'Here to shine hope on the future:' Human lumanaria art installation draws 40 to Main Street

Light and remembrance came to Old Town Saturday. Longmont’s LeftHand Artist Group held an art installation to honor those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the essential workers who have supported communities in 2020.

The art installation, called a human luminaria, or “humanaria,” drew nearly 40 people and families who braved the cold to participate. Each created large-sized paper bag luminarias, which they decorated with beautiful cut-outs to let light shine through. They lined the sides of Main Street at least 6 feet apart, beginning at the intersection of Third Avenue.

Participants were quiet, and traffic was busy. Occasionally, car horns honked in solidarity.

Kathy Crohn and her daughters, 13-year-old Clara and 11-year-old Caroline, were among those who joined in the tribute.

“We lost my mom this year, not due to COVID, but we wanted to come down and personally honor her. Because of COVID we haven’t been able to celebrate her life, which we would have liked to,” Kathy Crohn said. “We also wanted to honor and be a part of all the loss that we’ve had during COVID.”

Clara Crohn said she was glad to be with her family at the event. “It makes me appreciate the people I have in my life,” she said.

LeftHand Artist Group secretary Tony Kindelspire conceived the installation. He wanted to unite the community during the holidays in a challenging year.

“It’s encouraging to see folks come out and to show some solidarity, show some Strongmont. It’s for a good reason. It’s been one of those years, and it’s a good way to celebrate what we all miss,” Kindelspire said before pointing across the street to some luminaria holders who were talking to others passing by. “Then you have somebody asking, ‘Hey, what’s that?’ That’s the whole point.”

Kindelspire also said he was pleased participants were following safety measures. “I think that everyone’s socially distanced. I’m pleased,” he said.

Rachel Scala and Nicolas Welch live in Nederland but came to the event because they heard about it through the artists’ group. 

“My understanding is that we’re here to shine hope on the future and honor everyone who lost their lives and essential workers,” Scala said. “We also want to shine a light on all the lessons we learned in 2020.”

They were unfazed by the cold. 

”It’s chilly, but it’s nice to be out here and to see a number of other folks out here, too,” Welch said. “We want to shine a little light during what is already a darker season in winter, but especially with everything that’s already going on this year.”

Bonnie Gutierrez used her time at the event to consider how the pandemic affected her family. 

“I’m here to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives and to all essential workers. Actually, my son is a truck driver and ever since the beginning of it, he’s been working every day. His wife is an in-home respiratory therapist. I watch the grandkids,” she said.

The luminarias the group held are a fitting way to demonstrate light and hope. Smaller versions are often lit on Christmas Eve in the Southwest and more sporadically in other parts of the United States and they are traditionally seen as a sign of hope.  

Amy Heneghan, board member for the LeftHand Artist Group, summed up the reasons many were present; “This has been such a tumultuous year on so many levels. For me, part of it is paying reverence to the lessons (of the year) ... I’m all about coming out of the darkness and being the light.”