by Luke Schmaltz | Dec 17, 2021 | General Featured
“You don’t build a business, you build people, then people build the business.”
by Luke Schmaltz
Just as 2020 was hijacked by Covid-19, 2021 was stifled by the Delta variant, and now it seems that 2022 is being preemptively overshadowed by Omicron.
The fear, confusion, and hysteria being whipped up in anticipation of the new variant is yet another example of how the pandemic ultramarathon is wearing down the fundamental American values of body autonomy and personal freedom.
On September 9, 2021, President Biden issued vaccine mandates for all Federal contractors, Federal employees, and Medicare- and Medicaid-funded healthcare workers. This was followed by a November 4th requirement issued by the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety Hazard Administration (OSHA) that all companies with 100 or more workers ensure that each of their employees are either vaccinated for Covid-19 or tested on a weekly basis. Weeks later, the latter order was blocked by Federal judges in Kentucky and Louisiana — both citing the unconstitutionality of the decree.
The New Abnormal
Workers: Must retail and hospitality workers become the front-line soldiers in an underfunded war?
Should this pattern continue, regardless of blockages by Federal judges, the next logical step in this progression is a vaccine mandate for all businesses — including those that fall under the “small business” umbrella and happen to employ 48% of the entire American workforce — according to a recent report by Florida TaxWatch. Should such an Executive order be foisted on business owners and managers, perhaps after that will follow an order requiring that all persons who enter a business must show proof of vaccination. At this point, should circumstances progress to such an extreme, is when the specter of encroaching doom begins to loom over small businesses and family-owned enterprises like the shadow of a fast-approaching storm.
Unlike pandemics of the pre-Internet age, today’s vaccine hesitancy is at an unprecedented disparity with compliance. This division is fueled by everything from religious beliefs to folks citing fact-based studies on post-inoculation health issues and, of course, a litany of unfounded myths about the vaccines turning people into magnetic zombies, 5G antennas, and premature corpses.
Deja Vu
Compliance issues aside, a major underlying concern is that a small business mandate could foist the job of policing vaccine compliance onto the shoulders of Mom and Pop who are simply trying to make an honest living at the corner store. Essentially, those who serve their neighbors everyday — whether it is a meal, an oil change, a dry-cleaning order, or any one of 1,000 other services — will become the de facto enforcers of government policy on a street level, one on one basis. In a profoundly stressed labor market, this additional requirement of doing business may overwhelm some establishments, placing them in jeopardy of being shut down for failing (or refusing) to harangue every last patron for a vaccine card. Think about it: A populace of stressed-out, paranoid citizens prying into the personal matters of their neighbors at the behest of the government. Sound familiar?
Dysfunction Junction
OSHA: This agency administers rules which require compliance lettering illustration with icons for web banner, flyer
Across the Denver commercial landscape, it is universally agreed upon — among customers and proprietors alike — that all anyone really wants is for business to return to something resembling pre-pandemic normalcy. Covid-19 and its growing ranks of variants, however, do not share this outlook — and thus the current predicament. Meanwhile, the labor market limps along like an extended case of walking pneumonia as small businesses struggle to hire workers. If retail stores, contractors and every branch of the hospitality industry are scrambling to fill positions, chances are good that the government agency tasked with enforcing the speculated vaccine mandates will be understaffed as well. Over the last 18+ months, most Denver residents have seen the astonishing effects of unenforced policies. They are scattered across the sidewalks, alleyways and parking lots of the city — human casualties of a rampant, unmitigated dope epidemic.
Not In The Job Description
A vaccine mandate on the workers and patrons of small businesses could potentially decrease productivity and increase operating costs — as employees will have to shift their main concern of serving customers to first snooping into private medical histories. A secondary effect of this dynamic could be the systematic erosion of trust between the proprietors, the customers, and the workers who take care of their needs. And of course, don’t forget about the archetypical nosey-ass, Yelp-reviewing, tattletale busybodies who — with nothing better to do — will be policing the actions of workers and posting about the poor souls who have become default enforcers of government policy. Should things come to this, one might speculate that people will simply stop leaving home to do business and revert back to the unthinkable — going online to fulfill every need and giving even more money to Jeff Bezos.
