Pumas On Parade

Current Puma Locations...

SJMA is pleased to announce some exciting news about the Puma Project! SJMA's permanent signs are now installed on all the publicly displayed pumas. Mark Franklin of Interpretive Design in Durango donated his expertise and assisted with the design and lay-out of these beautiful and sturdy signs. Kathleen May graciously donated her talent and time with all the rest of it ~ including the installation. We extend our sincere appreciation to both Mark & Kathleen!!

It's very gratifying to see this ambitious SJMA project "live on" throughout SW Colorado and Utah. These informational signs will help spread the word about caring for our public lands and the wildlife they sustain.

We are also delighted to announce the new release of American Art Parades: When Pigs Flew, Guitars Rocked & Cows Jumped Over the Moon! American Art Parades is a colorful 192 page, hardbound, coffee table book that will retail for $34.95. SJMA's Pumas on Parade ~ the Four Corners' first region-wide public art and environmental education project ~ is featured on pages 38-39.

You can view the advanced copy by stopping in at the San Juan Public Lands Office M-F during normal business hours. Or you can visit www.AmericanArtParades.com to find sample lay-outs and a full directory of participating public art projects.

Depending on the demand, it is our intention to keep a few of these beautiful coffee table books on our shelves. If you are interested in reserving your copy, please contact Alan Peterson, Director of Bookstore Operations & SJMA Visitor Services, no later than October 15th. You can reach Alan at 970.385.1258 or apeterson01@fs.fed.us. Once the First Edition is sold out is it is unlikely that we will be able to replace it with a Second Edition before Christmas.

The Project

SJMA’s Pumas on Parade is a campaign with many facets.

·   It’s a public art event engaging local talent…
·   An education effort teaching resource and wildlife values …
·   A creative opportunity to boost tourism and bolster the economy …
·   And an effective and a meaningful way for communities to join together.

Project Goals

·        Increase the visibility, traffic, and cash flow to businesses in all our communities.

·        Form area-wide partnerships and resourceful alliances among businesses, the art community, and Public Land agencies.

·        Enhance the tourist experience by linking the communities along the Hwy 160 corridor with fine art pieces.

·        Support SJMA’s ongoing educational outreach; heighten SJMA’s visibility and effectiveness; and enhance public awareness of the importance of caring for our natural & cultural resources.

·        Reinforce the reputation of the region as an emerging art center.

·        Celebrate the San Juan National Forest Centennial and spotlight the value of our public lands.

Public Art

Pumas on Parade is modeled after dozens of similar public art projects world-wide, among them: “Orcas in the City” in British Columbia, and closer to home, The Trail of Painted Ponies in New Mexico. The concept is to:

·   commission a sculpture of an animal;

·   engage artists to adorn replicas of the sculpture;

·   invite businesses and others to sponsor individual art pieces;

·   exhibit the sculptures throughout the area for the public’s enjoyment;

·   and, in the end, auction the finished artwork to benefit a worthy cause.

Timed to coincide with the celebration of the San Juan National Forest Centennial, Pumas on Parade exhibited some 30 painted (or otherwise adorned) larger than life-size, cast mountain lion sculptures to showcase the talent of area artists, while highlighting the importance of careful stewardship of our vulnerable public lands.

Why Pumas?

We selected the mountain lion for its powerful aesthetic and symbolism. This elusive predator – a Four Corners’ native – is integral to our ecosystem and arguably the most majestic animal on our lands. Cautious and cagey, the graceful puma embodies the beauty of nature, while epitomizing the intense conflicts triggered by human-wildlife proximity.

The Sculptor

Renowned Colorado sculptor Rosetta, from Loveland, allowed us to use a model of her magnificent bronze, “On the Alert.” Rosetta’s exquisite mountain lions are known to capture the elegance, power, mystery and artistry of these animals.  Her prestige will greatly add to the high marketability of the pieces.

To view more of her work visit <www.rosettasculpture.com>

The Artists  

The Four Corners has a rich artistic culture.  We are fortunate that our Call for Designs garnered responses from a diverse selection of fine artists – both experienced and emerging.  Their work is varied, skilled and unique.  Each Puma design reflects the artist’s own inspiration drawn from personal history and experiences on the landscape in which we live.

Objects d’Art and Education

Public art events add a dynamic new dimension to existing regional attractions, enriching the tourist experience and drawing media attention…often nationwide.

SJMA’s Pumas on Parade expands the concept of public art to embrace environmental education, in part via two plaques mounted on each sculpture’s base. One plaque conveys facts about the mountain lion and its habitat, our regional resources, and the work of SJMA.

 

Seed money for the project was provided by a grant from the USDA Forest Service & the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding from The Ballantine Family Fund.