Giant $3.5 million crystal tree likely coming to Denver’s airport

Let me say that I am an art fan, but I am also on a budget, so $3.5 million for a piece of art seems steep to me… Denver International Airport (DIA) has more money than me, though!

Last night (Feb. 10) Denver City Council had its first reading to approve a $3,590,500 contract with an artist for a giant piece of artwork at DIA. The installation is called “The Stars and Cottonwood” and was created by artist Donald Lipski.

The tree would stand about 60 feet tall, with more than 30,000 crystals creating the canopy. At the base would be seating inspired by Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

Denver’s 1%-For-Art Ordinance mandates that when a capitol improvement project has a budget equal to greater than $1 million, 1% of the budget must be set aside for public art. This current phase of the Great Hall project is called the Great Hall Completion Project. It’s estimated to cost $1.3 billion, which means about $13 million must be spent on public art.

Here’s a peek at what it would look like…