DENVER – SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 – The Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the region’s leading resource for informal science education, will unveil a new sculpture by award-winning artist Kent Ullberg. The piece, entitled Snowmastodon, will be installed later this month on the west side of the Museum. A public dedication ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, at 10 a.m. at the Museum, 2001 Colorado Boulevard.
Snowmastodon is a bronze sculpture commemorating one of the most significant scientific discoveries in Colorado’s natural history. In 2010 an exceptionally well-preserved Ice Age site was unearthed near Snowmass Village, revealing the remains of more than 50 species of animals, including the largest accumulation of American mastodons ever found. The sculpture was funded by the Dea Family Foundation, represented by Peter and Cathy Dea, Austin Carpenter, Drake Carpenter, and Cort Carpenter, and commissioned by the Museum to recognize the discovery and for the public’s enjoyment.
“Hand digging for mastodon bones unearthed a passion within our family and guests who were at the site,” said Peter Dea, cofounder of the Dea Family Foundation, along with Cathy Dea, and past chair and current member of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “This real-life treasure hunt, where every other shovel full of red dirt revealed a mystery of the Ice Age, gripped us and truly epitomized the act of discovery.”
The sculpture, the largest single mammal created by Ullberg, stands more than 19 feet tall and weighs more than 5,000 pounds. Working from actual fossils found near Snowmass Village and consulting with Dr. Daniel Fisher, University of Michigan professor and leading mastodon expert, and Museum paleontologists Dr. Ian Miller and Dr. Kirk Johnson, Ullberg sculpted a physiologically accurate mastodon.
A native of Sweden, Ullberg is recognized as one of world’s foremost wildlife sculptors. He has also worked at museums around the world, including as a curator at the Botswana National Museum and Gallery, and as an exhibits artist and developer at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. He now resides in Corpus Christi, Texas, and maintains a studio in Loveland.
“The Denver Museum of Nature & Science first brought me to the United States in 1972, and this project brings me full circle. I will always be grateful for the connection I have with the Museum,” Ullberg said.
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About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education. Our mission is to be a catalyst and ignite the community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum envisions an empowered community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world. As such, a variety of engaging exhibits, discussions, and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. The Museum is located at 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO, 80205. To learn more about the Museum, visit dmns.org, or call 303.370.6000. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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