Lance Maggart / lmaggart@skyhinews.com
Granby’s downtown business district will soon be getting a major facelift as officials from the Granby Chamber, Town of Granby and the Denver based artists collective So-Gnar Creative prepare for the town’s upcoming art festival, called RKY MTN WALLS.
“RKY MTN WALLS is a festival celebrating murals and artwork,” said Granby Chamber Director Jessica Blair. “This was tailored for the town of Granby. Our tagline is: experience the alternative!”
The festival, which will kick off on Wednesday June 19, celebrates public art and will feature 16 different artists working in two-person teams on eight different murals throughout downtown Granby. The murals, which will be quite large and intentionally eye-catching, will be painted on the sides of eight different buildings, all on or immediately adjacent US Highway 40, also known as Agate Avenue.
RKY MTN WALLS developed out of the push the Granby Chamber made last year to begin developing a street art scene within the community. Initially the Chamber collaborated with So-Gnar Creative to develop and produce the mural that now covers the retaining wall just east of Grand County EMS and just west of Mavericks. The effort continued with the painting of the mural on the eastern exterior wall of the building that houses the Granby Garage Roadhouse.
“After we finished those two murals we realized there was so much community support,” Blair said. “We wanted to see if it could continue to grow.”
Blair said part of the thinking behind RKY MTN WALLS is to help Granby develop a truly unique community character that sets the town apart from other mountain resort communities. Blair reached out to Pat Milbery, founder of So-Gnar Creative, last fall and they began working to develop a list of professional artists who might be interested in participating. Over time they were able to secure commitments from 16 individuals, most of whom hail from Denver.
Throughout the course of the eight day festival local citizens and visiting guests will get the opportunity to watch as world-class artists work to create one-of-a-kind murals with various themes, colors and design schemes. The week will also feature several parties and public events wherein festivalgoers can enjoy the art centric summer atmosphere and get an opportunity to meet the artists themselves.
The festivities get underway Thursday night, June 20, with a kick-off party at the Granby Chamber Lot on Agate. The Granby Chamber will be hosting their weekly Friday Nights at the Lot party the following day, which will serve as another festival event. The parties continue on Saturday with a day party at the Granby Chamber Lot beginning at noon.
Saturday night will feature a happy hour event at Brickhouse 40 with an artists meet and greet at 8 p.m. Sunday will be kids day for RKY MTN WALLS. Beginning at 11 a.m. at the Chamber Lot youngsters will get the chance to make some art of their own and enjoy other amenities, such as hot dogs presented by Country Ace. The festivities will begin winding down on Monday though with a happy hour event at Never Summer Brewery. The festival is scheduled to wrap up on June 26.