Colorado Artist Uses Natural Materials To Create Stunning Keepsake Awards
John Haertling. Photo by Heidi Howard Photography.
Each year musical groups who play at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre get to take home a little piece of Colorado as a “thank you” memento for their performance.
John Haertling, founder of Haertling Awards, created 1,128 artistic award pieces in 2021, 28 of which were for Red Rocks.
The venue and concert promoters give each band a “Piece of the Rock” award — art pieces made from flagstone, similar to what surrounds the amphitheatre. The rock Haertling uses does not come from the renowned venue, however — it’s against park rules to collect stone from the Denver-owned property. Instead, he gathers the flagstone from nearby areas along Colorado’s Front Range.
“It’s an important commemorative piece,” Haertling says. “Red Rocks was the last existing amphitheater that the Beatles performed in.”'
Jimmy Buffett, Stevie Nicks, Willie Nelson, The Grateful Dead, Nathaniel Rateliff and Stevie Wonder are among the hundreds of musicians who have received a “Piece of the Rock” award over the years.
With a degree in design from California State University, Haertling returned to his native Boulder, Colorado in 1984 where he began making art — one a large flowing piece titled “Continuous Form” commissioned by the city of Boulder. It stands on the corner of Arapahoe and 30th.
The Boulder Chamber of Commerce then asked Haertling to create an award for an entrepreneur event it was hosting, which began a career of making unique awards for corporations, nonprofit organizations and various land agencies.
When eight world leaders, including U.S. President Bill Clinton, met for the Summit of the Eight meeting in Denver in 1997, Haertling made each one a special Colorado gift.
“I discovered John Haertling and saw that he made awards with Colorado materials,” recalls Karen Gerwitz, who, as Chief of Protocol for Colorado Gov. Roy Romer that year, hired Haertling to do the work.
“I researched the eight leaders and learned that two were mineral collectors. So, I found someone to donate the mineral rhodochrosite from a mine in Alma,” Haertling adds. The rare stone appears in the centerpiece of each award, which also includes marble, flagstone and brass.
Photo courtesy of John Haertling.
Photo courtesy of John Haertling.
Photo courtesy of John Haertling.
Haertling, 62, also works with glass, crystal, slate, granite and fused glass. He often uses reclaimed cedar for the base. “It’s the combination of materials that’s unique,” he notes.
As current president of the World Trade Center in Denver, Gerwitz continues to work with Haertling when she needs awards for various functions. “He’s my go-to person; he is so artistic,” she says.
Another ongoing client is History Colorado, who recognizes several historical projects each year in honor of Colorado’s first Historical Preservation Officer, Stephen H. Hart. Haertling has been creating awards for the History Colorado honorees since 2011.
“He’s really thoughtful and creative when incorporating Colorado components,” says Sara Doll, State Historical Fund Outreach Grants Specialist.
For example, for the historical preservation officer award, Haertling used limestone and sandstone — common materials used in historic buildings in Colorado. For the state archaeologist award, he sourced beetle kill wood, and for the Governor’s Award, Haertling incorporated pieces of gold from sheets that were removed from the State Capitol dome while the building was undergoing repairs and renovation.
Clients also include the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Colorado Parks Service, Colorado State Parks Trails Symposium, Colorado Youth Corps, Native American Rights Fund, Vail Resorts, Winter Park Resort, Aspen Celebrity Downhill and the Colorado State Land Board (CSLB) — a state agency that distributes money to public schools from funds raised by leasing land to various entities. The CSLB honors four of its lease-holders each year for their land stewardship.
“[The awards] are stunning and unique,” says Kristin Kemp, CSLB outreach and communications officer. “We were familiar with his work; that’s why we selected him. He makes such amazing awards.” The (CSLB) awards resemble the Flatirons that make up a portion of the Boulder foothills, she explains.
“The other factor in selecting John is that he’s a local creator here in Colorado,” she adds.
For several years Haertling created awards for the U.S. Olympic Committee to give out for its Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year and Team of the Year awards.
Haertling moved his company 20 years ago from Boulder to the Colorado Technology Business Park in Louisville, where he employs four people, and has an office, shop and showroom.
Learn more at haertlingawards.com.
Originally published in the Spring 2022 of Spoke+Blossom.