PRESS
Hoodline Denver, May 20, 2025
“Boulder Creek Festival Set for Memorial Day Weekend Comeback with Music, Art, and Food Extravaganza”
The City of Boulder, alongside Team Player Productions, has announced that the Boulder Creek Festival will make its much-anticipated return over Memorial Day weekend, from May 23 to May 26. This community staple is expected to draw in a crowd well over last year's 150,000 attendees, offering a sumptuous blend of free live music, art, and food over its three-day extravaganza.
Daily Camera, April 3, 2025
“From back alleys to gallery walls, Boulder Arts Week comes draped in creativity around every corner”
New this year: Boulder Arts Week Awards (the BAWies)
Daily Camera, October 18, 2024
“‘Homelands: Reconnection’ in Boulder uplifts Native voices that still resonate on the land that once was theirs”
Dairy Art Center’s annual exhibit honors those whose land we stand on: The Ute, Cheyenne and Arapaho
KGNU, September 13, 2024
“Murals, murals everywhere! Denver and Boulder will both have mural festivals this weekend”
On today’s Morning Magazine, if you love murals and you live on the Front Range, you are in luck. This morning we hear about two mural festivals this weekend. First, the Street Wise Mural Festival will take place across the City of Boulder all weekend. Then, we hear about a mural going up in Aurora of the Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machado.
KUNC, September 12, 2024
“Where to see mural painting as 5 street art festivals take over Colorado in the next few months”
For artist Alexandrea Pangburn, it’s all about the eyes.
“There’s so much language in the eyes,” she said. “I really try to bring my work to life through the eyes of animals.”
Pangburn paints murals of flora and fauna. Her birds, buffalo, bighorn sheep, dogwood blossoms and dahlias can be seen on walls all over Colorado. And in the coming weeks, a new set of Pangburn-painted eyes will appear somewhere in Boulder. Pangburn is one of 21 artists selected for the annual Street Wise Mural Festival, a three-day event of public art and activism taking place in the industrial neighborhood around 47th and Pearl Streets. It’s also one of four mural festivals taking place on the Front Range over the next month.
Westword, September 12, 2024
“Denver Art Scene Is on Fire This Weekend With New Exhibitions”
Catch the color fields of Alma Thomas, moving pictures at the Digerati Experimental Media Festival, outdoor painting at Street Wise’s Mural Fest and more.
Boulder Weekly, September 10, 2024
“Fall color”
Four local artists exploring art and activism at the Street Wise Mural Festival
Autumn is just around the corner, but Boulder will be getting a different pop of color with this weekend’s return of the Street Wise Mural Festival. The outdoor live-painting extravaganza is back Sept. 13-15 for its sixth year of commissioning vibrant large-scale works exploring the intersection of art and activism in public spaces throughout the city.
The Colorado Sun, September 9, 2024
“Where to see mural painting as 5 street art festivals take over Colorado in the next few months”
Artists from all over the world will showcase their skills on walls in Denver, Boulder, Aurora, Greeley and Fort Collins over the next month
For artist Alexandrea Pangburn, it’s all about the eyes.
“There’s so much language in the eyes,” she said. “I really try to bring my work to life through the eyes of animals.”
Pangburn paints murals of flora and fauna. Her birds, buffalo, bighorn sheep, dogwood blossoms and dahlias can be seen on walls all over Colorado. And in the coming weeks, a new set of Pangburn-painted eyes will appear somewhere in Boulder. Pangburn is one of 21 artists selected for the annual Street Wise Mural Festival, a three-day event of public art and activism taking place in the industrial neighborhood around 47th and Pearl streets. It’s also one of four mural festivals taking place on the Front Range over the next month.
City of Boulder Office of Arts and Culture, September 2024
“Street Wise Arts”
Before starting Street Wise Arts, Leah Brenner Clack was working with artists in the retail and gallery space. She noticed mural art blossoming in Denver but lagging behind in Boulder. “I started to dabble with rotating murals on the side of the retail businesses I was working for at the time,” said Clack. “It provided a chance to connect with the community and it was amazing to witness the reactions to the artwork. I decided to create something under my own direction, and I hosted the first Mural Festival in 2019. Beginning in 2020, Street Wise Arts as the nonprofit organization of today was born.”
