When I spent three months in Teton Village in 2015, I met former Victor mayor, Scott Fitzgerald, at a Silicon Couloir meeting. He described Victor, Idaho (population 2,088) with such enthusiasm, I was sold, and moved to Teton Valley with my family in March of 2016.
It took one round of golf with the current Victor Mayor Jeff Potter, to inspire civic involvement… which lead to my role in the Victor Placemakers Committee, and eventual board seat on the Victor Urban Renewal Agency. While collectively discussing public art possibilities, another former mayor, Zachary Smith, came up with the brilliant idea to paint the stage in Victor City Park. With the help of my fellow Placemakers — Liv Goodale, Erin Gaffney and Molly Absolon… we built a mural proposal from the ground up… which was approved by City Council last week!
Public art is coming to Victor…
The Concept
For the first mural in our public arts initiative, we are going to showcase the words “VICTOR” and “IDAHO”, perched atop the Big Hole Mountains, and transform the type into neon.
Here is a comp, sharing the look-and-feel of the finished mural… as portrayed by my Hollywood Sign Neon painting.
Why The Music on Main Stage
Upon our arrival, we were told, “you won’t understand Victor, until you experience Victor.” Armed with this excellent advice, we took in Music on Main, skated at Kotler, dined on the fine cuisine and got to know the amazing people of our new city. These experiences, along with a series of passionate brainstorming sessions alongside Victor’s brain-trust, sparked the idea of public art. And, what better place to bring our creative vision to life, than the main stage in Victor City Park? We wish to celebrate our town in one of its most cherished locations…
The Impact of Public Art
They Wynwood Art Experience in Miami transformed a depreciating district into a financially booming, must-visit destination. Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s ‘The Gates’ attracted over 4 million visitors to Central Park in New York, and generated an estimated $254 million in economic activity. As a growing community, public art will prove a vital role in placemaking, and, most importantly, will prove a catalyst for economic growth and development in Victor. Through this first public art initiative, we anticipate drawing people to the Valley to stay, shop, eat, socialize and fall in love with our hometown in a meaningful way. Culture is the catalyst for a bedroom community to become a destination.
The Teton Valley Foundation, hosts of Music on Main in Victor City Park, has been incredible, getting behind the mural 100% from the start. We owe a debt of gratitude to Carrie Geraci from Jackson Hole Public Art… she shared invaluable information with our team, and for that, we are most grateful. And, of course, we want to thank the citizens of Victor for creating a loving community of wonderful folks.
Fundraising
We have amazing non-profits in our community with specific goals, so we have decided to fund this mural privately at no expense to the taxpayer. Our fundraising goal is $15,000 — please get in touch if you would like to contribute to our Victor City Mural project.
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