PROJECT TEAM LEADER

Colorado-based artist David Ocelotl Garcia (b. 1977, Denver, CO USA) is accomplished across several mediums including painting, sculpture, and murals. His work can be seen in national and international public art commissions, and both museum and private collections. David believes that "Art" whether we are making it or viewing it, allows us to think more critically, respectfully, and creatively about the world around us. It allows us to have a meaningful impact on the past present and future. The energy of art engages our mind, body and spirit in a magical way which allows us to feel more deeply and elevates our creative capacity. It is through art that David hopes to manifest beauty, inspiration, color and energy. You can hear David tell of his remarkable journey to becoming an artist here.  Or check out his website: ocelotlart.com

LEAD COMMUNITY ARTIST

Alfonso “Piloto” Nieves Ruiz, Community Collaboration Artist, leads the Two Bridges community clay workshops.

Piloto is a self-taught artist from Queretaro, Mexico, who has lived in Chicago since 1997. He is a skilled sculptor who works primarily with clay and recycled materials to create dramatic, surreal pieces that deal with social issues. He is a very experienced public workshop leader. artistapiloto.com

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Nita Gonzales, El Laboratorio, coordinates community interactions, especially with Indigenous Elders.

Nita is a highly experienced public process facilitator, focusing on Denver’s Latino communities. Nita is a nationally-recognized leader in education and community justice and equality. She was President/CEO of Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios, a model for Chicano/ Mexicano and indigenous education. Nita had primary responsibility for fundraising to provide scholarships for over 8,000 students. She has managed successful, statewide political campaigns and worked with a wide range of nonprofit organizations. Nita received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Masters in Education from Antioch University.
el-laboratorio.us

CLAY & NATURE WORKSHOPS

Zuza Bohley works with Piloto to run the Two Bridges community clay workshops.

Zuza is education and deputy director of Americas for Conservation and the Arts, which conducts youth and family environmental and arts programming in Denver, Puerto Rico, and Mexico. afcanatura.org

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Paul Cawood Hellmund, El Laboratorio, coordinates community engagement, manages this website, and helps with project logistics.

Paul was born and raised in Panama. He brings decades of professional experience developing innovative conservation and community planning solutions in the western United States and Latin America. He brings together diverse people and expertise to solve complex conservation problems, especially those involving underserved communities. He has co-authored two books: Designing Greenways: Sustainable Landscapes for Nature and People (2006) and the award-winning Ecology of Greenways (1993). For ten years he was president and professor at the Conway Design School. Paul was educated at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design and at Colorado State University, where he has taught.
el-laboratorio.us

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Jorge Figueroa (formerly with El Laboratorio) coordinates the  Two Bridges innovation workshops, bringing together scientists and community members to envision the two bridges as planetary and terrestrial observation platforms.

Jorge is an expert in community resilience, a member of the board of Water Education Colorado, and a long-time climate advocate. He formerly worked with Western Resource Advocates on demand management, water conservation, and climate resilience in the West. He was a co-founder of El Laboratorio  and of the River Sisters Partnership, which started in March 2018 under an MOU between Mayor Hancock of Denver and Mayor Reina in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico to celebrate and help restore the Colorado River from its headwaters in Colorado to its delta at the Sea of Cortez. 

CLAY FIRING

Tim Preston, Clay Center of Northern Colorado, fires and glazes the community created clay faces.

With more than 40 years of experience with ceramics, Tim founded the Clay Center of Northern Colorado in 2010, offering pottery classes, individualized instructions, and studio space for Greeley artists. Tim offers weekly pottery classes for people with developmental disabilities.  claycenternc.com 

STUDIO ASSISTANT

Gavin Weir assists David Ocetlotl Garcia as a studio assistant, especially working on the mosaic tile elements of the Two Bridges Public Art Project.

Gavin is a Denver-based artist. He recently received his BFA with an emphasis in painting from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Through his paintings, drawings, and sculptures he strives to create broken-down fictional worlds that comment on the shared experiences of all life. Artwork Created by Gavin Weir

SCULPTED PRECAST CONCRETE 

Ian Glas, CEO-Founding Partner of ID Sculpture,  creates the concrete components of the Two Bridges sculptures from 3D digital files representing the designs of David Ocelotl Garcia.

