The Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra Making Great Progress
LOVELAND, CO – June 6, 2007 – An African oasis in Loveland is midway through its transformation at the Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra. Located just east of the Promenade Shops at Centerra, the Chapungu Sculpture Park has completed 55 sculpture installations, extensive site work which includes major landscape planting, trail construction, and signage in preparation for the park’s grand-opening this fall.
“As a refuge for the soul, the sculptures will remind the viewer of those matters so important in traditional African families – nature and the environment, the support and sharing within families, the respect for elders and paying tribute to the spirits, and the role of women and children in society,” said Roy Guthrie, Curator and Park Director.
Coupled with the expressive nature of the sculptures themselves, the park will offer a refuge for visitors to have a quiet place to reflect. In addition to a 1.5 mile concrete trail system that will guide visitors throughout the park, a fine crusher gravel trail will also guide visitors into more quiet pockets of the park that will offer natural rock sitting areas, up to 30 benches, gathering plazas, and a more direct connection to the natural area and art surrounding them. The park also includes a restroom facility with a dog-friendly water fountain, which emphasizes its welcome for every member in the family.
“Positioned between the Promenade Shops and the future Grand Station at Centerra, Chapungu Sculpture Park will be a refuge of calm and contemplation within Centerra, and ultimately, as the largest art center devoted to African artists in the United States,” said Rocky Scott, President of Centerra, McWHINNEY.
Walking connections are plentiful throughout the park. Two bridges (one complete, the other under construction) connect visitors across the natural waterway that divides the park. Several pathways lead from The Promenade Shops to the park and will continue on to Grand Station once built. Also, a major connector path directly leads from a future bus stop on Centerra Parkway to the park and adjacent Chapungu Gallery.
Certain paths and sculptures at the park will be illuminated in the evening to encourage early evening strolls and to experience Chapungu in a unique way. Self-guided and volunteer-led walking tours will be offered at the park once open. In addition, plans include providing podcast or MP3 downloads for phones, IPODS, and other devices for self-guided walking tours.
The Chapungu Sculpture Park is the first permanent exhibit of its kind in the United States. The park features stone sculptures from the Shona tribe of Zimbabwe. Each distinctive sculpture is handmade from indigenous stones from Zimbabwe, the native country of Roy Guthrie and Marcey Mushore, directors and operators of The Chapungu Sculpture Park.
When fully complete, the Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra will span 26 acres, featuring 80 installments of the stone sculptures. The entire exhibit will be titled, “An African Perspective of Family.” Eight themes or families of sculptures will be exhibited at the park including: Nature & Environment, Village Life, The Elders, Spirit World, Role of Women, Custom & Legend, The Family, and The Children.
In keeping with Loveland’s heritage of art and sculpture, Chapungu Sculpture Park will solidify Loveland’s legacy of being named among the top eight “Great Art Destinations” in the United States by U.S. Art magazine. After Chapungu Park’s opening, Loveland will feature approximately 350 sculptures in both public and private collections that are open for viewing.
Currently, Chapungu’s latest exhibit, “Nature, Man, and Myth,” is on display at the Missouri Botanical Garden in St. Louis until October 31, 2007.
Current Construction Updates
- Pedestrian Bridge: June 2007
- Sculpture installations complete: June 2007 • Concrete pathway/Fine gravel trail: June through August 2007.
- Centerra Parkway Bus Stop: August 2007.
- Sodding of the turf areas: September 2007 • Landscaping/Tree planting: September 2007 • Promenade Shops Access: 11 access points total with 6 originating from The Shops.
McWHINNEY will dedicate the land to the Centerra Metropolitan District to be used as a sculpture park and a future cultural arts facility.
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About McWHINNEY
McWHINNEY, headquartered in Loveland, Colorado, is a team of talented people who are passionate about creating great places for people and providing fabled service to our customers. We develop innovative and sustainable master-planned communities and vertical commercial and mixed use projects. Since 1991, McWHINNEY has planned and developed more than 5,000 acres in several master-planned communities and over 3.3 million square feet of vertical commercial and mixed-use properties throughout the Rocky Mountain region and on the West Coast. For additional information, visit www.mcwhinney.com.
