GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — To use a phrase Renick Stevenson might dig, he’s a trip.

It was early Tuesday morning at the Glenwood Springs Center for the Arts. The 74-year-old was wearing his beret and a crazy sweater, and sitting in his studio. Like always, the place was a creative jumble, with paintings and photos splayed over most open spaces. There was a fairly new addition, too. Six large, half-finished canvases were propped up against the wall.

When asked about this, his newest mural, he was quick to correct.

“Our mural,” he said.

And he really does mean it. More than 100 people donated art, stories and pictures for the work, soon to be unveiled at the Glenwood Springs Community Center. And even though dozens of people are actively working on it now, and its installation is imminent, Stevenson is still happily recruiting people to join on in.

After all, this is supposed to be a time capsule of our local culture. Stevenson wants all the voices as he can get.

Themed “It’s Our Way of Life,” the piece stretches 24 feet in length when assembled, and stands six feet high. Rustic, black and white images of dogs and kids and camping trips and much more stand out against Steven’s colorful, mountain landscape. A banner by Fred Haberlein, denoting the seasons, stretches across the top. It all feels very stream of consciousness. As anyone who knows Stevenson can attest, that’s perfect for him. Truly, a talk with him is like nothing else.

“It’s contemporary cave art,” he started in. “It’s the history of the world, just with a

little newer thing, a new twist.”

The mural represents maybe his 500th in the United States, he estimated. It’s also his third one here. Previous pieces include one at City Hall, done by Lynne Cassidy, Robbi O’Meara, Gail Godar Petry and Cassie Sokal (Stevenson was adamant about giving them their due) using pictures donated by the Frontier Historical Society. He also mentioned the work at the local library, in which people from “18 months to 83 years” pitched in. In the near future, he’s envisioning a 300-foot long piece in El Jebel.

With all of these works, his goal is to get volunteers to take some risks, to be part of something bigger than themselves. Most importantly, he sees this as a way for people to take ownership of their present, their future. They get to say how they want this world to be — in paint.

“It’s just pure and simple,” he said. “And I’ve been doing this since 1967.”

Then came the avalanche of his psyche.

He talked about learning these community building techniques from Saul Alinsky and César Chavez. He talked about his mother, his father, his own years as a drunk and “crazy person.” He talked about his first mural. When he was 12, he drew an ode to a girl — right down his mother’s hallway (much to her chagrin, of course). He talked about helping start Denver Free University. He talked about getting bummed out about the state of the world. Adults and children alike need to know that their actions have consequences, that everything matters, he said. He didn’t seem to think people “get it” these days.

He had so much caring and openness about him, and in the middle of all these ideas, he began to cry.

“It took a long time for things to get this sick. Maybe in 200, 300 years, kids will have enough to eat, a nice place to live in,” he said. “But if we don’t do it in 200, 300 years, it’s going to be worse.”

After a few minutes, a sense of optimism seemed to overtake him again. He believes in serendipity and synchronicity, he said. Everything is connected. He doesn’t know exactly what these projects mean, but he knows they can make a difference. He’s seen it. He didn’t try to name it, but it always blows him away.

“Isn’t it going to be interesting to see how this whole thing works out?” he said, sounding calm once more.


Contact Stina Sieg: 384-9111
ssieg@postindependent.com






Post Independent Glenwood Springs CO Colorado