I’d like to thank Richard Ballantine for being a champion of art on this campus. It is because of him that the once empty wall of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College is now home to Reflections, an original creation of artist Volkan Alkanoglu.
Reflections is a colorful and distinctive piece that was inspired by the powerful landscapes that surround Durango and FLC. As any good art does, I expect it to inspire interest and debate among those who see it.
Art has the ability to make an immediate impression on the viewer. As Richard puts it, “outdoor art can add shapes, textures and colors that bring life to otherwise predictable settings. Viewing that art, and possibly being close to it, adds a little more spark to a person’s day.” With Reflections, Richard is bringing a gift to those who see it, stop, and pass by with a greater freedom of spirit.