Written and photos provided by Amy Dyett, owner ofAdvancing Dynamic Solutions.

Introduction and edited by Ava Kalhoefer.

It’s important that each of us is aware of our own responsibility to the community, especially when it comes to health. This year has sprung on us many reminders of this, from the Australian fires to the COVID-19 virus (Coronavirus). Our actions dictate more than we realize, causing degrees of change to our surrounding ecosystem.

To bring more attention to this, The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) has been issuing an ongoing project that both focuses on the reality of this while also supporting local artists. A total of four murals have been completed thus far, and are open to the public’s view.

Improvement Planning, Five Year Assessment

Every five years, the state of Colorado conducts a health and environmental assessment, resulting in a public health improvement plan.

Rather than only publishing a report, this innovative mural project will visualize the results of this work in eight communities across the state, in efforts to raise awareness of Colorado’s priorities and what is being done to address them. Ultimately, the aim is for people to take action to improve their own health and the health of their community. 

Why use art? Research shows that art impacts culture and culture impacts the health of communities. The objective is to:

• Create communal meaning for Coloradans around the issues that are important in their communities.

• Enhance the "stickiness" of what the assessment tells us.

• Create commitment to improving the health of communities.

Read the official report here >

Finding Artists and Department Collaborators

A competitive application was released across Colorado in June 2019 and eight communities were selected in the following counties: Jefferson County, Denver County, Las Animas-Huerfano Counties, El Paso County, Grand County, Pueblo County, Mesa County and Otero-Crowley Counties. 

Artists were chosen by the following criteria:

• Location - statewide representation with a preference for areas in need.

• Partnership oriented - willing to work with the community/local public health departments.

• Permanence and ecological friendliness.

• Vision/design theme that demonstrates artistic excellence, contemporary relevance, and the CDPHE Colorado Assessment results.

• Experience and locality of the artist and feasibility of the proposed project.

The final artists were required to use their skill and individual style to rightfully depict a chosen topic closely researched by their corresponding health department:

• Heleen Koekemoer (artist) with partners from Jefferson County Public Health - Mental Health and Suicide Awareness

• Robyn Frances (artist) with partners from Denver Department of Public Health & Environment and the City and County of Denver - Access to Support Services

• Maria Chioccarelli-Berger (artist) with partners from Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Departments - Health is a Puzzle

• Molly McClure and Muji Rieger (artists) with Brian Elyo from Knobhill Urban Arts District and partners from El Paso County Public Health and Colorado Springs Food Rescue - Healthy Eating Habits

• Emanuel Martinez (artist) with partners from O2 Creative and Grand County Public Health - Save the World and Global Warming

• Matte Refic (artist) with partners from Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment - Mental Health and Illnesses

• Seth Weber (artist) with partners from Mesa County Public Health - Physical Activity and Wellness

• Cody Miell (artist) with partners from Arkansas Valley Communities That Care, a prevention program out of Otero-Crowley Public Health Department - Child Care and Development

Using partnerships between local artists and their local public health departments, as well as ideas and feedback from their local communities, the mural designs were created and will be displayed on prominent buildings by April 2020. 

These impactful murals will elicit hope, cohesiveness, dialogue and action. They will remain a reminder of environmental, mental, behavioral, physical and social health for years to come.

Showcasing Art and its Powerful Stamp in Communities

In personal words, the completed murals send a powerful message about what it means to be healthy, happy, and empathetic.

“It was really powerful to highlight the incredible resilience and courage of people that face disabilities and other numerous obstacles. My goal is that the mural depictions of physical, mental and environmental health inspire and empower many to live a healthy lifestyle in our environment.

… Breathtaking, innovative, creative and empowering. The art conveys your attention; you want to study it to understand the underlying meaning.  Words like ‘hope’ are important. The sheer size of some of the murals is so powerful.”

We highly encourage everyone to support these artists upon completion of each piece, to visit in person, and acknowledge what they represent. Hopefully, such pieces will communicate these important topics for years to come, changing local lives in the wake of their message.

About Arts in Society

Since 2016, Arts in Society has been funding individuals, grants, schools and government entities, with two-year grant awards of up to $50,000 per project. In addition to funding, grantees receive training, professional development, and marketing/social media support. Funding is offered to projects in Colorado that are working collaboratively and utilizing the arts as an integral element for promoting social justice and community welfare.

Arts in Society is funded through a cohort of Colorado funders. 2019 funding partners include Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, Hemera Foundation, and Colorado Creative Industries . Funds and support are administered via RedLine Contemporary Art Center in Denver.

Learn more about Arts in Society >