Snowmass unveils new underpass mural as community members help bring it to life

Roughly 60 Roaring Fork Valley community members gathered on Thursday to help paint a mural representing the natural environment of Snowmass.

Designed and created by Denver-based artist David Swartz, the mural is located in the pedestrian tunnel connecting the Snowmass soccer and softball fields under Brush Creek Road near the turn onto Horse Ranch Drive. The mural depicts foxes, elk, butterflies, bluebell flowers, Indian Paintbrush, and Alpine Sunflowers in pinks, oranges, and blues.

“My main goal with my art is to make people stop and smile a little bit,” Swartz said. 

He also hopes the mural will make people curious about the flora and fauna of Snowmass’ natural habitat.

Over the course of three days, he fully painted one side of the tunnel, while outlining local animals and plants on the other side for community members to paint on Thursday.

“Once you get the community involved, it makes them feel that they’re so much a part of where they live,” said Lois Upper, Snowmass Art Advisory Board member. “Everybody was so proud of the section they did.”

She said ages 2.5 to 90 showed out for the paint day, which included music and refreshments.

“We want the community to be a part of where they live,” Upper said.

Swartz numbered the interior of the murals’ outlines to direct community members where to paint specific blocks of color. He put finishing touches on the community-painted side of the mural Friday, adding shadows, highlights, and more colors to finish the project by Saturday.

He used the house paint for major color blocks and the spray paint for finer details. Including both sides of the tunnel, the mural will encompass 673 square feet. He hopes the project’s lively colors will brighten up the normally dark underpass.

“I used pretty saturated colors to give it a little bit of sunshine,” he said.

Upper believes the mural will align with the natural theme of other art on Snowmass’ landscape, including the bear sculptures installed last year. 

Find Swartz’ instagram at @david.doeswork and his website at daviddoeswork.com.

“I think the whole goal of art in general is to help people put their phone down, stop for a minute, and connect with the world around them,” he said.

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.