Exploring Colorado's Art and Culture
Contact: Roland Alonzi / 212-219-7560, ext. 6765, ralonzi@mmgmardiks.com
Caitlin Sullivan / 970-372-6571, csullivan@mmgmardiks.com
From World-Renowned Institutions to Small Town Festivals, Colorado’s Art Scene and Cultural Attractions are as Vast and Vibrant as the State Itself.
DENVER, Colo. (July 21, 2008) – Colorado has a cultural vibe all its own. From an outstanding collection of nationally acclaimed art museums and performance halls, to touted food, film and music festivals and one-of-a-kind historic celebrations and venues, Colorado’s art scene and cultural attractions provide visitors with a multitude of experiences. Below are just a few events, exhibits, attractions, performance spaces and communities sure to inspire visitors on their Colorado vacation.
A Medley of Museums
In Colorado’s museums, art is housed within art. The Denver Art Museum’s 146,000-square-foot Frederic C. Hamilton wing, designed by celebrated architect Daniel Liebskind, houses an outstanding collection of contemporary fine art, American western art and African art. This new space has received acclaim from top architectural and design publications across the world. The Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver is also making a splash on the national art stage with its new home, designed by leading architect Daniel Adjaye. The MCA offers contemporary art enthusiasts an innovative forum for creating and understanding modern art with rotating galleries that showcase the works of top Colorado, national and international artists.
Head south from Denver to Colorado Springs and experience the Fine Arts Center which features works by famed artists such as Georgia O’Keefe and Galo Galecio. FAC Modern, The Fine Arts Center’s satellite venue downtown, includes pieces from renowned glass sculptor Dale Chihuly and original pieces from Pablo Picasso.
The Aspen Art Museum is a globally preeminent non-collecting institution that presents the newest, most important evolutions in international contemporary art. The Kirkland Museum in Denver houses a nationally acclaimed collection of 20th century decorative art. The Smithsonian Institution has created an extensive Paleo-Indian exhibit at the Wray Museum in northeast Colorado, and is one of the only permanent Smithsonian exhibits outside of Washington D.C.
Art in Unexpected Places
Colorado is chalked full of artist communities, including some very exciting, lesser known towns. Loveland, which is located about one hour north of Denver, is home to the state’s first Art in Public Places program, which today, has turned into a collection valued at several million dollars. Loveland has an abundance of foundries supporting artists working in bronze and realist sculpture, among others. In Delta County, Paonia has emerged as a great place for the performing arts and music. The Blue Sage Center for the Arts provides a visual arts exhibition space, a performance hall, a dance studio and a theatre to artists of all kinds from across the region and across the country. In recent years, Salida has developed a healthy gallery scene. Its downtown area offers a wealth of fine crafts and galleries diverse enough to support everything from contemporary painting to realist bronze sculpture. The Steamboat Springs Art Depot is the heart of this community’s arts scene. It includes the Baggage Room performance space, the Eleanor Bliss Center for the Arts and the Small Works Gallery. The town’s ArtThursdays links together nearly three dozen downtown alternative exhibition and studio sites with music performances.
A Celebration of Cultures in Colorado
Visitors can celebrate Colorado’s heritage in a variety of ways. The state’s Latino/Hispanic culture is brought to life at the Mueso de las Américas located in Denver’s distinctive Santa Fe Arts District, and through the savory dishes served at events such as the Pueblo Chile & Frijoles Festival held each September.
The state’s American Indian heritage can be found in the many pow wows that occur throughout the year. Enjoy the intricate details of Ute Indian art and dance at the Council Tree Pow Wow in Delta. Or, experience the Denver March Pow Wow, which features some of the finest American Indian singing and dancing in the country along with over 170 arts and crafts booths. The Tesoro Foundation’s annual Indian Market and Pow Wow in Morrison, should not be missed. It is a celebration of authentic American Indian culture, art and dance and also includes a juried art show, art market and competition pow wow. The Koshare Indian Museum in La Junta houses a collection of American Indian art and artifacts and offers an exciting educational youth program that focuses on American Indian culture. A visit to the Anazazi Heritage Center in Cortez reveals exhibits on archeology and the local heritage and culture of the Ancestral Puebloans.
Estes Park gives a nod to the area’s strong Scottish and Irish roots with the annual Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival. The celebration includes pipe band performances, traditional costumes and dance.
