Windsor, CO — The Windsor Arts Commission invites the public to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony and celebrate the completion of the town’s first community art mural on Friday, Oct. 14, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the 408 Exchange Tavern, 408 Main St.
The celebration will debut the 40-foot mural with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Paul Rennemeyer. Residents will have the opportunity to engage with the artist, gather updates on the Arts Commission, and enjoy live music with food and drink specials also available.
The Arts Commission selected local artist Chris Bates as the first-ever commissioned community artist to create a mural for the town. Bates began the mural at the beginning of September. The project spanned 19 days, with a total of 60 hours a week and 10-hour days.
"We have been working on building Windsor's community art program since 2020,” said Culture Supervisor and Arts Commission Staff Liaison Laura Browarny. “It is an incredible accomplishment to go from having nothing in place to completing an artwork in less than three years.”
The mural is envisioned to serve as a new landmark for Windsor’s downtown. It delivers a message that traces back to Windsor’s history and highlights three major themes for the town: bison, the railroad, and sugar beets.
According to Bates, “Public art becomes a destination place for the community. It’s not just a painting on the wall it becomes a landmark. It helps define the culture and the feeling of a place.”
To learn more about the Arts Commission and the Windsor Art Master Plan, visit windsorgov.com/1316/Arts-Commission.
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In June 2021, Windsor’s Town Board adopted a public arts ordinance, paving the way for the creation of a new community Arts Commission. The Windsor Arts Commission consists of seven members who oversee Windsor’s Community Art Program including the selection of artists, artwork and art installation and placement in Windsor.