Boulder Magazine, April 2024
“Mural Magic”
Nonprofit Street Wise Arts enriches Boulder’s urban landscape with a vibrant tapestry of colors
While Boulder’s dreamy Flatirons never fail to captivate, the cityscape touts a delightful and mesmerizing façade of its own. Over 100 radiant murals now grace Boulder’s buildings, alleyways and underpasses, adding a new layer of charm and creativity to the urban experience.
The colorful and intricate additions are offerings of Street Wise Arts, a Boulder-based nonprofit dedicated to adorning brick, stucco and concrete with largescale pieces that inspire passersby to halt and take notice.
Westword, April 2024
“Best of Denver 2024: Best Museum Exhibit With a Mural Series”
Eight local muralists painted across downtown Boulder for a series called Celebrating Colorado's Black Street Artists, produced by Street Wise Arts and the Museum of Boulder to go along with the museum's exhibition Proclaiming Colorado's Black History. Thomas "Detour" Evans, Yazz Atmore, Jahna Rae, Rob Hill, Marcus Murray, Devin "Speaks" Urioste, Jasmine Holmes-Piesco and Selah Laurel all created murals that reflected the exhibit's theme of Black history in the state. The exhibit, which was two years in the making, is on view through September 2025.
Yellowscene, March 2024
“Notables: The Artists 2024 – Street Wise Arts”
We turn our gaze in 2024 to the many artists throughout the community who are inspired by the landscape, the culture, and the receptiveness of the people who live here. YS will explore the intersection of art and artificial intelligence, the roles art plays in representation and storytelling, as well as influences and mediums. To kick off our series we present Street Wise Arts and the various artists who make these murals a reality.
“Our mural festivals are geared around art and activism. So highlighting community, social justice, diversity, all kinds of different platforms and also prioritizing representation of diverse artists in the public realm,” Leah Brenner-Clack, executive director of Street Wise Arts, shared. The power of representation has never been more important. In the era of divisive politics and hateful rhetoric, seeing yourself in a beautifully crafted, meaningful art piece can be a silently inspiring sign.
Westword, January 2024
“Seven Stunning New Murals in Boulder Highlight Black Artists and Culture”
"Public art is a beautiful way for individuals to feel represented and understood.”
Seven local muralists gathered in downtown Boulder during the fall to create original works for a series called Celebrating Colorado’s Black Street Artists. The series was produced by the nonprofit arts organization Street Wise Arts in collaboration with the Museum of Boulder’s newest exhibit, Proclaiming Colorado’s Black History, which is on display through September 2025.
The muralists include Yazz Atmore, Jahna Rae, Rob Hill, Marcus Murray, Devin “Speaks” Urioste, Jasmine Holmes-Piesco and Selah Laurel. And come spring 2024, Thomas Evans (aka Detour) will join the list of accomplished artists when he paints the eighth and final mural of the series.
BizWest, December 2023
“‘Flowers that never wilt’”
Mural art gains popularity in region
Art no longer has to be stuck in a gallery, museum or studio and is appearing on the sides of buildings, along alleyways and on transformer boxes and traffic cabinets in many Northern Colorado and Boulder Valley communities as a form of free art for the public.
The Denver Gazette, September 15, 2023
“An artist who is taking you to the fifth dimension”
Jahna Rae's latest mural will be going up soon at KGNU Radio’s Boulder location
When you think of dimensions, you start with the three Ds: Width, height, depth. Painter, illustrator and muralist Jahna Rae is an artist who tries to convey what she calls “a unique, 5D experience on a 2D surface.”
The Denver Post, September 6, 2023
“Enjoy a sunny stroll amid amazing outdoor artworks in these Colorado towns”
Sculpture gardens, public art, urban murals invite our exploration
Art doesn’t need to be hemmed in by museum or gallery walls to be appreciated. In fact, outdoor art enlivens communities for both residents and visitors. Sculpture parks and gardens, art districts, outdoor murals and street sculptures beckon us to stop a while, be mindful and inhale the inspiration.
