Downtown Grand Junction Colorado Memorial Art Vandalized

For years, Warren Barnes was a figure of downtown Grand Junction. Unfortunately, Barnes, a homeless man, was tragically and senselessly murdered by a local resident but his memory will live downtown forever in the form of a statue.

The statue was created by Tim Navin of Sparks Fly Studio and is permanently installed in the breezeway outside of Monique’s Bridal Shop and Out West Books where Barnes would spend a lot of his time.

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Barnes was a beloved figure in downtown Grand Junction and one of the people who cared about him a lot, Allie Telinde, also tragically passed away in 2022 at the age of 30, prompting Navin to create an addition to Barnes's statue, a metallic flower, to honor her memory as well.

However, according to Navin and the official Facebook page of Sparks Fly Studio, the flower dedicated to the memory of Telinde has been stolen.

The beautiful, metal rose sat upon the replica of Warren Barnes's chair, a perfect spot to remember the woman who cared so much about the 69-year-old man and treated him with the utmost kindness.

One of the most magical things about downtown Grand Junction is the plethora of beautiful, tasteful art installations and while they are aplenty, this particular piece is more than likely one of the most cherished and revered.

As you can see above, artist Tim Navin is actively seeking information regarding what happened to the rose he created in Telinde's memory and the simple fact that it has been stolen is heartbreaking on a number of levels.