Audio By Carbonatix
“Where Art Is Made.” That slogan really sets the River North Art District, aka RiNo, apart from the rest of Denver’s arts communities. A true working-artist conclave, the once-quiet warehouse district northeast of downtown Denver is home to a burgeoning populace of artists who live, work and exhibit within the neighborhood’s one-mile radius — and occasionally open their studios for public tours. And as noted by grand old RiNo Tracy Weil — whose Weilworks gallery has now been open at 3611 Chestnut Place for five years — the tour stops have grown from twenty to about fifty since the district’s inception a year ago.
“It’s an adventure,” Weil says of the growing popularity of RiNo tours. “People love seeing the process of how things are made. And who knew so much activity was happening here?”
Find out for yourself and help celebrate RiNo’s First Birthday this weekend, when Weil and friends host a two-day bash that includes everything from loft tours to glass-blowing and blacksmithing demonstrations. Visit participating sites tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; two shuttle buses, manned by local artists/tour guides Phil Bender and Bill Amundson, will be available on Saturday at Fire Clay Lofts, 3149 Blake Street.
The festivities wrap up tomorrow with a 4:30 p.m. after-party at Ironton Studios & Gallery, 3636 Chestnut Street, complete with a full-scale iron pour, Wall of Wine raffle and unique RiNo birthday cake: “We’re guess-timating that it will take 221 cupcakes to make the RiNo cake,” Weil teases. Mmmm. For details and a map, go to www.rivernorthart.com.
Fri., Jan. 26, 6-9 p.m.; Sat., Jan. 27, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
