
“I know the Carla Madison Recreation Center will become a new central gathering place for our residents.” “Denver rec centers provide our residents with incredible amenities while adding to our quality of life,” Hancock wrote.

In a statement from the City of Denver, Mayor Michael Hancock expressed his sentiments about the new center. Overall, the center has received positive feedback from the community, Karvaski wrote. The color was inspired by Madison’s red hair and “flamboyant” personality. Osborn said the piece is meant to be an abstract representation of Madison. Cerri said the rings will add dynamics to the walkway and make the area more welcoming.
CARLA MADISON RECREATION CENTER SERIES
The piece will consist of a series of orange aluminum rings lining the entrance of the facility. Kelton Osborn’s piece, Aegis, will be installed later this spring. “It may not have…matched the actual photos, but it was her essence.” “Having the colors and something different on nontraditional canvas and having a collage in the background is something totally different,” Evans said. It hangs in the front hallway of the center and sits in a four-inch niche within the wall. The portrait is colorful and painted on a wood cutout. We could have found a lovely photograph and blown it up, but we didn’t want to do that.”Įvans said he used information about Madison to create a subtle collage of her life. “Thomas’ portrait captured Carla Madison’s spirit,” Cerri said. Cerri said the committee was looking for an abstract representation of Madison.

Thomas Evans created a portrait of the rec center’s namesake, Carla Madison. “When people are trying to be healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle, the example that one person sets inspires other people.” “The goal of improving one’s health, it’s an individual goal people strive for, but it radiates out into the community,” Carlson said. Public art installation blueprint courtesy of Kelton Osborn and Denver Arts and Venues.Ĭarlson said his piece creates a feedback loop because people outside the center can observe what is going on inside the center by watching the lights on the outside of the building. “Lights blink on and off, or they’ll do a pattern to motivate you to exercise more,” Cerri said. The lights are always on, but feedback from the machines influence how they are animated. Rudi Cerri, public art administrator for Denver Arts and Venues, worked with the three artists who received commissions for new art at the center: Erik Carlson, Thomas Evans and Kelton Osborn.Ĭarlson and his wife Erica Carpenter created CIRCUIT, a series of lights on the exterior of the rec center connected to three workout machines. Due to a city ordinance, 1 percent of the construction budget went to commission new artworks. Including construction and land acquisition, the project cost $44 million. “This location selection provides greatly needed recreation opportunities to a currently underserved population in the surrounding areas,” Karvaski wrote.

The center’s location was determined in response to a 2005 recreation center assessment that identified a service deficiency in the Park Hill area. In an email to The Metropolitan, Cynthia Karvaski, Denver Parks and Recreation communication specialist, wrote that in 2007 the Denver Better Bond Program allocated funds for the acquisition and design of the facility. According to a City of Denver press release, officials estimate 35,000 individuals will visit the center monthly. The four-story, 67,000-square-foot structure has multiple amenities including swimming pools, cardio rooms and permanent art installations. She was elected to serve Dever’s 8th Ward from 2007 until her death in 2011. The center was named after former city council member Carla Madison. The new state-of-the-art facility is a place for exercise, the arts and community interaction. It is located on the corner of East Colfax Avenue and Josephine Street, across the street from Denver East High School. Located in the heart of Denver is the new Carla Madison Recreation Center, which functions as a hub for art and interaction. Photo by Kaileigh Lyons | Ĭommunity centers bring people together from all walks of life. Evans painted a portrait of Carla Madison that is on display in the new recreation center which opened on Jan. Artist Thomas Evans in his studio on Jan.
