DENVER — A vibrant new mural in the Bonnie Brae neighborhood captures the essence of the Denverites in an abstract display of the Rockies. Painted on the wall of Bonnie Brae Liquor, adjacent to the iconic Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, the mural is the brainchild of homegrown artist Gretchen Leggitt.
Leggitt, who grew up just three blocks away from the mural site, reminisces about her childhood walks to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream with her family, describing it as a weekly tradition she eagerly anticipated.
"This is by far the most special wall that I've ever painted," said Leggitt.
Drawing inspiration from her Colorado roots, Leggitt chose to depict an abstract rendering of Mount Blue Sky.
"Being a Coloradan, the Rockies are in our blood, so I felt inclined to create this mountain," she explained.
After attending George Washington High School and later Colorado State University, Leggitt moved away to Bellingham, Washington, in 2021, where she founded a nonprofit organization called Paper Whale. The organization aims to foster art in communities experiencing rapid growth and gentrification.
The idea for the mural came about while she was visiting home. Leggitt had an epiphany during her obligatory visit to Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, realizing that the wall of Bonnie Brae Liquor, which she had passed countless times, would be the perfect canvas to bring her artistic mission full circle.
"This building is so iconic and important. A mural is an ability for a community to feel connected, it's placemaking, it's showing love," Leggitt remarked.
Her proposal for the mural was met with enthusiasm, Leggitt started her project last Friday, and five days later is nearly finished.
Growing up in Denver, Leggitt has observed the city to be a place where people from all walks of life converge. She says the melting pot, is exactly why establishments like Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, and artistic endeavors like her mural play a vital role in fostering a sense of cultural identity.
“My greatest hope is for this mural to become as popular as Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, but that will never happen,” Leggitt laughed.
But, Cindy Pailet, one of the owners of Bonnie Brae Ice Cream, has faith in Leggitt's ability, and says she knows it "will become iconic." She shared that their beloved establishment will soon mark its 38th year of operation this summer, just a year shy of Leggitt's age of 39.
"Having her come back to paint the mural just feels like the family situation we've always wanted to create here," Pailet said.
They've reached a juncture where some of their current employees have parents who also worked for them when they were teens.
Leggitt set herself a tight deadline of six days to complete before her flight back to Washington at the end of the week. She said she has been working 12-hour days to complete it by the end of the day on April 18.
As Leggitt works, she said she's observed children walking up to the ice cream shop, roughly the same age she was when she frequented Bonnie Brae Ice Cream. She extends the spray paint can to them, allowing them to spray a few spots, wanting to ensure the mural embodies the essence of Bonnie Brae for generations to come.
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