There was no ask on Friday night. The event was a small wine and cheese reception followed by poetry readings inspired by newly installed art in one of the Hamilton building’s third floor galleries. The readings were performed by MFA students from CSU Boulder. The falling snow kept attendance low making it an intimate experience.
Perry and I headed over to Walker Fine Art when the poetry reading ended. Walker has another compelling show although I don’t know how some of the works related to the metaphor theme. I really liked Peter Illig’s new works. It’s great to see an artist succeed but he’s now priced out my range.
Walker Fine Art, Peter Illig, The Nuts and Bolts, oil on panel with neon, 42 x 54, $5,500
Walker Fine Art, Peter Illig, Love System, oil on panel with neon, 62 x 48, $7,500
The next stop was Rule Gallery. New paintings by Eric Blum were being exhibited. The paintings were created using a complex process involving silk on board with beeswax which results in a serene muted abstract. If I recall correctly, the paintings ranged from $6,000 to 26,000.
While at Rule we popped into Mary Mackey’s studio in the back of the building. As always, Mary has stunningly beautiful abstracts at reasonable prices. Mary is one of the treasures of the local art scene.
Selections from Mary Mackey’s studio. Various sized from $400.
The final stop on Santa Fe was Spark Gallery for the opening of the Robert St. John and Heidi Neubauer-Winterburn new show. Heidi’s work seemed to be a commentary on the current political climate and distaste for the current administration.
Spark Gallery, Heidi Neubauer-Winterburn, FTS, paper mylar and glue, $150.
Spark Gallery, Heidi Neubauer-Winterburn, FTS , HIS, paper mylar and glue, $150.
After Spark, we debated calling it a night as the temperature was dropping and snow was falling fast and furious. The inaugural show at Next Gallery’s new space in Lakewood (a Denver suburb) was going to be the last stop of night. It was still above freezing. We decided snow and potentially icy streets would not keep us from checking out a new art venture. After all, we’re Coloradans and we know how to drive in a mess. We headed to Next. The gallery was crowded with a liquored up crowd by the time we arrived. A DJ was spinning tunes inspiring a few to dance. Virginia T Coleman, Charles Walter and Mandy Stringer were showing new works. Virginia had sold all but two pieces when we arrived. The new space is encouraging. Tours of the cavernous, to be developed space, were being given. Plans call for additional galleries and artist studios. If successful, Lakewood will be a new art destination. The new space is located just west of the iconic Casa Bonita, a Mexican restaurant known more for its cliff divers than its food.
Yet to be developed future art space in the building housing Next Gallery. The artists are coming!
The Corporate Slave 