About the Sculpture

The idea for “It’s Not What You Take, It’s What You Bring Back” was born out of my desire to connect with the community as much as possible. I peeled back the idea of life being in perpetual motion, with luggage and bags carrying the items that we hold dear. Regardless of what community you are part of, this is something we all have in common—being on a journey and carrying the items that are important to us. That’s why I wanted the building blocks of this piece to be upcycled luggage and bags from individuals who have made Colorado great.

The shape is inspired by the idea of life being in perpetual motion, as well as the 24-hour nature of airports—specifically DIA. There’s always a plane in the sky and people traveling around the world. The colors are inspired by the sunrises and sunsets of Colorado because we have so much sunshine every year. When you get closer, the upward motion of the culture in the infinite loop resembles takeoff and landing during those times of day.

It took a while to create a concept because I wanted to ensure that each decision was truly thoughtful and showcased the best of Colorado to those living within our state, as well as those visiting.