Trinidad Youth Mural Program

Incentive Fund

Amount: $1250

Provided By: TSJC Educational Foundation

Details: The TSJC Educational Foundation will provide matching scholarship funds up to $1,250. All scholarships awarded will only be for use at Trinidad State College. All funds received will be held for the benefit of current and future participants of the program.

Summary

Trinidad Youth Mural Program's goal is focused on creating a more beautiful and dynamic Trinidad. This group is founded, led, and initiated by local students. In 2021, the group consists of four high school sophomores who are invested in making their hometown reflect their passion for art, public works, and collaborative spirit. This group is co-lead by a college student and Trinidad State's visual arts professor. In 2021, they have come together to design and create a mural on a 600 sq ft public wall in Downtown Trinidad; on the corner of Elm and Linden.

"We wanted to do a mural about Trinidad's history since there's so much here, but we wanted to try something different than mining and the railroad because we already have so much in the town dedicated to that. Instead, we decided to use Trinidad's rich fossil history for a mural since, after all, we have our own fossil history museum."
-Kami Furia Artist, High School Sophomore

The group chose to represent our strong history of prehistoric creatures in the form of dinosaurs. These creatures may be long gone, but their fossils, tracks, and history are shared with us hidden in the unique landscape that surrounds Trinidad. The stegosaurus (bottom, named Kale) was chosen to represent Colorado, as our state dinosaur. His bones are blended with the iconic beauty of Colorado; mountains, water, and grasslands, along with the Neolithic native ancestors who sheltered in alcoves and created our famous petroglyphs. The mosasaurus (middle, named Steven) was chosen to represent the Trinidad area, as his remains were famously found here. He is blended with the nature of his cretaceous environment when our over-mile-high land was under a sea. The T-Rex (top, named Bonnie) was chosen as an icon of prehistoric creatures, a connection for all ages and demographics. Her profile is combined with our volcanic activity during the paleocene epoch and the swampy forests of the neogene period, which gives our area its coal. This image is a celebration of how we got here, how our land and resources were formed, and the pride we take in our place in time.

In order to support this group in their future goals as researchers, innovators, and community leaders, we ask our community to contribute scholarship funds for these students to use toward their pursuit of higher education at Trinidad State College. Many businesses and individuals have helped us get to this point with donations and supplies. The TSJC Educational Foundation will manage funds received. In addition, the Foundation will provide matching scholarship funds up to $1,250. We ask that you provide these students with anything that you can to support them as the young citizens of our city.

Click on the Donate Now button or send your check payable to the TSJC Educational Foundation, 600 Prospect St., Trinidad, CO 81082. Please reference "Trinidad Youth Mural Program" in the memo line of the check.