Permanent Installation for the new landmark residential building in Denver, Colorado.

Inspired by historic weather events, Kala Stein references satellite images of the blizzard of March 13-14, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. This was among the top four largest storms on record in Denver since 1882 and dropped 27.1 inches of snow over the four corners. By translating digital satellite images of weather into the ceramic medium Kala created a permanent “fossil record” of the event and pays homage to the phenomena and power of the natural world.

The undulating surface of the tile and grid formation references a well-used navigation map which brings the individual into the artwork and speaks to our collective experience of extreme weather and climate change. The glaze is poured on in three layers, guided by hand-drawn lines, to create a fluid effect through the transparent layers. The tiles were then fired to cone 5/2200°F in an electric kiln, leveraging the high heat to distort the image and create psychedelic glaze effects.

This piece was commissioned by Sweeney Art Advisors for the residential building in Denver, One River North, and will be permanently installed in a high traffic common area. One River North is defined by its 10-story landscaped canyon that is carved into the building’s 16-story façade, with a waterfall between the 8th and 6th floors. Woven throughout, plant life and native vegetation echo the natural surroundings. 

One River North was designed and developed by Beijing-based MAD Architects and Denver’s Davis Partnership