Denver Metro Art News
CPAC's Hal Gould ViP Award Goes To...
- Published on February 27, 2013
- Written by Ken Hamel
Local Photographer/Curator Mark Sink To Receive First Ever Hal Gould ViP Award
Mark Sink (left) with Hal Gould
(from the press release)
As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Colorado Photographic Arts Center will be awarding well-known Denver photographer and curator Mark Sink with the inaugural “Hal Gould Vision in Photography (ViP) Award.” The award is named in honor of Gould, 93, who was a founder of CPAC and retired in 2011 after closing his legendary Camera Obscura Gallery. Both Gould and Sink will be present at a March 28 fundraising dinner to celebrate Gould’s legacy and CPAC’s 50th anniversary. Persons interested in attending the dinner celebration may do so by contacting CPAC at 303-837-1341 or registering online at www.cpacphoto.org. The event will be held at the Table 6 restaurant, located at 609 Corona Street in Denver.
“This award to Mark Sink is made in recognition of his many significant contributions to raising awareness, value, and appreciation of contemporary and fine art photography in this region, particularly through his curatorial and entrepreneurial initiatives,” stated Rupert Jenkins, CPAC executive director.
Also known as the founder of Denver’s Month of Photography (MoP), Sink curated his first exhibitions at Auraria's Emanuel Gallery in the early 1980s. After a spell in New York City photographing for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine, he returned to Denver and became a co- founder and later Interim Director of MCA Denver. Sink has been the driving force behind MoP since it began in 2004. The biennial event takes place in March and now features numerous exhibitions and events throughout central Colorado.
Similarly, Gould is a regional photography giant. “As the inspiration behind countless photographers and visitors to the Camera Obscura Gallery, Hal Gould has had an immense effect on the photographic arts in Colorado and the Western Region,” stated Jenkins.
A practiced portrait photographer who eventually shifted into fine art photography, Gould was a longtime advocate for the medium at a time when it was denied recognition as a legitimate art form. In 1963 he joined with a group of like-minded people to form CPAC and open a gallery at 13th Avenue and Bannock Street in Denver. In 1979, after 15 years as CPAC’s exhibition committee Chair, Gould left the organization to found the Camera Obscura Gallery next door. The gallery closed in 2011. Gould continues to live in Denver and remains an avid supporter and viewer of photography.
Denver-based sculptor Yoshitomo Saito, who is known for his sculptures of natural forms, is crafting the Hal Gould Vision in Photography Award inspired by the Bristlecone Pine, in recognition one of Gould’s signature series.
“The Denver metro region has a committed and supportive photography community, and over the last 50 years Gould, Sink and CPAC have done much to nurture that effect,” said Jenkins, who added, “We expect a great turnout for this event, especially given our 50th Anniversary and the presence of these photographic luminaries.”
Jenkins said guests at the fundraising dinner will be treated to an auction of select fine prints by well-known photo-based artists, photo booth portraits taken by local artist Laura Shill, and a superb three-course meal served at one of Denver’s finest restaurants.
Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC)
445 South Saulsbury
Lakewood, CO 80226
303.837.1341
Tue-Fri: Noon-8:00pm
Sat/Sun: Noon-6:00pm
http://www.cpacphoto.org
In Review: Denver Arts 2012
- Published on December 27, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
In Review: Denver Arts 2012
DenverArts.org director Ken Hamel's un-numbered, un-ordered, and somewhat un-structured look back at the local year in art...
* Spending Time at RedLineAlmost every exhibit at RedLine in 2012 was top notch, a look back includes Wang Gongxin (pix), Hybrid (pix), Material Engagements (pix), Off The Beaten Path:Violence, Women and Art, and The Human Touch, comprised of work hand picked from the Royal Bank of Canada's Wealth Management division's art collection by local curator William Biety. Biety's selections were like having a mini-museum in town, featuring over 50 works from artists including Kehinde Wiley, Vik Muniz, John Baldessari and Chuck Close. (left: William Biety with RBC collection curator Don McNeil.)
