Hosted at Prism Workspaces, the Holiday Fine Art Bazaar is a two-day shopping experience to meet some of Denver’s top fine artists and emerging creatives. Featuring original art work, apparel, accessories, stationery, jewelry, glass, sculpture and more, you’ll be sure to find one-of-a-kind pieces for your friends and family this year that will keep giving year after year.
Five artists - Carlos Frésquez, Kelly Monico, Stuart Semple, Joel Swanson and Frankie Toan – will transform Downtown Denver alleyways into site-specific, sculptural art installations
With a goal of surprising, delighting and inspiring those who experience the alleyways, “Between Us” is closely aligned with Happy City Denver, the program that launched in May
On Friday, June 15, the Downtown Denver Partnership and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with The Denver Theatre District and Black Cube and with funding from Bonfils-Stanton Foundation, will launch “Between Us: The Downtown Denver Alleyways Project,” to bring additional art to Downtown Denver’s most underutilized public spaces: alleys.
The public is invited to the launch event on Friday, June 15 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will begin in the alley between Larimer Street and Market Street off of 15th Street and tour the five alleys, with artist talks at each, led by the Montbello Drumline and ending with a reception at the Skyline Beer Garden at 6 p.m.
“The Downtown Denver Partnership and the BID are committed to creating vibrant and memorable experiences for everyone who visits, works and lives in Downtown Denver and have been focused on alley improvement for some time,” says Tami Door, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “This investment in our downtown alleys provides the perfect opportunity to activate our alleys through art, encouraging people to spend time in these underutilized spaces, ultimately creating safe, welcoming and ‘selfie’-worthy places.”
Artists / Installations / Locations:
Carlos Frésquez / “Alley Freshener” / Between Stout & California Streets (southwest side)
Kelly Monico / “Alley Cats” / Between 14th and 15th Streets, Larimer and Market Streets
Stuart Semple / “I should be crying but I can’t let it show” / Between Champa & Stout Streets (northeast side)
Joel Swanson / “Y/OURS” / Between Curtis & Champa Streets (southwest side)
Frankie Toan / “Public Bodies” / Between Stout & California Streets (northeast side)
“Between Us: The Downtown Denver Alleyways Project” will launch in conjunction with “Happy City: Art for the People,” a six-week (May 18-June 30) citywide art intervention with the purpose of breaking down personal, emotional and social barriers, while nurturing individual and collective well-being. Initiated by British artist Stuart Semple, the project brings together more than 10 artists’ perspectives that address ideas of happiness and community wellness, in an effort to imagine a more connected society.
“By reimagining alleyways, ordinarily neglected civic spaces, ‘Between Us’ nurtures a transcontinental dialogue around the ideals of social trust and human connection,” said David Ehrlich, The Denver Theatre District executive director. “We are thrilled to have the chance to partner with the Downtown Denver Partnership and are grateful to the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District and the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation for funding to support this important initiative.”
About Black Cube
Black Cube is a nonprofit, experimental art museum that operates nomadically. Without the traditional boundaries of a physical building, Black Cube exists primarily through partnering with artist fellows to commission popup art experiences. Black Cube describes itself as an unconventional museum pursuing the most effective ways to engage audiences while supporting individual artists with critical professional guidance. For more information, visit http://blackcube.art
First Friday at the Art District on Santa Fe