These outdoor galleries are invigorating — awakening our eyes, minds and spirits to unique and creative ideas and, sometimes, offering lessons in history and culture, challenging our views on social issues, and, of course, providing some fun. Wander about any of these 10 outdoor art venues for experiences that promise to be transformative.
Boulder Reporting Lab, August 2023
“Meet downtown Boulder’s newest murals and the artists who made them”
Street Wise Arts’ first seasonal mural series explores what it means to heal as a community.
This year, the group put on its first Summer Mural Series — a scaled-down version of the Boulder Mural Festival. By operating year-round, the nonprofit aims for greater sustainability and to provide artists more frequent paid opportunities.
“I want to make a difference by changing the feel of the streets in Boulder so that the entire community feels seen, inspired and connected through art,” said Leah Brenner Clack, Street Wise Arts’ executive director. “I believe that a city’s public art is a big part of its identity.”
CBS Colorado, April 2023
“Biggest and brightest art pieces on display for Boulder Art Week”
From performances to exhibits, Boulder Art Week is showcasing some of the biggest art pieces ever made.
Downtown Boulder Partnership, February 2023
Nonprofit Organization of the Year - Street Wise Arts
Street Wise Arts has installed over 85 murals throughout the City of Boulder in the last three years. Their mission to amplify arts and culture, represent diversity, equity and inclusion through public art and encourage conversations around social justice and community resilience has made a profound impact on the downtown Boulder landscape.
Left Hand Valley Courier, November 2022
“Mural artist George Curtis Levi completes last mural of project”
This is the final piece in a series of stories on the four artists who painted murals as part of the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center-Jerry Sinor Building mural project.
"Arapaho Family," painted by George Curtis Levi, is the newest mural to enrich the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center. The ledger art mural can be found on the east end of the breezeway that cuts through the center.
Westminster Public Schools, October 2022
“Street Wise Mural Festival Leaves Lasting Impression”
Students with a special interest in the arts recently spent a sunny afternoon strolling the streets and alleys of Boulder during the 4th Annual Street Wise Boulder Mural Festival. The field trip, organized by the Gifted and Talented (PEDAL) program, was made available to any interested students, including Zaire Dunne, a senior with the WPS Virtual Academy.
“I loved it! I hadn’t been on a field trip in a while, and it was cool to see the scenery and artwork outside of a museum setting,” said Zaire.
Left Hand Valley Courier, September 2022
“Niwot mural artist Brent Learned depicts the Sand Creek Massacre”
This is the third in a series of stories centered on the four artists painting murals as part of the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center-Jerry Sinor Building mural project.
You might feel shocked and outraged. The powerful image of the latest mural in the breezeway of the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center is intended to do just that. The mural might also make you want to learn more and ensure that the level of hate, ignorance, and greed that led to this horror never happens again.
Rooster Magazine, September 2022
“Come For The Flatirons, Stay For The Street Art: Inside Boulder’s ARTivism Mural Festival”
Leilani Derr is celebrating an artistic milestone this weekend — she’s creating her first public mural in Boulder. The mural is focusing on a nonprofit which offers support to those seeking abortion access, and is just one of the many murals that will take shape during Boulder’s fourth annual ARTivism Mural Festival.
Daily Camera, September 2022
“Boulder’s Street Wise Mural Festival decks the walls with revolutionary artivism, interactive experiences“
“The best part about the evolution of Street Wise Mural Festival is how much of a visual impact we make every year, with a blast of new artists making their mark,” said Leah Brenner Clack, founder of Street Wise Arts. “This year we are more concentrated on quality over quantity, so the number of murals has decreased, but they are more concentrated together. And we’ve added projection mapping, an artist workshop series, guided tours and augmented reality to create a more robust viewer experience.”
Left Hand Valley Courier, July 2022
“Niwot mural artist Jaycee Beyale”
Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of stories on the four artists painting murals on walls in the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center-Jerry Sinor Building mural project, curated by Street Wise Arts.
