New Project

It’s early in the morning, when it’s so quiet you can hear your own thoughts.  My ever present cup of coffee by my side, and I’m allowing some time to reflect on the past few weeks.  

Yesterday was the start of something beautiful and today this is my new screensaver.

Let me explain.

A few weeks ago, just a couple of days after I returned to Colorado, I was contacted by Mary Valdez, Public Art Administrator for Denver Arts & Venues and the City and County of Denver.  Mary and I had met many years ago, when I lived in Denver and was really active in the arts scene thanks to a few photography projects I had done.  But what spoke to her about my work was how dedicated I seemed to documenting my neighborhood (RiNo), particularly the street art movement and my friendship with the artists responsible for amazing murals. I was starting something and I didn’t even know it.  

Fast forward to many years later, and Mary is one of the major forces behind the Urban Arts Fund, a graffiti prevention and youth development initiative, which actually supports the creation of murals in “up-and-coming” areas (is there any such thing left in Denver?) and has involved, to date, over 3,000 participants who helped in creating some 175 murals around the City and County of Denver.  This, my friends, is a thing of beauty.  

I jumped at the chance to maybe document some of the murals, reconnect with some friends, have a few days of art and get my Denver legs again.  But the Universe, as always, thought in bigger terms and presented me with a project that had been in development for many months in collaboration with Denver Health.  I could see the excitement in Mary’s eyes as she spoke of a public arts program designed to create a mural project inside the Denver Methadone Clinic.  Did I hear that right?  Inside?  I set aside all my questions and let her excitement guide the way.  Our meeting was fantastic.  My thoughts always came back to YES.  Yes, let me document the process, yes.  On my way home I started to think about the WHY.  

As a photojournalist, I try to tell a story with my photographs.  What is the story here?  Is it the artist, the mural, the clinic, Denver Arts?  I wanted to know why the mural, why inside, who would be involved, how would I even approach step one.  So, armed with a million questions, I started to ask.  And Mary, in her infinite patience, led me to understand that this was somehow bigger than a beautiful mural on a wall.  I understood the meaning behind it, the WHY.

After several meetings, many phone calls, conversations, emails and more questions than I’ve asked in years, we had the pleasure of having the team finally meet in person and get things started.  There are so many moving parts, I hope I can organize my thoughts in a way that will make you understand the WHY.

The “Journey from Addiction to Recovery” mural project’s visual is lead by artist Frank Garza.  In all my years of working with Denver artists, I had never met him, but I was familiar with his work on the exterior of the Elbra M. Wedgeworth municipal building in Five Points, as it was a different approach to murals than I’ve ever seen, created by adhering a cloth like material on the walls to ensure no damage to the exterior brick.  It was an intriguing technique when I first learned about it, and here I am face to face with the man who is also designing the clinic’s murals.  Oh, life, you are funny.  Seriously, funny.

My first impression of Frank was how quiet and reserved he was, his jeans and shoes splattered with paint, I immediately liked him.  And when he presented his vision for the murals to the rest of the team, he was gentle in his approach, well spoken and quite thoughtful.  Of course, me being me, I wanted to ask a million questions, but no, I didn’t. Nope, not my time.

Our videographer, James Joliat at Zerosun, and Josh Rasmussen from Denver Health were also impressed by Frank’s presentation, and we all agreed this project had to be done “right”.  

And after months in the works, the project’s first workshop took place on September 6, 2017 at the clinic.  

I got up at the crack of dawn, as I wanted to get to the building before anyone else, and take photos of the space “before”.  I was met at the clinic by Lisa Gawenus, Manager OBHS (Outpatient Behavioral Health Services), and given a little tour of the facilities.  I immediately went to work, getting a sense of what people who visit the clinic and work in it see every day.  

The first workshop started a couple of hours later, led by Frank and inclusive of staff members who wanted to participate in the mural project.  Although my inner artist was screaming inside for a paint brush and some canvas, I opted for my cameras, documenting the workshop.  

And here’s what I saw.  People, co-workers, all around a table making art to beautify the clinic.

A little music, self deprecating artist humor, laughter, and a peaceful energy I hadn’t felt in a room full of people since my last retreat. 

Even this little guy wanted in on it.

I couldn’t help but notice how Frank was genuinely fascinated by what these wonderful people were creating.  Some were quite innovative in their approach to painting.  And the results… 

Lisa looked so happy.

And then Frank unveiled one of his murals, the concept of which I will explain in a later blog.  But just look at it for now.  Really, take a minute..

I am so thankful for this peaceful time, even though we were all brought back to reality when news of one of the patient’s passing spread through the room.  It was a difficult moment.  Betsy, one of the staff members who worked with the patient for two years, was clearly affected.  I asked her how you deal with moments like these, and her answer was simple - “there is no good answer to that”.  

There is no good answer to addiction.  There is no good answer to loss.  There is no good answer to what our Journey presents us with every single day.  There are times that words cannot express feelings.  

So, I hope my photos are starting to answer some of the project’s “WHY” and you will continue to check in here from time to time to see the progress and feel like, you too, are a part of this effort, because it’s beautiful and we all need a reminder to stop and see beauty everywhere.  

To be continued...