New street art welcomes visitors to Minturn Market

The town of Minturn called for artists to be a part of this project earlier this summer.
Jennifer Holmes/Courtesy photo

The streets of Minturn just got a little brighter.

The town of Minturn put out a request for proposals and asked artists from Eagle County, and especially any that lived in Minturn, to activate and enliven the Minturn Market with asphalt art. The initial focus was along the Minturn Market’s kid zone along Nelson Street and the approximate dimensions of the area were 100 feet wide and 13 feet deep. Providing the artist with a large area to work with.

“Although the main goal of this project was to activate the Kids Zone area of the Minturn Market, we were looking for a design that was generic enough in nature to provide enjoyment and betterment of our local community throughout the summer season,” said Cindy Krieg, who does economic development and special events for the Town of Minturn.

Applications were submitted in early June and artist Jennifer Holmes was selected to complete the project, which is fitting since Holmes is a Minturn resident. She and her husband, Robert Creasy, moved to Minturn three years ago from Mammoth Lakes, California, to be closer to family and to provide more opportunities for their two children.

“I feel tremendously honored that my proposal was selected and that I was able to be a part of this,” Holmes said. “The town specifically requested a project that would brighten up the kid’s zone so with that in mind, I wanted to create something colorful and fun. I immediately envisioned an abstract geometric rainbow with radiant sun rays extending into the parking lot.”

At first, Holmes wanted to collect leftover exterior house paint from residents to reflect the unique colors of Minturn and to repurpose leftover material. However, to make the project more durable, it made sense to use specific asphalt paint and mix the colors to create a vibrant range.

The idea behind the new street art in Minturn was to brighten up the entrance to the kids’ zone at the Minturn Market.

Holmes enlisted the help of friends and family to complete this project.

“As an architect, my husband Robert has a remarkable ability to figure out the math and draw a straight line. My friend, Corina Lindley, and my children Cyrus and Lila Creasy, volunteered hours of their time to help paint and my former college roommate, Elsie Sims, was instrumental in refining the design,” Holmes said.

Even strangers helped.

Jennifer Holmes, right, and husband, Robert Creasy, work on the street art in Minturn.

“Several children and adults passing by the site stopped to pick up a brush and paint a bit. It truly was a collaborative effort and I feel grateful to have been a part of it,” Holmes said.

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After Holmes completed the sunburst, Krieg asked that she create a design for the crosswalk as well. So, Holmes used varying colors of blue and green in the crosswalk to reference the Eagle River. The rectangular bars are a nod to the railroad tracks and Minturn’s history. The fish cut-outs were added as a playful addition and speak to the robust angler community in Eagle County.

In addition to the sunburst Holmes created at the entrance to the Minturn Market kids’ zone, she was also asked to create art along the crosswalk.

Holmes volunteered her time and talent to do this project.

“My family and I adore living in Minturn and I hope that the installation reflects the essence of this wonderful community. It truly is a small town with big charm,” Holmes said.