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.