Rocky Mountain Calliope

Artist

Chris Pruneski

Year

2024

Location

Art in Action Tent, south of Old Town Square on Mountain Avenue

Description

A calliope is a large, steam-powered organ created in the late 19th century. They were popular among river boats and circus trains, meant to signal that a fun time is on the way. Chris feels as though the mountains and natural areas around Fort Collins are similar to a calliope, beckoning people to them and guaranteeing enjoyment for many. The design combines motifs from Victorian Era steam calliopes and flowers, natural landscapes, and animals from the area in a colorful symphony.

Christina "Chris" Pruneski is a Colorado-raised relief print, pyrography, and acrylic media artist. She has been doing art since childhood and has been doing it professionally for half a decade. In 2021 she moved to Fort Collins from Flagstaff, Arizona, and has been inspired by the community and environment in the area; she loves getting out in nature, hiking, camping, and foraging. Victorian and Medieval imagery from books and advertisements are what she looks to for motifs and symbolism, and she combines them with regional flora, fauna, and landscapes to create unique and complex visuals.

Photos