The Garage
![The Garage Featured Image](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/churchmural_prep-2.jpg)
In the summer of 2018, the vacant service station down the road was being renovated and turned into a community center for the church next door. The pastor suggested a mural be painted on the outside, something colorful and community-inspired.
We volunteered to design the art and paint it ourselves. They agreed and rallied the neighborhood to give us a hand. This is what we made.
Disciplines
- Illustration & Art
![1 Collaborative Community Abstract Mural](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1920x1194_crop_center-center_82_line/1.-Collaborative-Community-Abstract-Mural.jpg 1920w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x895_crop_center-center_82_line/1.-Collaborative-Community-Abstract-Mural.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x746_crop_center-center_82_line/1.-Collaborative-Community-Abstract-Mural.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x616_crop_center-center_82_line/1.-Collaborative-Community-Abstract-Mural.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x477_crop_center-center_60_line/1.-Collaborative-Community-Abstract-Mural.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x358_crop_center-center_60_line/1.-Collaborative-Community-Abstract-Mural.jpg 576w)
The vacant service station down the street was converting into a community center. We volunteered to give it a fresh coat of paint.
![Churchmural before2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x810_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_before2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x675_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_before2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x558_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_before2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x432_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_before2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x324_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_before2.jpg 576w)
The existing façade was a grid of blank panels on three sides.
![Churchmural axon2b](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1026_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_axon2b.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x855_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_axon2b.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x706_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_axon2b.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x547_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_axon2b.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x410_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_axon2b.jpg 576w)
Working off that grid, we designed a pattern of organic shapes.
![Churchmural elevationlines art GIF 2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/churchmural_elevationlines-artGIF-2.gif)
![Churchmural markeadamprep2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1919_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_markeadamprep2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x1599_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_markeadamprep2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x1322_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_markeadamprep2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x1023_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_markeadamprep2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x767_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_markeadamprep2.jpg 576w)
We chose an earthy but vibrant palette.
![Churchmural cleanpatterndetail 2](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1873_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_cleanpatterndetail-2.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x1561_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_cleanpatterndetail-2.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x1290_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_cleanpatterndetail-2.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x999_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_cleanpatterndetail-2.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x749_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_cleanpatterndetail-2.jpg 576w)
Simple geometries evoked spaces and scenes.
The design was a paint-by-numbers, so the whole neighborhood could pitch in.
![Churchmural penny](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_penny.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x900_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_penny.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x744_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_penny.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x576_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_penny.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x432_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_penny.jpg 576w)
![Churchmural markedante](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x966_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_markedante.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x805_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_markedante.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x665_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_markedante.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x515_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_markedante.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x386_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_markedante.jpg 576w)
![Churchmural cornercrew b](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x1080_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_cornercrew-b.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x900_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_cornercrew-b.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x744_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_cornercrew-b.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x576_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_cornercrew-b.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x432_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_cornercrew-b.jpg 576w)
Over a single weekend, with an outpouring of help from the community, we managed to cover every inch of the building.
![Churchmural final2b](https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1440x964_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_final2b.jpg 1440w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_1200x804_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_final2b.jpg 1200w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_992x664_crop_center-center_82_line/churchmural_final2b.jpg 992w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_768x514_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_final2b.jpg 768w, https://themadeshop.com/assets/work/_576x385_crop_center-center_60_line/churchmural_final2b.jpg 576w)
Check it out in person at 3830 W 32nd Ave, Denver. You can't miss it.
Credits
- Creative Direction
Marke Johnson
- Art Direction
Adam Blake, Marke Johnson
- Design
Kyle Huninghake
- Painting
Marke Johnson
Adam Blake
Kim Johnson
Kyle Huninghake
Highlands Community
Acknowledgments
Enormous gratitude to Reverend Bradley Laurvick at Highlands United Methodist Church, who had the idea for a mural in the first place. His enthusiasm, creative courage, and ability to rally the neighborhood made this project possible.