Timeless Treasures: Art and Statues at Graland
As Graland approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027, the school enjoys sharing stories of its vibrant history.
This article shares background on a handful of the many pieces of art that adorn Graland’s campus.
This article shares background on a handful of the many pieces of art that adorn Graland’s campus.
As 2027 approaches, there will be many opportunities to honor Graland’s 100 years of excellence. Memories abound in the school archives, as well as in the two main school history books that are available to view on the school website and in the stories passed down between generations. We are fortunate to be able to reflect on the past and look forward to a bright future.
Click to read more about Graland’s history and to access digital versions of the books referenced in this article.
Alphabet Tiles:
The unique terracotta alphabet tiles installed outside the entrance of the Georgia Nelson Building have a history connected to Denver and the Hirschfeld family. A.B. Hirschfeld ran a printing business at 655 Speer Boulevard starting in approximately 1949, where terracotta alphabet tiles framed the art deco entrance. When the business outgrew the location and the company sold the building, A.B.’s grandson and company CEO, Barry Hirschfeld (current Graland grandparent and parent of two Graland alumni), asked permission to extract the alphabet tiles that were so meaningful to his family. He and his wife, Arlene, knew Graland was the right home for the alphabet. They donated the tiles during the construction of the Georgia Nelson Building and the alphabet was installed as the finishing touch in 1995. Learn more at graland.org/alphabettiles.
Eagle Statue:
The eagle statue that currently sits outside the Hamilton-Reiman Building was purchased in the fall of 2018 thanks to a meaningful anonymous donation to Graland and was installed in spring 2019 to replace a previous wooden eagle sculpture that was donated by alumni of the Class of 2001 and unfortunately fell to deterioration from weather.
The current statue was created by Otto Schweizer (1863-1955), a sculptor born in Switzerland who came to New York in 1894 and eventually settled in Philadelphia. Graland’s eagle was likely a piece of a larger statue. The eagle is made of bronze, and the green color (patina) is the result of oxidation that occurs with bronze over a long period of time. If one looks closely, they can see Schweizer’s name on the bottom of the piece on the right side. The large block of sandstone was quarried from Lyons, Colorado specifically to be the base for this sculpture.
Little Baseball Boy:
The bronze statue of the little baseball boy in the Graland Fieldhouse lobby was
created by Georgene McGonagle. McGonagle is the parent of three Graland alumni, who were all athletes and inspired her creations. The statue was anonymously donated to Graland in the 1980s to honor McGonagle. The donor was a Graland community member who was considered a “beloved friend of the family.” Two special facts about this statue are: The baseball bat has a copyright on it, and there is another cast of this image in Cherry Creek North. Learn more about Georgene McGongagle at gmcgonaglestudio.com.
created by Georgene McGonagle. McGonagle is the parent of three Graland alumni, who were all athletes and inspired her creations. The statue was anonymously donated to Graland in the 1980s to honor McGonagle. The donor was a Graland community member who was considered a “beloved friend of the family.” Two special facts about this statue are: The baseball bat has a copyright on it, and there is another cast of this image in Cherry Creek North. Learn more about Georgene McGongagle at gmcgonaglestudio.com.
“Nancy”:
Statue (Girl Sitting and Reading a Book) by Lower School Climbing Structure Playground:
Sandwiched between the Lower School playground and the Georgia Nelson building is a bronze statue of a little girl reading her book, a book whose first line is “Once Upon a Time.” Many of you have probably passed the statue and wondered about its significance. The statue is named “Nancy” in honor of Graland Master Teacher Nancy “Connie” Ankeliein, who worked at Graland from 1975-2000 and who is remembered by former students and colleagues for her love of teaching and reading.
Inspire Birch Trees:
“These trees were designed to demonstrate the power of teaching, the power of learning, and the power of education.” - Tony Ball, Artist.
The large color-changing creations, made out of aluminum, resemble birch trees and pay homage to the school’s original address, 30 Birch Street. The trees also symbolize growth, knowledge, learning, and reaching for great heights, all attributes Graland seeks for its educators and students. The idea for this project came to life in March of 2021 in conjunction with the Inspire Campaign, during which Graland raised more than $10M for a designated endowment that funds the school’s remastered and elevated faculty compensation system. The artist of this new and captivating piece is Tony Ball from Tork Collaborative Arts (Columbus, OH).
Learn more at graland.org/inspiretrees.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
