{"id":15682,"date":"2025-11-14T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/durango-artist-seeks-to-capture-scale-beauty-of-solar-system-along-animas-river-trail\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T21:50:33","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T03:50:33","slug":"durango-artist-seeks-to-capture-scale-beauty-of-solar-system-along-animas-river-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/durango-artist-seeks-to-capture-scale-beauty-of-solar-system-along-animas-river-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Durango artist seeks to capture scale, beauty of solar system along Animas River Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Turner
Turner Wyatt stands next to a sculpture of Saturn that was created by Mancos-based artist Steve Williams. The sculpture is part of the Durango Solar System project that is a to-scale model of the solar system along the Animas River Trail. Wyatt has been coordinating the project with the installation of planets throughout Durango. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

For many, space travel is unrealistic \u2013 spaceships are expensive, and interplanetary exploration doesn\u2019t fit in with a 9-to-5 schedule.<\/p>\n

But soon, Durangoans dreaming of voyaging through the solar system will just need a pair of sneakers and a walk along the Animas River Trail.<\/p>\n

Durango-based artist and self-proclaimed space nerd Turner Wyatt has been working to install a to-scale model of the solar system along the Animas River Trail.<\/p>\n

He wanted to capture a sense of how large and beautiful the solar system truly is. So, along with a team of nine other artists and support from the Durango Creative District, which helped him obtain lodgers tax funding, Turner has worked to create unique sculptures portraying the solar system\u2019s grandeur.<\/p>\n

\"Mars,
Mars, a sculpture created by Erik Nelson, sits near Memorial Park is part of the Durango Solar System project that is a to-scale model of the solar system along the Animas River Trail. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThere are many to-scale solar and solar system installations around the country, and I thought it would be beautiful to have one in Durango,\u201d Wyatt said. \u201cI thought that we could do a better job of being more creative in terms of how it looked, and have it align with sort of the personality of Durango itself.\u201d<\/p>\n

The plan, he said, was to position models of the sun and eight planets along the trail set to the same scale as the actual solar system \u2013 one to 670 million, he said. Pluto was not included because if it was put in to-scale, it would be in the Three Springs subdivision, and the Animas River Trail ends before reaching the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

\n

Who was involved?<\/h4>\n

Artists Bryan Saren, David Mallin, Dominique Giglio, Erik Nelson, Riley Wanzek, Steve Williams, Dylan McClain, Dalton Bevill and Suzie Grimm each created a plant with their own creative spins and mediums. Each sculpture is mounted on a granite pedestal crafted by Family Craft Memorials, with plaques designed by Jamie Wanzek and engraved by WildMtn Innovations. Durango Parks and Recreation and the Durango Creative District provided support.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

He wanted to hire artists to make each planet and have them collaborate on overall spirit of the project, while allowing them total creative agency in deciding their medium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe only thing that was dictated was the size,\u201d Wyatt said. \u201cWe ran the calculations to see, OK, if there was a sun that was 8 feet across, how big would the rest of the planets be, and what would the distances be between them?\u201d<\/p>\n

Durango Creative District Executive Director Kathryn Waggener jumped at the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cI LOVE the artistic freedom taken by each artist to have their mounts and display all unique,\u201d she wrote in a text message to The Durango Herald<\/em>. \u201cIt really makes the entire project so unique and dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wyatt said the exhibit cost about $52,000, with most of the money coming from the Durango\u2019s lodgers tax.<\/p>\n

\"Stained
Stained glass sculptor Dominique Giglio, left, and metal worker Trevor Pepperdine stand with their imagining of Earth for the Animas River Trail solar system art installation. (Courtesy of Turner Wyatt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cI absolutely love the lodgers tax program, and think it\u2019s one of our most wonderful community assets here,\u201d Wyatt said.<\/p>\n

\"Venus,
Venus, a sculpture created by David Mallin, sits near Memorial Park. It is part of the Durango Solar System project, a to-scale model of the solar system along the Animas River Trail. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

From 2023 through 2024, Wyatt and his team designed each planet to withstand Durango\u2019s weather and complement the natural environment, according to a city news release. He said it ultimately was a community effort.<\/p>\n

\"Riley
Riley Wanzek specializes in creating art with scavenged and recycled postconsumer plastic waste, according to a summary of the Animas River Trail solar system art installation. His sculpture of Jupiter located near the Durango Public Library uses the same techniques. (Courtesy of Turner Wyatt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cWe\u2019re really proud of how we were able to collaborate with so many local folks to make this happen,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was close to 20 local people and organizations that were involved in this project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seven of the nine pieces have been installed, Wyatt said. The original goal was to have the installation in place by Oct. 17, but it has faced several delays \u2013 mostly because of vandalism and theft.<\/p>\n

\"Mancos-based
Mancos-based blacksmith Steve Williams forged a model of Saturn that was erected near the pedestrian bridge near Backcountry Experience, according to a summary of the Animas River Trail solar system art installation. (Courtesy of Turner Wyatt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

\u201cThe last two planets that were going to get installed today got delayed. Plus, someone stole earth,\u201d Wyatt wrote in an email to the Herald<\/em> on Oct. 17.<\/p>\n

The statue of Uranus, which was erected near Nature\u2019s Oasis south of downtown Durango, was removed after it was knocked over and its pedestal was marked with graffiti. Luckily, the stolen statue of Earth is being remade by stained glass artist Dominique Giglio and metalworker Trevor Pepperdine.<\/p>\n

Waggener said the city is working to help prevent future theft and vandalism. Making sure the pieces are well-engineered and anchored to withstand someone pushing them or making off with a piece was paramount, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn terms of vandalism, potentially incorporating dark-sky compliant lights with (the) sculptures could be a deterrent, but unfortunately potential vandalism is an unavoidable risk with all public art,\u201d she said. \u201cMy hope is that next year as we create more engagement opportunities around Durango\u2019s public art platform, that pieces will gain in prominence and dissuade vandals from viewing public art as free game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A
A statue of an alien pondering Uranus was built by Animas Artisan founders Dalton Bevill and Dylan McClain for the Animas River Trail solar system art installation. (Courtesy of Turner Wyatt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Wyatt remains undeterred. He has received overwhelming community support and sympathy amid setbacks. He wishes well to whomever stole Earth and knocked over Uranus.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf someone still feels compelled to destroy, they must be struggling themselves,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have to have compassion and just think that someone\u2019s really struggling.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project really is meant to be supportive of our community by making Durango more beautiful and by illuminating the common ground that we have as humans on this tiny, tiny planet in this vast, infinite universe,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

sedmondson@durangoherald.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Sculptor
Sculptor Julie Grimm admires her statue of Neptune located on the water embankment south of Walmart on the Animas River Trail. (Courtesy of Turner Wyatt)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Project highlights creativity, community and cosmic perspective<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15683,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[1741,363,364,28,145],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-15682","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-animas-river-trail","tag-arts","tag-community","tag-headlines","tag-science-general"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15682","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15682"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15682\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19786,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15682\/revisions\/19786"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15683"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15682"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15682"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15682"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=15682"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}