Colorado artist selected for state 150th project seeks Telluride-area site

Kirk Draugswald, an artist chosen among 20 statewide for Colorado's 150th anniversary public-art program, asked the San Miguel County Historical Commission on Jan. 13 to help identify a permanent Telluride-area site for a time-themed sculpture.

Draugswald told the commission the statewide program has a total budget of $2,000,000 for roughly 20 artists (about $100,000 per artist on average) and that the selection team plans to lock sites at a mid-January meeting, have proposals approved by mid-February, and—if approved—install works in July or August for the anniversary. "I'm an artist ... I was selected alongside 20 other artists in Colorado to build permanent sculptures," he said, adding he works in 3-D modeling, digital fabrication and metal, concrete or 3-D-printed components.

Commission members and staff discussed several candidate locations with Draugswald, including the Idorado/Idarado Legacy Trail, Mill Creek Park, and the roundabout at Ilium (society turn/Lawson Hill). Commissioners highlighted visibility and pedestrian access as priorities. "Those spots have exposure; they're places where someone can actually stop and look at the art, take it in," an unnamed commission member said.

County staff described the typical approval pathway: secure support from the county Open Space Commission, then bring a recommendation to the county commissioners. Staff also noted the county manager has seen preliminary renderings and is supportive of pursuing a local site; an Open Space Commission meeting about candidate sites is scheduled in the near term.

Members flagged site-specific constraints. Mill Creek Park is actively being discussed for signage acknowledging the Ute Mountain Ute history, and staff said any public art there would need to align with that interpretation. For sites adjacent to state highways or roundabouts, commissioners said coordination with CDOT may be required.

Draugswald said he hopes to finalize a proposed location quickly so he can prepare a detailed design and fabrication quotes. "We're hoping to have a location locked in here pretty soon in the next month at latest," he said.

Next steps: staff will carry Draugswald's preferred sites to the Open Space Commission and, if supported, to the county commissioners for approval. If the local approvals move quickly, Draugswald said he would prepare a site-specific proposal for state review by the mid-February deadline.

Provenance: Commission discussion and Draugswald's presentation (topic intro SEG 025; discussion through SEG 476).