Best New Public Art 2008 | "Mustang," by Luis JimenezDenver International Airport | Best of Denver® | Best Restaurants, Bars, Clubs, Music and Stores in Denver | Westword
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Best New Public Art

"Mustang," by Luis Jimenez
Denver International Airport

Even though it's been widely ridiculed — and hated — it's hard to deny the power of Luis Jimenez's "Mustang" on the approach to Jeppesen Terminal at DIA. The 32-foot-high outdoor piece is a perfect example of the artist's sensibility, bridging the gap between the high art of classic Western imagery and the low brow of the carnival's garishly painted fiberglass ornaments. The gigantic rearing stallion, with its luridly blue coat, bulging black veins and glowing reddish-orange eyes, is pointedly disturbing, and the story of its creation matches that mood. Thirteen years overdue when it was delivered in February, "Mustang" was also over budget and the subject of lawsuits between Denver and Jimenez. And in June 2006, a piece of the sculpture fell on the artist and killed him. Nonetheless, Jimenez's final work may have been his best.

Best New Public Art — South

"Continuum," by William Burgess
Colorado Springs

Like many cities, Colorado Springs has a vacated railyard next to its downtown. Since it's small and in Monument Creek's floodplain, however, the city decided to turn it into America the Beautiful Park instead of developing it and to anchor the park with the stunning modernist sculpture "Continuum — the Julie Penrose Fountain," by renowned sculptor William Burgess. Set in an elaborate group of pools designed by architect David Barber, the open loop of steel lined with hundreds of water jets is about four stories tall. And if the cascading water and gigantic size aren't enough to inspire notice, the sculpture is on a rotating turntable. In good weather, the place teems with kids; surely, it's one of the best ways to spend an afternoon in the Springs.

Best New Public Art — Suburbs

"Ghost Trolley," by Lawrence Argent
Aurora

Old downtown Aurora has seen better days, and the city's leaders have attempted to turn that fact around in any number of ways, one of which is the installation of public art in the area. Among the several commissions completed in the last year or so is "Ghost Trolley," by Lawrence Argent, which sits in the center island across from the Martin Luther King Library. The sculpture, executed in translucent plastic, is a flattened, three-dimensional image of a trolley appropriated from a historic photo taken when these quaint streetcars ran up and down Colfax Avenue. The context combines the best of the past and present.

Best New Theater Space

Crossroads Theater at Five Points

Kurt Lewis opened this small, comfortable performing space with Bold Girls, a fine play about Ireland's Troubles directed by Anthony Powell. Now Paragon Theatre has made the place its permanent home. A welcome addition to Five Points, a historic part of Denver, the theater will also be used for music, poetry readings and classes. Everyone knows that crossroads are magical places, and Lewis intends to create a vibrant center here, featuring a fertile fusion of cultures and art forms.

Best New Venue

The Falcon

Cassandra Kotnik
When he bought the nearby Sport Bowl Lanes & Billiards, Gothic Theatre owner Steve Schalk wanted to turn the spot into a live music/bowling center with a sci-fi theme, and even thought about having the Millennium Falcon crashing into the front of the place. While he didn't end up going quite that far, the iconic Star Wars spacecraft became the inspiration for this spot, and space-themed murals lining one of the walls do give it the look of a spaceship. The venue itself is out of this world: One side is a live-music club that brings in local and national acts and features a state-of-the-art sound system (it had to live up to the Gothic's standards, after all), while the other side houses the bowling alley, pinball machines and pool tables.

Best Non-Conventional Venue

Brooks Center Arts

Since it opened in the lower level of a large church complex, Brooks Center Arts has become a haven for some of the town's less volume-driven acts looking for a place other than a bar to share their music. The venue, organized primarily by filmmaker/songwriter Laura Goldhamer, is like someone's large living room, complete with tea and other goodies sold at a discount in the back and a true all-ages policy throughout. Which means that people of all persuasions, and all ages, can come here for a special evening of music and art.

Best On-Again, Off-Again Band

Drag the River

Does Drag the River still exist — and if so, in what form? That's a difficult question to answer. The band allegedly broke up in 2007, only to reunite in order to promote You Can't Live This Way, a first-rate CD issued by the Suburban Home imprint. Afterward, the players drifted back into the shadows, but a bio included on the outfit's still-active MySpace page concludes with the phrase "It never ends." That's good news, if true. If not, it's a real Drag.

Best One-Man Avant-Pop Act

Dugout Canoe

The one-man band is not a new thing. Not even in Denver. Reverend Dead Eye was once, and is again, a one-man band providing percussion, guitar, harmonica, guitar and vocals. Rather than inspired gospel blues, however, Dugout Canoe produces a rougher, much more experimental indie pop that defies easy categorization, since it incorporates elements of drone and folk as well as collage sound. This one-of-a-kind one-man band doesn't really fit into any scene and plays only warehouse spaces and house shows, but he's clearly a leading light showing the way to something new.

Best One-Man Grunge Covers Show

Littles Paia Rhinoceropolis June 22, 2007

Littles Paia is known for his always-fascinating blend of folk and psychedelia — so it came as a surprise when he announced that at his show last summer at Rhinoceropolis, he would cover Nevermind in its entirety. Turns out Littles Paia (actually Adam Baumgartner, also of Bad Weather California and Navy Girls) grew up listening to early-'90s alt-rock and long ago taught himself every song from Nirvana's commercial breakthrough. Donning a headlight to trip his wah pedal, he ripped through the classic record in under half an hour. Was it a per-note-perfect performance? No, but it perfectly captured the unfiltered, splintery spirit of Nirvana.

Best One-Off That Deserves to Become a Permanent Fixture

Stand By Your Band

What if members of Born in the Flood joined forces with musicians from Hot IQs and other local bands to interpret the classic soundtrack from Chariots of Fire? The result would be incredible. We know, because we've seen it happen. The premise of Stand By Your Band — randomly mixing up members of Denver's best local acts into new, temporary "supergroups" — is intriguing, and the results are often brilliant, as the ephemeral collaborations interpret their favorite songs in ways alternately hilarious and heartfelt. Side projects and guest slots are always a good way to spark inspiration, and the lighthearted, circle-of-friends vibe of this event makes it a low-risk, high-reward effort for bands and fans alike.

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