And if the great art is not enough, stop by to wander through the RedLine members' open (and very much working) studios taking in the artistic process of some of Denver's most notable emerging talent.
*
Spending Time with ClyffordOne year later, I can say with great enthusiasm that the Clyfford Still Museum is an unabashed hit. An afternoon in the museum is like walking through the park, but with towering paintings taking the place of trees, and stoic formed concrete substituting for dreamy clouds. I love being in the building and I never tire of the work, which changes with unexpected regularity (and quite frankly even if the collection was static, I'm fine revisiting works that have become like old friends.) Still is celebrated with dedicated rooms at institutions across the US including SF MOMA, NY's Met, the Hirshhorn in DC, etc., we're fortunate to have the moneyshot right here in Denver. (right: Joel Shapiro's "For Jennifer" in front of the CSM)
* And Spending Time at the MCA
Several years more than one year later, but as above wtih Clyfford, the MCA has settled into a wonderful home that is a pleasure to spend time in. The recent show Postscript: Writing After Conceptual Art was a treat and spoke to me in a much more meaningful way than either "Primal Scene of Punk Rock" or West of Center, two history lessons that were less engaging artistically than Postscript. And More American Photographs was without doubt Denver's best photography exhibit of 2012 featuring recent work by iconic photographers Stephen Shore and Larry Clark among others.
* Milestones at the DAMSeveral notable shows at the DAM, especially the excellent El Anatsui: When I Last Wrote to You about Africa which transformed the 4th floor of the Hamilton building into an African tapestry of twisted refuse and charred wood. I was also impressed with Gary Winogrand's Women Are Beautiful, nicely presented by the DAM's curator of photography Eric Paddock. While not exactly my bailiwick, the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective was well received locally with sellout crowds, and the Becoming Van Gogh exhibit was a unique achievement that deserves praise. And at over $20 per pop for entrance fees to the two aforementioned blockbusters, Let Them Mint Cash. (left: Eric Paddock)
* Public Art Tours from Arts and Venues
The city of Denver has an extensive collection of public art that you can take in at your leisure on your own, but I never miss an opportunity to join in on the popular public art tours held throughout the summer by the city's excellent staff and volunteers. I especially enjoyed the tour of Civic Center Park by Leon Krier (pix) and the 14th St / Convention Center tours by Mandy Renaud (pix). More info at http://www.denvergov.org/publicart.
* Colorado Photographic Arts Center First YearCPAC is hitting its stride in 2012 with several excellent exhibits including Laura Shill and Adam Milner, Matt Slaby and Matt Eich, Ed Kashi and Ruby Ray. In addition, CPAC played host to Katie Taft's Action Figures artist talk series (with Katie interviewing guest artists Judy Anderson, Sabin Aell and Brigid McAuliffe among others) as well as an excellent Portfolio Review series where up-and-coming photographers can have their latest images scoped by CPAC's director Rupert Jenkins alongside a rotating cast of well known luminaries on the local photo scene (including Carol Golemboski and Jessie Paige) (right: Rupert Jenkins and Carol Golemboski)
* Plus Plus
Ivar Zeile of Plus Gallery played host to a solid series of excellent artist talks as well as film and music events at the gallery. I especially enjoyed New Abstraction Today: Four Essential Plus Gallery Artists (pix) and Xi Zhang's March 2012 gallery talk. You can keep up with the gallery's events by signing up for Ivar's weekly newsletter which of course has a strong emphasis on his gallery's artists and events, but also has an eye on other interesting goings on around town as well; sign up at http://www.plusgallery.com/newsletter.php
* DenverArts.org 2012 Stuff
Happy 5 year anniversary DenverArts.org! The May celebration at City O' City was epic, including a "trippin' down memory lane" interview with Katie Taft and a 45 minute retrospective slideshow featuring some 150 photographs of artists I have taken since 2007. Thanks everyone for coming out and showing support. Also of note on the website, a new application for generating maps of the various Denver arts districts and a new, easier to read newsletter format.
