Sculpture Under Troubled Water

What happened to VARA?

The Denver Post reported today that The Denver International Airport (“DIA”) is removing and destroying a water sculpture which has, to their dismay, caused many a headache.

Denver’s Commission on Cultural Affairs recently approved plans to remove the water feature, an art installation called Mountain Mirage, so DIA can extend the underground train that links the terminal with the concourses.

Even if the airport wanted to try to repair the fountain, its pump room, adjacent to the fourth-level train platform where passengers now get on cars for the concourses, would have to be moved to make way for the train extension, [an airport representative] said. The extension will add carrying capacity for the train. Moving the pump room could cost $5 million[.]

How does the artist feel about this?

[T]he artist said DIA’s “decision to destroy my environmental sculpture . . . is an immoral decision.” “I’m extremely dismayed to hear it will be destroyed without further attempts to solve the mechanical problems[.]”

Via The Denver Post.