Another Victory Over the Sun. For this group show, all of the exterior light sources at MCA Denver have been covered over so that the interior is essentially dark. Organized by director Adam Lerner and assistant curator Nora Burnett Abrams, Another Victory is made up of art that's meant to envelop the viewer, like the projected light of the Dan Flavin sculpture at the entry. Among the standouts is "Between the Moon and the Sea," by Spencer Finch, a room-sized installation about the Japanese practice of gazing at the moon through its reflection in water; it's been carried out as though it were a cross between the sensibilities of Hokusai and Home Depot. Scott Johnson's "Streambed" has a floor made of poured clay that has been allowed to crack as it dried, surrounded by walls made of sheets of mirrored glass. The contrast between the naturalistically set clay and the crisp straight lines of the mirrors is fabulous. Among the several different high-tech pieces by David Zimmer is "Chorus," a tour de force of thirteen apothecary jars on wall brackets with screens inside on which birds appear and disappear. Through August 21 at MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany Street, 303-298-7554, www.mcadenver.org. Reviewed August 4.
Joseph Coniff. This smart and at times extremely funny show, titled Joseph Coniff: This Is What It's Like, highlights the efforts of an emerging conceptual artist. Coniff, who studied at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, where he was a protegé of Clark "Drop City" Richert's, is just the latest in an army of RMCAD-ettes who have changed the face of Denver art over the past decade and a half. For this show, Coniff riffs off art history and general history while lampooning new media by using it. In "Listen," a white square with a set of earphones hanging off it, the subject is John Cage. The earphones don't convey any sound, however, making it a witty inside joke about the vanguard composer who once created a silent concert. In "Alarm," a button could be expected to activate a loud noise, but push it, and nothing happens. It's brilliant. There are also several digitally altered photos in which the details have been reduced to a series of squares. Then there's the video about painting a monochrome panel, paired with the painting itself. The show is a spectacular debut for a young artist. Through September 3 at Rule Gallery, 3340 Walnut Street, 303-777-9473, www.rulegallery.com.
Marvelous Mud. This homegrown blockbuster is not a single show but rather eight different ones, all about clay. In the Ponti tower are Potters of Precision: The Coors Porcelain Company; Nampeyo: Excellence by Name; Mud to Masterpiece: Mexican Colonial Ceramics; Blue and White: A Ceramic Journey; and Dirty Pictures, made up of photos that include all kinds of soils. Over in the Hamilton, there's Marajó: Ancient Ceramics at the Mouth of the Amazon; Overthrown: Clay Without Limits; and Focus: Earth & Fire. Through September 18 at the Denver Art Museum, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, 720-865-5000, www.denverartmuseum.org. Reviewed July 21.
Ted Larsen and New Work. Ted Larsen, who works in New Mexico, is a modernist formalist — but with a twist. Though geometric abstraction is clearly a key part of his aesthetic, the results are post-minimal rather than minimal. That's because he uses found materials — in particular, sheets of metal — so he also embraces the arte povera approach, which he labels in his artist's statement as "bricolage," or using whatever's available. Despite all the issues Larsen's pieces raise, his work fits comfortably into the hard-edged scene in New Mexico and Colorado. The Larsen show establishes the character of New Work, the group exhibit that occupies the rest of the many spaces at Robischon. Though there are internationally known art stars here (notably, Judy Pfaff and Jessica Stockholder), there is also a big contingent of Colorado artists who undeniably hold their own with the big-timers. The locals include John McEnroe, Derrick Velasquez, Wendi Harford, Terry Maker and Linda Fleming. Through August 20 at Robischon Gallery, 1740 Wazee Street, 303-298-7788, www.robischongallery.com. Reviewed July 7.
Toy Stories. Bill Havu has put together a fun-loving summer show that looks at paintings and sculptures that refer in some way to kids' toys. The exhibit is dominated by California artists such as Phillip Maberry and Scott Walker, who, working together, have produced Murakami-esque sculptures that look like cheap inflatable beach toys but are actually ceramics. Michael Brennan, Michael Stevens, Frances Lerner and, in a separate solo on the mezzanine, Ann Weber all hail from the Golden State. A couple of artists, namely Laurel Swab and Esteban Blanco, come from other spots around the country. Swab, a super-realist represented by a suite of small dark paintings depicting enigmatic objects, is based in Colorado. Blanco, who lives in Florida, is a sculptor, and his pieces also have an enigmatic quality. There are examples of two distinct series, one dealing with toy warships, the other the elaborate torture of Barbie dolls. Both things — directing toy boats and damaging dolls — have long been popular diversions for little boys. Through September 3 at the William Havu Gallery, 1040 Cherokee Street, 303-893-2360, www.williamhavugallery.com.
What Is Modern? Department of Architecture, Design and Graphics curator Darrin Alfred has put together this large show dedicated to furniture and decor from the early nineteenth to the early 21st century. Alfred has included groundbreaking tables, storage units, lighting and — no surprise here, considering Alfred's specialty — graphics. Laudably, Alfred takes a chronological look at how technological advancements informed the development of modernism, starting with a bentwood chair from 1808 by Samuel Gragg. Its overall form is very sleek, with a gracefully curving back, but the details are very different, being almost precious, like the little hooves that mark the termination of the legs. One of the newest pieces in the show is "Roadrunner," a chair from 2006 by Colorado's own David Larabee and Dexter Thornton working together as DoubleButter. Made of a cheap synthetic, the chair is nonetheless elegant. In between the two chairs, Alfred has installed a wide assortment of classics from the annals of modernism. Through November 30 at the Denver Art Museum, 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway, 720-865-5000, www.denverartmuseum.org. Reviewed December 23.
