summer is…

Concept Designer | Emily Axtman
Creative Director | Brandy LeMae
Graphic Design | Graham Bowman and Gaby Crespo
Design Support | Alex Chavez, Gaby Crespo, Graham Bowman, jv DeSousa

Builder | Blue Spruce Construction
Carpenter |LP’s Custom Building- Custom Framing
Construction Team | Adam Meis, Graham Bowman, Emily Axtman, Nathan Stark, Brandy LeMae, Joseph Vigil, Greg Gates, Aidan Gates, Lon Gates, Bill Peterson, Sandy Weeks, Brad Weeks, Victor Smith

In Spring 2014, Denver Art Museum made a call for proposals for the 2014 DAM Summer Installation in the Martin Plaza. They called for an installation that was:
Creative; have a strong visual draw and celebrate the idea of sculpture
Could engage the community and reflect the communal nature of the plaza while being interactive
Would be reflective of the dynamic programs happening inside the museum
Would be durable, on budget and accessible to all ages

With over 50 entries, the Denver Art Museum chose “SUMMER IS…”, an installation that invites people to rest around urban campfires, share summer stories, and write what summer means to them on hanging ribbons. Over the summer, the rays emanating from the campfires will become more and more solid with ever more layers of story, eventually embodying the memories of their short season-long lifespan.

“Summer is!” is a structure of story. It recalls a summer campfire; a place where we reconnect with what it means to be human, a primal place that resonates within each of us. Our proposal invites people to sit and tell stories, to interact with the physical form and create a lyrical form. Tags are also available for visitors to write their stories on and tie onto the installation, creating a canopy of summer experiences.

It was important to WORKSHOP8 and Blue Spruce Construction was that this installation had a life before and after the summer it was installed. Sustainable materials and building practices were employed, such as:

Beetle kill pine and reclaimed lumber donated by Wood Source in Thornton.

(40) 90′ retired climbing ropes donated from Movement Boulder Climbing + Fitness.

Hardware from Boulder’s local McGuckin’s Hardware.

3,000 tags made of recycled, biodegradable paper.

Dispenser boxes made from Boulder’s local Colorado Plastics.

Centerpieces made from Colorado flood debris.

96% use of Colorado businesses.

700+ creative hours.

$40,000

Martin Plaza at the Denver Art Museum, Denver CO

21 July 2014 – WORKSHOP8’s temporary public art installation will make you love summer even more / Denver Westword