Grace Mercado stands under her mural by the Chicken Coop.
A newly-graduated resident of Seeley-Swan High School Grace Mercado has a mural painted on the side of the Chicken Coop with the message to stay away from dangerous drugs, especially methamphetamines.
"I decided to work on this project because I knew it was such a good cause, I wanted to make my statement about the project and hopefully help others see this poster and see the horrific impact meth has on someone," Mercado said.
Mercado took two tries to paint "Abstract Horrors of Meth's Nightmares," which she said is an abstract piece that reflects the last stages of addiction and death. The project is part of the larger "Paint the State" initiative with the Montana Meth Project.
The statewide public art contest engages Montana teens and adults in on-the-ground drug prevention, according to its website. People can vote each day for the artwork they like.
The project will give out more than $100,000 in awards to winners and honorable mentions, which will be announced in August.
"The contest harnesses the passion and creativity of participants to produce monument-sized public works of art that inspire drug-free lives and incorporate the Meth Project's 'Not Even Once' message," the website reads.
Voting for the artwork closes Aug. 17. Mercado, who now is enrolled at Montana State University, said she wanted to thank the Chicken Coop for giving her the space for her art, and hopes kids have the chance to look at it. People can vote for the project at Paintthestate.org
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