Laramie Mural Project Launches Kickstarter Campaign

A sketch by Jeff Hubbell of his mural, Prairie Dog Town

The Laramie Mural Project launced an online Kickstarter fundraising campaign today with a goal of adding 7 new murals to downtown Laramie by the end of summer 2014.  The group will need to raise $15,000 by July 21st in an “all or nothing” approach to be able to continue the project.  Those interested in donating can visit the Kickstarter website.  Once at the site, donors can choose amounts ranging from $10 to $5,000.  The Laramie Mural Project is a collaboration between local artists, downtown building owners, Laramie Main Street Alliance and the University of Wyoming Art Museum.  

The first murals of this summer include, “Crossing Sherman Hill” by Travis Ivey, which will be located at Modern Printing on the south corner of Kearney and 3rd Streets.  Ivey states, "The mural, ‘Crossing Sherman Hill,’ represents an inspired panoramic landscape of the Laramie Range as it may have looked during the Big Boy Steam Engine Era.  Rather than incorporating an actual route over Sherman Hill, this piece is interpretive of the entire area between Cheyenne and Laramie, complete with the sweeping plains and rocky outcroppings. . . . the Ames Brother's Monument and Dale Creek Trestle."  

Meghan Meier will continue her existing mural, “Grainery Grove II” at The Big Dipper, formerly the Whole Earth Grainery, at 111 Ivinson Avenue.  She will extend the mural of fanciful aspen trees that was completed in 2012 along the north wall of the building.

A third mural by Jeff Hubbell titled, “Prairie Dog Town,” will span three downtown businesses: The Curiosity Shoppe, Atmosphere Mountain Works, and The Herb House, all on 2nd Street.  The mural will be placed on west or alley walls of these buildings and will feature a windy winter scene with large-scale prairie dogs and abstract patterns.

Planning for additional murals by Dan Toro and Talal Cockar are underway.

The Guthrie Family Foundation, Laramie Beautification Committee, Wyoming Arts Council, and the City of Laramie have funded past murals.  Additional funds are needed in order to continue The Laramie Mural Project.  The Kickstarter campaign will enable the Laramie community and fans of the project to help transform downtown Laramie with murals that reflect the area’s social and cultural assets. Kickstarter is an online tool to help raise funds for unique individual and/or community projects.  Funds donated are only received if the total fundraising goal is met, in this case $15,000 by July 21st.