Globeville Mural 2014 Update!

Sunday, August 3, 2014: Despite torrential rain, sloping sites with speeding cars and jammed scissor lifts, the painting goes on! PlatteForum’s ArtLab has been painting their second mural at Globeville, undaunted by challenges from mother nature! Stop by Monday and Tuesday, August 4 & 5, to watch ArtLab teens and master artist Carlo Fresquez complete their work.Lead Artist Carlos Fresquez from Metropolitan State University of Denver (with Metro students John Plehinger and Michael Diaz-Rivera) have guided ArtLab through the creative process in order to contribute to the growing body of public art in the Globeville neighborhood. The planning process included visiting both recently installed and historical public art sites in downtown Denver and reflecting on the interviews and community meetings with Globeville residents last year. In July ArtLab completed a number of brainstorming, drawing and design sessions to create a collective piece that includes ideas from ArtLab interns and the voices of the community members that ArtLab interviewed. During this process, ArtLab developed their knowledge of techniques used to create murals, including how to create representations to scale and use a grid system to expand a drawing, and how to discuss their work using an artist's technical vocabulary.Painting started Monday July 28th and culminates Tuesday evening August 5 at 46th and Lincoln in Globeville. We expect another exciting mural and great community interaction and will hold a public mural ribbon cutting celebration to celebrate the new public art piece at the end of the summer. Stay tuned for details on the ribbon cutting ceremony.The mural project is supported by Denver’s Urban Arts Fund, and City Councilwoman Judy Montero’s office, ProForm brushes, Swinerton Builders, Sherwin-Williams and a crew of volunteers!About the muralAt the heart of the mural is a treasure chest that can be viewed as a metaphor for the Globeville neighborhood. Out of the chest emerges a hand holding a key, the chest has unlocked itself from within and many things have emerged. The bright light and variety of objects that emerge from the chest are intended to capture the vibrant and diverse group of people and interests that can be found in the neighborhood. ArtLab chose to use this abstract means of representing the strength of the people in this community after reviewing the interviews and meetings they recorded last year. The chest rests on a bed of flowers with the word "Globeville" included as a transparent script, enveloped by the natural elements, which reflects current efforts to return Globeville to a healthy natural ecology.