Be sure to visit the Orchid Showcase at the Denver Botanic Gardens this month. Take a break from winter and enjoy these beautiful flowers!

This showcase occurs each year and you can see the many colors of orchids until February 19.

In addition to seeing the orchids, there are three art exhibits in the Freyer-Newman Building. 

Plan your visit and enjoy a respite from winter!

 

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Be sure to visit the National Western Stock Show in Denver this January 6-21! The Stock Show is a big deal for Denver every January! Go see what all the fuss is about!

Coors Western Art Exhibit and Sale is not to be missed. You can see this fabulous collection of art on the third floor of the exhibit halls, which is included in your admission. 

You may have missed the Stock Show Kick Off Parade, but you can see plenty of animals, shows, rodeo events, and exhibits that are fun for the whole family!

Check the schedule and make your plans! 

 

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The 2023 Chalk Art Festival occurred the weekend of June 10-11. The festival started in 2003 on the streets of Larimer Square. This year it was in the streets of the Golden Triangle near Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art and the Denver Art Museum.

The Denver Chalk Art Festival has collaborated with CherryArts, which strives to provide access to art experiences and supports arts education in Colorado. The artists are a mixture of those who have been crafting chalk art for decades and new artists.

This year, visitors were able to enjoy strolling the streets watching the artists create beautiful pieces while also grabbing a meal from a food truck or listening to live music. Then the rain came on Sunday afternoon and washed it all away. Such is the risk of chalk art and Colorado weather!

 

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A winter visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens lifts the spirits when the weather is cold. You may only think of visiting the gardens when flowers are blooming outside, but there is much to experience during the dormant winter months of the year.

The Boettcher Memorial Tropic Conservatory is an oasis of warm, green life amidst the outside snow and cold temperatures. Stroll the pathways and soak in the smells and different foliage. Ask for a guided tour and learn about interesting plants that you might otherwise overlook.

The Freyer-Newman Center has temporary art exhibitions that are part of your admission and not to be missed. Free guided tours are also available to learn more about the exhibits, or just wander through on your own.

If it isn’t too cold, walking through the outdoor gardens is lovely. Beauty is to be found in all seasons. Several onsite cafes offer coffee and snacks if you wish to extend your visit time.

 

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The Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art is celebrating their 20th anniversary with a temporary exhibition entitled Vance Kirkland’s Cosmos, which is available to view through May 28, 2023.

Vance Kirkland (1904-1981) is the namesake for the museum, but this is the first focused exhibition of Kirkland’s work and is well worth seeing.

Many people may know Kirkland for his vibrant Dot Paintings. His art began to explore outer space in 1954 and continued until his death in 1981. His imagination created several series depicting the evolution and expansion of the outer universe and his own personal universe.

In 1977, Vance Kirkland commented, “…I am trying to paint something I do not know exists in a tangible way…if I am looking at space, who is going to say that it never existed? It has existed in my mind.” 

The exhibition is co-curated by Founding Director and Curator Hugh Grant and Deputy Curator Christopher Herron. It includes some of the artist’s impressive large-scale paintings, seldom seen on public display and features a newly-named series of paintings done in the last years of his life—Energy of Forms in Space.

 

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The exhibit and sale are a joint inspiration of Coors Brewing Company and the National Western Stock Show. The social group, Young Guns of the National Western Stock Show, promotes art, philanthropy, Western culture, and networking for young professionals. The Young Guns and Coors Western Art combine to support the National Western Scholarship Trust, which helps 100 students each year as they study agriculture, rural medicine, and veterinary sciences. Art sales will benefit this scholarship trust.

Be sure to stop by this impressive collection of Western art. The exhibit can only be viewed during the 16-day National Western Stock Show January 7-22. Located on the 3rd level of the Expo Hall at the National Western Complex, the art gallery is open 9am to 9pm Friday and Saturday, 9am to 8pm Sunday thru Thursday. There is no extra fee to get into the art gallery, but there is a grounds admission charge for the Stock Show which is different every day. For ticket prices, go to www.nationalwestern.com. 

The 2023 Second Edition of Essential Denver includes Coors Western Art on page 90. Be sure to purchase your book for more details and additional museums and galleries.

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The viewers have the opportunity to understand the society and culture of the times and perhaps see some parallels to our world today. I was particularly mesmerized by scenes of humans behaving foolishly in a piece by Frans Verbeeck entitled, The Mocking of Human Follies.

I allowed 90-minutes to appreciate a slow meander through the rooms playing the audio provided and retraced my steps several times to see favorite pieces again. This ticketed exhibition ends on January 22, 2023.

When I went to see it, I reserved a spot in the morning. I secured a lunch reservation at The Ponti to enjoy afterwards. Being refreshed with a delicious lunch, I then spent time in the Martin Building viewing a few floors of interest before calling it a day. Parking tip: meters are free on Sunday, but the parking garage is handy for those wishing to park in close proximity to the entrance.

For more information, visit denverartmuseum.org.

The 2023 Second Edition of Essential Denver features the Denver Art Museum on pages 81-82.
Purchase your copy of the book for further details and additional museums.

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