The current consensus among small business owners is that they are willing to comply with mask mandates so that they can, at the very least, keep doing business. Owners, customers, and workers alike all pine for the days of yore. Yet, when presented with the speculative scenario of vaccine mandates which would have to be enforced by each business lest they be fined and possibly shut down, most respondents are, for now, staying tight-lipped. After calls to dozens of Denver restaurants, retailers and the like, a few folks willing to offer opinions were finally found.
The Bookies
Mandate: A vaccine mandate on the workers and patrons of small businesses could potentially decrease productivity and increase operating costs.
This book retailer and gift shop at 4315 E. Mississippi Ave. was recently acquired by Nicole Sullivan, owner of northwest Denver’s inimitable BookBar. Anna, perhaps the friendliest customer service person in all of Denver, answered the phone and offered a bit of relevant insight. “The mask mandate gave us more confidence to post it [the policy] on the door,” she begins. “But a vaccine mandate? I don’t even know how you would even begin to enforce that,” she explains. “I wouldn’t want to put anyone at the door checking vaccine cards. I think it’s OK for big places where people congregate a lot, but this is a store. We already went through all of that at the beginning, making sure people had masks on. Thankfully most people do.”
Staybridge Suites Hotel
While this Glendale outpost of high-end hospitality at 4220 E. Virginia Ave. is part of a worldwide conglomerate of hotels, commentary from hotel manager Max Kiker offers some valuable insights into the proposed vaccine mandate scenario. “We are a huge business, so the [current] mandate would apply to us,” he says. When asked about his managerial team’s “for or against” stance on a vaccine mandate, he continues, “Right now we are neutral. There are too many conflicting views out there, but it would impact our business because we have already lost people because of the mask mandate,” He explains. “There are enough labor issues right now and this would compound them.”
Dr. Proctor’s Bar
This Glendale neighborhood treasure at 4201 E. Mississippi Ave. is known for plenty of pool tables, great food, big screen TVs, and has been a local go-to since 1981. The daytime bartender, Susie, is quick to point out, “We are a small bar and regardless of what it [vaccine mandate] would come down to, we can’t afford to lose our liquor license, so we enforce everything. As far as the mask mandate goes,” she continues, “We are enforcing it as much as we can. Some people are compliant, and some people are just absolutely ignorant about it. If you can’t wear your mask, you gotta leave,” she explains.
Whether citizens working in retail, hospitality, and other iterations of small business have to either become spies, de facto law enforcers, or criminals by default — only time will tell. If small businesses must enforce vaccine mandates, the current state of civic division will pale in comparison to the ensuing social breakdown.
by Luke Schmaltz | Oct 22, 2021 | General Featured
“When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.”
by Luke Schmaltz
Fear and Loathing in Aspen — a forthcoming film set in Colorado’s most notorious mountain town — is packed with parallels to current issues, rich with the warm, grainy texture of 20th Century celluloid, and thick with finely tuned, bittersweet irony.
Unlike predecessors, this film offers a more subtle, nuanced interpretation of the outlandish escapades of the late writer — Hunter S. Thompson. Director Bobby Kennedy III delivers a concise, thoughtful, and well-rounded narrative of Thompson’s 1970 run for Sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado, on the Freak Power ticket.
Hit Movie: Fear and Loathing in Aspen is a direct hit with many of today’s hot-button issues.
In one scene, Thompson (masterfully played by Jay Bulger) says, “The freaks — they’re everywhere … and they can vote.” He continues his commentary on the local counterculture with more poignant observations, “One of the main things I’ve learned out here is there are all kinds of very capable people wandering around with no place to use their energy. If we can put this energy to work, we’ll have a helluva tool on our hands.”
Throughout the piece, Bulger, who bears an uncanny resemblance to his subject, manages to deliver a convincing portrayal of Thompson while somehow avoiding the character tropes, overblown mannerisms, and hyper-exaggerated speech patterns Thompson’s persona has elicited from those who have portrayed him in the past. Here, viewers are treated to a glimpse into the psyche of a deeply complex character without having to endure the gallivanting around and flailing about of cinematic forebears. Rather, Bulger delves deeper into the humanity of the character, using a somewhat even-keeled anchor point to mount emotional plunges and manic ascents.
