MyShadowProductions #27 - Sound Totems in Denver

Hello again!

I know you were probably losing sleep wondering what that little door was in the tree shown in my last post :) Well, with the help of Google, I found out:

“This project hosts a series of miniature, solar-powered, public music venues. Each space is custom built and into an accessible public space featuring different local musicians. The various totems can be located across Denver and are meant to be found by surprise. However, if you have made your way to this website you are welcome to locate totems specifically, just visit the Sound Totem Website (http://www.soundtotem.com/). (Not working :(. )

The original prototype totem is installed in the Uptown neighborhood on the northwest corner of 17th and Washington, a high-traffic pedestrian area and restaurant row. (2011?)

It is installed directly into a Catalpa Tree (otherwise the Catawba Tree), a local deciduous tree that grows naturally in Colorado. The word Catawba originates from the Catawba Native American tribe, Sioux speaking peoples, and translates to Totem. The tree has a companion, the Catawba Caterpillar or worm that feeds on leaves of the tree. The wood has historically been used as tone wood specifically in creating guitars. The featured musicians are a group of local bratty rockers, The Babysitters (http://www.sparkythedog.com/babysitters. htm). Their lead wrote this original piece, Gigantic Sunglasses.” Click here for the original article for this quote and opening video.

The Sound Totem I found by surprise was the highlighted one and the photo is below:

Additional photo with door open and the solar panels in the tree:

This Sound Totem is located at the northwest corner of 17th and Washington in the Uptown neighborhood of Denver.

The music was not working the day I opened the door.

Click here for a YouTube video taken by kurlygirl47 when the music was playing.

According to this article, there are at least three other Sound Totems in the Denver Metro area.

Found the Sound Totem at J. Langston Boyd Park, the door was missing and Sound Totem not working :(

J. Langston Boyd Park is located in the Skyland neighborhood in northeast Denver.

Walked through most of the very large City Park on January 7, 2021 but did not spot a Sound Totem??? :(

I returned to City Park on January 13, 2021 with the following photo copied from the Sound Totem artist’s, Nikki Pike, article listed above:

I do not know the date of the previous photo, but I took the following photo on January 13, 2021 in City Park, along York Street, and I am confident that it is the same location and tree. Unfortunately, the Sound Totem is no longer there.

January 12, 2021, I found the Sound Totems at McDonough Park and Huston Lake Park :)

McDonough Park is in the Berkeley/Harkness Heights neighborhood in northwest Denver:

This Sound Totem was not working, “needed a rest”, according to the sign!

Huston Lake Park is in the Athmar Park neighborhood in southwest Denver:

The music worked at this Sound Totem!! :)

This is a short movie/video taken by MyShadow:

The following map shows the Sound Totem locations in the Denver area that I am aware of:

This was/is a very cool and ambitious idea/creation by Nikki Pike and it has been fun finding the Sound Totems that I am aware of, I will definitely keep my ears and eyes open for others :)

One other thing I learned, it is nearly impossible to walk in Denver Parks, on the sidewalks/paths or not, without getting Goose shIT on your shoes!!