A Little Corner of the ArtLine Gets A Lot of Love
A community member trades a book for a book at the Handsome Little Devils community Free Little Library. | Photo: 40 West Arts District, Kathryn Zeigler
40 West Arts artists have been working with the community since fall of 2020 to enhance the ArtLine, bring joy, and help reduce social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was made possible thanks to an AARP Community Challenge Grant and partner support from the City of Lakewood, 40 West Arts, Metro West Housing Solutions, and Xcel Energy.
On Friday, August 6, Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul and community members held a dedication for the exciting new art and pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure improvements on the 40 West ArtLine. At the dedication, they celebrated and recognized the partnerships, volunteers and talented artists who helped make the following projects happen:
Pollinator Path ground mural (designed and led by artist Charlotte Ricker with volunteers and funding support from AARP, 40 West Arts, Metro West Housing Solutions, Xcel Energy and City of Lakewood)
New crosswalk and pedestrian-activated flashing crosswalk signal at 17th Avenue and Pierce Street (funding from the Colorado Department of Transportation and City of Lakewood)
The first Little Free Library on the ArtLine (designed and built by the Handsome Little Devils with funding and installation support from AARP and Metro West Housing)
Creativity in Covid Time fence art installation (by artists Sean Doherty and Padraig Doherty and community members – installed near Pierce Street and West Colfax Avenue
Photo: 40 West Arts District, Kathryn Zeigler
The pollinator path
The Pollinator Path ground mural was designed by Charlotte Ricker, who also led volunteers from the community and Xcel Energy in painting the mural.
Pollinator Path creates a sensory experience for visitors who are passing through the area. Bold-colored flowers that are native to Colorado line the sidewalk, painted in exaggerated three-point perspective to give the illusion of walking through a garden of vibrantly colored flowers, surrounded by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
The green path of the ArtLine carries through the site, swirling and twirling as it follows the path of the hovering hummingbirds, flying bumblebees and marching ants. These charismatic pollinators help guide people through the intersection and the green line serves as a convenient wayfinding tool.
The petals of the Mariposa Lily at the east side of the crosswalk form arrow shapes to guide the pedestrians across the street. The plants appear to grow out of the grasses along the edges of the sidewalk and hidden critters such as caterpillars, ants and other insects allow for an additional layer of discovery. The dandelion appears to grow up through the crack in the sidewalk like it would in real life.
The mural is meant to make this corner interactive, allowing visitors to choose their path through the imaginary garden.
the handsome little devils free little library
The AARP grant included a number of artistic components. A Joy Bomb kicked things off last year (you can read about it here) where residents and patrons participated in Sean Doherty’s fence art installation at Colfax Avenue and Pierce. Now, you can also find a free little library installed at Creekside! The Free Little Library is an initiative to promotes neighborhood book exchanges to make reading more accessible. You can check out more on the Free Little Library program at their website: https://littlefreelibrary.org/.
Pollinator Path by Charlotte Ricker and Community Members | Located at W. 17th & Pierce | Photo: 40 West Arts District, Kathryn Zeigler
Photo Credit: 40 West Arts, Kathryn Zeigler
you can still get involved
All are invited to participate in the Pollinator Path community art project!
Coloring sheets with elements of Charlotte’s ground mural are available for community members to pick up at the Lakewood Cultural Center (LCC) or 40 West Gallery. Completed coloring sheets must be returned by Friday, September 3 to be included in the community art show that will hang in the North Gallery of the LCC from September 23 - November 30.
Participants are invited to an opening celebration at the LCC on Thursday, September 23 from 5-7pm, subject to health and safety guidelines in place at that time. Visit the Artline Pollinator Path ground mural (at 1700 Pierce Street) that inspired this project and follow the Artline on Facebook or visit 40WestArtLine.org/AARP for more information.
Questions? contact Alexis Moore, City of Lakewood Principal Planner at alemoo@lakewood.org.
Return completed coloring sheets by Friday, September 3 to: 40 West Gallery, 1560 Teller Street, Lakewood, CO 80214 (open 12pm-4pm Wednesday-Saturday) OR the LCC Box Office, 470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 (closed from August 23-September 3).
See the flyer here.
A special thank you
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank and celebrate the many partners, artists and volunteers who have made these projects possible.
The ArtLine was, in part, developed to unite the community & local businesses with an amenity that was created for and by the people who live and work in the area.
A Special Volunteer Story: On of our Pollinator volunteers, Bella, began working on day one, adding detail to the Sunflowers. Bella ended up coming back many days after the volunteer days to assist Charlotte in the completion on the project.
Without Bella’s dedication to detail and passion for helping complete the project, we wouldn’t be able to install such a large scale project so easily. Thank you Bella, and thank you to all of our volunteers - whether it was an hour, or every day, your time and passion for the work happening along the 40 West ArtLine is what makes it special.
Volunteer Bella hard at work. | Photo: Xcel Energy
Photo: Alexis Moore
Photo: Xcel Energy
Community volunteers paint Pollinator Path along the 40 West ArtLine. | Photo: Alexis Moore