Hydraulics, Dinnerware, Whimsy Featured in Alley Art Winners
The only thing missing is the Mad Hatter and he might drop by sometime soon!
By Jack and Pam Farrar, Alley Art Contest Organizers
A distinctive fountain with a dining theme – Tea Time Picnic – is the winner of the 6th annual 2013 Park Hill Alley Art Contest. The fountain, located in the alley just east of Ann Cohen’s house at 5800 E. 22nd Avenue, required not only a lively imagination, but some fairly complicated engineering. Cohen originally envisioned a metal “tree” of dining items – ambitious enough. But that tree has grown into a towering fountain with eight arms and an antique tea pot that feeds water onto ten plates, 13 teacups, two spoons, two forks and two knives. The fountain is activated by a motion detector. A checkered tablecloth lies underneath the structure. A charming garden plot surrounds the piece – with luck it will still be thriving by press time.
Cohen’s neighbor across the alley, George Tague (whose ironwork graces many homes in the area) and his son Pat provided design development, hydraulic advice and fabrication for the piece. Jan VanMosteller, an artist, was a creative consultant and came up with the idea to turn the piece into a fountain. Linda Wood served as “Goodwill” ambassador, scouting for items at thrift stores. Sheryl Olson assisted with excavation and realignment of the fountain. Norah Cohen, Ann’s granddaughter, also pitched in.
Also honored in this year’s competition is an alley fence installation behind 2224 Ivy, put together by sisters Camille and Isabella Garcia. The collection includes part of a window frame, a squash racquet, a badminton racquet, part of a picket fence, keys and thread within a picture frame, a metal screen, a toy chair seat and miscellaneous metal pieces. Camille, 14, was inspired by other alley art she has seen in the area. Other artistic outlets for her are photography and ceramics.
Finalists in the contest received gift certificates from our generous business supporters: Spinelli’s, Grape Expectations and the Park Hill Community Bookstore.
Visit greaterparkhill.org to read more about past winners of the Alley Art Contest. To be considered for inclusion in next year’s Alley Art Contest, contact Jack and Pam Farrar at 303-388-5204 or denverfarrar@comcast.net. For photos and descriptions of more distinctive alley art throughout metro Denver, visit denverviews.com.