RedLine Arts in Society Project: Planter Boxes for the Common Good

The Museum of Friends (MoF) launched the Planter Boxes for the Common Good project through support from the RedLine Arts in Society (AiS) grant, building on more than a decade of community-based public art efforts in Walsenburg. Earlier hand-painted wooden planters—created by local children in MoF’s youth art programs—served as a long-standing source of color and positivity downtown. The new metal art planters expand that legacy with a more permanent, durable installation designed to celebrate community identity and cultural storytelling.

Each planter features a unique design and includes a QR code linking visitors to inclusive narratives that explore Indigenous, Hispano, and European heritage, as well as themes of sustainability, solar energy, and Walsenburg’s history as a counterculture arts hub. These stories invite residents and visitors to connect more deeply with the place, its people, and its evolving creative landscape.

Conceptualized by Creative Director Maria Cocchiarelli and created in collaboration with local and regional partners, the project brought together:

Walsenburg Downtown Revitalization – planter flowers and ongoing care

Diane Lohman Designs – graphic design

Jenn Duran – Sangre de Cristo Mountains digital artwork

RedHyl Welding, LLC – metal fabrication and installation

The accompanying self-guided walking tour, developed by MoF Program Director Scott Fick, provides an engaging way to explore Main Street and experience the layered histories and creative energy that shape Walsenburg today.

By blending public art, heritage storytelling, and civic partnership, Planter Boxes for the Common Good strengthens downtown revitalization efforts and reinforces MoF’s role in community connection and cultural vitality.