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Local artist chosen for Colorado250 project seeks a permanent San Miguel County site
Summary
Kirk Drogsvald, a Telluride-area artist selected as one of roughly 20 statewide for Colorado’s bicentennial/centennial art program, presented concepts and a project budget of $50,000–$200,000 and asked the county to identify a permanent, high-visibility site and a community review process.
Janet (Open Space director) introduced Kirk Drogsvald to the commission as a local artist selected by the statewide Colorado250/150 program and asked the commission to help identify a San Miguel County site that would host a permanent installation. Kirk said he was “one of 20 artists” chosen statewide and described a desire to keep the work local so it can “become part of the community.”
Kirk told the commission his practice centers on 3-D modeling and digital fabrication, and he said metal and concrete were likely materials. He described the project theme as “innovative legacies,” linking ideas about timekeeping and the atomic clock to organic, site-specific forms. “My budget is between $50,000 to $200,000,” Kirk said, adding the figure covers fabrication, transportation, insurance and installation.
Commissioners discussed process and approvals. Janet told the group that if the work is located on county property the county commissioners would need to sign off; if it is on town land, the town council and local public art commissions would be involved. The commission expects to meet next week with state commission representatives and Telluride Arts District staff to clarify site options and approval paths.
Members emphasized community input and recommended a staged, public-art process: establish a program and objectives, gather community design intent, request a maquette or concept from the artist, and then proceed to approvals rather than an open-ended installation. Several commissioners urged that a local review panel—potentially including the county historical commission and Telluride Arts entities—help define aesthetic and safety parameters before final siting.
Kirk said the statewide program hopes to reveal installations around the August 1 anniversary and that the governor's office plans coordinated unveilings, though he cautioned the timeline depends on logistics and approvals. He offered to walk the proposed sites and refine scale and placement after seeing potential locations in person.
Next steps: staff will include Kirk in the upcoming meeting with state representatives and Telluride Arts, gather additional site options (Galloping Goose Park, Mill Creek Park, the Idarado Legacy Trail and courthouse grounds were discussed), and return with recommendations about the approval path and any required permits or intergovernmental coordination.