* Noteworthy Milestones and Events:- GroundSwell Gallery's one year anniversary, congrats to gallery directors Rebecca Peebles and Danette Montoya (right: Danette and Rebecca with Andrew Novick)
- (Adam) Gildar Gallery's inaugural year along with a year of his Art-Plant curated exhibits at City O' City featuring Sandra Fettingis, Maria Lawson and Eli Lichtenstein, and Eryn Tomlinson
- Michael Chavez takes the helm as Director of Denver's public art program and helps to launch the McNichols Civic Center Building as a new hot spot for the visual arts with Fuera de la Frontera and Collin Parson
- An hysterically funny and incorrigibly ribald evening with filmmaker (and artist) John Waters at RMCAD
- An hypnotic one night special presentation of The Glasshouse: A Surrealist Film by Danielle De Picciotto with live music by Alexander Hacke of Einstuerzende Neubauten
- Virga: The Sound Performance at the Delgany Pedestrian Bridge with art and music by Patrick Marold and Morton Waller; let's hope Denver's Arts and Venues can sponsor similar programing in 2013
- The Denver Arts Week "Night at the Museums" continues to be a lot of fun, a great way to take in venues like the Kirkland Museum for free
* Exhibits of Note:
The ubiquitous Adam Milner with exhibits at the MCA, Vertigo (with Kelcy Chase Folsom), CPAC (with Laura Shill) and the Arvada Center (right: Adam Milner)- Two great shows by Denver's Andy Berg at the Singer Gallery and at Rule
- Republic Plaza: The Culture of African-American Art
- CVA: Out FIGURED
- Plus: 11 Ceremonies: New Paintings by Xi Zhang and William Betts: Remote Sensing
- Punk rock photo shows from Richard Peterson at Gildar Gallery and the MCA, and Punk Passage and Mining Denver’s Underground Rock Photography at CPAC
- Robischon: Appropriated: The Chronicled West, Derrick Velasquez and Judy Pfaff
- Ironton: Lanny DeVuono and Melissa Furness
- Ironwood: Gemma Bayly
- Viviane Le Courtois at BMOCA
- Pirate: Debra Sanders: Swell, Phil Bender and Sigri Strand
- MacSpa: Yuri Zupancic: Microchip Paintings
- David B. Smith: Hong Seon Jang and the Group Exhibition 2012
- GroundSwell: Andrew Novick: Food Face
- Arvada Center: Faces, Places & Spaces
- Ice Cube: Kathy Knaus and Jennifer Jeannelle, Theresa Anderson, Rebecca Vaughan and Pink Collar Glam, Amber Fries
- Z Art Dept.: Robert Mangold
- Victoria H. Myhren Gallery: Richard Bell: Uz vs. Them
- Goodwin: Yoshi Saito
Best wishes for a fantastic 2013! - KLH
PlatteForum 2013-2014 Creative Residency
- Published on November 21, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
PlatteForum 2013-2014 Creative Residency
Application deadline March 15, 2013
- Applicatiion Fee: $35
"One of the best things was the studio where I was able to work in a larger scale...
Plus the kids inspired me. I have a whole new outlook on my art, and energy to tear into the next phase!"
Artist Katie Taft, Creative Resident, 2007
(from the press release)
PlatteForum's Creative Residency program offers the opportunity for reflection and intensive creative work. This stipend-based program aims to create an eenvironment where artists create a body of work, interact with underserved youth in the community, and present the work to the public in exhibitions, performances and events. PlatteForum is a member of the Alliance of Artist Communities, an international organization that advances creativity. While there are many ways to support and experience the arts – books and paintings, performances and poetry, movies, museums, and music – artists’ communities support individuals in the creation of new art and ideas.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Who Can Apply: The Creative Residency programs are open to artists in all genres. Applications from established professional artists, emerging artists, and graduate students are welcome. We encourage local, national, and international artists to apply. Artistic excellence, merit, and creative ways for interacting with the public as articulated in the application are important criteria in the selection process. Applicants must be able to speak and understand English. There is a three-year waiting period for former residents (for example, a Creative Resident from the 2010-11 season is not eligible to apply until the 2013-14 season). Resident artists are asked to donate a piece of art that will be auctioned by PlatteForum to support the residency program. Apply now.