Visually, the film pays on-target homage to the wobbly, hand-held 8mm footage that captured many moments of the actual events in the story. Kennedy masterfully rotates between smoothly edited, narrative scenes, and grainy handheld sequences that, were it not for impeccable continuity, could be mistaken for amateur found footage from 1970.
Parallels Abound
Although the story is 50+ years old, the film zaps a cattle prod to a number of today’s hot-button issues. Thompson’s Freak Power party runs the very essence of a grassroots political campaign, echoing current political concerns such as voter reluctance, voter suppression, and election fraud. Meanwhile, the “freaks” of the Aspen Valley — fringe-dwelling refugees of the status-quo — are eerily reminiscent of the drug-addled tent-dwellers of today’s Denver, although in the movie they represent heroism, positive change, and social evolution. And then, there are the conservative gentrifiers who are systematically overtaking Aspen and making Thompson’s proposed utopia an all-but-impossible pipedream. Given the overrun, overdeveloped, and overpriced state of Pitkin County today, it makes you wonder how vastly different that sector of Colorado would look had Thompson been victorious.
A Brazen Platform
Portrayal: Actor Jay Bulger delivers a nuanced, spot-on portrayal of a pop culture legend.
As one would expect, his platform was as sweeping and rebellious as the man’s reputation. “We will sod the streets at once” he begins. “Rip up all city streets with jackhammers and use the junk asphalt, after melting, to create a huge parking and auto storage lot on the outskirts of town. We will change the name of Aspen, by public referendum, to Fat City, to prevent land rapers, greedheads, and human jackals from capitalizing on the name ‘Aspen.’ Aspen, Colorado, would no longer exist, and the psychic alterations of this change would be massive in the world of commerce. By this approach, making hundreds or even thousands of individuals personally responsible for protecting the animals, fish, and birds that live here, we would create a sort of de facto game preserve without the harsh restrictions that will be forced on us if these bloodthirsty geeks keep swarming in here every autumn to shoot everything they see.”
Acerbic, To Wit
In Character: Jay Bulger stays entrenched in character throughout the film.
Alas, the irony that Bobby Kennedy III deals out to viewers is deeply poetic. He skillfully helms a cinematic vehicle that is clearly aimed at the establishment, the status quo, the Good Ol’ Boys Club that his grandfather and great uncle (Bobby and John F. Kennedy) attempted to topple.
While the outcome of Thompson’s run for Sheriff of Pitkin County is well known, Fear and Loathing in Aspen is not to be dismissed for simply retelling the bittersweet parable of an American underdog. Lest it be forgotten, this country was founded by rebels with revolutionary thinking and radical solutions. As Bulger soliloquizes at the end of the third act, “If you ever get the chance to sweep the fatbacks off their feet, don’t f@*k it up.”
Fear and Loathing in Aspen is indie filmmaking at its finest, hearkening back to the glorious cinematic movement of the 1990s where formula, big name actors, plotless blather, and CGI sensory overload were not the order of the day. This film deserves a fair shot at the permaculture, for sheer entertainment value as well as historical significance. Should you crave a cinematic experience that requires a bit of thinking, a fair modicum of empathy and a healthy sense of the ridiculous — this film is for you.
by Mark Smiley | Sep 27, 2021 | General Featured
by Mark Smiley
Closed: Civic Center Park will be closed for at least two months due to it being a violent, drug, and rat infested area. Many Denver residents are upset with the rise in crime and drug use in the area.
The City and County of Denver closed Civic Center Park and adjacent areas to the public in order to abate significant public safety and environmental health risks that have grown over the past several months and to rehabilitate one of the centerpieces of Denver’s parks system.
The park closed on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. According to the city, the park will be restored to a stable and safe state that is welcoming for all Denver residents.
