The Valley Comes Alive With Summer Art; Shows Capture Beauty, Colorful Leisure Feeling
by Glen Richardson
Sun Driven Dreams: DAM’s Lowrider show includes this 6 x 17 ft. acrylic by Nanibah Chaco titled What Dreams Are Made Of. Artwork is a silhouette of her ’60 Chevy Bel Air with roses. The flowers, like her dreams, grow beyond the body itself.
Summer Seascape: This Judy Gardner one-of-a-kind creation is in the Niza Knoll Gallery Code Blue exhibition on Santa Fe Dr. Show has artwork of ocean, marine life, and coral reefs.
Splendor Of Summer: This summer beauty by Cheryl St. John is on display at Saks Galleries in Cherry Creek North. The 14 x 18 oil on canvas is titled Lilacs and Spring Flowers.
Summer, with its warm sun, vibrant colors, and lavish nature, radiates a sense of stillness and quiet contemplation, reflecting the slower pace of summer days.
From serene landscapes to joyful depictions of leisure activities, artworks inspired by summer capture the essence of its beauty and evoke feelings of relaxation and joy.
To practice the art of staying cool this month, dive into the rich tapestry of summer-inspired images on display at Saks Galleries and Masters in Cherry Creek North, the Niza Knoll Gallery on Santa Fe Dr., plus at the Denver Art Museum.
Joy & Tranquility
Summer is a time of reflection, connection, and the simple pleasures found in the company of loved ones.
Anna Rose Bain, represented by Saks Galleries in Cherry Creek North, is one such artist. A Signature member of the Oil Painters of America, she is also a member of Plein Air Artists of Colorado and the International Guild of Realism. Her award-winning work transports us to idyllic summer moments and evokes a sense of joy and tranquility. Family owned by Michael and Catherine Saks, the showroom on East 2nd Ave. has been the shopping district’s premier gallery for more than 50 years. Information: 303-333-4144.
Summer art shoppers can also find artwork capturing the essence of summer at Masters Gallery on East 3rd Ave. in Cherry Creek. An AD Gallery — with a longtime presence in Aspen, Beaver Creek, and Vail — you’ll find unique artists, styles, and techniques presented in a relaxed atmosphere. Information: 303-221-2449.
Recipe For The Road: Mexican paintings, lowriders, and nachos are transformed into this Pinata-Inspired Sculpture installation by Justin Favela at the Denver Art Museum.
Catch Art Wave
With warm sand and gentle waves, the ocean has a soothing summertime ambience that nothing can beat. So, allow yourself time to breathe, relax, and enjoy yourself viewing “Code Blue: The Ocean,” at Niza Knoll Gallery on Santa Fe Dr. through Aug. 13.
Ladies Of Sunshine: Anna Rose Bain’s sensational summer flowers painting transports us to idyllic summer moments. Titled Lilies and Ranunculus, the 12 x 15 oil is at Saks Galleries.
The show is a group exhibition by more than a half-dozen artists. Attendees will view artwork portraying the ocean, marine life, and coral reefs. Code Blue is the term communicated during cardiac or respiratory arrest. Signaling immediate and lifesaving care required, it is increasingly a way to describe the state of the world’s oceans and marine life. “The heart and lungs of our planet are in a state of emergency,” experts say.
Located in the Art District on Santa Fe since 2009, Niza Knoll Galley participates in First and Third Friday plus Saturdays. Information: 303-953-1789.
Lowrider Summer
Lowriders are a source of artistic self-expression. The passion and artistry that goes into every car is incredible and, like a painting, are works of art. Moreover, this summer the lowrider car culture has taken the summer spotlight at the Denver Art Museum (DAM).
Like the head-turning rides that cruise the streets, the show running through Sept. 24th, showcases the amazing work of state and southwest lowrider artisans. Included are works by popular area artists Tony Ortega, Carlos Fresquez, Juan Fuentes, and Daniel Salazar. Arranged by the Phoenix Art Museum and curated by the DAM’s Victoria Lyall, the show explores Colorful Colorado and the Desert Southwest’s connections between transportation, landscape, and identity.
The exhibition is inspired by counterculture developments during the 1960s, epitomized in films like Easy Rider, which occurred simultaneously with civil unrest events. During this time, images of customized vehicles racing through the wide-open landscapes of the U.S. Southwest became symbols not only of freedom and liberty, but also rebellion and nonconformity.
Chrome & Color
Colorado and Southwest lowrider artists express identity, pride, and a sense of community by transforming vehicles associated with the American West. Their artwork challenges stereotypes while embodying hope.
Mile High City, Colorado, and Southwest regional artists explore the sociopolitical realities and imaginative interpretations of automotive subcultures through the diverse works on exhibit. The Desert Rider show focuses on Latinx and Indigenous perspectives that have long defined the identity of the Southwest.
A pleasant, festive, and fun event in eye-popping chrome and color, the exhibition ties creativity and customization together with history, place, resistance, discovery, and empowerment. Entry to the DAM is included with general admission, which is free for members and all visitors 18 and under. Information: 720-865-5000.
