The City of Grand Junction Selects Artists for Roundabout Art Installations

The City of Grand Junction announces the selection of two artists, Seth Palimter and Alex Bond, for the roundabouts at Horizon Drive and G Road, and 24 ½ Road and Four Canyons Parkway.

The Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture (GJCAC), and the Horizon Drive District (HDD) thoroughly evaluated 42 proposals to finalize the proposal from Seth Palimter for the Horizon Drive and G Road project. In November 2024, the GJCAC reviewed 29 artist proposals for the 24 ½ and Four Canyons Parkway roundabout and selected Alex Bond to move forward with an artwork that captured the request for fresh and modern, abstract and colorful, vibrant, unique, and creative versions of landscapes and flora.

In his final proposal for the work, Palimter states, "I have been a public artist for over twenty years and have a wealth of capital project experience developing site-relevant public art for civic entities. My initial interest for the roundabout sculpture was a bold, central form that provided a logical context for outdoor recreation. The Cor-Ten circle has multiple angles to nest into. The skier can launch from the top, the kayaker can glide down the inner curve, and the rock climber can scale the upper reaches of the form. Great visual interest will be achieved through the play between negative and positive forms, shadow, and defining the horizon on the central eye of the sculpture" Palimter continued.

In Bond's proposal for the work at 24 ½ and Four Canyons Parkway, he states "I have collaborated with over 15 public agencies (including Grand Junction) to design, fabricate, and install site-specific public art. My design approach exists at the intersection of culture and environment, people and land, and nature and industry." The proposed artwork, "'Superbloom,' is a large, colorful, and whimsical installation, and will showcase a colorful, floral-inspired design aimed to evoke widespread awe and a powerful sense of place to locals and visitors" Bond continued.

Funding for the art projects comes from the city's 1 percent for the Arts Program. The program expands opportunities for residents and visitors to experience high quality art by facilitating the acquisition and display of art in public places by budgeting 1 percent for public art from certain city capital improvement projects. A capital contribution to the Horizon Drive and G Road project was made by the HDD to expand the budget.

The Grand Junction Commission on Arts and Culture is dedicated to helping create and nurture climate and conditions in Grand Junction in which the arts and culture can thrive and grow. More information about serving as a volunteer for the Commission on Arts and Culture or on other city boards and commissions can be found online at gjcity.org.