February 2015

My dear subscribers,

Wherever you live I hope you are warm with a drawer full of clean tights & socks (you need both for really cold), and at least one pair of Uggs (fur lined boots any brand); one pair of thermal pants (any color), a down coat with a hood or a Prana hat (the best hat in the world) and of course a supply of ice cream, several bags of Doritos, hot chocolate, coffee and wine. Otherwise, bless your heart, it is too cold for you. Get on a plane and get out of there.

888MarketStreet is growing despite the weather. We’re happy to introduce the latest artists to join the gallery. We think they are amazing. Here they are: Art Silk, Allison Pickett and Ken Pledger. All three have traveled their own unique path. Art is presently on a bird kick; Allison is into indigenous plants and, Ken spends his days in beautiful meadows.

Art Silk, was formerly known as a fine art photographer. After years behind the lens he took a detour. Instead of capturing a bird in flight on his camera, he now brings his paintings to life with excellent color, shadows and highlights. Look at his birds, you’ll think the bird & Art know something we don’t. Make sure you click on one in Fine Art on menu, to see for yourself.

I am also excited to introduce Allison Pickett to the gallery. She lives in Boulder, but hails from Memphis, my old stomping grounds and the go-to city for BBQ & Beale Street blues. That’s why I liked her work. No really, what drew me to Allison’s work is its freshness, her free-flowing brush strokes, and the detail she executes with vivid acrylics and ink. If you’re looking for colorful, lively art, Allison’s paintings will make your wall pop. Check out her aspen trees on 888MarketStreet.com.

Ken Pledger is a long time ‘plein air’ painter with years of study and experimentation behind him. From his early photorealism style in oils and pastels, to an era of loose landscapes and Western desert paintings twenty years ago, Ken’s palette has continued to evolve. Painting plein air well, is what every artist strives for…taking the viewer to a beautiful setting of lush trees, snow-capped mountains, flowering meadows, the scene of a storm approaching or the Eiffel Tower at sunset.

Ken Pledger has always been an exceptional artist who has the talent to delve into different genres and mediums when the urge occurs. The paintings on 888 show a softer, mature, at-peace artist who just wants to paint. Every day he finds an open space, sets up his easel and gets to work. Keep an eye on Ken. His paintings are versatile – with the hand and eye of an old pro.

Andy Warhol RePOPulates

There’s never a dull moment at the Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities.

January kicked off the rePOPulated: Contemporary perspectives on pop art, featuring solo shows by Phil Bender & Sean O’Meallie. Other participating POP artists include Tony Ortega, Louis Recchia, Floyd D. Tunson, Margaret Kasahara.

“Art in America,” by Louis Recchia

To add ‘original pop art’ to the list of artists, the Center successfully procured original pop art from the CU Art Museum. This addition gives visitors a sprinkling of art by the pioneers of POP: Robert Indiana, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Edward Ruscha, Wayne Thiebaud and Andy Warhol.

“Hello Dali,” by Evan Colbert

Walking through the galleries gave me goose bumps. There it was. Pop art 2014-2015, by our artists. The influence was there. The visual experience had all the essential elements to wow you, whether it was created fifty years ago or months ago.

“Thank You for Your Business,” by Mark Penner-Howell

Phil Bender

Sean O’Meallie

Upstairs, the galleries featured the work of Phil Bender and Sean O’Meallie. Phil and Sean, are well-known Colorado contemporary artists who brought together a combination of colorful whimsey and vintage symbolism.

The Center was also showing the vintage stage production of “Harvey” by Mary Chase, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Denver native. The beloved author was born & raised in West Denver and was intrigued by the silly, social standards of the city in the 1940’s. Especially as she became more acquainted with central Denver and the Capitol Hill, Quality Hill areas where she lived and worked before her phenomenal success as a playwright.

I always wanted to see “Harvey” on stage and Arvada has created a delightfully funny and chaotic stage romp with Elwood P. Dowd and his invisible friend Harvey. The audience had a great time with the timeless, clever, Chase dialogue as Elwood, etc., turned Capitol Hill into an afternoon of drink induced misunderstandings and Keystone Cops frenzy.

There were references to Charley’s Bar, and the Fire House on 1st (Speer). I left Arvada determined to find 1443 Gaylord Street, Elwood’s house, in my neighborhood. I looked, but found no large potted ferns on the veranda, no sign of Elwood P. Dowd, no sister, nor, was friend Harvey anywhere in sight.