Recap: Allen Tupper True Murals Walking Tour

DAF offered this tour on Wednesday, July 14th and Wednesday, July 28th.

About the tour: This tour explored how Allen Tupper True’s embellishments to architecture throughout Denver attest to his extraordinary vision and expression. Mural locations include Denver’s Civic Center, The Brown Palace, Renaissance Denver Downtown City Center Hotel and Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Building during this two-mile adventure through Denver.

About Allen Tupper True: Colorado native, Allen Tupper True grew up in Colorado Springs with a love for the American frontier. True embraced his heritage as the source and inspiration for his paintings. True found his ultimate calling as a muralist, and his work ornaments public and private buildings throughout the West, including several buildings in Colorado.

About the tour guides: Jim Barrett, Enterprise Architect, writer and historian, has researched Allen Tupper True’s life and artistic works over the past 15 years. His research provided the basis for the award-winning True exhibits at the DAM, History Colorado, KBDI and DPL in 2009. Barrett’s latest True-related project was helping DU learn more about one of its alumni. He has researched and cataloged a large number of works by Paschal Quackenbush who was True’s partner and assistant on numerous projects throughout his life.

After Jim Barrett and Maggie Gourd-Barrett, educator, purchased the Allen Tupper True studio, they discovered True had painted the Colorado National Bank murals at 17th and Champa. After visiting the bank and seeing the murals, they knew they had to do something special with the studio. This led to exhibiting True and his granddaughter’s art collection in the studio for the DAM, Colorado History, KBDI and DPL.