Far From a Blank Canvas: Denver's Thriving Public Arts Scene

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VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

May 06, 2011, 12:48 ET

DENVER, May 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- An enormous blue bear; an escalator with the giggles; a wild-eyed mustang; and a life-size horse atop a larger-than-life chair. These are just a few examples of unique works of art, created by renowned local and International artists as part of the Denver Public Arts Program, which now features more than 150 pieces on view throughout the Mile High City.

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A testament to the city's commitment to the arts, the Denver Public Arts Program requires that one percent of any major building project over $1 million be set aside for public art. The artwork collection has no boundaries and ranges from traditional to whimsical, from visual to audio art. A few of the pieces include:

"I See What You Mean" (aka The Big Blue Bear) by Lawrence Argent: One of Denver's most iconic public arts sculptures, the 40-foot tall, blue bear peeks into the Colorado Convention Center in Downtown Denver, and is a popular photo op for visitors.
"Laughing Escalator" by Jim Green: One of the most hilarious pieces of installed artwork is the recorded audio track of people belly-laughing alongside riders on the Colorado Convention Center's escalator.
"Mustang" by Luis Jimenez: A gleaming, 32-foot tall blue mustang greets visitors as they exit (or enter) Denver International Airport. Look for his glowing red eyes, a nod to the artists' youth in his father's neon sign shop.
"The Yearling" by Donald Lipski: A life-size horse perched atop a 21-foot orange chair sits directly in front of the Denver Public Library. Prior to its permanent placement in Denver, the sculpture spent a year in New York City's Central Park.
"Dancers" by Jonathan Borofsky: At a height of 60-feet, these whimsical dancers made of steel and fiberglass welcome theatre-goers to the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Speakers located nearby provide music to the joyful sculptures.

Denver's Artistic Neighborhoods

Denver's creative energy is felt within thriving artist neighborhoods around the city. From First Friday events that allow an unprecedented glimpse of local artists' studios, gallery spaces and creative works in all mediums to large-scale art festivals in the city's bountiful parks, thousands of art enthusiasts are attracted to the Mile High City.

First Fridays Art Walk (year-round): Every first Friday of the month, thousands of art lovers flood into the creative neighborhoods throughout Denver: The Arts District on Santa Fe, Tennyson Street Art District, the Golden Triangle Museum District and River North (RiNo) Art District. Several neighborhoods are also starting second Saturdays, allowing even more opportunity to have access to amazing, local art.
Downtown Denver Arts Festival (May 27-30): Over Memorial Day Weekend, sports enthusiasts can head to Coors Field to catch a Rockies home game, but art lovers will stroll down the 16^th Street Mall for the shops, outdoor cafes and the Downtown Denver Arts Festival for the entire holiday weekend. The Mall will also be jam-packed with musicians on Denver Day of Rock (May 28), with five outdoor stages and over 20 bands performing free concerts.
Denver Chalk Arts Festival (June 4-5): The streets of Larimer Square are transformed into a giant canvas by hundreds of artists, professional, amateur and students alike, who recreate masterpieces and original works with vivid pastel chalk on the city sidewalks.
Cherry Creek Arts Festival (July 2-4): During the Fourth of July weekend, Denver's Cherry Creek Shopping District hosts one of the largest fine arts and crafts exhibitions in the nation. The arts festival draws more than 350,000 people each year.
Denver Arts Week (Nov. 4-12): From performing to visual, Denver celebrates the arts through a week of festivities in November which includes the Starz Denver Film Festival, Night at the Museums and artist neighborhood tours and gallery showings.

Visitors can find a "Downtown Public Art Walking Tour" itinerary and detailed information about other art events on the VISIT DENVER website.

About VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau

Celebrating more than 100 years of promoting the Mile High City, VISIT DENVER is a nonprofit trade association that contracts with the City of Denver to market Denver as a convention and leisure destination, increasing economic development in the city, creating jobs and generating taxes. Tourism is the second largest industry in Denver, generating $2.8 billion in annual spending in 2009, while supporting nearly 50,000 jobs. Learn more about Denver at VISITDENVER.com, on Twitter @VisitDenver and Facebook.com/VisitDenver, or by phone at 800 2 DENVER.

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Rich Grant – (303) 571-9450 or [email protected]
Deborah Park – (303) 571-9451 or [email protected]
Katie Adamson – (303) 571-9418 or [email protected]

SOURCE VISIT DENVER, The Convention & Visitors Bureau