After three months of volunteering by a group of Durango middle school and local area high school students, the Animas River Trail Mural Trout Wall is nearing completion. Final fabrication and installation for the three steel and mosaic tile trout and mosaic tile wall are scheduled to be completed the week of July 25th. Finishing touches of landscaping and flagstone pavers will follow to complete the work of art. The Art Wall Mural is located along the Animas River Trail just below the Main Avenue underpass on the Signature Health Salon and Spa building.

Since April, the Arts Collaborative a group of local area artist and arts educators (Keith Walzak, Mary Anne Griffin, Kelly Hurford, Sandy Bielenberg, Chris Loftus)  have worked with volunteer students to fabricate and assemble the mural mosaic pieces at the Durango Discovery Museum. At the same time a group of young high school men from Ignacio, Bayfield and Durango High School worked to complete the steel trout frames made entirely from reclaimed steel. When complete, the 70 foot long and 10 foot tall mural sequence will celebrate the Animas River and the cut-throat trout native to many waterways of this region.

steel framed trout - see mosaic panels to be placed within the fish in background.	the mosaic pieces were designed and created in the Durango Discovery Museum, then placed on the wall (see below).

artist Mary Anne Griffin with friends grouting the tile.

Keith Walzak (right) looks on as Larz bolts the mosaic panels to the metal frame

From Left: Keith Walzak, Larz, Kelly Hurford and Sandy Bielenberg.