Denizens of the art world in Denver have come to expect a raft of diversions on the first Friday of every month. But having so much going on has led some art-world players to switch their events to the last Friday of the month instead -- which, as it happens is tonight, July 25. As a result, there’s a bunch of stuff happening around the area. Preview three of the most interesting below.
One major event every final Friday is a multi-media production at the Denver Art Museum. This month, it’s called Untitled #17 (Dig), and the theme is the natural environment, which makes a lot of sense considering that Landscapes from the Age of Impressionism is on view (Monet’s “The Islets of Port-Villez” pictured above). But there’s lots more to it than that. The event from 6 to 10 p.m. is free with general museum admission. Click here for all the details.
There’s also something going on across town tonight at the Museum of Contemporary Art/Denver. The New Media Gallery presents the opening of Omer Fast’s De Grote Boodschap (The Great Message), an HD video loop that tells a complicated story set in Belgium involving a huge cast of characters who are defined by their memories and by popular culture. The festivities run from 6 to 10 p.m. and like the DAM party, it’s free with museum admission. Learn more here.
Over on the Santa Fe art strip, Spark Gallery, the city’s oldest artist co-op, is hosting a reception for two solo shows, each devoted to a well-established Denver artist. One is Roland Bernier, who continues his exploration of words as art, and the other is Madeline Dodge, who is doing paintings on steel panels that are not always flat. The paired celebrations inaugurating the two shows start at 6 p.m. and continue until 9 p.m. Find additional information here.
Traditionally the summer has been the silly season for art, with little or nothing going on. But the city’s culture boom has changed all of that and now there’s plenty of art-friendly events all year long -- even on the last Friday of July. -- Michael Paglia
