Murals
Artscapes Mural Art Initiative - Creating More Beauty
Artscapes is a community beautification initiative created to inspire civic pride and abate graffiti in Denton's public spaces by painting new murals throughout the city. In 2014, Keep Denton Beautiful (KDB), with input from Denton volunteers and neighborhoods, launched an effort to create painted mural artwork in key gateway points and neighborhood areas around Denton.
Artscapes' Goals
The Artscapes Mural Art Initiative targets high traffic and graffiti-prone sites for new murals, using a street art aesthetic to achieve the following goals:
- Beautify and enliven public spaces
- Abate graffiti
- Inspire community action to keep our city clean and beautiful
Artists & Mural Locations
- Mick Burson: Bell Avenue and Prairie Street at SCRAP Denton (removed in 2021)
- Dan Colcer: Railroad underpass at Dallas Drive (U.S. Highway 77) and Eagle Drive
- Travis Sykes:
- Bell Avenue and Sherman Drive
- Austin Street and Hickory Street (removed in 2021)
- Shay McAnally: Bonnie Brae Street and Scripture Street (removed due to roundabout construction)
- Dan Black: "Foundation of Our History" at railroad underpass at Robertson Street and Bell Avenue
Upcoming Projects
KDB is not currently accepting proposals for mural projects at this time.
The Impact of Murals
Nationally, public mural art has shown to be effective for beautifying sites that are chronically prone to graffiti. Keep America Beautiful affiliates - like Keep Denton Beautiful - have had great success with this approach around the country, creating more beautiful public spaces and instilling community pride in the process. This strategy is the foundation of the Artscapes Mural Initiative.
Resources List
- Graffiti Prevention: Creating a Community Mural
- Charting the Multiple Meanings of Blight - Executive Summary
- Craw et al: The Mural as Graffiti Deterrence, Environment and Behavior Journal
Support KDB Murals!
Funding for the Artscapes murals is made possible entirely through the support from sponsorships and community donations. To make a secure, tax-deductible contribution to Artscapes and support Keep Denton Beautiful's grass roots beautification efforts, email the KDB Program Manager.
Questions
For questions about the Artscapes Initiative, please contact KDB by email, or by calling 940-349-8737.