City of Boulder, CO Creative Neighborhoods Projects, 23 Jun 2021

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From YouTube: Artist Interview: Jason Graves

Description

Jason has designed a mural titled “Stay Boulder” to inspire positivity and the power of community with the spirit of reconnection and togetherness. The large-scale mural will be highly visible from the intersection of 33rd Street and Arapahoe Avenue. He will start painting in June – keep an eye out for the new artwork! Creative Neighborhoods: COVID-19 Work Projects was launched by the Office of Arts + Culture and Create Boulder: https://boulderarts.org/public-art/creative-neighborhoods/covid-19-work-projects/

A

My name is jason graves and I am a professional artist. Muralist I own a screen shop here in boulder called apollo inc, do a lot of graphic design, merchandise, production and just get involved in a lot of different creative. uh You know projects and things like that.

A

It's kind of tough to say you know, on the art side of things, with mural production and stuff, like that, I had to postpone a lot of work, um and you know some projects were, you know, also cancelled, but you know with our you just got to find ways to keep moving and pay the bills or whatever, and then, with the business side of my life with the print shop.

A

I basically had to just put my employees on paid leave and do all the work that I could find for the shop to do to keep it afloat until it was safe for everyone to come back to work. So I'm kind of busy just maintaining and keeping things afloat. I guess.

A

I took the funds that were awarded to me and approached different clients of mine, and you know in my network and found one who wanted a mural, and I went pretty big with it on on arapahoe avenue and 33rd on the side of the building, where there's a few different shops in there jimmy john's is in there crystal dragon has been there forever and other other other offices and storefronts.

A

So you know I applied the funds from the project to a bigger project, to try and make more money for myself and bring a bigger piece of art to the community. So I think I did that pretty well. I guess.

A

So the neighborhood is where I is located down the street from my shop apollo inc and it's probably a block away, so I spend I've spent almost every day here besides, when I'm out painting something for 15 years. So I feel, like I've brought some sort of vibrant new energy to the area, something people can look at and appreciate and brighten up their day. It's not super literal, it's more just a piece of public art, that's big and bright and hopefully appreciated by people when they see it.

A

I guess what I would like to add is I'm very thankful that I was chosen for this project and awarded this. You know at that time I was, I wouldn't say it was really down on my luck, but I was unsure of what was going to happen and it was definitely something that gave me. You know a positive outlook and I felt supported by the community and the arts.

A

You know by the city of boulder and and all of that.