Meet Christine Rose Curry | Artist & Muralist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christine Rose Curry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christine Rose, why did you pursue a creative career?
It might sound a little cliché, but I have always had an interest in art. Growing up, while I had several hobbies, the one I always practiced and stuck with was creating art. In fact, a very early childhood memory of mine comes from my interest in art. I can remember, laying on the floor in my bedroom, coloring with my crayons and paper, and suddenly getting the urge to color on the wall. I’m sure a lot of children have had this same experience, but I remember thinking how much parents were going to like what I had created. They always enjoyed my drawings, so why wouldn’t they love this?! As you can probably imagine, they were not impressed with what I had done, and although I was punished for this, they fortunately decided that putting me in art classes, might be a better creative outlet.

As I grew older, this interest and hobby became a passion. I took advanced level art courses in high school, and even received a two year scholarship to Western State University. During my first year of college, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, dropped out of school, and focused on my health. Now, I am happy to say that I am now cancer free, and I never gave up on pursuing an art career. Later graduating from the Metropolitan State University of Denver, with a BFA in Fine Arts.

Making art is not only a passion of mine, it’s who I am. My brain just wants to create things. Even if I didn’t do this as a career, I would still create. it defines who I am as a human. It’s how I communicate with the world. I certainly don’t do it for the money, I could make more money in hundreds of other professions. It’s something I need to do, to be happy, to be me. Although I love it, it is not easy. There are so many times I think it would be easier, or I’d be better off finding another career. It has ruined relationships for me, because I “spend so much time making art”. There is a lot of criticism and rejection, along with my own struggles and personal critiques. It is not an easy profession. Many people have difficult jobs, and they justify why they do them: the money, they stability, the power status, the job title. For me, none of those apply. So, I truly pursue this career, because I believe art is important, not only for my own personal sanity, but for humanity. Fortunately, I am able to spend time creating art, and pursuing this career. I’m also incredibly lucky to have family, friends and very supportive husband who understand this, and accept me for who I am.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My primary discipline in the arts is painting, and on the surface I usually describe myself as an acrylic painter, and muralist. While I do a lot of the former, I also create what I call “plastic assemblage paintings”. The latter, are creations that incorporate actual plastic trash, into the art. An attempt to bring awareness to, and minimize my contributions to the plastic waste we encounter every day.

Along with art, I love nature and the outdoors. I try to live sustainably, I’m not over the top with it, but I try to reuse and recycle what I can, and minimize waste. However, it’s incredibly hard to recycle plastic, and this is what I was mostly tossing out, and a lot of it: plastic lids, plastic packaging, plastic cutlery, plastic bags. Then thinking about how much that actually is when you multiply it by everyone on the planet…. It’s overwhelming!! Things we use for mere seconds, get tossed out, and cast upon the earth to exist for centuries, for eons?! Most plastic is non-degradable, so while it breaks down, it never really goes away! That’s just crazy, considering the millions of tons humans dump onto the earth every year!!
So, I couldn’t bring myself to throw the stuff away anymore, and pretty soon I was inundated with plastic….trash…. And now I make art out of it!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The 40West Arts District where EDGE Gallery is a fun outing for an art lover. The 40 West Art Hub building has several galleries (including EDGE), and a cute little art supply store. If you’re interested in seeing more galleries within the district, there’s an ArtLine. A walking tour that brings you through the district. A green line painted on the sidewalks and streets, offers a self-guided tour though the district, and there are outdoor artworks, as well as parks to enjoy along the path. There’s amazing art to be found in Colorado. I also have to give another shoutout to a terrific Colorado gallery that is worth a visit. Blo Back Gallery in Pueblo. Similar ideology to EDGE, pushing the boundaries with their artists, and taking risks in the art world. Another local favorite of mine is Crowfoot Valley Coffee, in Castle Rock. An independent coffee shop, and bar. It has a great community and creative atmosphere, and has been very supportive to artists, and small businesses.
I also love history, and there is a unique landmark near me called Cherokee Ranch and Castle. A homestead built in the late 1890’s. It’s worth taking a tour of the place, and learning about its fascinating history as it changed ownership throughout the years. The last owner had eccentric woman, who left quite a legacy, including a priceless collection of art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
EDGE Gallery A co-op art gallery located in the 40West Arts District. I am an associate member at this gallery, and I am so grateful to be a part of this community. We are a member-run gallery that tries to push the boundaries of the art world. It’s a space where I can feel free to create, and take risks with my art. It pushes me to become a better artist, while offering a supportive and creative atmosphere to explore.

Website: https://www.ChristineRoseCurry.com

Instagram: @ChristineRoseCurry

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/artbychristinerosecurry/