Two garage murals win the 2012 Park Hill Alley Art Contest
By Jack Farrar
A mural based on van Gogh’s iconic painting The Starry Night fills the east wall of the garage behind John and Jamie Higgins’ bungalow at 2800 Magnolia. Finished in June, it was executed by an artist who goes by Isaac, and who has done a number of garage murals around town, using different paint techniques and materials.
The Starry Night was painted in 1889 by van Gogh and is considered by many art critics to be his finest work. The work depicts the view from the window of van Gogh’s room at a sanatorium. Isaac has clearly done it justice. The Higgins found Isaac essentially by surfing the ‘net. John is fascinated by graffiti art and has done a good deal of research on the topic. Aware that graffiti has different connotations to different people, he supports creative and non-offensive forms of the genre. He is quite familiar with the work of the Denver Graffiti Task Force and supports its work.
A mostly finished mural with a hybrid Dia de los Muertos/Zen theme graces the north side of the garage behind the house of Sal and Molly Bertolone at 1578 Jasmine. Sal was the artist and murals are only part of his eclectic repertoire. He also carved a totem pole near the garage – one of many he has carved over the years, including large ones on a heavily wooded lot the Bertolones used to occupy in Albuquerque. He works in the stained glass medium as well. Sandwiched in between the garage and the totem pole are three vintage autos, including a 1956 Chevy Bellaire and a 1971 Volkswagen Kharman Ghia.
Other honorable Alley Art mentions:
- 2645 Clermont. An eclectic (and Celtic) collection of pieces constructed of stone, masonry and metal.
- 2619 Clermont. A portfolio of odd junk/found items, some with political messages, from every imaginable type of recycled material.
- 2212 Hudson. Creative masonry pieces, including Kokopelli themes, and great use of old window frames.
- 2080 Dexter. An expanding constellation of tennis shoes.
- 2372 Cherry. Peter Max-like mural.
- 1560 Ivy. Hundreds of plastic figures.
- 2257 Ash. Sunflowers, etc. on garage door.
- 2073 Holly. Moose mural.
- Entire alley between Holly and Hudson, from 22nd to Montview. More than 60 pieces.
Finalists in the contest received gift certificates from our generous business supporters: Spinelli’s, Grape Expectations and the Park Hill Community Bookstore.
For photos and descriptions of more distinctive alley art throughout metro Denver, visit denverviews.com. For more information, or to be considered for inclusion in the alley art competition, contact Jack and Pam Farrar at 303-388-5204 or denverfarrar@comcast.net.
