DENVER—A long-delayed sculpture by New Mexico artist Luis Jimenez, who was killed last year while working on the piece, has been moved from his studio to California to be strengthened before it is installed at Denver’s airport.
The additional work on “Mustang” is expected to take six weeks, Denver International Airport officials said Tuesday. They have said the sculpture could be installed by the end of this year.
The 32-foot fiberglass sculpture, which weighs up to 6 tons, depicts a rearing horse. It was commissioned in 1992 but was delayed by structural changes and because Jimenez had health problems.
Jimenez died in his Hondo, N.M., studio in June 2006 after he was pinned under a section of the piece that came loose from a hoist. Work continued under the direction of Jimenez’s family.
Concerned about the strength of the sculpture, airport officials had Kreysler & Associates examine it. Kreysler, a custom-fabrication shop north of San Francisco, suggested reinforcing it, and it was moved in three pieces to the company’s shop.
“It is a large piece, and we wanted to make sure it is structurally sound enough to withstand potentially strong winds at its permanent location,” said Denise Stepto, who oversees the public art program at DIA.
“Mustang” will be installed in the median of Pena Boulevard, the main approach to the airport, just south of the main terminal.