Selection Process: An interdisciplinary selection committee will consider applications for the residencies. Care will be given to selecting artists who represent a variety of genres, experiences, and ideas.
Stipend/Support: PlatteForum provides facility, stipend ($250/week) to help defray artist expenses, staff support, program administration, workshop support, youth workshop supplies, opening event, press releases, printed invitations.
Facilities & Services: The contemporary facility is over 3,000 square feet with dedicated outdoor sculpture area and plaza. An open studio (2,000 square feet) is surrounded by staff offices, kitchen, restrooms, and artist/staff space with shower and futon couch.
Housing: Modest, private artist apartment with private bathroom, shower and futon.
Meals: Kitchen is available for artists' use.
Computer/Internet Access: Computer and internet connection provided in common area (shared), Computer and internet connection provided in living or studio area (private), Wireless Internet
Accessibility: housing/grounds/studios are accessible. Public areas and studios are wheelchair accessible.
Residency Fees: none
Additional Expectations/Community Involvement: Strengthening individual practice through collaboration. Resident artists dedicate 4-6 hours each week to work with one small groups of underserved youth, K-12, in intensive workshops that build upon the ideas and forms of the Creative Resident. PlatteForum staff supports the artist in the organization and facilitation of the youth workshops. Each residency culminates in a public reception where the work and ideas of the Creative Resident and the youth are presented in a performance, exhibition or artist talk, seminar,depending on the work of the Creative Resident and the youth.
PlatteForum
1610 Little Raven Street
Suite 135
Denver, CO 80202
Mon-Fri: Noon - 4:00 PM or by appointment
303.893.0791
http://www.platteforum.org
Evan Mann Kickstarter for The Otherwordly
- Published on October 17, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
Denver Artist Evan Mann Kickstarter
Raising funds for THE OTHERWORLDLY: an exploratory experimental video
(from Evan:)
I have teamed up with Kickstarter to launch a funraising campaign to produce my next video project, The Otherworldly.
"Fundrasing campaign... what's in it for me?"
Well, I am glad you asked: I am selling limited edition screen-printed t-shits and original artwork to gather the necessary resources to begin production. No pledge amount is too great or small, you can contribute at any level. If we do not reach our minimum goal of $8,000 in the next 30 days, credit cards will not be charged, rewards will not be given, and The Otherworldly will not be created... but not to worry, because 95% of the things we worry about never actually happen.
May 2012 Website Update
- Published on May 17, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
May 2012 Website Update
UPDATE: As of May 20th, besides for ongoing updating of legacy links from the old site format to the new link name format, everything is pretty much back to normal, thanks for your patience! If you are linking to content on DenverArts.org, be sure to update your links to the new "Search Engine Friendly" URLs.If you are a regular reader of DenverArts.org online, you might have noticed a variety of changes (and some significant outages) over the last 3 weeks. Due to upgrades at the DenverArts.org web host, the site was moved to a new server which caused a variety of problems and created the need to totally migrate the site to a new version of software.
While there was some short term pain, the upside is improved mapping software to highlight gallery locations (with the final migration of the mapping data over the next week or so), an update to the newsletter look and functionality and a few other nice behind the scenes tools.
One of the unfortunate downsides has been the loss of most all of 5 years worth of Google indexed "Search Engine Friendly" URLs. If you have linked to an article on DenverArts.org or find something via web search in the short term, most likely that link has changed and will generate a "File Not Found" error. Please use the website search feature to find the article, note the new link and update your website or blog with the new information.
Another unfortunate side effect has been a variety of formatting problems with the site due to changes in the site template. Please be patient as things get sorted out over the next few weeks.
