100 Colorado Creatives: Andrew Novick

Andrew Novick is many things, but it all boils down to being an enthusiast of the highest order: for weird food, goth culture, Harajuku style and visual Japanglish, Peeps, Casa Bonita, collecting nearly everything, horror films, lowbrow art, mini-golf, toppings, being this week's Westword cover boy and many more hundreds of things on a list too vast to repeat here in entirety. And he graciously shares all his enthusiasms with the public by throwing what can only be called happenings, thereby making us smile and have fun and want to do it again and again, kind of like sex. Denver's underside is all the better for having someone like Novick around to keep things popping, so here he is, words and all.

See also: 100 Colorado Creatives: Samuel Schimek

My first thought was Nikola Tesla -- his work/inventions with x-rays, electricity and radio were astounding, and his struggles with corporations, government and interest in aliens were interesting too! Since someone has mentioned Tesla in 100CC already, I had better throw in my second thought: Japanese pop artist/designer/director Nagi Noda. Her high-quality and varied creative output is very inspiring, and she died way too young. Noda, Tesla and I could create electricity as clothing, art as food and broadcast weird cuteness worldwide.

I'm still a sucker for Mark Ryden, and I'm loving Megz Majewski, Anathema Photography and almost any other blood-related art I see. Also, Charles Phoenix never ceases to disappoint me with his eye for ephemera and food as art.

What's one art trend you want to see die this year?

I think terms like DIY, handcrafted and artisan are ubiquitous and therefore have become pointless

I'm an electrical engineer, more specifically a metrologist (I measure stuff). I compare atomic clocks at the nanosecond and picosecond levels - sometimes remotely (Tesla would be proud!) It's esoteric yet specific and important, but it's much different than the other things I do, which is also why I find it interesting.

I would start a museum of my collections and a contemporary art museum. I would concoct elaborate local, national and worldwide pranks. I would run temporary theme-restaurant art installations. And last, I would become a mystery patron and grant money to artists and technology projects I think could be great. You said unlimited, right?

Honestly, I think there are so many great programs, promotion and encouragement happening right now, I could only hope for more of the same. Yay, Denver!

I love what Liz Holland is doing -- with cardboard/painting, jewelry and donating part of her art income to a wolf sanctuary. I would be remiss not noting Samuel Schimek and Adam Stone as huge favorites in the creative community.

What's on your agenda in the coming year?

I'll be one of the artists showing at Artopia in on February 22; I'm speaking at the Creative Mornings lecture series in March; and then I'm going to Austin for the SXSW film, music (and food!) fest -- an annual inspiration to me. I'm working on some programs with Denver Film Society/Sie Film Center and Reel Social Club and Stanley Film Fest. I hope to do some more GetYourGoing PowerPoint presentations, Asian pop-culture events, photography art shows, wacky food events, the annual PeepsBQ and, of course, I'm looking forward to another year as one of the directors of Denver County Fair and "Andrew Novick's X-Treme Pancake Breakfast" in August!

Who do you think will get noticed in the local arts community in 2014?

I'm looking forward to seeing more from SLVLC art/music/performance art group with their creative displays of weirdness and puppetry (eg. Robopera). Also, Nate Hayden has been making internationally-acclaimed board games here (eg. Cave Evil, After Pablo, San Quentin Kings) - Denver people should know about this!

Visit I Save Everything online to keep up with Andrew Novick's projects and special events.

To keep up with the Froyd's eye view of arts and culture in Denver, "like" my fan page on Facebook.