BAPC mulls mural project for Worland

WORLAND — The Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission (BAPC) hopes to spearhead a community art project by learning from a mural project in Casper.

The idea came to the BAPC following a conference in Casper attended by Town Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz and Assistant Clerk Norma Homan.

The BAPC met via Zoom with Wendy Luck of ServeWyoming to discuss the projects in Casper and what Worland needs to do to move forward with their own community mural.

Luck said they have completed four murals in the city, the most recent at Riverview Basketball Court. The first murals were at the Beverly Street underpass.

The areas selected have been in areas that have been known for graffiti and drug activity and the murals and other work have helped to begin to clean up the areas.

When they planned the first mural they contacted an art school and spoke to some high school art classes but ultimately went with a young professional artist who donated some of his time and ServeWyoming was able to provide stipend. ServeWyoming has partnered with Keep Casper Beautiful.

She said they next sought donations for the art supplies and then issued a call for volunteers. Ideally, she said it is best to plan the project around one of the national days of service.

The murals have a theme of inclusion, teamwork and community. Luck said the artist works with a committee on a design and then sketches the mural and assigns numbers for colors on the mural.

Volunteers come out on the service day and paint the mural based on the numbers, giving the community a sense of ownership and pride in the mural.

She suggested to the BAPC that they start with a small mural project, something manageable.

Chairman Scott Fritzler said the committee did not have any set locations at this time but they brainstormed several areas in Worland’s parks that might work for an initial project.

Luck said all of their murals have been on city property, none on private property, but noted, “public-private partnerships are amazing” if the city could partner with a private landowner for a project.

She said ServeWyoming can assist the BAPC with volunteer recruitment once they get started.

She suggested the group set a date and “get started early.”

BAPC member James Donahue said he would talk to some area artists at the Nov. 8 Mammoth Quick Draw to get some contacts as well as gauging interest in the project and report back to the group Nov. 21.

The BAPC will also bring the project to the council on Tuesday.