Partying – small town style

Andrew D. Brosig
Posted 7/29/20

I definitely enjoyed myself over the weekend, covering the Community Day event in Fort Laramie.

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Partying – small town style

Posted

I definitely enjoyed myself over the weekend, covering the Community Day event in Fort Laramie.

Organizers put what essentially was part street party, part outdoor bazaar together on the single-block Laramie Avenue to let residents and visitors let off a little steam in the ongoing days of COVID-19. It was also set up to raise money for an ongoing project to get a large “welcome to town” mural painted on an aging grain bin/storage tank on the east end of the community along U.S. Highway 26.

The project has not been without its challenges. They’re currently looking for local artists who’d be interested in painting the mural. The committee in charge of the project is asking for bids and proposals for the project.

One of the challenges – probably the biggest one so far – is finding that one artist. They had somebody lined up, committee members said. But that fell through after the artist moved out of the area.

If you’re of an artistic mind, call the folks at Vickie’s Saloon at (307) 337-7881 and let them know.

To me, it sounds like a pretty neat project, but I may be biased. I was an art and journalism major in college – don’t get excited, I can’t paint; I’m a photographer. But that means I do have an interest in art.

Murals have been a big part of public art for centuries, even millennia. From cave paintings to this latest endeavor here in Goshen County, people have been decorating their homes and communities as a way of setting themselves apart from their neighbors and celebrate their uniqueness. 

Laramie is a great example of the public art movement. Their downtown area features a plethora of murals highlighting the artistic talents of local artists and college students from the University of Wyoming. It attracts scores or hundreds of visitors to the community annually who come just to view the art.

A mural like the one planned for Fort Laramie can really provide a snapshot of the community – who lives there, what’s the history, what makes the community special or unique? It can tell people at a glance, “Hey, this is what we’re all about. This is us.”

Saturday’s event in Fort Laramie was fun. There was everything that makes a small-town celebration a party – vendors, food, music, dancing, you name it. It was all there. From kids to older folks, everyone had a good time.

At some point, it becomes difficult to distinguish between the age groups at a celebration like this. Watching a group of girls take faltering dance steps, trying to emulate the older crowd who was dancing just a few feet away, was a joy to behold. 

But that’s what small towns are about – the generations, getting together to celebrate what they have, what makes them unique. Anyone interested can add to that uniqueness – in Fort Laramie, at least – through the mural project.

If you have an artistic flair, give them a call. Let them know you’re interested in having your work on public display. If you’re like me and you can’t draw flies, send them whatever you think you can to help promote and support both public art and the community.