Granby has its first Public Art Committee, comprised of seven individuals who come with a wide variety of artistic backgrounds and reasons for joining the group.
The creation of the town’s new committee followed this summer’s mural festival, and the committee is being crafted as a way to better guide public art projects. The committee is still in its infancy, but its initial members appointed by the town’s board of trustees on Tuesday sound like they’re excited to get to work.
One of them, John Henley, said art and economic growth go hand in hand as he addressed the board of trustees Tuesday night and added: “It’s been proven time and time again that with a devotion to the arts comes money.”
He explained that artwork may not always lead to direct retail sales all the time, but art brings people into town. Also, Henley believes the murals in Granby have slowed drivers down at least 2-5 mph on Agate Avenue.
Another member of the committee, Justin McGuan, explained his reasons for applying for the committee by saying he thinks Granby is moving in a good direction and would like to help steer the town going forward.
At the same time, Hopper Becker recalled entering drawings in the state fair as a child and winning some blue ribbons. He’s now a knife-maker and leather-worker. Becker said he considers himself more of a toolmaker than he does an artist, “but I guess it is art.”
As for his reasons for joining the committee, Becker said he’s not really worried about the medium as much as he is the creative process that goes into it and how public art can affect the town.
“I think the reason that I want to participate in this (committee) is I’ve lived in Granby for quite a while now and I love this town,” Becker said before brining up his young daughters. “They are going to grow up here. This is their town. This is my town. I love Granby.”
The other committee members are Sarah Villa, Autumn Bishop, Deb Brynoff and Sarah Cichon. They were appointed after an initial vote and one runoff.
In other business, the Granby Board of Trustees kicked a request to amend a permit for a gravel pit operation at Reclamation Ridge back to the town’s planning commission. The decision came at the town attorney’s advice because one of the items the landowner was hoping to get changed in the permit pertained to moving a berm from one lot to another. The operation has not started work, and during discussions some board members expressed their frustrations over the landowner returning to the process.
The trustees also looked over a draft letter taking a stance against a marijuana dispensary outside of town limits. The letter was to be signed by Mayor Paul Chavoustie and represent the board’s position against the dispensary for the Grand County commissioners.