Community Embraces Mural Project
by Kay Plavidal
Downtown Alpine is becoming more beautiful one mural at a time. In 2013, Alpine Gallery Night Inc. began its Historic Calendar mural project to pay tribute to the community with an annual gift of public art that honors the region’s cultural history. Now in its fourth year, the mural project has become a community-owned activity, as residents, students and area artists volunteer hundreds of man-hours to make it happen.
The process begins early each year as the board selects a theme and scouts a location that is visible from Holland Avenue (Alpine’s “main street”) and from passing Amtrak trains. Then Alpine Gallery Night director Keri Blackman begins writing grants to help fund the mural, which can cost up to $30,000.
A major cost factor is the condition of the wall. The older the building, the more work involved in prepping the surface. That’s where the community volunteers come in – scraping, cleaning, filling and fetching – doing whatever it takes to get the wall ready, and then some. In 2014, volunteers took down an enormous Chinese elm tree to clear the way for the Mercado mural.
Meanwhile, Blackman and award-winning mural artist Stylle Read contemplate the mural’s form and content. When the initial rendering is ready, they share it with the public in what might best be described as a tailgate party. On a clear, dark night, residents sip and snack under the stars while Read aims his super-large projector at the future mural site. First he projects the image, piece-by-piece, onto the wall. Then, when it’s all lined up in just the right position, he traces the mural components onto the wall.
Over the following weeks or months, passersby stop to watch as Read paints the mural; and the fundraising intensifies. For $500, donors become a part of history by purchasing a calendar day that will display their name in perpetuity. Funds are also raised from sales of calendars, t-shirts, coffee mugs and postcards which are sold online, at local galleries and at the dedication party upon completion of the mural.
This year’s mural will be a tribute to Texas musicians. It will reside on the north-facing wall of the new Printco building at 108 S. 5th Street.
Downtown Alpine is becoming more beautiful one mural at a time. In 2013, Alpine Gallery Night Inc. began its Historic Calendar mural project to pay tribute to the community with an annual gift of public art that honors the region’s cultural history. Now in its fourth year, the mural project has become a community-owned activity, as residents, students and area artists volunteer hundreds of man-hours to make it happen.
The process begins early each year as the board selects a theme and scouts a location that is visible from Holland Avenue (Alpine’s “main street”) and from passing Amtrak trains. Then Alpine Gallery Night director Keri Blackman begins writing grants to help fund the mural, which can cost up to $30,000.
A major cost factor is the condition of the wall. The older the building, the more work involved in prepping the surface. That’s where the community volunteers come in – scraping, cleaning, filling and fetching – doing whatever it takes to get the wall ready, and then some. In 2014, volunteers took down an enormous Chinese elm tree to clear the way for the Mercado mural.
Meanwhile, Blackman and award-winning mural artist Stylle Read contemplate the mural’s form and content. When the initial rendering is ready, they share it with the public in what might best be described as a tailgate party. On a clear, dark night, residents sip and snack under the stars while Read aims his super-large projector at the future mural site. First he projects the image, piece-by-piece, onto the wall. Then, when it’s all lined up in just the right position, he traces the mural components onto the wall.
Over the following weeks or months, passersby stop to watch as Read paints the mural; and the fundraising intensifies. For $500, donors become a part of history by purchasing a calendar day that will display their name in perpetuity. Funds are also raised from sales of calendars, t-shirts, coffee mugs and postcards which are sold online, at local galleries and at the dedication party upon completion of the mural.
This year’s mural will be a tribute to Texas musicians. It will reside on the north-facing wall of the new Printco building at 108 S. 5th Street.
Artwalk: Then & Now
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On November 18 and 19 Alpine will celebrate the art and artists of the Big Bend with the 24th annual Artwalk. Tri-county hotels and motels will fill as thousands of visitors arrive for the event.
How It Began In 1994, gallery owner Keri Artz Blackman and her former ceramic teacher, John Davis, thought it would be fun for Alpine galleries to stay open late one evening and invite the public. Reaching out to fellow artists and gallery owners, they formed a small planning committee and ironed out the details for Alpine Gallery Night. Handwritten invitations were mailed and, on a cold December night, a collective open house of six venues welcomed 300 visitors. Alpine Gallery Night was an instant success. “It was the perfect social event. It was really cold that night and everyone dressed up – some in fur coats,” Blackman recalls. “It fostered a sense of art community.” Initially, Gallery Night was a one-night event held twice a year. But it soon became a two-day celebration called Artwalk, held the weekend before Thanksgiving. In 2005, the planning committee became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization named Alpine Gallery Night Inc., with Blackman as director. With funding from donations, corporate sponsors, grants and hotel/motel funds, and help from City of Alpine maintenance, parks and street crews, a core group of volunteers makes Artwalk happen each year. Giving Back to the Community Since its inception, Artwalk has supported local art programs and schools. In addition to promoting the arts in the region, Alpine Gallery Night Inc. uses Artwalk proceeds to provide scholarships to art students at Alpine High School and Sul Ross State University. An annual goal is to raise $5,000 to buy art supplies for area schools. They also bring artists to Alpine specifically to teach art to school children. Artwalk 2016 This year’s Artwalk will feature all the cornerstone events of past years, plus some new offerings: • Galleries open till 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, offering food, drink, music, demonstrations and, of course, art • The famous art-car parade, indoor handmade art market and a wide variety of food vendors in Arbolitos Park • Live music evenings at Granada Theatre • Sidewalk chalk art demonstrations • Workshops taught by local and visiting artists offered all week long Many activities are still in planning. For the latest information and future dates, visit artwalkalpine.com. - by Kay Plavidal |
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