Moved by Metal

About the Project

Funded by Denver Arts and Venues' P.S. You Are Here (PSYAH) grant program, Moved by Metal is a project that invited two teams of metal workers/sculptors to create two bike racks for the district in order to:

• Encourage more multimodal transportation in the district

• Strengthen connections with the light rail

• Enliven the side streets of the district

• Reduce traffic and parking concerns

• Highlight a medium that we have not celebrated in our public space yet

• And improve automobile/pedestrian safety along the corridor

We are excited to have worked with local artists Emily Zeek and Superior Iron Works to create these uniquely beautiful bike racks that celebrate the character of the district in a way that is also a benefit to our residents, visitors, and business owners. The artists—taking their own stories and experiences into the making process—gave their own statements about each piece, speaking on their symbolism and the part these functional sculptures will play in our district. See more on each sculpture below.

Zia Kokopelli Bicycle Rack

The Zia Kokopelli bicycle rack on Santa Fe street embodies Navajo culture, symbolizing fertility, music, harvest, growth, and the power of rain. It's a creative fusion of music and nature, reflecting the passion for knowledge through the hands of artists at Superior Iron Works. This piece not only serves as a functional bike rack but also inspires the cycling and walking community, offering an enjoyable experience. As Denver grows, so does traffic and our goal as metal artists and metal workers is to provide environmental alternatives and historical art to delight the community. Our shop in Five Points Denver highlights the history of the community through functional metal art.  We welcome you to stop by to enjoy some inspirational art and learn more about the history of the area at 2630 Arapahoe St Denver.

Saguaro Cactus Bicycle Rack

The saguaro cactus, a defining symbol of the Southwest US ecosystem, can take 35-60 years to bloom and up to a century to sprout its first branch. Mirroring this slow and steadfast growth, the Saguaro Cactus Bike Rack in the Santa Fe Arts District honors the artistic process and the time it takes artists to mature and grow. This piece, crafted from cast iron using the lost-wax casting method and a mold from chunky crocheted yarn, challenges the traditional perception of cacti as prickly and distant. Instead, the yarn texture juxtaposed with metal fabrication offers a soft, welcoming tactile experience, inviting engagement. This artwork was forged during a period of significant personal hardship, constructed from various fragments that I salvaged and reassembled, highlighting the often painstaking process of piecing our lives back together after transformative traumas that alter our existence's very fabric. This bike rack is not only a functional object but also a poignant reminder of the endurance required to create and the harsh environments that often shape us.

Special thanks to Happy Hookers Crochet Meet-Up, CU Denver Foundry/Rian Kerrane, Patrick Joseph’s Casting & Superior Iron Works.