cocklebur reimagined at pioneer park

The City of Commerce City and the Commerce City Cultural Council are seeking to purchase artwork from Colorado artists, or artists who reside in Colorado Region. Local and regional artists will be prioritized in the selection. The artwork is to be placed at the high traffic corner of 60th and Monaco at Pioneer Park in Commerce City, CO.

The City of Commerce City and the Commerce City Cultural Council seek to purchase artwork to pay tribute to the previous equine statue that stood in its place, which honored the late Cocklebur horse owned by the Conter family. The Conter family owned the land that Pioneer Park now sits on, which is now a major community gathering space. Cocklebur was the horse of Catherine Conter, who was reprimanded by the city for keeping the horse on her property in the 1970s. The horse became a symbol for defiance, and was eventually welcomed back to the farm property. Cocklebur and Catherine were intertwined and spent more than 18 years together. No one is still living from the Conter family line, but Commerce City still honors the family’s history and their long lasting impact on the area.

THEMES/CRITERIA

The art selection committee for Cocklebur Reimagined seeks artwork that honors the community’s historical horse. The artwork should celebrate the natural history of the area, Commerce City community and unity, evoke joy and delight, and have a pleasing and uplifting effect on those who see it. It should be appropriate for all ages to enjoy. The artwork should be difficult to remove from the site.