PSYAH Current Projects

neverhome: Dry Gulch Sound Journey
Site: Lakewood Gulch Trail

DGSJ is a geolocated interactive digital sound installation along two miles of the Lakewood Gulch Trail in west Denver. The work explores experiences of displacement, migration, and nomadism through reflections on “home” and “journey.” The interactive digital soundscape layers together original music, sound samples from the site and stories and reflections gathered through a community process, offering a contemplation on being in motion, on the road, in between one place and another. Certain scenes will also include augmented reality videos created from footage of the live performance portion of the larger “neverhome” project. Through the experience, audiences encounter “ghosts” of past travelers and denizens along the route, following their stories and traces of their passing. Audiences engage with the installation through headphones and an app on their personal device. Along the installation’s route (marked with installed signs and an online map) they experience a continuous, layered, interactive soundscape that responds to audiences’ exact GPS location, creating a unique experience for each listener as they explore the route and its “nodes.” Each sound element offers a facet or vignette related to the core theme, with no linear narrative, allowing audiences to engage DGSJ in any order and duration they choose.

2900 Larimer Planter Project
Site: Larimer Street between 29th and 30th Streets

Our project will gather and execute creative ideas to refurbish and repurpose 45 existing planters (see attached photos) to provide a public art component on the 2900 Block of Larimer St. The planters were relocated to the 2900 block of Larimer when the 16th Mall reconstruction project started. Businesses and property owners on the 2900 Block are developing plans for the ongoing street closure, and this project will contribute to a broader vision of creating a community-designed space. Our goals include bringing together old and new residents and businesses in our Five Points Neighborhood and the RiNo Arts District to collaborate and enhance the closure; encouraging a diverse range of proposals by setting flexible guidelines and allowing multiple participants to repurpose or simply paint one or more of the planters; creating opportunities for children to actively engage in the project; and incorporating a vital artistic element into our street closure in the heart of the RiNo Arts District. We believe integrating this project into our pilot full street closure will highlight the significance of community involvement in enhancing public spaces with public art.

Whittier Basketball Court Painting and Resurface
Site: Fuller Basketball Court

The project aims to transform the basketball court at Fuller Park in the Whittier Neighborhood into a vibrant and engaging space through a large-scale mural. The design will reflect the local community's culture, diversity and history, creating a visually captivating space that encourages physical activity and community engagement. Our goals include enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the park, fostering a sense of pride and ownership among neighborhood residents, and providing a space that inspires creativity and collaboration. The mural will serve as both a functional basketball court and a public artwork, making it a unique gathering place for recreation and community connection. The intended impact is to promote inclusivity, attract more visitors to the park and provide a lasting cultural asset for the Whittier Neighborhood. This project will also emphasize the importance of public art in urban spaces, demonstrating how creative placemaking can strengthen communities.

P.S. Do You Have Time To Linger
Site: Sand Creek Greenway and Westerly Creek Trails

Olive Moya is interested in crafting a journey of discovery that sparks curiosity and encourages people to engage their senses—looking, listening and being present in their bodies through a series of interludes painted on the ground along a mixed-use path, complemented by a collection of postcards. Each artwork that walkers or bikers encounter will invite interaction: mimicking the motion of a bike, observing the gentle transitions of the sky, or encouraging play for both children and adults to skip, jump, or trace the line-work created by Moya. This artwork could inspire questions about which route to take, or perhaps the eagerness to uncover the next iteration will encourage wanderers to meander a bit longer, allowing them to notice their surroundings more deeply. Moya will incorporate thoughtful words or poetry at select spots, aiming for the work to be open-ended and slightly mysterious rather than overtly obvious. The postcards would be available in kiosks or a smaller version of a newspaper vending box, with each postcard featuring artwork that also serves as a map to locate the ground installations. Passersby could collect these cards as keepsakes or write notes to mail, inviting others to join in the discovery of the installations.

Beat Box: sharing local music history, elevating local artists
Site: Council District 9

“Beat Box” is a collaborative project of RMPM’s KUVO and THE DROP radio stations, together with local culture leaders, musicians, and visual artists. It aims to showcase Denver’s vibrant past and present music scene, and to elevate the voices of local artists through the creation of six utility box murals in Council District 9. Each mural will feature a portrait of a prominent historical or active Denver musician, and each will also include a QR code linking the public to a dedicated project webpage with information about the musician and audio and/or video recordings of that artist. Anticipated goals and intended impact include: beautify plain utility boxes to revitalize a high-traffic, art-poor section of downtown Denver including the Buell Public Media Center, United States Postal Service, Federal Building, and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless; celebrate Denver’s vibrant music culture and honor local musicians past and present—especially focusing on jazz, Latin jazz, hip hop, and R&B—to raise public awareness about their artistic contributions and enhance community pride; support local visual artists to elevate their voices and professional profiles in the community; and engage local culture leaders to enhance RMPM’s and its partners’ community impact through collaboration.

Globeville StoryWalk
Site: Globeville neighborhood

The Globeville StoryWalk is a two-fold project comprising storytelling workshops and public art. Local Globeville residents will participate in storytelling workshops where they create writings, stories and poems about their lives and personal experiences. Sidewalk Poets will work with longterm Globeville residents, as well as those who work in the neighborhood, folks receiving support at a recovery and treatment center nearby, local kids/youth and more recent arrivals from other countries who live in the area. These writings will then be used to create public art displayed throughout the neighborhood: painted on utility boxes and printed onto street signs and sidewalks. Some pieces will include QR codes to a website where recordings of the participants can be heard, and where community members can record and add their own stories. The goal is for residents to feel seen and heard in their own community, as well as preserve the stories and authentic voice of a rapidly gentrifying area. This interactive experience allows people to read and absorb these stories, and also have an online space to contribute their own voice. Work will be displayed in both English and Spanish as well as the language in which it was written (when applicable).

Frankie Falcon
Site: Intersection of 41st and Navajo

The mural represents the culmination of a grassroots effort to improve walkability and bike safety in Sunnyside. Its restoration will reinforce this message and inspire continued advocacy for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure. Trevista Elementary PTA will engage the community through gathering ideas and feedback on the mural's design, ensuring it reflects the school's aspirations; inviting students and community members to participate in the painting process, fostering a sense of ownership and connection to the project; and organizing a community event to celebrate the mural's completion, showcasing the collective effort and its positive impact on the neighborhood. The mural's location in front of the school highlights its importance in promoting equitable access to safe and vibrant public spaces. By restoring this artwork, we can continue to ensure that all Sunnyside residents can enjoy and benefit from its presence. Collaborating with a local artist will infuse fresh artistic vision while preserving the original spirit of the project. The restored mural will continue to serve as a visual reminder to slow down and prioritize pedestrian and biker safety. Moreover, the project will foster a sense of ownership and pride among students, families,and the broader community, inspiring future beautification efforts and advocacy for pedestrian-friendly infrastructure.