Fort Collins Artist Plans To Honor Aurora Theater Victims [VIDEO]

Most of us still remember the horrific event's that took place July 20th at an Aurora movie theater very well. The Aurora theater shooting left Colorado and much of the country heartbroken and full of sorrow. For Fort Collins artist, Chris Bates, the event took him and his art on a path to "change the world."

For years, Bates has used a technique in which he uses smaller illustrations which tell the story of the subject's life and ultimately join to compose one large portrait. Bates, has done these type projects for years but after tragedy struck in Aurora he recalled the words he heard at a previous artist workshop, “Use your art to change the world.”

In recent months Bates has been talking with the Boik's, family of A.J. Boik, who was one of those that had their life taken away in the Aurora shooting. 18 year old, A.J. Boik himself was an aspiring art teacher and future attendee of the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design. Bates felt a special connection with the Boik family and has begun creating two portraits of A.J. that tell his life story.

In talks with the Boik family, Bates has been able to hear A.J.'s life story and the favorite stories of A.J.'s life from those closest to him.

Lasamoa Cross, A.J.'s fiancee stated that, “he would have been thrilled to see his life on paper like this,” and adding that the project has been a "healing process."

Bates hopes to work with more families of the Aurora shooting after he completes Boik's portraits.

Donations can be made to help fund the project on their kickstarter page.

[Coloradoan]