Sunday Sculpture Series

One of the great things about living in my small town of Lafayette, Colorado, is art.  While we aren't as artsy at Taos, New Mexico, or Telluride, Colorado, we are evolving to be an art oriented community.  It is great to be a member of this community during this metamorphosis from small town to town with an identity.

Last year the city started its Art on the Street Sculputre Walk.  We installed 8 sculptures as part of an art on-loan public art program.  This year we expanded our offering to 12 pieces.  Additionally, Lafayette owns 7 pieces as part of its permanent collection.  Not bad for such a little town. 

I want to take a moment to introduce you to the art in our town.
Today's sculpture was created by Lafayette artist, J. Lucas Loeffler. Part of the permanent collection, Sky Dance is one of four sculptures installed at Festival Plaza in the heart of Old Town Lafayette. It was part of the first year of Art on the Street.  It won the People's Choice Award and was donated by the artist to the city.

This bronze piece is beautiful and has fine attention to detail.   Loeffler says, "Years ago I was privileged enough to witness what is referred to as a Ghost Dance - a Native American Ceremony which exhibits many dancers in various forms. The dancer that most fascinated me was the Eagle Dancer. To anyone not present, it would be hard to believe what happened next. The Eagle Dancer seemed to become one with the flame, take flight and vanish into the night sky. This image was a driving inspiration to create this body of work."

J. Lucas Loeffler was born in 1972 on the east coast and moved to Boulder in 1976. At an early age, Lucas showed interest in many disciplines; however, sculpture was the one that suited him most.  After high school, Lucas started his own company while simultaneously pursuing his sculpting career. He cast his first bronze pieces at the age of 26. That same year he was accepted into a gallery in Santa Fe, who would sell his first sculpture to a museum in Germany. Since then, he has been in many ongoing exhibits, both private and public. Lucas has established the drive and creativity needed to pursue his dreams and still runs the company he started many years ago while consistently sculpting new pieces.

I hope you enjoy the first installment of my Lafayette art tour.  If you're in town, take a tour for yourself and enjoy the art around town.