Opus Series (2003) and Oasis 64 (1995), Bill Burgess

Oasis 64 and Opus Series were created by local Colorado Springs sculptor Bill Burgess. With a catalog of work spanning 50 years, Burgess has multiple pieces placed in public and private spaces all around Colorado. He has worked with a variety of materials, often choosing metal. Spirals and curved surfaces serve as stylistic hallmarks for the artist. Perhaps Burgess is best known for his massive public sculpture, Continuum (also known as the Julie Penrose fountain). Located in America the Beautiful Park in downtown Colorado Springs, the massive metal loop, also functions as a fountain.  

Continuum shares similar DNA with Opus and Oasis 64. The Opus Series, or rusted steel piece, places an emphasis on form and materials. Burgess’s signature spiral shapes are present along with his attention to material choice. A square piece of metal loops in on itself in Opus creating a circular gateway. His choice of rusted steel complements the surrounding landscape. Standing in stark contrast to the aluminum of the Ent Center for the Arts Building.  

The bright orange Oasis 64 carries a similar curvature to Opus but also has a linear element, as you can note by the branch-like structure stemming from the bottom and spiraling up into the center of the circle. It is said that Burgess enjoyed playing with opposing structures and elements in his art to show the contrast between, for example, softness and hardness, or straight and curved. His sculptures reference symbolic forms in nature and cultures.  

Upon his passing in 2017, Bill Burgess’s wife and family created the Bill Burgess Memorial Fund for Emerging Artists to carry on his legacy. Its mission: to support and kick-start the careers of emerging artists exhibiting at the Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. 

Audio by Hossein Forouzandeh, for the Galleries of Contemporary Art at UCCS, 2023.