Seven ice sculptures of large human ears make up the “Are you Listening” installation that is on display in Vail, Colo., and represents the work of DU professor Lawrence Argent

Argent, who teaches sculpting in the School of Art and Art History, collaborated with Scott Rella, a local sculptor, to create the $35,000 installation. 

Argent was commissioned to create the ice installation for the third Triumph Winterfest in Vail. The piece is located at the Gore Creek Promenade in mid-Vail and has been on display since January.

Argent teaches a sculpture workshop during the winter quarter. He also is the artist of “I see what you mean,” the installation of a big blue bear peering through the glass windows of the Colorado Convention Center. 

For the ice installation, Argent developed the concept and visualized the finished piece, while Rella sculpted the ice to fit the design. Argent has been commissioned to design ice sculptures for the past three years and the design of each installation is unique to where it will be displayed.  For instance, the conch shells found along Gore Creek inspired the ear sculptures. Since conch shells are often held to the ear to hear the “swoosh” of tide water, Argent used the concept of listening and hearing as the theme of this year’s installation.

Argent described the concept as “primarily simple,” with the art addressing the components of hearing and listening. Argent’s belief is that, in a way, the culture we live in enables us to filter what we hear and what we shut out.

“We shut off a lot,” said Argent. “It has a lot to do with the aspect of making a shorter time frame for listening.”

Argent said the installation questions the disconnect between what we hear and what we are actually listening to and what is being said to us.

Argent said the installation provides an auditory component, relating to his original idea, in that viewers often stick their head inside the ears as though they are large conch shells.

To create the sculptures, the ice was aerated to create crystal-clear ice. To keep the ice shiny, the surface was torched to remove the build-up of frost. LED lights were placed under the foundation to project light through the ice. and create different colors that alternate in intensity.

The sculptures are left at their location until they either melt or become dangerous, in which case they are demolished.