The big toe

Attention artists and creators: the City of Durango is soliciting ideas for a new public art installation at the top of Chapman Hill to celebrate local ski history. Ideas include but are not limited to: sculpture; interactive installations; functional art; and artistic signage. Bonus points if you incorporate salvaged materials from Chapman’s recently retired “Big Tow” (if so, we’ve got some shredded Kincos to donate, too.) 

In case you’re not up on your Durango ski history, the City of Durango opened a rope tow, consisting of an old elevator apparatus, in the 1950s at what was then known as the Third Avenue Ski Hill. It was later renamed Calico Hill, due to its multicolored terrain, and in 1978, gained its current moniker in honor of Colton Chapman, a highway engineer who dedicated his life to maintaining the hill and teaching kids to ski. He and his son, Bob, built the Chapman House in 1953, which still stands today. 

The Big Tow did not arrive until 1966, when the Lion’s Club raised enough money to buy the it from Camp Hale in Leadville. The tow had been used by the famed 10th Mountain Division for training during World War II. In a 2012 story with the Telegraph, ski legend Dolph Kuss recalled driving the tow back to Durango in an old dump-truck and rigging the lift with a team of volunteers. 

The total budget for the new installation will be capped at $50,000, covering design, engineering, materials and installation. Selected artists will be responsible for all aspects of fabrication and installation, with completion required by Aug. 15. Applications are due March 13. Artists can apply online at cityofdurango.submittable.com.

To get creative juices flowing, may we suggest a giant sculpture of a big toe (get it?) maybe as an homage to Bill Murray? We know, it’s almost as good as our prog rock Yes “roundabout” at 32nd Street, which, strangely enough, we have yet to hear back on.