“The current challenges within Civic Center Park have reached a tipping point, creating conditions that put the public’s health and safety at risk,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “This cannot and will not be allowed to continue. This is the people’s park and we are taking steps so that everyone can once again feel safe and welcomed there.”
“We are seeing our city getting overwhelmed by crime and sanitation issues,” said Mike Silverberg, Denver resident. “People are afraid to go downtown an
ymore, and now what was a crown jewel park has been fenced off and closed. The latest consequence of Denver’s “friendly” modeling of San Fran, Seattle, and Portland-type policies and acceptance by the silent majority that this is, and growing crime rates, are acceptable.”
Over the course of the last several weeks, officials from Denver Public Health & Environment have been monitoring conditions in Civic Center Park, Pioneer Fountain at the corner of Broadway and Colfax, and MacIntosh Park Plaza at 15th Ave. and Cleveland St. for health and environmental hazards which create ongoing unhealthy conditions for all users of the park. Many unsafe conditions were noted, including: litter and food waste that attract bugs and rodents; dozens of rodent burrows; human and pet waste which contribute to the spread of disease and impact water quality; and improperly discarded needles and other drug paraphernalia that creates risks to people v
isiting the area and to workers tasked with maintaining the area.
In recent weeks, excessive amounts of trash have accumulated each day, consisting of discarded food, as well as human and hazardous waste, resulting in additional labor hours and rodent infestation. Graffiti and fire damage to the historical stone structures will require professional restoration. A thorough evaluation of the park is also required to ensure all hazardous waste is properly identified and removed.
In addition to the public health risks observed in Civic Center, the park and surrounding areas have become a hotspot for violence, crime, drug sales, and substance misuse, jeopardizing the public’s ability to safely enjoy one of Denver’s treasured outdoor spaces.
The closure is temporary, and Civic Center Park will re-open when abatement measures have been completed and the park is safe for everyone to use. Organizers of scheduled events in Civic Center Park are being contacted for relocation to other park properties.
According to a CBS Denver report, the closure could last as long as two months. The city, however, did not provide any additional information about the timeline of the closure. “When work is complete and all public health issues have been mitigated, Civic Center Park and surrounding areas will be reopened,” read a city press release.
by Mark Smiley | Aug 27, 2021 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
Colorful Murals at the RiNo Artpark. Photo credit: Scott Colby
A new arts center is coming to Denver’s RiNo neighborhood this month. The grand opening for the RiNo ArtPark will be held the weekend of September 24-26. Designed to be a creative hub in the Five Points neighborhood, the ArtPark will seek to spark innovation and bring people together through the arts.
What was once operated by the Denver Police Department, the original building was scheduled for demolition. The RiNo Art District advocated to save the buildings and turn them into something the community could use. Partnering with the Denver Public Library, Focus Points Family Resource Center, and RedLine Contemporary Art Center, the RiNo ArtPark will feature a community hub for resident artists and education programs and a new branch of the Denver Public Library for the entire community to enjoy.
Another unique feature of the park is the Comal Heritage Food Incubator, a culinary training program for immigrants and refugees interested in restaurant entrepreneurship. The program is currently running under the Focus Points Family Resource Center and will expand its presence at the hub.
Beyond the physical structures of the park, its design explores the intersections of nature, recreation, and culture by combining green spaces that engage the South Platte River and the surrounding natural areas.
RiNo ArtPark Grand Opening
Outdoor space at RiNo ArtPark capturing the Denver skyline. Photo credit: Scott Colby
The entire Denver community is invited to the Grand Opening of ArtPark. Throughout the weekend, visitors will have an opportunity to tour the new Tres Birds-designed ArtPark building, attend workshops, demonstrations, art activations, and see live music, exhibits, performances, and more.
In addition to a host of FREE family-friendly events throughout the weekend, RiNo Art District will host the Lawn Salon, a ticketed fundraising event to support ongoing programming at ArtPark. This year’s outdoor bash is a twisted picnic, a one-of-a-kind “lawn salon” experience, with interactive art, a giant flaming disco ball, music curated by local DJs, live and silent auctions, dinner, drinks, and fun surprises.
Events
Friday, September 24:
FREE Open House 3-7 p.m.
