Lonnie Hanzon

“It was at first daunting to start carving and essentially breaking apart a musical instrument meant to make music. Like bad actors chewing up the scenery, I felt I was chewing on a Cello. But this galactic cello cabinet emerged from the hacked parts. I always figured that instruments must have fascinating interiors in order to put forth such sounds, and it was fun to turn one inside out to discover this particular instrument's universe.”

Nationally renowned for his over-the-top, incredibly detailed works of art, Colorado artist/inventor Lonnie Hanzon's career began in the performing arts and fashion design, then moved to creating major public works of art, urban entertainment projects, visual merchandising and fine art commissions. His various product lines and licensing deals have run the gamut from sculpted designer lollipops to high-end costume jewelry. Appointed Wizard in residence at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in 2008, his latest feat was designing Hudson Holiday - a 15-acre lighting spectacular presented at The Hudson Gardens & Event Center. Lonnie has created several landmark public works of art, including EVOLUTION OF THE BALL, a massive gateway sculpture at Coors Field and major Colorado installations at Palazzo Verdi, MOA’s Samson Park, Red Rocks Community College, and throughout the Kenneth King Performing Arts Center. Television credits include five Holiday Windows Specials for HGTV designing for Neiman Marcus, a judge on Food Network Challenge (Edible) Holiday Windows, and the television pilot “Lonnie’s World,” a YouTube classic. Lonnie co-designed the largest Christmas display in Hong Kong history, produced a mega-mall launch in North Point ("Little Shanghai"), and in 1997, on the eve of Hong Kong's historic handover to the People's Republic of China, designed and produced a major commemorative event at Hong Kong's prestigious shopping hotspot Pacific Place. In the late 90‘s Lonnie directed and designed the revitalization and renovation of Denver's downtown holiday scene, reigniting the Pedestrian Mall, Larimer Square Lo Do and Union Station, and rebuilt the annual Parade of Lights. One of his first big hits was "12/25 - A Holiday Store." Visually and experientially stunning, it became the first retail store in the nation to charge admission to control crowds. For more information visit www.lonnie.tv