“Amanda, Fireflies, Abby and Sunshowers”
at Babies 'R' Us
Updated December 23, 2009
Four bronze sculptures capturing the carefree nature of childhood are installed at the entrance to the Babies 'R' Us shopping center, located at 11540 South Street.
The four figures are placed in a fountain of rocks and waterfalls, circled by bright yellow gazanias. “Fireflies” depicts a boy of five or six inspecting the bugs he has caught in an old jelly jar. “Amanda,” at the front of the fountain, shows a little girl in summer clothes plunked down in a field of wildflowers. “Abby,” on the west side of the fountain, features a young girl gazing down at her hand-picked spring bouquet. “Sunshowers,” the newest figure added to the sculpture in 2004, stands near the very top of the fountain and depicts a young girl basking under a large sunflower.
The figures were crafted by Colorado artist Jane DeDecker, who often uses her many nieces and nephews as models. The daughter of an Iowa farmer, DeDecker and her family moved to Loveland, Colorado in the early 1970's, where she followed her mother's artistic path, working her way up to the position of master craftsman at Lundeen Studios. Now self-employed, she has since created more than 150 limited-edition bronze sculptures, many of which have been commissioned for display at government facilities, schools, libraries and corporate headquarters across the country. Her work is also included in many private art collections, including the late singer Michael Jackson's.
