Through the Art in Public Buildings program, the Wyoming Arts Council is pleased to announce the selected artworks “Vigilance,” to be created by Tiimo Mang (Colorado), and “Fire Team,” by Robert Martinez (Wyoming), will be installed in the Wyoming State Forestry Helibase.
The Artist’s rendering of the exterior sculpture “Vigilance” depicts an American kestrel grasping crossed Pulaski tools. Courtesy Tiimo Mang. h/t Wyoming Arts Council 
The Artist’s rendering of the interior artwork “Fire Team” depicts a Wyoming map with two portraits of fire responders overlaid. Courtesy Robert Martinez. h/t Wyoming Arts Council
These artworks were selected via committee vote, which included key project stakeholders and members from the Casper community. Mang’s piece is inspired by the flight behavior of the native American kestrel, which appears to hover over the landscape. Additionally, a key firefighting tool, the Pulaski, is clutched in its talons as it watches over those who occupy the facility. The work by Martinez will be located indoors and will superimpose current responders’ portraits over historic Wyoming maps while utilizing colors from Wyoming sunsets and the fires with which these responders work.
The Art in Public Buildings program is administered by the Wyoming Arts Council and was established in 1991 to set aside a portion of capital construction funds for the sole use of commissioning public art for the building. Since then, over 200 pieces of art have been placed in and around buildings across Wyoming for the public to enjoy. The process includes a public Request for Qualification (RFQ) process, followed by the invitation of finalists, and review and selection by a unique project committee from the region. Wyoming artists are given preference throughout the process. The Wyoming Arts Council is pleased to welcome Tiimo Mang and Robert Martinez and their site-specific work for the Wyoming State Forestry Helibase to the collection.
To see more of the artists’ work, visit Mang’s website and Martinez’s website. You can also learn more about the Wyoming Arts Council here.