A new mural is being painted along the path that runs along Fish Creek under Highway 40. It is 144 feet long and it says “One Love Steamboat.” Steamboat Springs Police Chief Mark Beckett says artwork is less likely to be vandalized by graffiti. Steamboat Springs art teachers Garret Bock and Megan Westerkamp will lead students with the painting. It will have a topcoat of ultra-protective, anti-graffiti coating.
“Art has the power to uplift us, inspire hope, bring visibility and make us think,” continued Beckett. “Garret and his students are transforming a space into something that we believe will do all of these things for the community every time you go by.”
Press release from the City of Steamboat Springs; Oct. 17, 2023.
Fish Creek Mural Ebbs Positive Message
School Students Assist Local Artist and Art Instructor with 144’ Long Design
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-October 17, 2023-It is said a picture is worth a thousand words and the new mural being installed along the path that runs parallel to Fish Creek and under US40 ebbs a positive community message that looks to stamp out hate-filled graffiti.
“We’ve seen an increase recently in graffiti, more carrying hate symbols and messages, in numerous locations like the long wall of Fish Creek,” said Police Chief Mark Beckett. “It is shown that artwork is less likely to be vandalized by graffiti and we’re hoping that is the case here.”
The city is teaming up with local middle school art instructor and noted artist Garret Bock to install a mural (below) in this often-graffitied space. Bock envisioned the 144-foot-long mural that promotes a positive message and ties the piece together in the environment that surrounds it.
On Thursday, October 19, students will create the artwork by helping paint the wall under the direction of Bock and high school art instructor Megan Westerkamp. The wall contains considerable sloping and a curved surface that adds difficulty to ensure the correct perspective is retained. The student portion is anticipated to run approximately four to five hours since much of the prep work and layout has been underway this week.
Once completed, a topcoat of ultra-protective, anti-graffiti coating will be applied to create a defensive surface that spray paint can’t bond to and, if further vandalized by graffiti, will be easily removed without harming the artwork. To further deter damage, the Steamboat Springs Police Dept will routinely visit the location and has strategically placed cameras to monitor the painting.
“Art has the power to uplift us, inspire hope, bring visibility and make us think,” continued Beckett. “Garret and his students are transforming a space into something that we believe will do all of these things for the community every time you go by.”
With a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa, Bock moved to Steamboat Springs in 2016 to pursue teaching and shares his love of art with Steamboat Springs Middle School students. As seen in this piece, his style is heavily influenced by childhood comic reading that carries a tendency to combine words and pictures that help convey a story.