As you enter the Island Grove arena in Greeley, Colorado, to attend a rodeo or demolition derby, you may notice new, vibrant murals decorating the two main entryway gates, Gate 5 and Gate 7. This artwork was a collaborative effort between Greeley’s Art Commission and the Greeley Stampede in honor of the Stampede’s milestone anniversary. Greeley’s 1% for Art program and in-kind donations from the Stampede funded the project.
The commissioned artists, Denver-based artist Cody Kuehl and local artist Armando Silva, created artwork representative of Stampede events. The murals are colorful and energetic, adding life to an otherwise ordinary concrete wall and curating a visual experience for visitors before entering the arena.
Silva’s murals depict a young boy wrestling a rooster on one side and a girl dressed in a charro outfit on the other. The murals are composed so that entering and exiting, the viewer sees different elements.
Check out a time-lapse video of the mural created by Armando Silva:
The stadium entrance designed by Kuehl uses the artist’s unique, western style to illustrate a bucking bronco and rider on both sides of the stairwell.
For more information about the Greeley Stampede visit www.greeleystampede.org.
Learn more about the city of Greeley’s 1% for Art Program at greeleyart.com.