Explore Colorado’s Old West heritage at a number of enticing venues throughout the state. The Black American West Museum & Heritage center in Denver pays tribute to the pioneering black cowboys that helped to settle the area through art, letters, rare photographs and artifacts. And, the Old Town Museum in Burlington takes visitors back to the Wild West with tours of this Old West settlement-- complete with horse-drawn wagons, old-time newspaper demonstrations and gun fights.
High Altitude Performances
Theatre and dance thrive in Colorado. Denver boasts the region’s largest resident professional theatre company, the Denver Center Theatre Company, which performs throughout the year at the celebrated Denver Center for Performing Arts. Proclaimed as one of the "10 best places to see the lights off Broadway" by USA Today, the Creede Repertory Theater in Creede presents a variety of performances throughout the summer and fall. The Colorado Shakespeare Festival, which is among the country's most distinguished festivals of this genre, annually showcases the best of classical theatre each summer from mid-June to mid-August at the base of Colorado’s Flatirons in Boulder.
The Colorado Ballet celebrates its 47th season in 2008, bringing outstanding classical ballet performances to the state. The Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet is nationally renowned as an eclectic, innovative dance company featuring the world’s most notable choreographers. And, amid the splendor of the Colorado Rockies, the Vail International Dance Festival is heralded as one of the world’s most treasured summer dance events featuring performances from several of the top dance troupes in the country.
The Rockies are Alive with the Sound of Music
Colorado is home to a number of celebrated music venues. Rock n’ roll fans will enjoy a special experience at the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Major music acts such as U2, BB King, Bonnie Raitt, the Rolling Stones, Dave Matthews Band and Sting have all graced the stage with unforgettable performances, and the scenery is sure to take fans’ breath away. In Boulder, the venerable Fox Theater is known for hosting hit artists before they make it big. Jack Johnson is one of the mega acts that has graced the stage at The Fox.
The Central City Opera House in Central City is home to the nation’s fifth oldest opera company and is a symbol of Colorado’s mining past, and the recently remodeled Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver is receiving national attention for its performances. Its goal is to compete with the top 10 opera houses in the world.
Colorado’s spectacular summer season brings the state’s majestic mountains to life with a variety of music festivals. The Aspen Music Festival & School attracts some of the most prestigious musicians in the world for a two-month celebration of primarily classical music. Promising students also play, practice and learn from musical masters at the festival. The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is considered one of the top in the country, and the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival boasts orchestral performances from the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Crested Butte Music Festival provides listeners with an eclectic musical menu in a laid-back mountain atmosphere. The festival is known for showcasing talented musicians who play unusual instruments.
A Film Festival to Remember
Film fanatics flock to Colorado for an array of top-notch film fests. For over a quarter century, the Breckenridge Film Festival has celebrated the art of filmmaking. Each spring it offers a unique and varied collection of independent films, premieres, educational programs and retrospectives honoring featured guests such as Alan Arkin, James Earl Jones and Donald Sutherland. Established in 1981, it is one of the oldest film festivals in the country. American Beauty and Shawshank Redemption both premiered here. The Telluride Film Festival draws celebs including Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep and is highly respected for its secrecy. The festival program isn’t revealed until everyone arrives in town, but festival goers trust that a unique experience will unfold. The Independence Film Festival, “the highest film festival in the country,” takes place in the historic theatres of Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida, Grand Junction and Pueblo and is quickly gaining recognition across the country for its special tributes and event programming, as is the Durango Independence Film Festival.
For more information on Colorado’s art and cultural attractions, visit www.COLORADO.com
ABOUT COLORADO
Colorado is a four-season destination offering unparalleled adventure and recreational pursuits, a thriving arts scene, a rich cultural heritage, flavorful cuisine, and renowned ski resort areas. The state's breathtaking scenic landscape boasts natural hot springs, the headwaters of four major rivers, many peaceful lakes and reservoirs, nine national parks and monuments, and 54 mountain peaks that top 14,000 feet. For more information or a copy of the Colorado Official State Vacation Guide, call 1-800-COLORADO or visit www.COLORADO.com. Media are invited to visit the Colorado Media Room at www.COLORADO.com/mediaroom for story ideas, press releases/press kits as well as high-resolution, downloadable photos and video for editorial use.