Gallery

Artist(s): Julia Byrd

Description / Inspiration: I was inspired to create this sign for two reasons. The first being that my community of Coram, and nearby communities of Hungry Horse and Martin City, are heavily impacted by meth addiction. I think that this sign could really make people think twice about their decision to use harmful substances, and including the help hotline hopefully gives them the resource to start recovery. The second reason I created this sign is to raise awareness. The artwork is on the incredibly busy US Hwy 2, en route to Glacier National Park, which receives roughly 3 million visitors per year. I decided on this location precisely because of the high volume of people that will see it every single day. I am really trying to make a positive impact on this community and people visiting from the area from all over the world.

The materials that I used on this project were latex exterior paint; 2 sheets of AC plywood generously donated by Western Building Center; dimensional lumber as supports to the sign; several sand bags to hold it down to ensure a long lasting piece; and lastly paint pens to outline the font to make the lines crisp and clean.

County: Flathead

Location: Coram-West Glacier fire department: corner of Highway 2 and Seville Lane, Coram MT 59913

Thank Yous: I would like to thank Western Building Center for donating the wood required for this project. I would also like to give a huge thanks to the Coram-West Glacier Volunteer Fire Department for graciously letting me display my artwork on their property.