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Street Wise Arts
  • About
    • About Street Wise Arts
    • Board & Staff
    • Contact Us
    • Newsletter
  • Murals
    • Community Murals
    • Youth Murals
    • 2024 Festival
    • 2023 Festival
    • 2022 Festival
    • 2021 Festival
    • 2020 Festival
    • 2019 Festival
  • Programs
    • Mural Festival
    • Arts Education
    • Community Programs
    • Mural Tours
  • Opportunities
    • Call for Walls
    • Call for Teaching Artists
    • Call for Artists: Artist Roster
    • Volunteer
  • Events
  • News
    • Blog
    • Press
    • Youtube
  • Map
  • Donate

Will Barker

Wild West Saloon Scene

Location: Morrison Alley behind R Gallery

1141 Pearl St Boulder, CO 80302

2023 Summer Mural Series

Photos by Will Barker, Tyler Dittlo, and Peter Kowalchuk

Check out Will Barker's mural from our 2023 Summer Mural Series! He powered through the blazing weather and maneuvered the lift through this narrow, uneven alleyway to produce his first mural in Boulder. ⁠

Will is inspired by his own romanticized vision of the Wild West. He sought to connect his Western inspirations with our theme of community and collective healing in this project. ⁠

His mural features three characters coming together to play cards in the classically Western setting of the saloon. Each character dons Western garb including cowboy hats, tasseled jackets and pants, chaps, handkerchiefs, and boots. These folks come from diverse backgrounds, races, genders, etc., gathering together in community. ⁠

Will took inspiration from Victorian wallpaper to create the background. He uses bright blues and pinks to contrast the floral wallpaper with the brick wall. Will paints an optical illusion for viewers by peeling a layer of the wallpaper back. The characters also break out from the black frame surrounding the image, pushing out into our three-dimensional world. ⁠

Will Barker Mural 2023.jpg
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STREETWISE - SUMMER 23 - GROWLOVE - DANIELLE & MORE (137 of 137).jpg
STREETWISE - SUMMER 23 - GROWLOVE - DANIELLE & MORE (136 of 137).jpg
STREETWISE - SUMMER 23 - GROWLOVE - DANIELLE & MORE (135 of 137).jpg
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07-30-2023 - 2023 StreetWise Mural Fest Barker - 10 inch.jpg
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