One of the newest sculptures in Bend’s public art collection was recently placed at the roundabout located at Colorado Avenue and Columbia Street. Created by Albuquerque artist Karen Yank, the piece, named “Crossroads,” is crafted from Corten and stainless steel.
Yank said that her piece was designed to honor the visionary individuals who transformed Bend from a historic lumber mill town into a vibrant hub of art and culture. Her design reflects Bend’s timber heritage, featuring crossing logs that evoke a stunning waterfall along the rocky cliffs of the Deschutes River.
The sculpture was chosen by the Art in Public Places (AIPP) Committee, along with a representative from Bend’s engineering department, following a public input process that included both online and in-person feedback. Design renderings were displayed on the AIPP website and at local venues such as the Downtown Public Library and Larkspur Community Center in spring 2023.
Romy Mortensen, president of Art in Public Places, remarked, “Karen’s sculpture beautifully enhances the city’s roundabout art collection and symbolizes significant aspects of Bend’s identity, including the historic mills and the cherished Deschutes River.”
The Colorado and Columbia roundabout, which opened in August 2021, serves as a major route through Bend’s west side.
This sculpture will be part of Bend’s public art collection and was funded through a generous donation by the Bend Foundation. Art in Public Places works with the City and the Bend Foundation to administer the selection and installation of the roundabout art in Bend’s public art collection.