ArtPark Public Art Dedication Ceremony: 3 p.m.
The dedication ceremony welcomes the newest public artworks into the Denver’s collection! Artists Jaime Molina and Pedro Barrios, with the help from Tres Birds Workshop, will unveil their latest works at this dedication ceremony — three old industrial cement mixers have been transformed into sculptural additions to the park.
Saturday, September 25:
FREE Youth Activities: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
On Saturday, friends and family will enjoy a book sale, hosted by the Denver Public Library, a yoga art class, paper flower making, pinata class, and a live performance by Los Mocohetes. The Lawn Salon fundraiser will also be held on Saturday, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sunday, September 26:
FREE Family Celebration 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
On Sunday, free events will include ArtPark Al Fresco Art Workshops, paper marbling classes, yarn bombing classes, the book sale, and fun activities such as the bubble tower and bounce house. Food trucks are scheduled to be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Events throughout the weekend will be held in and around ArtPark, located at 35th and Arkins Court, Denver, 80205. Events are FREE all weekend except for the Lawn Salon Fundraiser on Saturday.
To learn more about the RiNo ArtPark and to purchase tickets to the Lawn Salon, visit them at rinoartpark.com.
by Luke Schmaltz | Jul 23, 2021 | General Featured
“Antarctica has this mythic weight. It resides in the unconscious of so many people, and it makes this huge impact, just like outer space. It’s like going to the moon.” Jon Krakauer
by Luke Schmaltz
Currently, there is a palpable mood of distaste among Denver’s working-class citizens. Jaw-dropping rent rates, lack of jobs offering a sustainable wage, mounting inflation and rising crime have a lot of people looking for a way out.
If these circumstances resonate, perhaps you have fantasized while stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic and wondered to yourself, “What if there was somewhere I could go where I could work at my chosen profession and be properly compensated while not having to commute, pay rent or spend money on food or clothing?” If you think this sounds too good to be true, think again. The portal to this magical land of vocational and existential idealism is located right in your own backyard. It’s the Leidos Antarctic Support Contract (ASC) office — just south of Denver in Centennial, Colorado.
Step Right Up
A loader brings a pallet of luggage to a recently-landed LC-130 that’s also preparing to depart from the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. Planes can only stay on the ground for a short period of time at the pole, on account of the extreme cold.
The communications agent at the ASC, Elaine Hood, explains, “Interested people should visit www.Leidos.com/Antarctica to learn about the Antarctic Support Contract. That page lists the various companies that hire for different jobs in Antarctica.” Website visitors will find an amalgam of overlapping agencies with similar jurisdictions and functions. The Centennial recruiting headquarters is, in fact, an umbrella organization involving an extensive network of subcontractors. These include GHG Corporation, Gana-A’Yoo Services Corporation (GSC), PAE (Pacific Architects and Engineers) and University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Each agency maintains a presence in the Centennial Leidos office while using a variety of extraneous recruiting resources such as SEO-enhanced websites and independent HR campaigns. Many recruiting sites are domains named after popular search terms such as www.cool antarctica.com and www.wandereatwrite .com.
Vocational Abundance
Currently, there are listings for dozens of available IT positions including network engineers, computer technicians, broadcast engineers and web applications developers as well as a few hands-on positions such as antennae rigger and mammal observer. The medical contingency is also hiring for positions such as physicians, mid-level practitioners, dentists, nurse administrators and physical therapists — to name a few. The trades are also hiring with listings for shop foreman, fleet operations foreman, plumber foreman, preventative maintenance foreman, cook, electrician, carpenter, firefighter, boat handler, diving officer, radio operator and many more.
Elaine Hood places emphasis on the fact that Antarctica, for obvious reasons, is in fact experiencing a labor shortage. “The more skilled trades positions are difficult to fill simply because they require certifications and years of experience doing specific jobs such as being a refrigeration mechanic. Yes, we need freezers in Antarctica to preserve frozen food as well as science samples! Positions can also be difficult to fill because people must leave behind their family and friends for six months, over holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestones that occur between October and March.”
