Off The Walls

In June 2020, as Black Lives Matter protests filled Denver's streets, the city's walls and streets were also painted with images and messages of the movement. Denver commissioned a large Black Lives Matter street mural. Well-known Denver muralist Thomas "Detour" Evans painted a series of portraits of Black people killed at the hands of police. But a lot of that art was temporary; it's been painted over or has faded away. Artist Adri Norris and activist Lindsay Minter reflect on why that is and what that means. The mural of Breonna Taylor by artists Thomas "Detour" Evans and Hiero Veiga can be found at 2845 Walnut Street in Denver. To see photos of the mural, visit CPR.org/podcast/off-the-walls. We’ve collaborated with Apple Maps to create a guide to the murals and special places you’ve heard about on Off the Walls. It features a map of some of the coolest public art in Colorado, plus photos of the murals we talk about on the show. To check it out, go to apple.co/Off-The-Walls. Hosts: Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams Editor: Jo Erickson Written and reported by Kibwe Cooper Mixed by Kibwe Cooper Denverite editor: Obed Manuel Additional editorial support: Kevin Beaty, Erin Jones, Rebekah Romberg, Luis Antonio Perez Theme music by Kibwe Cooper. Additional music via Universal Production Music. Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón Photography: Kevin Beaty Executive producer: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale Thanks also to Hart Van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Kyle Harris, Desiree Mathurin, Kim Nguyen, Clara Shelton, Rebecca Tauber, Isaac Vargas, Arielle Wilson. This show was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Off the Walls is a production of Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network. Denverite.com

Denver artists Grow Love and Alexandrea Pangburn had noticed a pattern: Most of the opportunities for muralists were going to men. When they connected with other female artists who felt the same way, the idea for Babe Walls — a mural festival celebrating all female and non-binary artists — was born. Babe Walls would showcase local talent and, hopefully, spark some change. But for the artists behind what was originally going to be a one-time event, Babe Walls has had more impact than they'd ever expected. The Babe Walls 2021 murals can be found along the Ralston Creek Trail in Arvada, where Ralston Road meets Lamar Street. We’ve collaborated with Apple Maps to create a guide to the murals and special places you’ve heard about on Off the Walls. It features a map of some of the coolest public art in Colorado, plus photos of the murals we talk about on the show. To check it out, go to apple.co/Off-The-Walls. Hosts: Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams Editor: Jo Erickson Written and reported by Emily Williams Mixed by Emily Williams Denverite editor: Obed Manuel Additional editorial support: Kevin Beaty, Erin Jones, Rebekah Romberg, Luis Antonio Perez Theme music by Kibwe Cooper. Additional music via Universal Production Music. Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón Photography: Kevin Beaty Executive producer: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale Thanks also to Hart Van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Kyle Harris, Desiree Mathurin, Kim Nguyen, Clara Shelton, Rebecca Tauber, Isaac Vargas, Arielle Wilson. This show was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Off the Walls is a production of Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network. Denverite.com

When Fathima Dickerson was approached by an artist who wanted to paint a mural of her, she was surprised. To Fathima of Welton Street Café—Denver's oldest Black-owned restaurant—it seemed random. But to the artists, Jodie Herrera and Miles Toland, Fathima embodied the idea of community they wanted to capture in their Five Points mural. As Fathima navigates challenges and changes with Welton Street Café, the mural has served as a source of hope. You can find the mural in a parking lot off Walnut Street between 27th and 28th Streets in Denver. To see photos of the mural, visit CPR.org/podcast/off-the-walls. We’ve collaborated with Apple Maps to create a guide to the murals and special places you’ve heard about on Off the Walls. It features a map of some of the coolest public art in Colorado, plus photos of the murals we talk about on the show. To check it out, go to apple.co/Off-The-Walls. Hosts: Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams Editor: Jo Erickson Written and reported by Kibwe Cooper Mixed by Kibwe Cooper Denverite editor: Obed Manuel Additional editorial support: Kevin Beaty, Erin Jones, Rebekah Romberg, Luis Antonio Perez Theme music by Kibwe Cooper. Additional music via Universal Production Music. Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón Photography: Kevin Beaty Executive producer: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale Thanks also to Hart Van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Kyle Harris, Desiree Mathurin, Kim Nguyen, Clara Shelton, Rebecca Tauber, Isaac Vargas, Arielle Wilson. This show was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Off the Walls is a production of Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network. Denverite.com

