Wake-Up Call: high-flying art at DIA

The debate took off fast last week over Luis Jimenez's "Mustang," otherwise known as "DIA's Heinous Blue Mustang," which stands outside Denver International Airport. (Read more in this Off Limits report, as well as at www.byebyebluemustang, the site started by local realtor Rachel Hultin.) But in all the hot discussion...

By Patricia Calhoun

February 6, 2009

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

The debate took off fast last week over Luis Jimenez's "Mustang," otherwise known as "DIA's Heinous Blue Mustang," which stands outside Denver International Airport. (Read more in this Off Limits report, as well as at www.byebyebluemustang, the site started by local realtor Rachel Hultin.) But in all the hot discussion over the horse, it's easy to overlook some of the great art that Denver's one-percent-for-art program got us at the airport.

There are Gary Sweeney's "America: Why I Love Her" murals, for example. And "Experimental Aviation," Patty Ortiz's wonderful, paper airplane-like pieces hanging overhead as travelers exit the train to claim their baggage. Sadly, Ortiz herself is about to make her exit from Denver. The artist, who currently heads the Museo de las Americas, is heading back home to San Antonio and a new job there.

Safe landings, Patty.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

Contact: Patricia Calhoun

Follow:

Facebook: patricia.calhoun.927