The Upside Down
Food being prepared at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, for the Thanksgiving holiday meal. Fresh vegetables, known as “freshies,” are greatly desired where they are scarce. Photo credit: Mike Lucibella, NSF
Currently, a hiring campaign is underway for the upcoming summer season. In Antarctica, this season goes from October through February while winter goes from February until October. The summer is the easier of the two, featuring average daily temperatures of around zero degrees Fahrenheit while a “winter over” as it is locally known, can feature a consistent deep freeze chill of 30 to 40 degrees below zero. “Everything is more difficult in Antarctica,” Hood explains, “and takes longer than it would off the continent. That can be frustrating. While we try to have spare parts in warehouses, occasionally something may break on, say, a snowplow that will require that part to be flown in. That one part can take weeks to reach Antarctica.”
Hood continues, “Some positions receive few applications and are difficult to fill, while others receive thousands of applications and are easy to fill. For example, finding experienced tradespeople — diesel mechanics, plumbers, electricians — can be difficult. We need people who can troubleshoot and resolve problems based on years of experience. People with that level of expertise may not be in a personal situation where they are willing to be away from family for six months over the holidays (Sept.-March), so we don’t receive as many applications for those positions as we would like. On the other hand, working as a steward in the cafeteria is a position that hundreds of people may apply for.”
Light Vehicle Technician Matt Means works on a PistenBully inside McMurdo Station’s Vehicle Maintenance Facility. Mechanics are a critical position in support of scientific research in Antarctica. Photo credit: Elain Hood, NSF
Unexpected Discoveries
If you land a job, you might end up staying longer than you planned. “In general, we have about 60% return [of seasonal workers],” Hood begins. “We have many people who will take an entry level position just for the opportunity to be paid to work in Antarctica. Let’s say they are a high school teacher who thinks she is taking a one-year break from teaching. She may work as a steward in McMurdo Station, replenishing food on the cafeteria buffet line, but as the season progresses, she realizes she has met the most extraordinary people and applies to return for a second season in the Supply department. The research stations have supply warehouses where everything from plumbing, food, electrical and other inventory are kept — remember there are no supermarkets and Home Depots in Antarctica. So, she applies for and returns for her second season in the Supply department and the next thing you know she has been deploying for a dozen years when her original plan was to only go one time. We have people who have been doing this for 10-20 years.”
An Adventure Awaits
McMurdo Station Communications Supervisor Teri Cotton tests a radio installation from atop a mountain in the Transantarctic Mountains. Antenna riggers and radio repair and maintenance are two of hundreds of jobs required to support the U.S. Antarctic Program. Radio repeaters are installed to facilitate communication in the region of McMurdo Station. Photo credit: Johnny Chiang, NSF
Should you get hired as a U.S. citizen, your likely landing place will be McMurdo Station — the logistics headquarters of the United States Antarctic Program and the largest of three research stations run by the National Science Foundation. The other two are Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station and Palmer Station. At McMurdo, which is more like a small town than a research station, you will live and work among 1,000 or so other residents for the duration of your contract.
Elaine Hood breaks down what to expect, “Once a contract is offered, the candidate must complete a medical and dental examination to be deemed physically qualified (PQ’d). Each of the three USAP stations has a medical clinic and a doctor, but there is no dentist. The medical clinics are not equipped to handle long-term care for major health crises such as strokes or heart attacks. The objective of the PQ is to screen out applicants whose health may be at risk of a major incident.
Once you have been PQ’d, you get advice on what to pack for your particular job, such as work boots and long underwear. You will be flown to either Christchurch, NZ, or Punta Arenas, Chile, where you will receive cold-weather clothing — heavy parka, gloves, wind pants — that will be returned to inventory upon your departure from Antarctica. During this time, you will attend training and orientations so that when you arrive in Antarctica you are ready to begin working.”
