Catch a fresh show or revisit an old one for new insights; celebrate Andy Warhol or traditional hand-carved religious works by santeros in Colorado and New Mexico; exchange an artful gift or learn new techniques from a Denver legend. You can do all this and more this weekend — all you have to do is follow our directions.
Santos 2018
O’Sullivan Art Gallery, O’Sullivan Arts Center, Regis University, 3333 Regis Boulevard
October 30 through December 7
(Closed November 21 to 23 for Thanksgiving)
Gallery Talk by Teresa May Duran: Thursday, November 8, 7 p.m.
Santos Market: Saturday, December 8, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Regis University’s extensive Santo collection, a priceless trove of nearly 1,000 hand-carved devotional retablos and bultos indigenous to the centuries-old communities of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado, lends credence and respect to one of the oldest traditions in regional history. Accordingly, Regis’s O’Sullivan Gallery periodically keeps up with the genre in contemporary times, by showcasing working santeros carving works both traditional and updated in style. The who’s who of modern santeros and santeras opened earlier this month at the gallery, which hosts a gallery talk by artist and fifth-generation Coloradan Teresa May Duran on Thursday and tops off the show on December 8 with a Santos Market supporting living artists.
Sarah Winkler, Exploration, A Survey of Recent Paintings
Denver Place, 999 18th Street
Through December 1
Artist Reception and Talk: Thursday, November 8, 5 to 7 p.m.
On the heels of her solo last summer, abstracted-landscape artist Sarah Winkler will have a pop-up at the downtown Denver mixed-use space Denver Place hosted by K Contemporary, her representing local gallery. Come to the reception for the art, viewed in a corporate/living-room setting and stay for an artist talk with Winkler, moderated by art writer Kapi Monoyios of Scientific American.
Max Kauffman, Passages
Zuni 49 Studios, 4890 Zuni Street
November 9 through 30
Opening Reception: Friday, November 9, 7 to 10 p.m.
Sometimes Coloradan Max Kauffman settles down long enough to deck some Denver walls with murals and build an extensive new body of paintings and sculpture. As his first solo in four years, Passages is an unfolding tale of artistic evolution and a close look at his graphic/impressionistic paintings, which resemble a visual diary of fleeting thoughts and moments.
Natural Occurrences
Walker Fine Art, 300 West 11th Avenue
November 9 through January 5
Opening Reception: Friday, November 9, 5 to 9 p.m.
Bobbi Walker ends 2018 with a lineup of gallery artists concerned with our place in the natural world, enveloping the gallery with momentary shadows and beams of light, flashes of color and impressions of walking in a forest, a meadow or under the sea. As is often the case at Walker Fine Art, it’s a contemplative show to view and reflect on, this one through the solstice and holiday season.
Closing Party for BagBaySha’s Memories of Earth
Leon Gallery, 1112 East 17th Avenue
Friday, November 9, 6 to 10 p.m.
Chris Bagley, Koko Bayer and Thomas Scharfenberg, the artist trio behind Memories of Earth, an immersive installation that’s been on view at Leon Gallery, invite you to see out the show with the kind of communal memory exchange that ought to become a holiday tradition in these stressful times. Bring an object that interests you or stirs a memory to exchange and pick up a BagBaySha sticker while you’re there (limited availability).
Collage Pop-Up Workshop with Phil Bender
Foolproof Contemporary Art, 3240 Larimer Street
Friday, November 9, 6 to 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 10, noon to 4 p.m.
The one and only Phil Bender, Pirate co-op co-founder and “Famous Artist,” will shed some light on his tried-and-true art processes this weekend with some pop-up demo and instruction at Foolproof, where founder Laura Phelps Rogers is experimenting with a new gallery model that includes just this sort of activity. Yak and learn with Phil, but also take some time to view Foolproof’s current group show Spellbound, which runs through November 24. What else is new at the gallery? Member and ceramic artist Jean Smith is in residence on Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 5:30 p.m., through November 16, ready for questions about her works-in-progress.
Cabal Reunion Show
Cabal Gallery, 1875 South Broadway
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 10, 6 to 10 p.m.
Most of the rowdy bunch who first ganged up together to open Cabal Gallery four years ago might have drifted away from the co-op-style DIY and art haven over the years, but a few stalwarts from the early days will be back this Saturday for a reunion to celebrate the gallery’s recent near-death experience and last-minute decision to keep it going. Join Jim Norris, Jesse Frazier (aka Faim Worldwide), Vincent Cheap, Mar Williams, Joshua Finley and some surprise special guests for the reception, which will also feature live music by the nerd/punk duo Gort vs Goom.
Digital Symbols With Michael Sperandeo
ReCreative Denver, 765 Santa Fe Drive
Saturday, November 10, 1 to 3 p.m.
$20
In conjunction with the Self art exhibit now showing at ReCreative Denver, participating artist Michael Sperandeo will give an interactive talk on the changing role of symbols in digital artwork. Admission is $20 at the door or in advance online at recreativedenver.org.
Sábado Warhol
Gregory Allicar Museum of Art at Colorado State University, 1400 Remington Street, Fort Collins
Saturday, November 10, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free
Andy Warhol had a connection with Colorado, especially in Fort Collins, where his 1981 visit to the Colorado State University campus and gift of three signed monumental Campbell’s soup cans left a lasting impression among then-young artists still working in the state today, including photographers John Bonath and Mark Sink. CSU’s Gregory Allicar Museum of Art will bring back memories this weekend by hosting Sábado Warhol, a full day of Warhol-related activities, showcasing a one-day exhibition of Warhol works from the museum collection, interspersed with screenings of the film Warhol at CSU, exhibit tours, a selfie station and more. See a complete schedule at the museum website.
Bad Art Night: Because It's In There Waiting to Get Out
Converge Denver, 3327 Brighton Boulevard
Saturday, November 10, 7 to 9 p.m.
Registration required in advance at denverlibrary.org.
Art isn’t for everyone. Just as some dancers have two left feet, some of us simply haven’t graduated from stick figures and coloring books. But that’s okay! Converge Denver and the Denver Public Library are joining forces to make you feel comfortable about being a bad artist, surrounded by others of your kind. In this case, you’ll be tasked with the goal of creating the ugliest artwork you can come up with in hopes of grabbing a prize. All supplies are provided; registration is required in advance (see link above).
Interested in having your event appear in this calendar? Send the details to [email protected]. For more art events this weekend, see our 21 Best Things to Do in Denver.