JAS hosts Community Paint Day for permanent Aspen stairwell artwork

Busy, busy — artists are vigorously getting ready for the new Paul JAS Center’s community paint day in Aspen.

The bring-the-mural-to-life event will take place this Sunday, Nov. 16, at Third Street Center in Carbondale. It is open to all ages to join in and paint.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for members of our community to literally get their hands on the mural artwork, which will live in our Paul JAS Center permanently,” Jazz Aspen Snowmass Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer Jim Horowitz said.

There will be two sessions for the public to volunteer with the artwork. The first will take place from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the second from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

The mural image itself has been designed by co-artists: Philadelphia-based Miriam Singer and Carbondale-based Chris Erickson, who will both be present during the event.`

Singer is an artist known for combining drawing, painting, and printmaking to design interpretations of city life.

Erickson is an installation artist whose vibrant artworks have enhanced Roaring Fork Valley for more than two decades. Two of his most notable works are “The Melted Gondola” at the top of Aspen Mountain and a pavement art project at the corner of S. Mill St. and Hyman Ave. in Aspen.

“Working with Miriam on this project has been a unique opportunity to get to know another artist and their artistic practice,” he said. 

He added that Singer’s approach to her work has provided him with insight and inspiration for his own artwork.

“The fusion of her ideas and mine has provided an exciting blend of our visual language in the form of a dynamic work of art,” he said. “Producing this work for a community staple like Jazz Aspen Snowmass has made it that much more rewarding.”

Singer has also found the artistic collaboration to be inspiring. 

“Our styles and ideas have merged in unexpected ways, creating something layered and dynamic,” she said. “After months of designing together remotely, it’s exciting to finally bring the work to life on the wall and paint alongside the community at our paint day on Sunday.” 

During Community Paint Day, squares of the artistic piece will be presented, and the community is invited to fill with paint. Then, the final project will be brought to the new Paul JAS Center to be permanently displayed in their stairwell. 

“The image changes as you go up, which is pretty cool,” Horowitz said. 

Singer added, “I think people visiting the Jazz Aspen Snowmass venue will discover unexpected imagery at every turn.”

The new Paul JAS Center in Aspen will house musical performances, an education hub, a recording studio, and special event spaces for public and private community groups to gather.

Admission is free with RSVP. To learn more and RSVP, visit jazzaspensnowmass.org/jas-community-paint-day.