"Artist Douwe Blumberg unveils centerpiece memorial for the victims of the Aurora theater shooting
By Joella Baumann, The Denver Post, August 26, 2017 at 7:49 pm; UPDATED: November 22, 2017 at 1:22 pm
Five years after uniting in sorrow, the city of Aurora gathered Saturday to see a vision of the future.
Douwe Blumberg, of Lexington, Ky., unveiled his design for the avian-themed memorial for the victims of the 2012 Aurora theater shooting. It will be the centerpiece of the Reflection Memorial Garden, which sits across the road from the scene of the massacre.
The piece will consist of 83 cranes, each 4 1/2 feet tall. Thirteen in the center will be made of clear acrylic so that light will shine through as representations of those who lost their lives. Each bird will include a cannister containing tokens of remembrance from that victim’s family.
The surrounding 70 birds, representing the injured, flock toward the sky.
“That night people from all over the country — all walks of life, ethnic and racial backgrounds — were all caught up in a whirlwind,” Blumberg said. “I wanted to represent that, but to create a sense of serenity and healing. Ten to 20 years from now, when the memorial has faded from public consciousness, people will still appreciate this work and come here to reflect and heal.
“The common thread was that (the families) all wanted to share their stories — not specific to that night. I didn’t want to give that monster (the gunman) power. I didn’t want to memorialize what he did.”
The selection of Blumberg, chosen after an extensive interview process, was announced Saturday at the 7/20 Memorial Foundation’s annual 5K run and Beer Fest Fundraiser.
Cheer Colorado, an adult volunteer cheer team, kicked off the run at 9 a.m. Runners started at the memorial garden, traveled along the High Line Canal Trail to Centre Hills Park and back.
After the run, the long-awaited design was unveiled.
Over two months, Blumberg and the three other finalists were tasked with creating a piece that was uplifting and inspiring, rather than solemn and commemorative.
Aurora’s public art coordinator Roberta Bloom, who guided the foundation through the selection process, said Blumberg more than achieved that goal.
“He is not just a great artist, but a great listener. He turned it into something real and meaningful,” she said. “Over the months, we have journeyed together toward this goal. It has truly been a path of growth and healing for everyone involved.”
Blumberg, one of 169 original applicants, has three other public-art pieces in Colorado and has worked on 200 commemorative pieces over his career. Foundation members unanimously chose his design.
Theresa Hoover, mother of slain victim AJ Boik, said her son had planned to attend Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where he wanted to study ceramics.
“I know he’s been watching out for us throughout this project,” she said. “It’s a long process that never ends and we are all family now, whether you like it or not. You’ve got a special place in my heart – all of you.”
Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz, speaking on behalf of the first responders, noted the impact that the community had on him and his decision to come to Colorado from Seattle.
“On 7/20/12, I was still a Seattle officer and not a part of the Aurora family, yet,” he said. “Watching how this city came together was an amazing thing to watch even from 1,000 miles away. In my final interview, I met so many survivors and family members of those who had died. ‘If you get this job, you better take care of our police officers,’ is what they said to me. I knew this was where I wanted to be. There was no doubt in my mind.”
Cheer Colorado ended the news conference with a chant and kicked off the Beer Fest.
The memorial foundation is still about $90,000 short of the $200,000 goal to complete the memorial. The group will continue to do fundraisers. Donations can be made at 7-20memorial.org." (from (
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