Youth from the Business Art Mentorship Program (BAM) unveiled their one-of-a-kind mural on Sep. 8. Notably, this art installment is the first pride mural in Grand Junction.
BAM is a local LGBTQ+ nonprofit connecting young people in the Western Slope with professional artists. Each project promotes diversity, connection and collaboration.
Team members described the mural as an embodiment of the compassion they wanted to extend to their younger selves. Their project’s tagline, a slogan emblazoned in bubbly pink letters on the mural: “be the person you needed when you were young.” Pride in one’s own self-identity as well as chosen relationships are the mural’s central conceit.
At the ceremony, digital art lead Lily Elford and head researcher Alex Eilkenberry detailed the valuable partnerships this project fostered. They grew friendships and business skills with local creatives, like lead muralist Emily Adamson and assistant muralist Angelina DeCrow, a senior graphic design student at Colorado Mesa University (CMU).
“[This project has] allowed me to meet some of my best friends. To me, the meaning of this piece shows change [in being] there for your younger self versus yourself [now]. We have all grown in some [way] over the past six months. I think, even [in] that short amount of time, [the message still applies] here,” Eikenberry said.
One of BAM’s partner organizations, Loving Beyond Understanding (LBU), is housing the piece for a year at their drop-in center. As a portable mural, the panels are easily transportable to other businesses and organizations. Founder and executive director of BAM Tauma Lee expressed immense appreciation for LBU’s partnership.
“BAM and LBU [started around] the same time and [we’ve] been in [this] together. They’re an amazing partner [to] us,” Lee said.
The support from Grand Junction’s LGBTQIA+ allies and community proved the mural could successfully inspire anywhere. Elford also explored the significance of its mobility as an installation.
“[With] painting [and] teamwork, our panels [are] imaginati[ve], creativ[e] and representat[ive]. [By] helping [on] this project, I [have been] giv[en] a voice and [am] representing those [without one]. [I] thank this project for helping me build a team and mural I am so proud of,” said Elford.
Elford took initiative in matching her work ethic with the ideas of the team. She analyzed what team members identified as crucial elements of the composition and sketched rough drafts as early as winter 2023. BAM rewarded her efforts with a chair on their organizing board. She is one of two youth members.
This unveiling closed out a week of LGBTQ+ pride celebrations in Grand Junction.