Ian has 30 years of experience in Fabrication, Design, and Business administration and has brought together a talented team of artists craftsmen and designers. His creative process is driven from a lifetime of tinkering, sculpting, building, and playing in Nature. This has given him an intimate familiarity with natural surfaces, forces, and forms that he applies to sculpture, business, and leadership. He believes that art should be experienced physically as well as visually.

For 17 years, Ian has managed every facet of ID Sculpture from start up through substantial growth and market diversification. With hundreds of projects in the ground he now relies on his team of exceptional individuals to fulfill a vision that has grown beyond himself.

Ian is still attending the school of life, starting in the 70’s he attended Waldorf School(s) through the grades, received many lessons in all things climbing from the cliffs of the world. He also attended the University of Utah for business management.

Ian is a proud father of two daughters, he loves to travel, explore, rock climb, ride bikes, and create unique sculptures.

SCULPTED PRECAST CONCRETE  

Andris Zobs, COO-Managing Partner of ID Sculpture, creates the concrete components of the Two Bridges sculptures from 3D digital files representing the designs of David Ocelotl Garcia.

Andris has over 24 years of experience in the construction industry and holds a master’s degree of architecture (MArch). He is an experienced craftsman who leverages digital design and fabrication technology to realize complex custom design. His built work ranges from public art, retail display, furniture, and architectural installations. As COO for ID Sculpture, he oversees business development, the design department and IPEMA certification program. 

In addition, Andris has expertise in Energy efficient design, policy, and finance. Andris has served on the boards of the Crested Butte Board of Zoning, Gunnison Valley Housing Foundation, the Cold Harbor Institute, and KBUT Public Radio. Andris is an avid skier, mountain biker, sailor, and fisherman. 

PUBLIC ART MANAGER

Brendan Picker is the Two Bridges project manager with the City and County of Denver.

He has been managing public art projects for over 12 years, first with the City of Albuquerque and now with the City and County of Denver. Before that, Picker worked extensively in galleries and museums. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Master’s in Community Planning from the University of New Mexico. He loves the intersection of art, community, and public policy and has a passion for both the public and creative process and increasing art access for all. Beyond managing permanent public art projects, his role within Denver Arts & Venues includes co-managing the P.S. You Are Here program (a community-driven, temporary art program), and managing the public art tour program. He also serves on the board of the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, and curates temporary exhibits in a storefront window in Denver called The Storeroom.

STUDIO ASSISTANT

Marco Antonio Garcia is assisting David with sculpture, mold making, tile work and installation.

Marco is a self-taught artist who is rooted in his Mexican Culture and inspired by the detailed paintings of the Alebrije wooden mythical animals that were popularized in Mexico in the 70s and 80s, ancient Mayan Art and famous Mexican artists. His approach to making art sometimes begins with a randomly drawn line or shape and at times a subject from which he builds the rest of the composition keeping in mind the space to be utilized and trying not to over-influence the art itself with the vast amount of visual media we have available today.

VIDEO ANIMATION

Nancy Araceli Saldaña Navarro creates 3D animations of the Two Bridges Art Project.

Nancy is a Mexican architect and digital communications expert. Her firm created the early animation that clearly demonstrated Team Ocelotl's vision for the bridges even before the team had been selected for the project.

Nancy runs her own design-build architectural firm in the state of Sonora, Mexico that is focused on sustainability and clean energy. While serving as San Luis Rio Colorado’s director of urban development, she led a campaign called “Vamonos al rio” (“Let’s go to the river”), which recruited volunteers to clean up the sandy channel prior to the river’s historic pulse flow.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Beverly Castaneda, Americas for Conservation and the Arts, helps coordinate the clay faces and nature workshops.

Beverly is indigenous and loves working with ancestors of land to bring healing, balance and forgiveness to the land.

PUBLIC ART ADVISOR

John Grant, Public Art Services, consults with David Ocelotl Garcia and the Team on all aspects of implementing the Two Bridges Project.

