Local artists gather to weave a little color into downtown.

Local artists gather to weave a little color into downtown.

Led by Cynthia Barnes, artist and curator for Inspiration Art Gallery, several local artists gathered today at the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue and Main Street to weave colorful cloth into chain link fences.

Sponsored by the Longmont Downtown Development Association, or LDDA, the art project is bringing some beautification to the fences that surround the old gas station. The site is currently used for storage by contractors working on the Spoke housing development at Sixth Ave and Coffman Street.

“Since the construction and fence are here, it’s not the most exciting block downtown,” said Amy Mullens, an Americorps Vista with the LDDA. “So we’re just giving it a little love and adding some color to the block, so we can show off the Creative District and talent here.”

Barnes said the fabric was donated by children’s clothing designer Pixie Girl. Barnes couldn’t use it in her youth sewing classes, so it was repurposed for the collaborative art project.

Gili Wolf came up from Louisville to join in the weaving. Wolf met Barnes through an online art group, and was happy to join in the weaving today.

“Projects like this make something interesting in a space that people normally ignore,” Wolf said. “But the coolest thing to me is when people who walk by have something to engage with and start a conversation. I think people are generally appreciative of having something new and interesting in their space.”

The colorful fabric designs will remain until the construction fences come down.