Many people, even fellow artists, told Armando Silva he’d have to leave Greeley to be successful. Instead, he found his own success with projects such as the Einstein mural in downtown Greeley. The mural not only boosted his career but also helped usher in a vibrant art scene. Nowadays, it’s hard to walk around downtown without being in eyeshot of at least one colorful piece splashed across a wall.
Photo by Gii Astorga
Now, Silva and Briana Harris, his longtime manager and solo musician who is also a member of The Burroughs, hope to create new opportunities for artists with the first WeldWalls Mural Festival. The event will feature seven artist teams working on new murals on the WeldWerks brewery campus throughout the week of Sept. 17, culminating on the 21st with a flourish, including the unveiling of the works.
Many other cities celebrate their art scenes through public art festivals, including the well-known Denver Walls Festival in the RiNo Arts District. Silva and Harris wanted to showcase Greeley’s vibrant outdoor artwork, which compares favorably not only within Colorado but across the country.
“We’ve both spent a decade here, and we wanted to create something to add value back to the city,” Harris said. “I have always felt that Greeley is a great canvas to try new things.”
As proof, the city gave Harris a grant through available ARPA funds, making the event possible along with WeldWerks’ support as the site host.
The mural scene initially had growing pains, Silva said, as artists found ways to adjust to working outside all day, including what paints to use, the best way to climb tall buildings, and the sheer physicality of being in Colorado’s intense weather, something Silva compared to roofing.
“It’s its own unique discipline,” Silva said.
But it now continues to enjoy a boom that’s lasted nearly a decade. He admits his Einstein mural “provided a spark” in Greeley, along with some of his other work, but other artists made a huge impact, such as Betony Coons. The steady growth of Greely’s art scene over the past decade was made possible by investments from key groups in the community, including the City of Greeley’s public art program and the Downtown Development Authority.
“Really, it comes down to individual people putting in the work for a long time,” Harris said.
The festival will showcase longtime local muralists such as Coons and the Al Frente Youth Collective, but will also feature out-of-town guests and newer talents like Alonzo Harrison. Harrison graduated from Union Colony in 2013 and has worked as an artist for two years. He just finished his first mural for Sushi One on 10th Street, Greely in July.
Harrison focused on fine art in acrylics, digital, and graphite before trying his first mural, learning a lot from watching YouTube videos from Denver muralists. Now, he’s eager to do more. Mural art is now big enough that it’s like nearly all other disciplines: you have to pay your dues.
“It’s tougher to find an avenue to break into it,” Harrison said. “You have to network and start in places you didn’t imagine you’d be in.”
Harrison hopes to paint a design that reflects the dreams of individuals like himself. He even has guiding hands, pulling you in what he hopes is the right direction. It’s a direction Silva compares to Greeley’s own mural scene that he helped start. The point, he said, is to showcase what’s special about Greeley’s public art scene that he has remained dedicated to all this time.
“We want to bring in some friends,” Silva said, “treat them really well, and celebrate some wins.”
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WeldWalls Mural Festival Details
The WeldWalls Mural Festival will have a schedule of programming and community art activations, but it’s primarily designed to create a range of accessible ways for attendees to engage with public art. The festival’s main attraction will be the seven artist teams working throughout the week on their pieces, and the moments that inevitably crop up as a result. Attendees might have a chance to catch the artists at work as they sip a beer or stroll the festival grounds.
The vibe is intentional, said Briana Harris, who is co-producing the festival with muralist Armando Silva. It’s not supposed to be an art gallery, a place that can intimidate those who aren’t familiar with an art scene.
“We hope it feels more accessible,” Harris said, “especially to those who haven’t walked into a gallery before.”
While there are a variety of ways for attendees to engage with the festival – from volunteering to attending various artist talks and activities – Silva says the best way to support the festival is to show up, give the artists a nod as they work, and add some life to the event.”
“Just be present,” he said.
For a full schedule of the festival, including public viewing hours of the murals, visit weldwalls.com.