As always, thanks for your continued support!
MCA Summer of 2012 Extended Hours
- Published on May 16, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
MCA Summer of 2012 Extended Hours
The MCA Denver recently announced extended summer hours! I'm for sure looking forward to summer nights on the roof sipping adult beverages with friends come COB. Knowing the folks at the MCA, rest assured there will be a variety of after work mischief and events throughout the museum on a regular basis. - KLH
From the announcement: "Tuesday–Friday, Memorial Day through Labor Day, MCA Denver is proud to keep its doors and its rooftop café open until 9PM. Bring your friends. Enjoy the art. Have a drink in our rooftop garden."
Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
1485 Delgany
Denver, CO 80202
303.298.7554
Mon: Closed
Tue–Thu: 10:00–6:00 pm
Fri: 10:00–10:00 pm
Sat-Sun: 10:00–6:00 pm
http://mcadenver.org
Clark Richert: Nobel Inspiration
- Published on February 09, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
Art Precedes Science: Rule Gallery artist Clark Richert's work anticipated 2011 Nobel Prize
The work of Colorado artist Clark Richert, who teaches at Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, has been cited in the February 2012 issue of Chemistry in Australia as predictive of the discovery of the quasicrystal. The article lauds chemist Daniel Schechtman's 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his discovery of the quasicrystal. In a section captioned "Art Precedes Science", author Peter Karuso acknowledges Richert's finding in 1970 of a "non-periodic" tiling system which in 1982 was discovered to model the underlying structure of the quasicrystal.
From "Defying the laws of science: the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry" in the February 2012 issue of Chemistry in Australia, by Peter Karuso:
- "Art Precedes Science... As an artist, Clark Richert has been working with five-fold symmetry since the 1960s when he started building domes inspired by Buckminster Fuller at the experimental artists’ community Drop City. His domes were inspired by zonahedra such as triacontrahedra. In 1970 he discovered that the shadow cast by a three-dimensional rhombic triacontahedron produced a two dimensional pattern of two rhombi (‘fat’ and ‘skinny’ diamonds) that would tile together to fill a plane non-periodically. That year he produced several art projects based on the system, for example a poster entitled "Tree of Life". The non-periodic tessellation that underlies these works displays an interplay and interconnectedness between symmetry and asymmetry, order and disorder – the harmony of opposites. Since the 1970s, Clark has continued to work with five-fold symmetry in his art and recently had an exhibition entitled ‘Five-Zone System’ at the Rule Gallery in Denver, Colorado. An example is his most recent painting entitled ‘Quasi-Shechtman’, which is dedicated to this year’s Nobel Prize winner and graces the cover of this issue..."
Portfolio Reviews with CPAC Director Rupert Jenkins
- Published on February 08, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
Portfolio Review with CPAC Director Rupert Jenkins
Colorado Photographic Arts Center
Fourth Thursday of Every Month from 6-8:30pm
- Each month features a different guest reviewer joining Rupert
- Free for CPAC members, $10 for non-members
- Reviews are limited to six artists; to show your work, RSVP to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
or call 303-837-1341
- Artists who are not showing but want to participate in the discussion are welcome to attend
Portfolio reviews are an important part of any photographer’s development as an artist. These informal reviews are open to all student levels and are an excellent chance to present your work in a positive environment, gain confidence, and receive constructive feedback on ways to move ahead with your project. Each month, Gallery Director Rupert Jenkins and an educator or curator from the photo community will lead discussion and critiques of six photographers’ work.
Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC)
445 South Saulsbury
Lakewood, CO 80226
303.837.1341
Tue-Fri: Noon-8:00pm
Sat/Sun: Noon-6:00pm
http://www.cpacphoto.org
Hey Denver, Trust Yourself
- Published on January 25, 2012
- Written by Ken Hamel
"Hey Denver, Trust Yourself" by Georgia Amar
8th and Santa Fe Drive - photo by Ken Hamel/DenverArts.org
Yoshitomo Saito on CBS4
- Published on November 11, 2011
- Written by Ken Hamel
Denver bronze artist Yoshi Saito and his Ironton studio are featured on local station CBS4. Click here to see the video and be sure to check out the live bronze pour this Saturday November 12th, 6:00pm at Ironton.
