By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The Barton Arts Movement (BAM), in partnership with Great Bend Alive, is
hosting a volunteer work day on Sept. 10 to paint a street
mural in the alleyway between Forest Avenue and Lakin Avenue in Great Bend.
Great Bend’s downtown entertainment district, located on Forest Avenue, has
barricaded a block of the street to provide live music, food and beverages on the
final Friday of the month.
The alley is an extension of the district, and
Barton Arts Movement board member Rachel Mawhirter said the hope is to turn the
pavement into an art alley.
"With all the other exciting things happening downtown with the 'Final Fridays on Forest' and future plans for outdoor entertainment venues, BAM feels like the art alley will play a huge part in that," said Mawhirter. "Not only for other BAM events we have downtown in the future, but also giving the public a warm, welcoming environment to spend time with their family."
A colorful mural is scheduled to be painted on the street going down the alley Sept. 10 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., and the public is invited to help in the “paint by numbers” project. Volunteers will be given a number, paint can and a paint brush. Helpers must be at least 14 years old and willing to sign up for a 90-minute shift.
The street mural is part of an effort to revitalize the
downtown Great Bend area.
"BAM hopes that further excitement and momentum will be built around the art alley," said Mawhirter. "We brainstormed ideas like getting downtown businesses to do more art decorations in the alleyway. For example, putting an artistic wrap on the steel door at the back of their business. Maybe we continue to install art installations on the walls."
Anyone interested in helping paint the mural can sign up at bartonartsmovement.com.
