ART ON THE ROOF 3 | THRIVE 10 | VETERANS’ VOICE 18 | BIKE THE BESSEMER 22
Vol. 3 No. 11
NOVEMBER 13, 2024
• DIG DEEPER •
Pueblo’s ‘Remembering’ Memorial
| COMMUNITY | ACCOUNTABILITY | CURIOSITY | CONNECTION |
A space for healing and ancestral connection By Helen Eberhardie Dunn
“Remembering” is more than just a physical space; it catalyzes individual and collective healing. Central to Pueblo’s history, water is symbolic in the memorial, representing both a life-giving force and the destruction caused by the Great Flood of 1921. The memorial’s interactive design symbolizes interconnectedness by incorporating earth, air, fire, water, and space. The memorial’s centerpiece is the Sky Bed, a multi-ton block of Colorado Yule Marble. Visitors can lie down and gaze at the sky surrounded by steel monoliths representing compass directions. The Sky Bed invites contemplation and to “take a breath, be present, and remember.” Here, we can connect with our ancestors and the land by orienting ourselves in space and time to feel a more profound sense of belonging. Swallows, represented here in simplified form, migrate through Pueblo each year, symbolizing hope and renewal and reminding us
Photo courtesy of Helen Dunn
“Remembering,” a contemporary interfaith memorial, addresses Pueblo’s history while offering a place for the community to explore ancestral grief and foster healing. The project is rooted in Pueblo’s unique backstory. Originally home to Kiowa, Arapahoe, and Jicarilla Apache, and later a bustling trading post on the U.S.-Mexico border, the city has long grappled with cultural connectedness and continuity. “Remembering” seeks to acknowledge this history and provide a platform for ancestral healing.
Artist rendition of a new art installation which seeks to create a space for healing and remembrance in a city marked by cultural diversity and a complex history.
of the cyclical nature of life and the importance of remembrance. Materials for the sculpture will be locally sourced in Colorado. ‘Remembering’ continued on page 16
Ranchers, farmers rich soil for skin cancer By Brayden Healey, DO, Vanguard Skin Specialists “Hey, Doc, question for you. Is it okay if I go out to round up the cows this morning?” It is a cell phone call most physicians don’t ever get early on a Saturday morning, but one that is a practical reality for those who serve the rural and ranching communities.
Chris Morlan family
“Keep it covered, keep it clean, and call me if you need me.”
Just three days prior, Kenneth McMurtrey, a rancher from Trinidad who has been working the land for decades, had joined the ranks of millions of Americans living with skin cancer. Fortunately, he and his dermatologist caught his skin cancer early before extensive invasion had occurred. Furthermore, he underwent prompt treatment utilizing Mohs Micrographic Surgery, the gold standard treatment for many non-melanoma skin cancers.
Combining his early detection with effective treatment, his cancer was little more than a bump in the road. Unfortunately for many Americans their skin cancer journey can be far less conspicuous. This is especially the case for those in rural areas where responsibilities and access to care prevent early detection. Ranchers continued on page 20