Basalt Public Arts Commission (BPAC)

DOWNTOWN MURAL COMPETITION

BPAC recently conducted a call to artists to participate in a mural competition in downtown Basalt.  BPAC received interest from very talented artists. Participants were asked to create murals live at various sites around downtown Basalt in mid-August 2023.  Now, that the murals are finished, the public will have a two-week period to vote for their favorite mural.  Vote here

The winning submission in the Student category will have their mural placed in the area of the Basalt Pool.  The winning submission in the General category be asked to recreate a likeness of their mural on a building in downtown Basalt.   

FEATURED ARTISTS AND LOCATIONS

The following artists are participating in the Downtown Mural Competition.  Eight total artists were selected.  The featured artists listed below are those that have retrieved their materials and are actively working on their murals in their designated locations.  Additional artists will be added as materials are retrieved and artists are assigned to their site.

Jeremy Velasquez - Lion's Park (101 Midland Avenue, in front of Town Hall):  Jeremy is an artist from the Rifle area and specializes in murals, digital illustration, painting and commercial design.  His art can be seen on buildings in Rifle, Glenwood Springs, Silt and Grand Junction as well as outside of Colorado.  For more information on this talented artist visit jeremyvelasquez.com.

Kirsten Hix - Alpine Bank (137 Midland Avenue, exterior patio space): Kirsten resides in Glenwood Springs, and specializes in murals, paintings and more.  Kirsten draws inspiration from animals and the natural environment.  For more information on this talented artist visit https://www.instagram.com/k.hix.art/?igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg%3D%3D.

Finn Johnson - 99 Midland Avenue (former Art Base building, patio space facing Two Rivers Rd): Finn is a resident of Woody Creek and was the only submission in the Student category.  Finn has previously completed privately commissioned art pieces as well as a 30' long mural at the Aspen High School.  You can check out more from this talented artist at https://www.instagram.com/finnrjohnson/.

Gaard Moses - 201 Midland Avenue (Sotheby's building):  Gaard resides in the Old Snowmass area and has been creating custom signs and murals since the 1970's. Some examples of Gaard's wide collection of works can be seen locally in Aspen (Owl Cigars mural on the Crystal Palace and Kolby Clothiers on the Paragon Building) as well as Basalt (Emma Store Building). 

 Beth Warmath - Sidewalk space in front of 214 Midland Avenue: Beth is a professional muralist whose works can be seen in Denver and Fraser within Colorado.  Beth also has created murals in Tennessee, Florida, California, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.  You can find more information on Beth's works at http://creightive.com/warmathwalls/. Be sure to check out the map feature on Beth's website with links to murals created around the world.  

Charles Andrade - Codger's Corner (parklet between gas station and Alpine Bank):  Artist and muralist, Charles paints in the colorist style. He owns and operates Lazure Custom Wall Designs – a mural and decorative painting business, specializing in a unique European finish called Lazure that creates healing environments. Andrade is based in Basalt; however his artwork and murals can be seen worldwide. For more information about this talented artist and to see examples of his work please visit www.lazure.com.

BPAC OVERVIEW

The Basalt Public Arts Commission, commonly known as BPAC, was established in 2015 by the Basalt Town Council to act as a formal advisory board on public art matters within the Town.  BPAC is also tasked with exploring and cultivating partnerships that can support the implementation of the Town's arts goals, reviewing and making recommendations on financing for public art, acting as a referral agency on development applications when appropriate, and working with the Town's other committees and boards to help further the goals and objectives of the Basalt Master Plan.  

BPAC may consist of up to nine total members.  At least three of the BPAC members shall be Town of Basalt residents.  Prospective members must have a strong interest in the arts, a desire to work with the Town of Basalt to promote public art in various forms, and be available to attend monthly meetings that may occur in person or via Zoom.  The Commission will also meet occasionally with Basalt Town Council to discuss work plan items and budget requests.

Those interested in BPAC are asked to attend a couple of meetings, after which current BPAC members will make a recommendation, and prospective members will be interviewed and appointed by Town Council.   BPAC currently has four members and welcomes more!  If you are interested please contact Sara Nadolny at 970-279-8112 or at sara.nadolny@basalt.net.

Ordinance No. 5, Series of 2015 approving BPAC as a Committee of the Town of Basalt can be found here.