Mural event coming to RiNo in September

Colorado's premier mural event is coming up on Sept. 18 and 19 in RiNo.

Dubbed Crush, the event was started six years ago by RiNo artists Robin Munro (Dread) and Jonathan Lamb in an effort to unite the Denver artist community. the goal was to bring international attention to the Denver mural scene by bringing together artists from all over the world to work with Denver artists during the third week of September each year.

Over the years, the event has covered more than 50,000 square feet of walls districtwide and attracts locals and tourists to tour and photograph the murals.

Centered on 27th and Larimer, the Crush brings mural and graffiti artists into the spotlight as a positive medium that unites the community through creativity and empowerment to make positive change in areas that may be disregarded.

"As a district, we've found that murals not only help with our graffiti issues but tend to attract people from all walks of life to enjoy free access to world-class artwork," says Tracy Weil, creative director for the RiNo Art District.

This year, the RiNo Art District and Crush organizers will host a variety of pop-up events in conjunction with local businesses during the week to celebrate the murals in progress and provide opportunities for the public to engage with the artists. The district also has expanded the event to include a larger footprint, including walls in RiNo East and RiNo West. Area youth and younger artists will have the opportunity to paint alongside the world's best.

Contact Confluence Denver Development News Editor Margaret Jackson with tips and leads for future stories at margaret@confluence-denver.com.