Chief Niwot, leader of the Southern Arapaho tribe, is remembered for many honorable attributes - his bravery and wisdom, his mastery of multiple languages, and his great guidance and diplomacy. But most importantly, Chief Niwot is remembered for aspirations that his tribe could exist peacefully with the white settlers who moved onto and throughout the Arapaho territory.
Left Hand Valley Courier, June 2022
“Niwot mural artist Danielle SeeWalker”
This is the first in a series of stories on the four artists painting walls in the Cottonwood Shopping Center-Jerry Sinor Building mural project.
Artist, activist and author Danielle SeeWalker's mural is striking, colorful, compelling, and nearly the size of a standard billboard. It took SeeWalker four full days in 90+ degree heat, and additional hours here and there to complete the 495 square-foot mural she's named "What Once Was." It beautifies the southern exterior wall of Abo's Pizza, next to Chico's Grooming in the Cottonwood Square Shopping Center, and was completed as the first of four murals in the project.
Boulder Magazine, June 2022
“Public Art in Boulder County”
One of Boulder County’s most vibrant art scenes is not bound by gallery walls. The area’s abundant murals, sculptures and other public artworks are open to everyone, and no entry fee is required to view them.
Boulder Lifestyle, May 2022
“Colorful Boulder”
The City Is Booming with Street Art and Murals, but That Wasn’t Always the Case
Street art and murals are abundant in Boulder, however, that wasn’t always the case. In 2015, Leah Brenner Clack noticed little to no public art in the city. Having worked in art galleries, she sought to bring more art and color to town.
“There was probably a small handful of murals around Boulder, a few around some of the bike paths, but really not very many at all,” she says. “That was what I was super passionate about. I didn’t understand why we didn’t have the murals and the street art that other cities have because we are a creative city and there are lots of artists here.”
Daily Camera, October 2021
“Tour Street Wise Boulder’s 31 new murals via e-bike”
Building sides, alleyways and underpasses throughout Boulder have gotten a lot more colorful thanks to Street Wise Boulder, the annual mural festival that took place last month. The stunning art remains on view for at least the next year, providing passersby a chance to explore the varied creations of close to 40 artists.
Whether one wishes to see the works by foot, bike, board, blades or skates, visitors should be sure to spend a leisurely day peeping these new vibrant additions.
Colorado.com
“Mural Marathoning in Northern Colorado & Beyond”
While it's true Colorado has an abundance of natural beauty, its urban landscapes are sprayed colorful with seemingly endless murals. Discover northern Colorado’s best works and get to know the stories and people that inspired these designs. You'll start your road trip in Lafayette, then meander across the region.
“Behind the Boulder Theatre lies an alley full of murals dedicated to pushing the conversation forward on social justice and cultural diversity. The three standout designs are: "Say Her Name," by...”
The Daily Camera, September 2020
“Street Wise mural fest gears up for second year with focus on the underrepresented, unheard”
Boulder organizers hoping to raise $35,000 ahead of festival’s September date
Boulder Convention & Visitors Bureau, September 2020
“A Guide to Boulder’s Murals”
Street Wise Boulder launched in 2019 and installed 15 new murals around Boulder. In 2020, 39 artists painted murals all over the city, each within the theme of "ARTivism." These murals are superb and a great place to start your own self-guided mural tour of Boulder.
303 Magazine, September 3, 2020
“Art and Activism Combine at the Second Annual Street Wise Mural Festival in Boulder”
Last year, Boulder might have gained more murals in one week than it had in many years. That was due entirely to the efforts of the first annual Street Wise Mural Festival and its founder, Leah Brenner Clack. And this coming week from September 7 to 13, the famous university town will be painted up again.
Boulder Weekly, August 27, 2020
“Takin’ it to the streets”
Street Wise Boulder set to feature the work of more than 30 artists for the second iteration of the mural festival
Street Wise Boulder is back, Sept. 7-13, for its second year, bringing muralists (and 3D artists) from around Colorado and as far away as New York to paint engaging works in public spaces around the city.