John is a Creative Design & Project Manager for the production and installation of monumental works of art. During his tenure as the Director of Denver's Public Art Program John oversaw the installation of 147 permanent artworks for the City's collection, re-vamped the collection maintenance procedures, normalized the public art contracting processes, and brought the City's collection to national attention for excellence. 

In 2000 John founded Public Art Services, a unique creative consultancy that works with artists from ideation to installation to help realize monumental projects that engage communities, define spaces, and encourage dialogue. In addition, Public Art Services offers public art master planning services, creating site-specific art integration strategies and long-term visions for municipalities and developers to serve as a roadmap to the future. Over the course of his career John has aided in the creation of over 200 works of public art with a strong belief that public art is the common language that defines a community.

DIGITAL DESIGN

Michael Mowry, Mowry Studio, converts the sculptural designs by David Ocelotl Garcia into 3D digital models, which are then used to fabricate the full-scale concrete versions of each sculpture.

With an eye for the exceptional, Michael, provides a comprehensive range of digital services for artists pursuing or producing public or private works. They listen, interpret, and digitally synthesize artist’s intentions.

Services include three-dimensional modeling and design exploration, rendering, animation, photography and compositing, laser-scanning, and interactive and printed presentation products.

PROJECT ENGINEER & STEEL FABRICATOR

Nick Geurts both provides engineering support for the project and also fabricates the steel components of the sculptures.

As a practicing structural engineer in Denver, Colorado for over 10 years, Nick has always been infatuated with the use of structural materials to unite form and function.  In 2014 he received an honorarium art grant from Burning Man Arts to build a 20-foot tall stainless steel interactive musical tree, which was then donated to a local Denver foster care facility.  This opportunity was the catalyst of his love for creating large-scale interactive public art with the goal of sharing a sense of child-like wonder with the community.  In 2015 he received two additional public art grants. Geurts' extensive experience with metalworking combined with his knowledge gained as a structural engineer enable his whimsical designs and result in safe, durable and elegant large-scale interactive public art.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Anthony J. Garcia Sr., Executive Director, Birdseed Collective, helps coordinate community interactions within the Globeville neighborhood.

Anthony was born and raised in Denver, more specifically in the Globeville community. Beginning as an urban street artist, Anthony has since grown into a multifaceted creative entrepreneur and community leader, and is now most recognized for his public artwork, community outreach programming, and his leadership in championing emerging artists from Denver and abroad.

In 2008, Anthony co-founded BirdSeed Collective – an organization committed to improving their community using their exceptional artistic skills and deeply rooted connections to their local community. BirdSeed has built an immense infrastructure of art and humanitarian resources within our community as well as abroad. The community of Denver already has a close, long-standing relationship with BirdSeed Collective, and they are the city’s preferred choice for implementing many public outreach programs involving public art as well as food relief programs.

PROJECT SUPPORT

Alfredo Reyes helps articulate and document the Two Bridges concepts and vision.

Alfredo was born and raised in Denver to Mexican immigrants, Juventino and Aurora. He is a proud graduate of Denver South High, Colorado College, CU Boulder and UC Santa Cruz, where he spent three years of doctoral studies. Alfredo is currently the Executive Director of the Latino Cultural Arts Center (LCAC), a project he dedicated his first Master’s to conceptualizing. His expertise includes cultural arts, education research, college access, youth development, fundraising and coalition-building, among others. He enjoys reading, bike riding, rowing, and dabbling in painting with his family and friends.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Anthony Maes uses still and video photography to document the process of creating the Two Bridges proejct.

A native of Denver, Anthony is a Chicano Visual Artist~Photographer, well known for his Street & Documentary Photography. Anthony’s eye has allowed him to truly encapsulate an intimate view of the moment as well as capturing the true cultural identity of a city and those of that space. His work has gone on to create a diverse portfolio of art works ranging from Photojournalism, Concert photography to Portraiture. Additionally Anthony’s portfolio includes photographs of the Art & Music scene that is eminent in the city. As the official photographer for Chicano/a Murals of Colorado Project, Anthony’s focus is on providing substantiation of a vastly disappearing Denver. Anthony hopes his work will serve as photographic documentation to help preserve the remaining Chicano identity as well as preserving the remaining murals and landmarks of a city full of underrepresented Chicano culture. 

See @anthonymvze on all social media