“Chrome on the Range” by Lou Wille. (Josh Blanc)
As part of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District’s research for creating an “Art Walk” on Central Avenue, the Art Walk Committee is visiting other art walk communities. Interviewing the people who make their art walks helps inform the Committee’s process for developing the Arts District Central Avenue Art Walk.
In 1962, there was a four-lane highway passing through downtown Grand Junction, Colo. The city elected to try to make downtown more inviting for community shopping and dining.
The community redeveloped its downtown into a more walkable environment, featuring a winding street layout with trees and landscaping throughout the district. It proved to be an enduring success through the community’s ups and downs.
In the early 1980s, the country, including the Grand Junction community, were in a deep recession as an oil shale development had gone bust. Overnight, 2,300 people were out of work. Thousands of people were leaving the valley in droves.
The downtown area was in decline, with 60% of businesses boarded up. A handful of artists saw an opportunity to show their art on the street. From many accounts, Dave Davis was the charismatic figure who convinced businesses to invest in the Art on the Corner (AOTC) concept: an outdoor sculpture exhibit of sorts.
From 1984-1989, the area’s artists realized they needed help. They asked the Downtown Transit Authority, which took on the role of a non-profit over time, to get funding from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the Business Improvement District (BID) and GJ Creates – their State Certified Creative District.
In 1989, the Downtown Development Authority purchased the first Art piece, “Chrome on the Range” by Lou Wille, through community fundraising. It cost $40,000 — just over $100,000 in today’s money. United Banks donated half of the money and the community raised the rest through Buffalo nickel rallies, golf tournaments, chili cook-offs and more.
Downtown Grand Junction is now celebrating its 40th year of the AOTC outdoor sculpture exhibit.
“Freewheelin’ II” by James Haire created in Bronze. (Josh Blanc)
The city of Grand Junction is different from the Grand Junction business district. While in the city, Downtown Grand Junction is its own special district and is primarily funded by property taxes and special assessments on retail square footage. They have many partnerships with the City of Grand Junction. Main Street is a public park, and city crews maintain the flower beds and tree canopy, helping make it a clean and welcoming space.
AOTC is a rotating program. In October every year, 18-22 pieces are newly installed. When artists come in, the Grand Junction business district hosts a party with them. They set them up in a hotel, providing an opportunity to get together. Just like the Eau Claire Sculpture Walk, they provide a $1,000 stipend to each artist and take a 25% commission on sales. Currently, their collection contains 125 pieces. In the 1980s, welders built round metal pedestals, each costing $2,000.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance is essential to the program.
AOTC has city-funded insurance for vandalism and theft, which does happen. The program has only had one piece hit by a car in 40 years. Most vandalism is by people, who climb the pieces. When “Sir,” a life-sized bronze pig by Mary Zimmerman, was stolen, community outrage led to the thief returning the piece.
“Art on the Corner makes downtown awesome,” says David Goe, AOTC’s Community Engagement Manager. “People don’t usually want to learn about tax increment financing. Our downtown is awesome and it has art. Our downtown is awesome because it has art.”
The Grand Junction art community has an outdoor presence, but it currently has few indoor art studios. Grand Junction artists tend to work on their farms, in their garages and at home. Northeast Minneapolis Arts District’s artistic community, by contrast, mostly works inside their studios.
In Grand Junction, the Business Improvement District is in the process of redeveloping an old Greyhound bus stop into a five-story work-live space. The Grand Junction business district has consulted with Artspace and many other agencies to create this new art building. Construction plans start this year.
If you are interested in attending a meeting or being part of the Central Avenue Art Walk, the group meets every Thursday at 5:30 pm at Recovery Bike Shop, all are welcome.