The 12 Mural Project beautifies Colorado Springs

If you've been to downtown Colorado Springs, then you may already be familiar with "The 12 Mural Project."

Douglas Rouse, founding artist, said, "The 12 Mural Project" was started as a solo project in the summer of 2009 to "beautify Colorado Springs in a visual art fashion."

The first, albeit unofficial, mural depicting a 1920s train scene on the south-facing wall of 14 N. Sierra Madre Street was completed by Rouse in August 2009, according to the press release.

"Shortly thereafter we reinvented the project to involve other artists," said Rouse, to create "a community project instead of just solo artwork."

In August 2009, "The 12 Mural Project" gained the support of local non-profit Pikes Peak Art Council as a fiscal sponsor, which means that all donations made to the project are tax deductible, according to the press release.

According to Douglas Rouse, the first "official" painting of "The 12 Mural Project" was the Warehouse Restaurant and Gallery (25 W. Cimarron St.).

Some of the sources that helped to fund the Warehouse mural were the Downtown Development Authority, the Bee Vradenburg Foundation, the restaurant itself and Raphael Sassower, according to the press release.

The release also stated that community members could also have their portrait included in the Warehouse mural for donations ranging from $500 to $1,500 in order to raise enough funds to complete the project.

The second and current official painting for the project is located behind the Core Power Yoga studio (623 N. Nevada Ave.) and is in the final stages, according to Douglas Rouse.

Students with a knack for art are encouraged to apply for participation with "The 12 Mural" project and three students assisted in the creation of the Core Power Yoga mural, according to Douglas Rouse.

No further projects will be started until Spring 2012 "because it is not too fun to work in the cold," said Mallori Rouse, local artist and wife of Douglas Rouse.

The current challenge for future projects is in locating the right building, obtaining permission from the owner, securing funding and finding artists to volunteer, according to Douglas Rouse.

However, this process becomes easier when businesses ask to be included in the project.

Douglas Rouse said, "[Core Power Yoga] approached us and it worked out with the timing… it went pretty quickly."

The community is expected to benefit from "The 12 Mural Project" by being exposed to "a new standard of visual public art and quality," according to the press release.

It is also the hope of the project, it continued, that the murals will be utilized by teachers for "field trips to educate students on murals, painting techniques and the impact of public art."

The progress of "The 12 Mural Project" can be followed on Facebook, and students interested in volunteering can contact Douglas Rouse (rouse66.com) at 201-1966.