The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs is set to present this year's Wings of Change sculpture collection to the public, continuing a tradition now entering its 19th year of combining local artwork with community fundraising.
The debut viewing will take place the evening of August 28, 2026, at the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, located at 215 N. Tejon Street, with doors open from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Attendance at the Grand Reveal is free.
This year's lineup of original works by local artists includes three hummingbird pieces by Al B., and funds raised through the program go toward Colorado Springs schools, scholarships, teacher recognition initiatives, and Rotary service efforts both in the region and overseas. Hummingbirds represent a new addition to the 2026 collection, joining the butterflies and dragonflies that have anchored the program in prior years.
The decision to center the collection on those particular insects was intentional, as butterflies and dragonflies are broadly recognized as symbols of transformation — precisely the idea Wings of Change is built around. Rotary Club Past President Trevor Dierdorff spoke to the collection's dual purpose, saying "every sculpture tells a story, and every sculpture helps support projects that strengthen our schools, neighborhoods and communities."
Once the museum event concludes, the sculptures will be distributed to sites around the city for residents and visitors to enjoy before heading to auction at a celebration planned for October 3, 2026, at Hotel Polaris, 8989 Northgate Blvd., from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring cocktails, a silent auction, dinner, a live auction, and a raffle. The annual auction has attracted buyers from across the United States.
Those who want to take part without attending the gala can enter the raffle; only 2,000 tickets are being sold at $10 apiece, payable in exact cash or by check to the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs Community Service Fund, and are available through club members or at Altus Wealth Group, 423 S. Cascade Ave.
Wings of Change is not the club's only major project this year. The Rotary Club is also renovating the historic 1914 Acacia Park Bandshell, with the completed facility to be called the Rotary Club Bandshell at Acacia Park and expected to accommodate more than 100 events annually. The club describes the two efforts together as an expression of its commitment to creating spaces where people gather, experience the arts, and strengthen personal ties.
Whether the newly introduced hummingbird sculptures attract new collectors at the October auction — and how much the 2026 collection ultimately raises for local schools and scholarships — will become clear after the gala concludes.