Jackson Hole, WY: When The Hub Bicycles was planning on moving into a new space on Pearl Avenue last year, owner Hal Wheeler knew he needed to customize the interior but also make a mark on the fully refurbished outside. Jackson Hole Public Art, in partnership with The Hub Bicycles, launched a call to artists to find a muralist who could capture the tie between bicycling and a strong community. The finished mural by artist Jeremy Collins has just been installed and all are invited to visit Jackson’s newest piece of public art!

Artist Jeremy Collins was selected to come to Jackson in the fall of 2021 to create The Hub’s public art mural while also working on another street mural in East Jackson (you can spot the stampeding bison on Vine Street just off of Kelly), as well as a mural of bike trails in the Tetons for inside The Hub. Collins is known for his complex, cerebral, and whimsical drawings that are featured in books, films, and commercial work. From the cover of National Geographic to his own company Meridian Line, he is a well-known artist within the climbing and outdoor industry. 

The Hub’s mural was hand-drawn over the course of a week on a polytab material, a new medium for both the artist and JH Public Art. Polytab is known for its durability and color-fastness, making it useful for outdoor murals; it allows artists to work large-scale in studio during times of year when working outdoors might not be possible. According to Collins, this new medium moved his linework in a more tonal fashion, “becoming a happy accident. Once I embraced the change, I enjoyed a somewhat "new" way of drawing. It came out almost like a charcoal drawing. This is easily one of my favorite pieces of the year.”

The finished piece was influenced by the ravens that gathered each morning outside of where the artist was working. He had originally planned on songbirds as a focal point, but the visiting ravens made their presence known. The artist sought out to visualize something old embraced by the new: a discarded wheel can be a launching point for new growth, with fall leaves and spring upshoots on the same branch, and with birds gathering to indicate community and a sense of place.  

“The Hub is all about community and bringing people together through a love of biking and outdoor recreation. We’re so excited about this mural partnership with JH Public Art and hope all of Jackson appreciates this new, vibrant piece of public art.” — The Hub Bicycles, owner Hal Wheeler

ABOUT THE HUB BICYCLES

The Hub Bicycles supports the growth of cycling in the Tetons, from the construction of neighborhood pump tracks to local races to hosting Jackson's annual community bike swap benefitting local bicycle oriented non-profits. The Hub carries only the finest bicycles and accessories for all kinds of cycling and cyclists. www.thehubbikes.com

ABOUT JACKSON HOLE PUBLIC ART

Jackson Hole Public Art forges partnerships for the integration of art into any environment to inspire lasting cultural, educational and economic benefits. JH Public Art is a non-profit organization and our community’s leading presenter of artist-driven projects in public space. We place artworks outside traditional venues of museums and galleries to provide access to art for all people. www.jhpublicart.org