Comfortable with any medium and material, Lonnie is a design daredevil with a true DaVinci spirit: multi-disciplined, cross-trained, and absolutely fearless. With an astute sense of visual dramatics and a understanding of the classic rules of storytelling, Lonnie has a reputation for amazing crowds around the globe with his highly original works. His various product lines and licensing deals have run the gamut, from sculpted designer lollipops to high-end costume jewelry.
Lonnie was appointed Wizard in Residence at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Denver in 2008. While there, he designed Hudson Holiday, a 15-acre lighting spectacular presented at The Hudson Gardens & Event Center in 2009 and 2010. Additionally, while at MOA he created installations, exhibits and new works for the collection.
Lonnie has created several landmark public works of art, including “Evolution of the Ball”, a gateway sculpture at Coors Field baseball stadium in Denver. Other major Colorado installations can be seen at Palazzo Verdi, Samson Park, Red Rocks Community College, and throughout the Kenneth King Performing Arts Center. National works include Mazza Gallerie in Washington, D.C. and Neiman-Marcus Corporate Collection in Walnut Creek, California.
In 1994, Lonnie co-designed the largest Christmas display in Hong Kong history. In 1997, on the eve of Hong Kong’s historic handover to the People’s Republic of China, he designed and produced major commemorative events at North Point and Pacific Place, Hong Kong’s most prestigious shopping hotspots.
During the late 1990’s, Lonnie designed and directed the revitalization and renovation of Downtown Denver’s holiday scene. The Downtown district was reignited with displays on the mile-long 16th Street pedestrian mall, Larimer Square, Lower Downtown (LoDo), and Union Station. During that time, he also rebuilt the annual Parade of Lights, an annual holiday tradition in Denver.
Notable among his earlier work, “12/25 – A Holiday Store”, in Omaha, Nebraska, was so visually and experientially compelling that it became the first retail store in the country to charge admission for the purpose of crowd control.
