INSIDER PUBLIC ART
Peggy Horton, Walt’s
SCULPTED STORIES
Behind Beaver Creek’s bronzes
FR O M O LYMP I C C HA M P I ON S
to geniuses to bears, Beaver Creek’s
bronze, public and private art
outdoor sculptures depict a range of
characters and emotion. Here are a
few stories behind the monumental
bronzes you’ll find in Beaver Creek.
WYLIE’S REACH
Paul Wylie has been skating in the
Vail Valley since he was a child, so
it’s only appropriate that a bronze
statue stands of him performing
an inside-edge spread eagle next
to Beaver Creek’s ice rink.
Wylie, a 1992 Olympic silver
medalist, unveiled the sculpture
on the opening night of the Vilar
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“Storybooks,” by
George Lundeen
Center, in 1998. The bronze
stands about 100 feet away from
the sculpture of 1992 Olympic
champion Kristy Yamaguchi
doing a layback spin.
SCULPTURES BY WALT HORTON,
OUTSIDE HORTON FINE ART
“Repentance,” a life-size bronze
depicting a bear looking at a
young boy who accidentally shot
him with an arrow, stood at the
entrance of Beaver Creek Village
for 16 years before its owner finally
moved it in 2014. The sculpture
became an icon, and Horton Fine
Art sold the work in sizes ranging
from 9 inches to monumental.
widow, thinks the piece
was so loved because “It’s a
piece of life that everyone
can understand,” she says.
“It’s expressing that feeling
when you’re really sorry for
something you’ve done wrong
and you’re not sure if you’re
going to get eaten for it. We
can all empathize. We can
all feel what that little boy’s
feeling. We’ve all been the
boy, and the bear … it’s a slice
of life that, no matter where
you live or where you come
from, it touches your heart.”
Though the bear is gone,
a few other whimsical
sculptures by Walt sit outside
Horton Fine Art. “Peace
Offering” depicts a bear eye to
eye with a squirrel standing
on a tree trunk. The
diminutive squirrel, with
arms outstretched, is timidly
offering the bear a large acorn.
“People love it,” Peggy
Horton says.
Kids and adults also fall
in love with Walt’s “Snow
Bunny” on skis, as well as his
“Peace
Offering,”
by Walt
Horton
DOM IN I QUE TAYLOR
 Other
sculptures, GEORGE WASHINGTON, for his detailed and highly the preamble to the
on loan IN FRONT OF KNOX polished commemorative Constitution, he sees the
from Knox GALLERIES busts and life-size figure United States of America
Galleries The bronze sculpture groupings. Mark revolves he helped create and so
and of George Washington in his artwork around faithfully served. The Mona-
artists: front of Knox Galleries stories and emotions that Lisa half-smile we chose
“The Caddy,” depicts the president characters portray. would have concealed his
life-size Bronze  leaning forward in a “Our research into the life somewhat primitive dental
by George Lundeen, seated position, reading and look of our subject took work and yet would have
Beaver Creek Golf Club the preamble to the us from the low relief on the let his sense of humor show
Putting Green,
Constitution. quarter coin to the many through. We hope all who
2010
George and Mark portraits and descriptions see this sculpture enjoy it
“Storybooks,” Lundeen created the of our first president,” the from an aesthetic point of
life-size bronze bronze. George has been a Lundeens explain. “A true view and also have respect
by George Lundeen, resident of Loveland, CO gentleman, he was conscious for the man depicted, who
Park Plaza Entrance,
2016 since 1976, and Mark has of his dress and known is fondly known as the
lived in the town since for his proper posture. As ‘Father of our Country.’”
“Life’s Lesson,” 1981. George is known he looks up from reading — KIMBERLY NICOLETTI
life-size by George
Lundeen, Park Plaza,
2011

“Beaver Creek Bronze,”

by Gerald Balciar,
Front Spruce Saddle on
the Mountain, 2010

“Mama Bear and

Cubs on Log,”
by Bobbie Carlyle,
Front Spruce Saddle,
2017

“Little Lady,” showing a girl

dressed up with high heels, a
big hat and a purse.
As a cartoonist in an ad
agency he and his wife owned
in Bermuda, Walt’s work was
mostly humorous. When
he transitioned to clay, he
portrayed “all of those things
that made 2-dimensional
art work — telling a story,
making people smile and
generally making the subject
simple enough that everyone
understood it in clay,” Peggy
says. “That was just part of
him. He had a wonderful
sense of humor.”
Of course, there are
plenty of inspiring bronzes
in Beaver Creek’s art
galleries, too, so don’t just
stop at viewing outdoor
sculptures; step into the
friendly galleries and find “George Washington,” by George and Mark Lundeen
your favorites.

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