Laramie Jubilee Days® 2023
Laramie Public Art partnered with Laramie Jubilee Days® to present local artists’ artwork on light pole banners! Learn more about each work below. The artwork was selected through an open call; members of the community and Laramie Jubilee Days representatives selected the work. Each artist submitted an already completed artwork along with a statement about the artwork’s connection to Laramie or the festival.
Artist: Ana Castro
Soulful Equine
This photograph serves as a celebration of the equine spirit and the enduring partnership between humans and horses. It honors the symbiotic relationship that has shaped the history and culture of Laramie, where horses have been trusted companions, working partners, and sources of inspiration.
Artist: Rhiannon Jakopak
Disco Dog
“Disco Dog” came into being during a wintery afternoon, reminiscing about falling asleep to coyote calls in a tent on the sagebrush steppe. I imagined each note rising from the mouth of a clever coyote, dancing through the still night air, and making its way across the rolling hills to my sleepy ears. Coyotes are never far away from us in Wyoming, and this playful rendition of a coyote crying into the night asks us to revel in our relationship with this resilient, intelligent, and ever-present being.
Artist: Ana Castro
Where Grazing Meet Majesty
I invite viewers to pause and contemplate the interconnectedness of our lives with the land and its inhabitants. I hope this artwork inspires a renewed appreciation for the beauty of local farms, the animals that grace them, and the collective responsibility we share in sustaining a vibrant and harmonious relationship with nature.
Artist: Ginnie Madsen
The street carnival held each summer is something many folks, young and old, look forward to. As an artist, I became interested in trying to capture in a painting the atmosphere of excitement at the carnival, the colors, the lights, the rides and the people. At night a few blocks in downtown Laramie are a dazzle in the night.
Artist: Nathanael Reitzel
Okay, Act Normal
This is the third work in Nathanael’s original “Hoodudes” series, which was featured in a variety of Laramie businesses. In this series, Nathanael explores the idea of the rocks coming to life, animated in a simple and playful style. With a grunt and sigh, they look curiously at the variety of hikers and animals exploring their homes, climbing on top of their friends, and awkwardly eating snacks on top their heads. In the marker and chalk pastel composition “Okay, Act Normal”, Nathanael depicts a Hoodude holding his breath, hoping not to be noticed by the hiker nearby.
Artist: Charles Barrett
Mountains in Fall
This photograph, Mountains in Fall, layers several views from Vedauwoo, my favorite place to walk and be with my thoughts.
Artist: Ana Castro
Laramie’s Bison Legacy
"Laramie's Bison Legacy: A Symbol of Resilience and Harmony" captures the enduring spirit and harmonious coexistence between bison, local farms, and the Laramie community.
Through this photograph, I aim to pay tribute to the rich heritage and cultural significance of bison while emphasizing the importance of responsible land management and conservation efforts. It is my hope that viewers are inspired by the majestic presence and untamed grace of these animals, fostering a deep appreciation for the profound connections between humans, wildlife, and the land we call home.
Artist: Sienna Hawk
What’s more “yeehaw” than a cowboy boot? And what’s more “jubilee” than a rainbow! As a queer artist living in Wyoming, it means a lot that I can freely express myself publicly in Laramie. My art practice is essential to my life and, despite being colorblind, I love bringing rainbows into my work! For this banner piece, I chose to capture one of the quintessential Wyoming icons: the cowboy boot! Each boot is a different color to capture some of the many colors of the LQBTQ+ community. (I’d call it a rain-boot, but that’s already taken...)
Artist: Allison Wagg
The Mother
Laramie is the place to encounter nature, here is an acrylic painting of a tender moment between a mother pronghorn and her calf.
Artist: Sienna Hawk
Last year was my first Jubilee Days, and I cannot wait to attend again this year! I’m very drawn to the history of the event, and I gravitated toward its beginnings as a horse race. I imagined hand-drawn posters hung around town in preparation, hyping up the main event! This is reflected in my piece, highlighting the beginning and current years of Jubilee Days in a poster-like format. I drew period elements and inspiration into the piece, as well as modern notes. Of course, at the center is a jockey and their horse, a nod to what started it all!
Artist: William Harkin
This photograph layers a campsite near the Snowy Range onto a Laramie fence.
Artist: Tara Pappas
Balanced
“Balanced” was created as a tribute to the landscape, wildlife, and stories in and around southeastern Wyoming. The jackalope character holding the balancing rocks stands as a symbol of unity and peaceful coexistence. Similarly, Laramie is a place in which a variety of people and cultures come together to form a beautiful community.
Artist: Sarah Konrad
Taking A-spen
“Taking A-spen” was inspired by the wonderful mountain biking at Happy Jack and at Curt Gowdy State Park. These trails are easily accessible and not only offer an athletic challenge, but also provide fantastic access to nature just minutes from town. I can be found there most mornings on bike, feet, or skis.
Artist: Chad Blakely
My piece of art is meant to celebrate a child’s perspective at Laramie Jubilee Days. As a kid, everything seems larger than life and those memories resonate with us for the rest of our life. In the work I drew the Laramie Jubilee Days Royalty front and center; they are the ambassadors of Jubilee Days and I wanted capture that Western welcome. Next, I put a bull rider, recreating the energy of the event, the power of the bull and the sportsmanship of the rider. Lastly, I included a Ferris wheel, representing the fun and the excitement of the carnival!
Artist: Irene Candeleria
Pronghorn are my favorite Laramie critter. They’re so fast!
Artist: Nate Hildebrand
Nighttime Clouds
This pastel, titled Nighttime Clouds, is inspired by Laramie’s beautiful sunsets.
Artist: Jon Madsen
Corner Cafe
This is one of many scenes from around Laramie which has caught my eye over my time lived here. I have not been concerned with the popular or picturesque, but the commonplace and the “next door.” This was painted from a view out of the window of my second floor studio on Ivinson Street which I had for many years.
Artist: Favian Hernandez
Wyatt’s Ride
Wyatt’s Ride shows a jackalope getting the ride of his little rodeo life. My illustration celebrates the lighthearted fun of Jubilee Days and how all ages can participate in the festivities. Jubilee Days offers something for everyone and that’s why our community looks forward to it every year.
Artist: Alexis Zaharas
Life in Laramie to me is the comradery that comes with the college and the community. This year the 2023 Union Fest welcomed Ian Munsick to help the land of Laradise celebrate the end of the school year. Community members and college students alike came together on Prexy’s Pasture under a classic Wyoming sunset, to enjoy some good-hearted music. This graphic sums up how it felt to be in the crowd of such a wonderful community.
Artist: Allison Wagg
The Hungry Butterfly
Laramie has so many hidden treasures, even in our grass, here is an up close acrylic painting of one of those hidden treasures full of color featuring our state flower.