Earlier this week, the Alpena Downtown Development Authority (DDA) released its applications for artists and locations for this year’s mural as part of Fresh Waves, the new initiative to add more public art in Downtown Alpena.

Fresh Waves was launched in 2019 as a new initiative by the Alpena DDA to add vibrant, unique, one-of-a-kind artwork to the downtown landscape. Aaron Golbeck, an Alpena native who works in Colorado as a mural artist, came to the DDA with the idea as a way to give back to the community and create something new and fresh in Alpena.

Last summer, Golbeck and fellow Denver-based artist Chad Bolsinger painted the project’s first mural on the side of Family Enterprise Embroidery, located at 211 S. Second Ave. The mural was painted the last week of July 2019 and took nearly 80 cans of spray paint and 120 hours of painting. The mural features a profile of a woman and an owl in flight. Golbeck will be helping again to facilitate this year’s project.

Artist Aaron Golbeck.

Arist Chad Bolsinger.

Artists Aaron Golbeck and Chad Bolsinger in front of the completed mural.

The DDA is hoping the artist will complete the mural in late summer 2020; exact dates will be set once an artist is chosen. Similar to last year, a happy-hour event with live music, a cash bar, and a chance to meet the artist(s) will be hosted by the DDA to celebrate the completion of the mural.

Last year’s happy hour event.

The Dion Stepanski Jazz Trio at last year’s event.

Artists interested in being considered for this year’s mural must submit a short application, which can be found here. In addition to the application form, artists must submit an artist statement, a resume/example of works, up to three potential concepts for a mural, and a reference (if applicable).

If you own a building in Downtown Alpena and are interested in being considered as a location for a mural, view the application here. 

All applications are due March 15, 2020.

Last year’s mural in progress.

This blog post was written by Anne Gentry, Executive Director of the Alpena Downtown Development Authority. All photos in this post were provided by Don La Barre Photography.