A Living Wage
If you’re thinking about taking the plunge, consider that with no extraneous spending temptations or basic living expenses, you might be able to save a fairly sizable chunk of change. Then, when you return to Denver, perhaps you can afford a down payment on an insanely overpriced house. Or you can sign another work contract and turn around and go back to Antarctica, hoping perhaps on your next return things in your beloved Mile High City have improved.
by Mark Smiley | Jun 25, 2021 | General Featured
Denver Man Hopes Patriotic Art Project Sparks Unity
by Julie Hayden
Finding The Way: Johnston created an angel Sacagawea from the rubble to symbolize Americans finding their way to common values and principles.
At first glance, it looks like a vacant lot in the middle of what Denver Police records show to be an area with one of the highest crime rates in North Capitol Hill. But a closer look reveals an island of unity and patriotic art, thanks to the efforts of one man and the support of the diverse community that makes up this neighborhood. “This is for the people and to remind us we have something more important that just partisan politics,” exclaims patriotic art creator Roy Johnston.
Johnston is an author who had just written a book and was searching for inspiration for a cover photo. “The book was titled ‘Brick By Brick, The Dismantling Of America’ because of all the chaos going on for the last five years or more.” He explains the book is about “how America is in decline so you could see how the building blocks of America are crumbling so to speak and I was looking for brick walls crumbling.”
That’s when he came upon the lot in the 1500 block of Pearl Street. “I got to this place where there were bricks just strewn over the ground.” Johnston reveals his research showed there used to be two lovely brick homes here, built in the mid 1930s. The property had been bought and sold over the years and eventually demolished, leaving a gaping hole on the lot. “There were two houses here, 1930s vintage brick houses. Beautiful but had gone into ruin and were actually crack houses.”
An idea began to grow to create something intended to be unifying out of the rubble, a map of the United States. “I thought what a great metaphor to take something like a crack house and the human tragedy that occurs there and take the rubble from that and rebuild the country.”
And that’s what Johnston proceeded to do. He took the bricks and debris from the demolished homes and used them piece by piece to create a sculpture of a map of America.
“Everything here is from this site. I have Styrofoam that I painted to be the ocean. There’s tree roots that make the Mississippi River, there’s metal that makes the Great Lakes. The idea is that red, white and blue, the United States flag brings the country together. That’s the message here.”
Not About Politics
Patriotic Art: Artist Roy Johnston stands by a map of the United States created with the debris from a demolished building in North Capitol Hill.
As Johnston showed up to work regularly on his patriotic art, neighbors watched with curiosity. “People come by every day, They stop and they say what are you doing and I tell them and they love it.” He says people from the historic Denver Community Church across the street stopped by one Sunday to take a look.
It’s also across the street from one of Denver’s Safe Outdoor Spaces homeless encampments. Some of the people staying there help Johnston keep an eye on his artwork. “People stop by and take pictures and not a brick has been moved.”
Johnston is adamant this is not about politics. “This is about bringing the country together. I hate politics. This has nothing to do with Democrats, Republicans, or any fraction that is always saying ‘Me, me, me. Our way or the highway’. I’m saying let’s talk about us together as Americans.”
New Projects
Rebuilding From The Rubble: Johnston hopes his patriotic art encourages people to rebuild togetherness out of the rubble of partisan politics.
The art project continues to grow. Johnston says a friend suggested he create a sculpture of an eagle. So Johnston gathered the pieces of brick and concrete, figured out how to put them together in the shape of an eagle and painted it with red, white and blue. The next project was an angel Sacagawea. The Lemhi Shoshone woman was an interpreter and guide for the Lewis and Clark Expedition in the early 1800s. “You see her arms spread wide and facing the map of America. She is
praying for America. Without her guidance, Lewis and Clark would likely have not made it to the Pacific. Now she is praying America finds her way back to its founding principles and values. That’s the symbolism I was going for.”
Johnston acknowledges his work is unique. But that’s the point. “It’s just that if everybody had these crazy ideas like this we would be a great country again. We would come together, we would solve our problems, solve our differences and that’s how every everybody can make a difference. We don’t need to rely on Washington DC, we need to rely on ourselves.”
Johnston hopes this is just the first of many of what he calls “patriotic art for free.” “I’m going to keep doing the patriotic art, “ he says. “And the rest is in God’s hands. I hope it brings people together.”
Johnston can be contacted at johnstini.com.
