This gorgeous Jazz Alley mural was painted by artist Terry McNerney over the past couple of years. I’ve been watching pieces of this mural being created inside a vacant office space at the new Mitchell Building. I made these observations while hiking around town every day. Not once did I realize what was happening, or that a mural was being put together. This mural is located inside a semi-hidden “public alley” that cuts through the new Mitchell Block Building (Mountain Ave & Walnut St), in downtown Fort Collins, Colorado (next door to the Food Coop).
The Jazz Alley mural runs the length of this curved alley. It is painted over a marble surface. This mural is towering two stories tall. The second story level is not shown in this photo gallery. What’s painted on the upper level and not shown here is a second story view of old town Fort Collins - which is this location.
I tracked down artist Terry McNerney yesterday and personally thanked him for producing this wonderful piece of art for our neighborhood. This alley just “opened up” recently for full public viewing. And now I’m seeing the whole thing put together. It’s beautiful! Yes, I go in there every day for my therapy! Planet Bluegrass lovers are welcome to enjoy some “free therapy” and download these photos for non-commercial use.
• Monte Barry created this Jazz Alley item for The Archive on February 27, 2012
• Easton Ramirez photographed these images for Monte Barry
• Images were photographed and emailed using an iPhone
mural painted by Terry McNerney - image shows the upper-center of the lower level of Jazz Alley
http://www.archive.org/download/Jazz_Alley_in_Fort_Collins/jazz_alley07.jpg
painted by Terry McNerney - image shows the southern entrance to Jazz Alley
http://www.archive.org/download/Jazz_Alley_in_Fort_Collins/jazz_alley01.jpg
painted by Terry McNerney - image shows further into southern entrance to Jazz Alley
http://www.archive.org/download/Jazz_Alley_in_Fort_Collins/jazz_alley02.jpg
painted by Terry McNerney - image shows further into southern entrance to Jazz Alley
http://www.archive.org/download/Jazz_Alley_in_Fort_Collins/jazz_alley08.jpg
“local musicians” - northern end of Jazz Alley mural features paintings of Fort Collins musicians
http://www.archive.org/download/Jazz_Alley_in_Fort_Collins/jazz_alley05.jpg
Monte Barry (left), Terry McNerney (right) - February 27, 2012
http://www.archive.org/download/Jazz_Alley_in_Fort_Collins/jazz_alley10.jpg
In a brief “interview” yesterday, artist Terry McNerney told me a few things about his mural:
• unresolved feedback from Deadheads - “Jer never wore tie-dye t-shirts”
• painting was fixed due to feedback from Deadheads - "Jer’s finger needs to be chopped off "
• “Sonny & Cher” - “Cher” (painted next to Roy Orbison) is wearing cowboy hat; “Sonny” is actually CSU football coach Sonny Lubick (painted next to John Lennon)