Ironton Studios and Gallery
3636 Chestnut Place
Denver, CO 80216
303.297.8626
Mon - Fri: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sat: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
http://irontonstudios.com
Audrey McNamara on Kickstarter
- Published on September 06, 2011
- Written by Ken Hamel
Kickstarter: Rainforest Paintings - A Series Abroad by Audrey McNamara
Here's a chance to support (former) Denver artist Audrey McNamara through her Kickstarter project "Rainforest Paintings"
Five Artists Selected for PlatteForum's Tenth Season
- Published on August 24, 2011
- Written by Ken Hamel
Five Artists Selected for PlatteForum's Tenth Season
(from the press release)We are pleased to announce the 2011-2012 Creative Residents at PlatteForum. Our tenth season continues the tradition of exceptional artists at PlatteForum. Follow the links for more details about each artist, their creative intentions for their residency, and ideas for collaborating with youth in Learning labs throughout the year.
- Tara Rynders, interdisciplinary video and dance artist
- In Residence: September 5 – October 21, 2011
- Opening Performance: Thursday/Friday, October 20/21, Exhibition continues through October 28
- Learning Labs: Joan Farley Academy
- Abigail Kokai, visual artist, quilt making
- In Residence: October 31 – December 16, 2011
- Exhibition: opens Thursday, December 15, 2011; continues through January 6, 2012
- Learning Lab: I Have A Dream
- Jessica Kreutter, ceramics, mixed media
- In Residence: January 9 – March 2, 2012
- Exhibition: opens Thursday, March 1; continues through March 16, 2012
- Learning Lab: ArtLab
- Libby Barbee, mixed media, environmental installations
- In Residence: March 12 – May 4, 2012
- Opening Thursday, May 3, 2012; continues through May 25, 2012
- Learning Lab: Colfax Community Network
- Jenna Avriel Rice, photography, installation
- In Residence: June 4 – August 3, 2012
- Exhibition: opens Thursday, August 2, 2012; continues through August 31
- Learning Lab: ArtLab
1610 Little Raven Street
Suite 135
Denver, CO 80202
Mon-Fri: Noon - 4:00 PM or by appointment
303.893.0791
http://www.platteforum.org
Marie Vlasic's "Multi-phase Fine Art Extravaganza"
- Published on April 27, 2011
- Written by Mark Penner-Howell
Painting has had a rough go of it lately for other reasons too. Recently it has had to fend for itself against increasingly immersive and interactive creative practices like performance art, installation-based art, and all manner of multidisciplinary hybrids. Some of my painter friends are content to dismiss the current curatorial appetite for 'installation art' as a mere fad, but I think the challenge it presents to painters is far more substantial. These emerging creative formats invite artists to think of their audience as participants and sometimes even co-creators. At its best, there is something socially collaborative in the experience of this kind of art. And in the age of social networking, art that asks its audience to take part has never been more relevant.
Against this backdrop, it is intriguing that Denver painter Marie Vlasic has managed to find a home for the entirely traditional practice of figurative painting in what is arguably America's most socially experimental, and participatory subculture. Vlasic's latest project will find her at this year's Burning Man festival as both participant and documentarian. She will choose her models from among the community of "Burners" in a selection process we can only imagine as improvisational, given both the free-form Utopian dynamic of the event, and Vlasic's own refined sensibilities as a portrait artist. She intends to photograph her subjects against a white sweep, to isolate them from the overstimulating environment of the festival.
