100 Colorado Creatives: Artist and Westword Artopia participant Kym Bloom

#89: Kym Bloom Working with resin, photography, digital mediums and candy, Kym Bloom's work is a striking and unique take on pop art. A member of Zip 37 and co-owner of Kanon Collective, Bloom is also an integral to the creative community as both an artist and a supporter of...

By Bree Davies

February 21, 2013

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

#89: Kym Bloom Working with resin, photography, digital mediums and candy, Kym Bloom's work is a striking and unique take on pop art. A member of Zip 37 and co-owner of Kanon Collective, Bloom is also an integral to the creative community as both an artist and a supporter of others. In advance of her appearance at Westword's Artopia 2013 this Saturday, February 23, we talked with Bloom about her new work and her fascination with North Korea.

Westword: What are you most excited about presenting at Artopia?

Kym Bloom: I have several new sculptural jewelry pieces that I hope to have finished in time for the show this weekend. In addition, I'll have some new candy pieces I've been working on.

Are you working on any project coming up that you're looking forward to sharing with the community?

I'm looking forward to a group show that I'm putting together at Zip 37 in June -- very pop, very fun. More details to come.

If you could collaborate with anyone in history, who would it be, and why?

Easy, Salvador Dali. I can't even imagine how much fun it would be to collaborate with someone so joyously wacky.

Who in the world is interesting to you right now, and why?

Not necessarily one person, but I've become fascinated with North Korea. I've watched every documentary and YouTube video I can find about the country. I can't imagine what it would be like for their citizens to suddenly have access to a world that has been denied to them for so long. It would be interesting to see what would develop, especially artistically, if they were to open up as a country.

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

I don't really follow trends, so I'm cool with everything having its time.

What's your day job?

I work as a graphic/web designer for a local non-profit and try to run my gallery, Kanon, the rest of the time.

A mystery patron offers you unlimited funds for life. What will you do with it?

Buy a huge building and create something like City Museum in St. Louis. I recently discovered that place and was so inspired I almost moved there. Denver definitely needs something that amazing, and I would love to see what the artists here would create given a space like that and the funds to do it.

What's the one thing Denver (or Colorado) could do to help the arts?

Support local artists when the big events -- like Biennials and national conventions -- come to town. You can't say you're an art city and then import artists from every where else in the world besides Denver when you have a big event.

Who is your favorite Colorado Creative?

I love doing projects with Eric Matelski -- he always has a dozen new ideas at any given moment and is completely happy to share them with anyone in the art community. I'll also work on any project that Dana Cain does, because she's a hoot to work with and we have very similar art tastes.

Don't forget to use the hashtag #Artopia to tag your conversations on Twitter and Instagram. To buy tickets to Artopia, visit our Ticketfly site. Use the promo code ARTOPIA to get $5 off!

Follow @WestwordCulture

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Bree Davies is a multimedia journalist, artist advocate and community organizer born and raised in Denver. Rooted in the world of Do-It-Yourself arts and music, Davies co-founded Titwrench experimental music festival, is host of the local music and comedy show Sounds on 29th on CPT12 Colorado Public Television and is creator and host of the civic and social issue-focused podcast, Hello? Denver? Are You Still There? Her work is centered on a passionate advocacy for all ages, accessible, inclusive, non-commercial and autonomous DIY art spaces and music venues in Denver.

Contact: Bree Davies

Follow:

Twitter: @cocodavies