Artwork

To some, the I-70 viaduct was a dark, shadowy and sometimes intimidating area, but to the Central 70 team, we saw the beauty… the future… the possibilities. That vision became known as ‘duct-work — the collaboration of more than 20 local artists, one creative team, one connected curator, one diligent non-profit, one open-minded government agency, nine generous sponsors and a $6,000 grant from the Denver Urban Arts Fund that made it all possible.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016, artists were on site to complete their work while hundreds of visitors stopped by to watch the transformation take place. Local vendors chatted with community members and offered their own art projects.

Music filled the air as the once dark and dingy viaducts became beautiful pieces of street art for the 8,500 vehicles who pass through the area each day. Kids even got a chance to practice their urban art skills on a wall set aside just for them.

Central 70 teamed with the Denver Arts & Venues Urban Arts Fund (UAF), Denver Arts & Skills Center (DASC), and other local sponsors to bring a new life to the I-70 viaduct once again. They provided funding and infrastructure for a group of 26 local urban artists to paint murals under the I-70 viaduct between Brighton Boulevard and York Street, in the Globeville, Elyria and Swansea neighborhoods.

Expanding on the success of ‘duct-work in 2016, artists continued the urban gallery further west to continue the transformation of the dark and shadowy viaduct into a work of art.

46th Avenue was blocked off to allow these communication gurus to literally dance in the streets, taste the local flavor from several food trucks and unleash their own creativity on the community art wall.

‘Duct-work will bring beauty and inspiration to the community for the remaining years until the viaduct is removed as part of the Central 70 project.

Building off the successful 'duct-work events in 2016 and 2017, the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) Central 70 Project teamed with local artists to transform the blank sound walls on the south side of Swansea Elementary School into an urban art exhibit.

With the stretch of 46th Avenue between Brighton Boulevard and York Street closed permanently, the artwork gallery beneath the highway is no longer visible to the community. To take its place, more than 30 local artists converged on the school grounds to paint new murals on the fence constructed along the south side of the school.

The Globeville Elyria-Swansea (GES) neighborhood, adjacent to the Central 70 Project, between I-25 and Colorado Boulevard  is a rich and vibrant community that is celebrated through the artistic retaining wall that will be installed at the following locations in the lowered section of the Central 70 Project: 

• York Street to Josephine Street (north wall) 
• York Street to Josephine Street (south wall) 
• Clayton Street to Fillmore Street (north wall) 
• Clayton Street to Fillmore Street (south wall) 
• Steele Street to Cook Street (north wall)
• Steele Street to Cook Street (south wall) 

In 2016, following a series of community workshops, the people/places/culture theme for the walls was selected. The people/places/culture theme celebrates the immigrants from over 50 nations that expanded their families and started businesses in the GES area over time; the various community cornerstones that established and strengthened bonds throughout the neighborhood; and the many GES traditions and events, such as dance and art. 

The retaining walls will be made out of concrete and produced in sections that will be lined up together along the side of the highway. Each panel is 30-feet tall and 10-feet wide, and each image will require on average 11 or 12 panels.