CREJ

/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / MARCH 2017

/ Studio in a Garage at The Curtis Hotel /

studio, allowing guests and staff unprecedented access into the creative pro-

cess. Painting since mid-October with the help of a single assistant, Michael

Vacchiano (Denver artist and Point Gallery owner), Morrison finished the proj-

ect in late February. He’s customized each mural based on that floor’s lighting,

studying color values and experimenting with painting techniques, to create

hyper realistic figures and scenes that beg for guests to stop for selfies and get

people talking and looking while waiting for an elevator. Of The Curtis Hotel

project, he said, “I’m a realist painter adept in many styles and I’m looking for-

ward to showing off my chops.”

This mural project ranks as one of the largest we have completed to date in

a hospitality setting and is Morrison’s largest commission to-date.

“We always look to push ourselves and the artists we work with to the next

level creatively,” said Nine dot Arts CEO Martha Weidmann. “We have the pro-

cesses, structure and funding in place to help artists scale up their work for

these large projects. Clients like Sage really believe in the artists and the value

of their work, which makes the end result that much better. The artist’s vision

is honored, and the hotel benefits through guest engagement and community

goodwill.”

The Curtis Hotel’s mural project proves that art can be anywhere – not just

on the white walls of a gallery or museum – and that art can help a business

solve problems and positively impact its bottom line.

OPENING ART:

Work-in-progress photograph of

Floor 1A showing putti inspired by

Rococo painter FranÇois Boucher with

headphones, iPads and selfie sticks.

ABOVE LEFT:

Detail of the Basement level in

progress inspired by Rembrandt's The

Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp

ABOVE CENTER:

Painting assistant Michael Vacchiano

working on the second-level

interior elevator lobby inspired by

Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.

ABOVE RIGHT:

Comic book-style fist bump on

the second level interior elevator

lobby inspired by Michelangelo's

Sistine Chapel.

RIGHT:

Exterior lobby on the second level

featuring God from Michelangelo's

Sistine Chapel and 1970s TV

personality Slim Goodbody.