BOISE — When a traditional art gallery changes exhibits, a lot of crates and heavy lifting are usually part of the process.
At Freak Alley Gallery off of 9th Street between Bannock and Idaho streets in downtown Boise, all it takes is some local artists with vision and some paint.
The open-air gallery, established in 2002, features a new crop of murals each year. Submissions are accepted year-round. Artists began painting the newest murals on August 4, and wrapped things up the evening of Saturday, August 11, with an unveiling ceremony featuring live music and an opportunity to meet the artists, who also interacted with passers-by as they worked throughout the week.
"I've done stuff like, about this big, on canvas and stuff, but never on a giant wall like this. I had to get on a scaffold and had to be on a ladder on the scaffold," said Michael Akkerman, who painted "A tribute to Pink Floyd's 'One Of These Days."
"When I got here and I started, it went pretty well, and people were coming up to me, telling me I was doing a good job, so it was encouraging," Akkerman said.
Freak Alley Gallery is open all year, 24 hours a day, and there's never an admission charge.