Meet Alexis Moore of 40 West ArtLine in Northeast Lakewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexis Moore.

Alexis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up outside the Twin Cities, MN and feel fortunate to have been raised in a civic-minded family that valued and supported arts and culture, nature and being outdoors, and giving back to community. My love for the mountains led me to Ft. Collins where I got an environmental undergraduate degree from CSU. After spending time traveling and living for a few months in great, livable cities in Spain and elsewhere in Europe, I realized how important “place” is to me and that I loved human-scale walkable, bikeable, urban neighborhoods with easy access to shops, restaurants, parks, transit and community interaction. I decided to get my master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning so I could work in a field that helps nurture and create these types of livable places.

Early in my career I worked as a planning consultant in the US and then as a town planner in New Zealand before happily landing back in Colorado where I’ve worked as an urban planner for the City of Lakewood for more than a decade. During this time, I’ve had the privilege of working with hundreds of citizens and community stakeholders on traditional planning initiatives to improve the built environment – from creating pedestrian and bicycle connections in neighborhoods, to enhancing light rail access and housing choices near transit stations. However, by far the most meaningful work I’ve done has been at the intersection of arts and planning and working with the Lakewood community to help create the 40 West Arts District and the 40 West ArtLine in northeast Lakewood, along historic West Colfax Avenue and the W Line light rail.

The ArtLine is a 4-mile walking and biking free outdoor gallery experience marked by a green painted line on the ground. The idea to create the ArtLine came from the community as a way to connect parks, transit, historic neighborhoods, schools and more with the creative businesses and destinations in the state-certified 40 West Arts Creative District. The plan that documented the vision for the creation of the arts district and the ArtLine was adopted by Lakewood City Council and can be viewed here: https://www.lakewood.org/files/assets/public/planning/comprehensive-planning/40-west/40-west-arts-urban-design-and-mobility-concepts_final-document-1.pdf

The idea of being able to explore art outside while walking or biking, beautifying and enhancing neighborhoods with community and artist involvement, and improving physical and mental health through these efforts is really inspiring to me. I was the project manager for the National Endowment for the Arts Our Town Grant that launched phase one of the ArtLine in 2018. This involved the installation of more than 70 temporary and permanent public art installations created with the help of over two dozen professional artists with community engagement and participation in the art selection – and even art creation process in some cases.

Public art and creative placemaking – the idea of artists and community members harnessing the power of arts and culture to allow for more genuine public engagement – has significant community benefits. The ArtLine project demonstrates the power that arts, culture and creativity has in bringing people from diverse backgrounds together to make an impact in their community and create a stronger sense of place.

Working with the 40 West Arts District and the ArtLine has also inspired me to get more involved in supporting arts and culture where I live (Denver) and in 2019 I was appointed by Mayor Hancock to serve as a commissioner on the Denver Commission on Cultural Affairs. I’m proud and excited to support these important efforts in Denver as well as in Lakewood.

Has it been a smooth road?
There has been tremendous support for the ArtLine. Residents and out of town visitors alike appreciate the beautification of the area and the opportunity for a unique recreational arts experience. The ArtLine received several prestigious awards in 2019, including a Business for the Arts award from the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts, the Governor’s Award for Excellence from Downtown Colorado, Inc, and the 5280 Editor’s Choice Award for the Best Place to see Art in Denver.

That said, creating and maintaining a 4-mile long community amenity like the ArtLine has its challenges. The biggest challenge is funding new art installations and experiences while also maintaining all the existing art. The community told us they wanted the ArtLine to be dynamic and evolving. We’ve worked hard to find artists to create interactive art and we also look for opportunities for new temporary art installations to allow people to experience the ArtLine in new ways each time they visit. One example is the Ladies Fancywork Society Roy Gee Biv fence art installation located along Pierce Street near Casa Bonita. The art was temporary and is reaching the end of its life cycle. We’re excited to launch a new art installation soon in partnership with artists and the community. Stay tuned!

Tell us more about the business.
The ArtLine is located in a diverse, mixed-income area along historic West Colfax Avenue and the W Line light rail, which parallels Colfax Avenue two blocks to the south. This area has been a focus of Lakewood’s planning and community engagement efforts for many years and as a result, the 40 West Arts District and the ArtLine have been catalytic efforts that have made a positive impact in bringing new energy to this area.

We’re very proud of the planning work that has been accomplished, and the community partnerships that are helping to make the vision come to life. This has included working closely with the 40 West Arts District, Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District, West Colfax Community Association, and many others. It’s inspiring to see how dedicated citizens, working closely with artists and the city, are bringing new energy and vitality to this area of Lakewood and we feel these strong partnerships set us apart.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the short-term, as we all navigate life during the COVID-19 pandemic and the uncertainty of when things will “get back to normal”, we believe the ArtLine will become even more appreciated as an immersive, recreational art experience that can be enjoyed close to home while safely social distancing.

We’re currently working with the Colorado Tourism Office on marketing strategies to tell the stories behind the art in creative ways to ensure that when people visit the ArtLine, their experience is even more meaningful and interesting. Please check out the ArtLine website and Facebook page for information as this initiative unfolds over the coming months.

In the longer term, we envision the ArtLine to become the longest outdoor arts experience in Colorado, and we therefore expect it to become a more regional amenity and tourist destination. We envision existing businesses will thrive and new destinations where visitors can dine, shop and play will emerge. We’ll rely on continued partnerships between the city, public agencies, nonprofits and the community to make this happen and are excited for the future of the ArtLine!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.40WestArtLine.org
• Email: info@40westartline.org
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/40WestArtLine

Image Credit:
40 West Arts
Will Strathmann
City of Lakewood

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