May 27, 2026
Kilmer said he’d never seen a poem lovely as a tree. But artists are always trying, and I find something poetic in sculptural interpretations of trees. So when I learned about a kinetic tree sculpture on 16th Street in downtown Denver, I stopped by one afternoon to see it.
Aspen Light is the creation of Colorado artist Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kineticscommissioned for Glenarm Plaza by Denver Public Art.
In this pedestrian-only streetscape, three stainless-steel aspens “grow” among the buildings. Their colorful, translucent leaves spin like whirligigs in the breeze, evoking the shimmer of aspens in autumn.
Red, yellow, orange, blue, and purple leaves glow like stained glass, even on a cloudy day.
Orange chairs beneath the trees invite you to sit and enjoy the fluttering leaves.
Beautiful! I need to go back on a breezier, blue-sky day for the full effect.
Texas readers, you can view tree sculptures and kinetic art by Poetic Kinetics at San Antonio Botanical Garden now through July 7 in the exhibit Otherwild. I’m envious of you — go see it for me!
Big Blue Bear
A short walk away, the Colorado Convention Center showcases another nature-themed sculpture — the famous Big Blue Bear. Officially titled I See What You Meanthe bear is the work of Lawrence Argent.
The bear peers into the convention center as if wanting to join events happening inside.
It’s endearing and amusing.
Denver has a thing for monumental blue animals. In addition to the bear, there’s a big blue horse with glowing red eyes at the airport hilariously nicknamed Blucifer. Gotta love a theme. Lean into it, Denver.
Now I think of it, the dome of the Colorado State Capitol, visible from 16th Street, is also blue. Blue-gray anyway. There’s power in groups of three.
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