On the surface this could be an entirely practical move for an artist focusing on body image as her primary subject, but it also introduces an element of anthropological curiosity and curatorial editing in a setting that almost seems designed to resist such analysis. At a festival that is all about being swept up in spectacle, Marie Vlasic seems to want to stop time and paint out the background, not out of some need to exercise control, but more to distill her relationship with her subjects in a moment that is utterly disarming and intimate for both model and artist. As Vlasic puts it in her artist statement, "By pushing and pulling the paint, the light and the shadow, I am laying them, and myself, bare on the canvas. It is my attempt to find the humanity, the God-spark, in them, and in me." This emotional daring, this taking part by both the artist and her subject fuels Vlasic's best work, and is a bold example of the practice of painting asserting it's relevance.
Vlasic plans to spend the following year creating mostly life-sized portraits for an exhibit at Walker Fine Art in September of 2012. The opening of this show will come full circle by providing attendees a taste of the Burning Man experience courtesy of fire-twirling members of Denver's own Burning Man community. And if all this weren't enough, the project is also intended to yield a blog, book and documentary video.
It's easy to imagine a project on this scale being hopelessly grounded without some outside help. To that end Marie Vlasic has set up a Kickstarter page to help raise some needed support. To get involved, or to learn more about Vlasic's "Multi-phase Fine Art Extravaganza", visit http://www.kickstarter.com/profile/vlasicstudio. - Mark Penner-Howell
4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks at the Mizel Museum
- Published on February 23, 2011
- Written by Ken Hamel
4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks
Mizel Museum
- Permanent exhibit opening February 2, 2011
Deborah Howard - Portrait Project: Child Survivors of the Holocaust
part of the permanent exhibit "4,000 Year Road Trip: Gathering Sparks" at the Mizel Museum
(from the Mizel website)
The journey has begun! The Mizel Museum’s new permanent exhibit opened February 2 and is receiving rave reviews. It’s a dynamic journey through art, artifacts and installations that illustrate, narrate and celebrate the Jewish journey. Among the exhibit’s many elements are rare objects and artifacts, the work of renowned photographer Zion Ozeri, works of artists from Denver and around the world, installations by local artist Scott Lyon and the Community Narratives Project, a compilation of digital stories that serve as “living objects” in the exhibit.
Mizel Museum
400 S. Kearney St.
Denver, CO 80224
303.394.9993
http://www.mizelmuseum.org
Portrait Project: Child Survivors of the Holocaust
Sparked by a discussion on racial stereotyping and aging in my Figures painting class in 2003, I began developing my project, Portraits of Child Holocaust Survivors. While attending graduate school, I wrestled with the subject of the Holocaust in my art. I finally found a way to deal with a subject of such magnitude through the simplicity of a drawn portrait.
I interviewed twenty- live people in Denver, Chicago and Los Angeles. Finding people to pose can be a challenge; it was especially so in the beginning. I found people by networking through friends, family and colleagues. I also met them in chance encounters, such as at my son's Wednesday night orchestra rehearsals and an antique store. One survivor was selling hot dogs from a cart on the University of Denver campus. Many of the people describe the reasons they survived as chance, fate and luck. I see a parallel in the serendipitous way I find survivors.
As an artist I feel the medium of drawing is ideal. It can be very intimate and can capture the intangible qualities of an individual. A drawing, with all its quirky lines, marks and smudges, is a document not only of the subject, but of the artist as well. The artist becomes a witness, and as the number of survivors dwindles artists can play an important role in the documentation of the Jewish Holocaust.
My goal in this project is to create portraits of people at this moment in time. I am not interested in making them look like victims or heroes. I am interested in capturing their humanity and in depicting very real people who have lived extraordinary lives and also very ordinary lives.
Deborah Howard — Denver CO
Westword Covergirl Dana Cain
- Published on February 16, 2011
- Written by Ken Hamel
Dana Cain - photo by Anthony Camera
"The [Denver] gallery scene has so many really viable art districts, each one cool in its own right, and our co-op scene is absolutely the best in the country. In any other art city, co-ops are looked upon like dirt. But that's how you grow new talent, and we have an amazing band of emerging artists."
