Evident through its shiny gold patina, Circle of Peace in Benson Sculpture Garden has become one of Loveland’s most beloved bronzes since its dedication 25 years ago.
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For 25 years, the sculpture has invited visitors to join hands alongside seven children playing Ring Around the Rosie, just the way sculptor Gary Lee Price intended.
But the piece took on a different meaning in 2001 when it was placed in Loveland to honor 40-year-old Julia “Julie” Moser, who was killed in the 1998 Swissair Flight 111 crash off the coast of Nova Scotia that killed 215 passengers and 14 crew members.
“I was unbelievably moved … the fact that this would celebrate this tragedy, this horrific tragedy,” Price said. “I can’t even tell you the excitement and joy and humility that hit me when Loveland, and Jim and Carol Moser (Julie’s father and stepmother), and I got together and they told me why they wanted this in the park together.”
Julie’s father, Loveland resident Jim Moser who died in 2014, said Julie wanted to become rich and famous and buy a sculpture, according to the Loveland Reporter-Herald article on the sculpture’s dedication ceremony July 7, 2001. He said the gap between the children represents his daughter’s missing place in the circle, also according to the 2001 Reporter-Herald story.
“Julie didn’t have a burial site,” Jim Moser said in 2001. “This is so much better.”
Price said the sculpture represents children from all walks of life joined together in happiness, a feeling he said he’s been trying to capture in his art after experiencing a traumatic childhood himself.
The piece’s first significant placement was in Benson Sculpture Garden in 2001, Price said. He first sculpted Circle of Peace in 1999 after getting inspired by children who came to play in the small sculpture garden outside of his Utah home while he just so happened to be doing a video interview for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“They are out running in the yard all over the place,” Price said about the moment. “ … Later I am watching this video, and I put it in slow-mo, and I go ‘Oh my gosh, what a beautiful symbol of coming together, kids playing, of joy and happiness.’”
At first the sculpture was designed fully closed, Price revealed, saying it wasn’t until he began actually sculpting the life size version that he thought of leaving space for someone to join.
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“It hit … and then kids can come and complete the circle and the whole thing took on a whole deeper level of meaning and that’s why it became the title Circle of Peace instead of just Ring Around the Rosie.
Price said it made sense to have the sculpture dedicated to Julie’s life after hearing from the Mosers that her favorite place to visit in Loveland was the sculpture park.
The sculptor said he also remembers feeling spiritually connected to the Mosers during the dedication ceremony, maybe because of his own ability to understand trauma, and described feeling a kinship toward their daughter because of their mutual joy for traveling.
“I’ve often said I’m reliving my childhood,” Price said. “And that’s why the happiness comes through in these pieces.”
Loveland resident Donna Williams, whose 7-year-old-graddaughters were joining hands with the sculpture Thursday, said that seeing her grandchildren enjoy similar activities her children also did over 20 years ago has been a special experience.
“It’s just a special place … We’ve been going there a long time,” Williams said. “Our kids and all of our grandkids have done Ring Around the Rosie.”
Her granddaughters were climbing all over the statue Thursday — the same way countless other children have other the last 25 years, and the same way Price hopes visitors continue for decades to come.
“One of the greatest compliments a sculptor can receive is when the patina is worn to a shiny gold,” Price said. “And when I saw that, I thought, ‘Okay, people get it. They are in constant contact with this piece.’ That is just the ultimate compliment.”
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