Two community surveys to help shape public art and a new history museum exhibition
The city of Aurora Library and Cultural Services Department is looking for community input, via two surveys, for the creation of a new exhibition at the Aurora History Museum focused on the Filipino community, and for words of inspiration for an upcoming sculpture that will commemorate the state’s 150th and the country’s 250th anniversaries.
The Art in Public Places program commissioned a sculpture at Mission Viejo Park to Aurora-based artist Christine Nguyen, who will incorporate words with wishes, hopes and reflections provided by the local community in different languages via the survey. The selected words will become part of the art piece in different ways, incorporated into the sculptural artwork, used in related artworks and printed, or shredded and buried with the installation to decompose into the earth –a process that creates a symbolic cycle of renewal and remembrance.
Nguyen was selected by a community-based panel out of 130 applicants. The working title of her sculpture is “Constellation to Time,” and is set to be completed in June of 2026. Community members are invited to share their thoughts for the upcoming public art at EngageAurora.org/ArtUniverse by Oct. 31.
The award-winning exhibition series “Mosaic of Cultures” by the Aurora History Museum is also starting to gather community input for the creation of its upcoming new exhibition, now with focus on Aurora’s Filipino population. Last month, the museum announced that a community panel selected the Filipino-American Colorado Community as their partner and concentration of the upcoming exhibition, “A Mosaic of Cultures: Aurora’s Filipino Community,” set to open in April of 2026.
In the past, “Mosaic of Cultures” has showcased some of Aurora’s largest immigrant communities, Ethiopia, El Salvador, Mexico and Nepal. The latter earned the Aurora History Museum the regional award for Leadership and Innovation Award by the Mountains Plains Museum Association.
To complete the survey to help develop the exhibition, visit EngageAurora.org/MosaicOfCultures by Dec. 31.