. Some
discussed the importance of the Marker's location and
function in the neighborhood and at Union Station. Others
commented on the historic role of art and sculpture in
public places, the process of creating public art and the
importance of open discourse in that process. And others
pointed to the significance of public art in Denver. .
.particularly, the diSuvero piece (Lao-Tzu) located between
the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Public Library.

After these presentations, the panel addressed questions and
comments from the 60 attendees, many of who live or work in
Lower Downtown.

What people wanted to know...

The majority of questions and comments focused on:

* Individual likes/dislikes of Marker.
* Concern about the property owners' interests and
participation.
* Future plans for Union Station and how the Marker relates
to those plans.
* Role of city government in project.
* Amount of creative freedom and expression that should be
given the designer vs. the amount of the involvement and
input the community should have.

Do we like it-or don't we?

A lot of the discussion centered on both the function of the
Marker in its urban design context and the process related
to getting it designed and installed. More information was
needed about the design qualities of the Marker itself so
that people can better understand it and make their own
informed judgement. The panel determined that this
information needs to be presented in an open and unbiased
atmosphere.

What's next?

After some concern was expressed that "design by committee"
would not result in the best design, there was recognition
that the desires of the neighborhood regarding the design of
the Marker must be incorporated into future versions of it.
At the request of various attendees and panel members, it
was agreed that there would be additional community forums
to discuss the Marker project and that a procedure for
communicating concerns to the designer would be established.
For more information on next steps, call Dan du Bois at
303-628-5424.