News Photo by Julie Riddle Artist Chad Bolsinger adds detail to a mural added this week to downtown Alpena’s art scene.

ALPENA — The smell of spray paint equals an exciting new addition downtown as an Alpena native brings his artistic skills home in a really big way.

The west-facing exterior wall of Family Enterprise Embroidery in Alpena has been transformed into an oversized canvas by a pair of Colorado mural artists as part of the “Fresh Waves” downtown mural project sponsored by the Alpena Downtown Development Authority.

Armed with spray-paint cans, mural artists Aaron Golbeck, who grew up in Alpena, and Chad Bolsinger have been putting the finishing touches on a building-sized painting. Begun only last Friday, the project’s completion will be celebrated at an open house Friday in the parking lot adjoining the building, to which the public is invited.

Locals have been very enthusiastic about the project, according to Family Enterprise owner Cristi Johnson, who said there has been a noticeable slowdown in traffic as drivers try to get a look at the painting. Residents have set up lawn chairs to watch the artists at work, and many have stopped into the business simply to tell the owner how much they appreciate the new artwork.

“I think that paint job out there is fabulous,” an older gentleman said, popping his head in the door as Johnson talked. “I’m in love with the redhead.”

Johnson has been pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of people complimenting the artwork. When the project was first proposed, she was a little apprehensive that it might not be well-received by everyone.

“Spray paint artists can get a bad rap,” Johnson said. She has heard nothing but positives, however, from all types of people representing all ages, races, and sexes.

“There’s a lot of opinions about art, and it can be really polarizing,” Johnson said. “Or it can be a really great thing for a community. Everybody’s really embracing this.”

‘GO OUT AND DO ART’

As a youth, Golbeck spray-painted signs for high school pep rallys, neon decorations at the bowling alley, and his family’s back yard. Years later and half a country away, a concussion derailed him from his semi-professional snowboarding career in Breckenridge, so he picked up some cans of spray paint, quickly finding himself noted as one of Colorado’s brightest up-and-coming street artists, according to Colorado Summit magazine.

Hoping to share his love of art with the town that inspired it, Golbeck proposed the mural project to the DDA in January, an idea that was received with enthusiasm.

Given free reign to design the mural to reflect his passions, Golbeck chose the face of a woman — whom Golbeck said is not patterned after anyone — glancing over her shoulder, side-by-side with a horned owl, a bird native to Michigan. The warm colors of the mural remind him of the beauty of an Alpena sunset over Lake Huron, Golbeck said.

“It’s kind of whatever anybody wants to make it,” said the artist, who also designed and painted the new mural behind Hungry Hippie along U.S.-23.

Golbeck was pleased when the DDA embraced the downtown mural project, and hopes his wall art might some day inspire some child to “go out and do art, create, go after their dreams … that’s what it’s all about, honestly.”

‘FRESH WAVES’

Friday’s event, which will incorporate live music and a cash bar, along with a fundraiser game on behalf of Friends Together, will officially kick off the city’s new art initiative, “Fresh Waves.”

Golbeck’s Hungry Hippie mural is not part of the DDA project.

The DDA’s goal is to add one wall mural to the city’s downtown each year, utilizing Golbeck’s passion and incorporating new local artists, as well. Next year’s location has not yet been chosen, but interested business owners are encouraged to apply, according to Alpena DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry.

Since the project was suggested, the DDA has gotten excited about all the blank walls downtown.

“Once you have a vibrant, unique piece of artwork on it, it kind of makes you see it in a different way,” Gentry said, expressing hope that the oversized art will appeal to visitors who pass by on nearby busy roads. “It provokes people to think, ‘Ooh, what is this community?'”

As the owner of the newly painted wall, Johnson is thrilled to be a part of the larger art movement that has been embraced by the city in recent years. The new mural, she thinks, will add beauty and excitement to an already attractive downtown and, as she said, make a lot of people happy.

“I’m just excited beyond words” the shop owner said. “I honestly feel like I’ve hit the jackpot. Luckiest girl ever.”

Julie Riddle can be reached at 989-358-5693, jriddle@thealpenanews.com or on Twitter @jriddleX.