Gallery • 4 Photos

Olivia Brumbaugh

The entrance to the Alley Cat.

In Fort Collins there are aspiring artists everywhere, some are working on being recognized and some are just doing art. Art is a hard thing to succeed in but with the right amount of creativity and patience the work is sure to pay off.

Thirty aspiring artists take up the space of the Alley Cat–some are represented in the artwork on the walls, others are just working on their art. All are hard working creative minds and they all have different reasons for their passion. Visual artist Tyler Hancock said, “I want to be the best artist I can be, I want my work to be known.”

While most artists might wish for this to happen, artist Dani Flimmingcough says otherwise, “I love to make art; it releases my anxiety and helps with my depression. I just do my art quietly and do not want to be recognized as a big artist. I just want to be quiet with my work.”

While there are many painters and other visual artists, writers also populate the scenery of the Alley Cat. Grace Beardman, a writer wanting to publish her work, says, “Writing helps me tap into my creative mind, it is hard to be creative and have a free flowing mind in a society like today.” Beardman was working on the last chapter of her book and hopes to get it published by the end of this year.

Nicole Cummings calls herself a photographer with an obscure focus. She said, “I take pictures of obscure things, things that people don’t like to take a second glance at. I take pictures of trash cans, cigarette butts, etc. and make them aesthetically pleasing.” Nicole hopes to have her art work up in the Alley Cat one day, but it’s not on the walls yet.

Art is a peaceful thing that many people enjoy–both as observers and creators of art.  The Alley Cat might be the top spot for aspiring artists because they encourage just this sort of thing. It is a place for people to bring their creativity to life.