Christopher Lavery's Cloudscape
- Published on December 22, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
Christopher Lavery's Cloudscape - photo by Ken Hamel/DenverArts.org
If holiday travels take you towards the airport, keep an eye left (North), about 1/4 mile before the Tower Road exit on Pena Blvd. for Christopher Lavery's wonderful public sculpture "Cloudscape." The work is composed of three corrugated metal, childlike "clouds" perched upon steel towers reminiscent of oil derricks, giving the piece a distinctive Western feel, as told by coloring book. The best time to see the sculpture is without doubt at sunrise/sunset as each cloud's surface is actually translucent plastic illuminated from within, creating a peaceful (solar powered) purple glow. Unfortunately the work is only temporary, billed as being on display for "at least the next year" from the summer 2010 installation.
It's worth noting that the piece was skillfully installed by local sculptor Mike Mancarella's "JunoWorks," the Ironton-based public art fabrication and installation business behind many of Donald Lipski's outdoor works as well as "Jurassic Leaves," the Mark Leese public sculpture at the Louisiana St. light rail station. - KLH
Art District Best of 2010 Winners
- Published on December 08, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
Juror and Westword Visual Arts editor Michael Paglia with event coordinator and Art District board member Dana Cain
Juror’s Choice Awards presented by Michael Paglia:
- Best in Show: Michael McCung, “Gardens,” Space Gallery
- Honorable Mention: Patricia Aaron, Youngstown series, Spark
- Honorable Mention: Jerry Vigil
- Jonathan Lamb & Michael Ortiz, Like Minded Productions “It Smells Like Fireworks”
- Kym Bloom
- Jennifer Garner, CVA
- Rackhouse Pub
- Brianna Martray, “Shadow Happy” CORE New Art Space
- Sandra Kaplan, “I Paint, Therefore I Am,” eventgallery 910 Arts
- Sean Brown, Studio 12
- CORE New Art Space
- “Soaring Voices” ceramics by women of Japan, CVA
- First Friday Art Walk
Jim Green's Talking Fence
- Published on December 08, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
Denver sound artist Jim Green talks about his "Talking Fence" at 16th and Wewatta by Union Station
Public Art at Plus
- Published on November 24, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
Mike Mancarella's "One Way" outside of Plus Gallery - photos by Ken Hamel/DenverArts.org
Click here for some pix...
- Westword: The River North Art District gains a new mascot: A "Rhino" grows in... RiNo
- Denver Office of Cultural Affairs: Joseph Riché - Trade Deficit
Plus+Gallery
2501 Larimer Street
Denver, CO 80202
303.296.0927
Wed-Sat: 10:00-6:00 pm
http://plusgallery.com
Bob Ragland: Non-Starving Artist
- Published on October 31, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
Denver's "Non-Starving Artist" Bob Ragland is now on YouTube
You can also check out his website at http://freewebs.com/bobragland
In Pictures: Denver Modernism Show 2010
- Published on September 01, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
"Best of Show" artists from the Denver Modernism Show juried gallery exhibit (left to right):
Tom Novosad, Kelton Osborn, Juror Leanne Goebel, Rebecca Peebles
Clyfford Still Museum Virtual Walkthrough
- Published on August 25, 2010
- Written by Ken Hamel
If you missed the early August unveiling of the final plans for the currently under construction Clyfford Still Museum, click here for a YouTube virtual walkthrough of the finished product, complete with fictionalized trees that will most likely take 10 years to catch up to the snappy computer realization of the exterior. - KLH
More Articles...
- Homare Ikeda Moves On to the William Havu Gallery
- Denver's C+C Building Factory
- PlatteForum Seeking Volunteers for Here at Home: Six Artists
- Weidenblume at the MOA
- DAM Announces Redesign of American Indian Galleries
- DAM presents Charles Deas and 1840s America
- New Photography Gallery Unveiled at the DAM
- No Public Art for You
- Win a Date with Phil Bender!