Painting his first mural was a powerful experience for artist David Ocelotl Garcia. But a few years ago, that mural, "Huitzilopochtli," was painted over, without permission. David set out to bring the mural back, but he didn't know how that would go. No one in Colorado had attempted what he was going to do. In the process, David discovered the beauty in not just making art, but reviving it. To learn more about the Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project, visit chicanomuralsofcolorado.com. You can find the mural at 2895 West 8th Ave in Denver. To see photos of the mural, visit CPR.org/podcast/off-the-walls. We’ve collaborated with Apple Maps to create a guide to the murals and special places you’ve heard about on Off the Walls. It features a map of some of the coolest public art in Colorado, plus photos of the murals we talk about on the show. To check it out, go to apple.co/Off-The-Walls. Hosts: Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams Editor: Jo Erickson Written and reported by Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper Mixed by Kibwe Cooper Denverite editor: Obed Manuel Additional editorial support: Kevin Beaty, Erin Jones, Rebekah Romberg, Luis Antonio Perez Theme music by Kibwe Cooper. Additional music via Universal Production Music. Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón Photography: Kevin Beaty Executive producer: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale Thanks also to Hart Van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Kyle Harris, Desiree Mathurin, Kim Nguyen, Clara Shelton, Rebecca Tauber, Isaac Vargas, Arielle Wilson. This show was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Off the Walls is a production of Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network. Denverite.com

Emanuel Martinez started a community mural movement in Denver in the early 1970s, bringing colorful life to the local Chicano Movement. His mural "La Alma" is a central part of the historic La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood where he painted it more than 45 years ago. But other murals Emanuel painted at the time have been wiped out. And now, someone very close to him is fighting for Chicano murals like his to be protected and preserved. You can find the mural at the La Alma Recreation Center at 1325 W 11th Ave in Denver. To see photos of the mural, visit CPR.org/podcast/off-the-walls. To learn more about the Chicano/a/x Murals of Colorado Project, visit chicanomuralsofcolorado.com. We’ve collaborated with Apple Maps to create a guide to the murals and special places you’ve heard about on Off the Walls. It features a map of some of the coolest public art in Colorado, plus photos of the murals we talk about on the show. To check it out, go to apple.co/Off-The-Walls. Hosts: Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams Editor: Jo Erickson Written and reported by Emily Williams and Kibwe Cooper Mixed by Kibwe Cooper Denverite editor: Obed Manuel Additional editorial support: Kevin Beaty, Erin Jones, Rebekah Romberg, Luis Antonio Perez Theme music by Kibwe Cooper. Additional music via Universal Production Music. Artwork: Maria Juliana Pinzón Photography: Kevin Beaty Executive producer: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale Thanks also to Hart Van Denburg, Jodi Gersh, Kyle Harris, Desiree Mathurin, Kim Nguyen, Clara Shelton, Rebecca Tauber, Isaac Vargas, Arielle Wilson. This show was produced with support from PRX, and is made possible in part by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and a grant from the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation. Off the Walls is a production of Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network. Denverite.com

If you live in Denver, you know the city is full of beautiful murals. But what you might not know are the stories behind these larger-than-life pieces of art. Off The Walls is a new podcast from Denverite and Colorado Public Radio — part of the NPR Network. Hosts Kibwe Cooper and Emily Williams introduce you to the stories and people behind Denver’s street art. Check out the first episode of Off The Walls on October 16 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR One or wherever you get your podcasts. denverite.com cpr.org