With a bit of help, Leah Brenner Clack, executive director of Street Wise, had the unenviable challenge of choosing 35 artists from the more than 250 who applied. For some, this will be their first commissioned street art project. For others, their hundredth. But each artist comes with a desire to unite communities, facilitate difficult conversations and give voice to forgotten (or untold) narratives. We thought it best to let the artists speak for themselves.
KGNU, August 2020
“TRENDS Podcast: Art and Culture During COVID-19 - An Industry Decimated by the Pandemic”
Local arts organizations are also working on reflecting the activism that is happening in society. The Dairy Arts Center is participating in what’s being called “artivism” by displaying a mural on its outside wall recently created by artist Thomas Evans, professionally known as Detour. Detour and artist Hiero Veiga started the Spray Their Name campaign to create public art commemorating people murdered by the police — George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain.
303 Magazine, November 2019
“Street Wise in Boulder Is Practicing Social Justice Through Street Art”
Street art may be the most efficient art form to facilitate social change. There are no barriers to experiencing street art — no admission tickets or hours of operation, for instance — and so the messages that artists choose to impart in their work often carry further than gallery or museum pieces.
If it’s the most accessible art form, who is making it and who are they making it for? Originally, whether you’re tracing the roots of muralists or graffiti writers, street art was made by and for the underrepresented. However, recently with the rising popularity of murals, some concerns have been raised regarding those questions. Some have called street art the “wallpaper of gentrification” and others have shrugged it off as another Millennial trend — mostly due to the lack of conceptual background behind some of the murals. But a new movement in Boulder called Street Wise is going back to the roots of street art and putting the message behind the mural once again.
Colorado Daily, October 10, 2019
“New mural to be dedicated Saturday at Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center”
The large-scale piece, by muralist Lmnopi, honors missing and murdered Indigenous women
A block party to celebrate Street Wise — Boulder’s first mural festival, organized by Leah Brenner Clack— may have taken place last Saturday, but one of the project’s works will receive a special dedication this Saturday. In conjunction with Indigenous Peoples Day, members of the Boulder community will gather in the parking lot of the Dairy Arts Center to take in the impressive work of Brooklyn-based creative Lopi LaRoe, who operates under the moniker Lmnopi.
KGNU, October 4, 2019
Morning Magazine Podcast Friday October 4, 2019
Saturday, October 5th a street party will take place in Boulder to officially launch the Street Wise Mural Festival that includes ten murals in different locations around the city. KGNU’s Maeve Conran visited the site of one of the murals on the wall of the Boulder Chamber and bring us a report.
KGNU, October 3, 2019
Streetwise Mural Festival – Art Driven by Social Activism
10 new murals are being created at different locations around Boulder. They’re part of the Street Wise Boulder Mural Festival which is an art experience driven by social activism.
Westword, October 3, 2019
“Street Wise Mural Fest Brings Art and Activism to Laid-Back Boulder”
Mural fans agree that Denver’s Crush Walls mural festival has become a major hit over the past decade, in its own think-big way. But when Boulder mural maven Leah Brenner Clack decided to create a mural fest for her own laid-back town, she decided to spread it out over time to accommodate Boulder’s slow-living vibe instead of cramming everything into a concentrated experience.
Clack has been matching artists and walls since 2015, when she founded her And Art Space consultancy, feeling her way into the Boulder public-art arena with a goal of amplifying artists’ voices and changing the world, one mural at a time. It’s her passion.
Daily Camera, October 3, 2019
“Boulder celebrates Street Wise Mural Fest with block party”
Saturday’s event will include DJ sets, dancing, painting demos and bus tour of murals
Boulder Weekly, September 19, 2019
“Outside the gallery walls”
Street Wise mural festival hopes to foster community with public art
When you enter an art gallery, you agree to an experience. There will be some sort of exchange between art and viewer — more often than not, that is the reason you entered the gallery in the first place.
But street art engages the viewer in a different arena. The very placement on the side of a building or under a bridge — where art typically doesn’t reside — tells its own story to a wider audience that wasn’t necessarily looking for it.