• They lack subtlety and don’t go unnoticed. They create dialogue and lend a sense of pride to their communities. They tell a story, whether it's that of the artist, or that of the passerby, murals speak in a way that make people pause and want to listen.

In December of 2017, I was awarded a grant from the Steamboat Springs Arts council for the development of a mural as part of the city's public arts project. The installation would be displayed on a hard to miss exterior wall of the Pine Moon Fine Art gallery.

After determining where the piece would live, my focus shifted to, developing the best laid plan on getting it there, and identifying all the internal boxes I wanted to check in that process.

The biggest box on that checklist of mine, was integrating the community into the piece. It was imperative to me that whatever went up on that wall, did so with more than just my hand. For me, this project was deeper than just adding a public piece of art to our downtown space. For me, it was about our community and adding them to the project. Creating something for them, that they could step into and make their own. Creating an opportunity that would allow them to pick up a brush and add their interpretation of color and space and find empowerment and ownership in that.

Forest Adventerous would be my first mural. Synchronizing materials, space and conversation with so many other people would be another first in my workspace. The uncertainties moving forward were stacked fairly high. The echoed opportunity to find a comfortable space in all of that were stacked even higher. The chips were always in my favor.

• The project kicked off with a donation based yoga class in front of the 12 x 26 foot wall, void of color or lines, awaiting its potential, not that different from each of us. Scaffolding was ordered and built on site. A projector was set to cast the image of the original painting. Since projectors only project in darkness, after town fell into its sleepy silence, work got underway. The mural was outlined between between the suns setting and rising. Once that was finished, the heart of the project began and the community was invited to become part of the piece.

A loose model of a paint by numbers concept gave way to the finished project ten days later. A community of artists came and went throughout the process adding themselves and evolving with the piece. Adding to their own story while creating something remarkable for our town.

Our forests await us. Say yes to them. Give yourselves to them and allow that pending adventure to unfold and become part of your story.