Best career-establishing show

Since graduating from art school five years ago, sculptor Bryan Andrews had been trying to break into the big leagues of Denver art -- and failing. Then everything came together for him, including a chance for a solo outing at the prestigious Artyard, the city's most respected sculpture gallery. Andrews seized the opportunity by filling the show, titled Dopplegangers, with the best work he had ever done. Most of the pieces were made of wood, some of it blackened by having been set on fire. The work had a distinctive style that seemed to combine one part Ancient Norse funereal artifact, one part New York School sculpture and one part biker chainsaw tree carving. After Dopplegangers, Andrews -- previously known to only a few -- became a well-known player in the game we call the local art scene.