news & events
press releases
Denver Mayor Invites City Residents to Help Break Guiness World Record in the Mile High City
April 25, 2005
(DENVER) As part of Mile High City's Earth Day celebrations, the City and County of Denver will unveil over a mile of environmental murals at Barnum Park, located at 6th & Federal, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest painting. The event is free and open to the public.
The Environmental Mural Mile is one of 12 miles being created by the Art Miles Mural Project in support of the UNESCO Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence Among Children of the World, (2001-2010). The goal of the project is to create Global Harmony through Art. To date, over 1,300 murals have been painted by over 30,000 children and adults from 100 countries.
Over 140 murals have been created thus far by Denver-area schools, businesses and organizations to help create a visual journey depicting community and individual concerns about saving the earth for generations to come. Denver's contribution to the environmental mural will successfully complete the first mile of the Art Miles Mural Project.
"The enormous contribution and efforts made by hundreds of residents is a clear indication that environmental issues are important to the people of Denver," said Mayor John Hickenlooper, who announced the City of Denver's Sustainable Development Initiative earlier this week.
Denver's role in the Environmental Mural Mile came to fruition during the 2004 EPA Community Involvement Conference where a couple City of Denver employees witnessed the impact the Art Miles Mural Project had on creating environmental awareness with just a few dozen murals flanking the main conference hall. The exhibit was awarded the Grand Jury Exhibition prize at the EPA conference.
"At that time, we had hoped to exhibit the entire Environmental Mile at the EPA conference," said Joanne Tawfilis, one of the founders of the Art Mural Miles Project, "but there wasn't enough time to make it happen. But we met with a few employees from the City of Denver who heard about the project and quickly took the initiative to unveil the entire environmental mile in the Mile High City. It has all worked out perfectly!"
The Art Mural Miles Project is an international non-profit organization based in San Diego, CA with a satellite office in Vienna, Austria, whose purpose is to create the world's longest painting by using twelve differently themed mural miles created by children and adults worldwide. The Environmental Mural Mile is an educational project coordinated through the combined efforts of the Denver Arts Street Program, Denver Environmental Health, EPA, Wastewater Management, and Denver Public Schools and is the first of 12 Mural Miles completed within the Art Mural Miles Project.
"I was surprised how many after-school programs, recreation centers, Boys and Girls Scout troops, and numerous interest groups responded with tremendous enthusiasm when I challenged them to organize a team around painting a mural," said Stella Yu, Director of Arts Street. "Within weeks, more than 100 groups gathered and for the next four to six weeks, they discussed and depicted their dreams and hopes about the world around us."
The Environmental Mural Mile is dedicated to Philippe and Alexandra Cousteau to honor their environmental efforts and the legacy of their Grandfather Jacques Cousteau.
"It's not only amazing to see an entire City rally behind this effort to break the world record, but to use this as an opportunity to make a strong environmental statement," Tawfilis said.
To break the Guinness World Records for the longest continuous painting, set on March 21, 2005 in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates measuring 9,771.6 feet, Mayor Hickenlooper is inviting city residents to stop by and help paint additional murals for free at Civic Center Park on Friday, April 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Donated materials will be available to residents to use to create their murals, but people are welcome and encouraged to bring their own paint supplies and brushes if possible.
The unveiling event at Barnum Park, (6th & Federal - 10 a.m.) on Saturday, April 23rd, will include an official measurement recorded by EPA Regional Administrator Robert E. Roberts, a ribbon cutting ceremony, Native American blessing, music and face painting. The opening ceremony will feature speakers including Mayor Hickenlooper, Joanne Tawfilis, Robbert Roberts and Pasquale Scaturro, explorer of the Nile First Descent Expedition.
Media Contact
Lindy Eichenbaum Lent
(720) 865-9016
lindy.e.lent@ci.denver.co.us
