by Jessica Hughes | May 20, 2022 | General Featured
by Jessica Hughes
Rendering of the revamped 16th Street Mall. Rendering provided by Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Breaking ground on the new 16th Street Mall Project. From left: Laura Aldrete, executive director of Community Planning and Development, Kourtny Garrett, CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Fred Worthen the Assistant General Manager for Bus Operations of RTD, Adam Phipps, the Executive Director of the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure, and Councilmember Chris Hinds. Photo provided by City and County of Denver
After 40 long years, Denver’s 16th Street Mall is finally getting some love in the form of a much-needed makeover. On April 14, 2022, Mayor Michael B. Hancock gathered with downtown Denver residents and businesses for the groundbreaking ceremony on the 16th Street Mall Project. The long-awaited project serves to breathe new life into the iconic pedestrian destination.
As many Denverites know all too well, for years, downtown has been a contentious topic of conversation with its increased crime rate, rampant drug use, and the city’s continued efforts to support those who are unhoused. So, it should come as no surprise that the city finally put the plans in place for this necessary revitalization.
After years of discussions around downtown renovations, in 2019 the city received approval to move forward with the project. Funding for the $149 million project came from a mix of local, state, and federal funds, including voter approved Elevate Denver bond funds and contributions from partners including the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, Colorado Department of Transportation, and Federal Transit Administration.
“This is a truly monumental day in the life of our downtown as we kick off a project that will secure the future of the 16th Street Mall for generations to come,” Mayor Hancock said. “The 16th Street Mall reconstruction is a key part of downtown’s comeback and will set the pace of Denver’s overall equitable and sustainable economic recovery.”
The 16th Street Mall Project is the first major renovation of this vital downtown corridor since its opening in 1982. A primary driver for the project is the need to address deteriorating infrastructure, specifically the granite paver system, that results in poor drainage, frequent disruptions to the transit system, and maintenance costs of more than $1M annually.
“The 16th Street Mall is one of the city’s most important public spaces, serving millions of people each year,” said Kourtny Garrett, President and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “This project will enhance the overall experience for residents, employees, and visitors, ensuring the Mall remains Denver’s Main Street. For now, it’s more important than ever that we rally behind the businesses that make Downtown special and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive during construction.”
To support the small businesses along the mall during construction, the City and County of Denver will issue $1M from the city’s 2022 General Fund. Plus, the city is partnering with the Downtown Denver Partnership to distribute grants and technical assistance to eligible small businesses along the mall.
The city selected PCL Construction Services as the design/build firm to carry out the 16th Street Mall Project. Visitors will begin to see improvements to infrastructure taking place along 13 blocks of the main corridor from Market Street to Broadway. Work will begin between Market and Larimer Streets, with the project wrapping up at the end of 2024.
Construction equipment with colorful balloons that will be a hallmark of the project. Photo provided by City and County of Denver
Some of the biggest changes visitors are likely to notice the most will be the wider pedestrian walkways, new designated areas for entertainment, and exciting new art that will draw visitors to the corridor. Additionally, the project will replace the Mall’s existing granite paver system with one that drains more effectively and offers greater surface friction to improve overall safety and expanding the Mall’s tree canopy for improved beautification.
The 16th Street Mall renovation is a component of Denver’s overall financial plan for an equitable and sustainable economic recovery and is anticipated to support more than 1,800 jobs, generate more than $155 million in income for workers, nearly $380 million in sales for businesses, and have a regional economic impact of as much as $4 billion throughout the duration of the project.
The RTD Free MallRide shuttle will continue to run during the 16th Street Mall project, rerouted to 15th and 17th Streets as needed. RTD will update the public on their MallRide page.
Access to all businesses will be maintained throughout the project. More information and updates about the project are available at www.denvergov.org/16th StreetMall. People can also stay connected to the project by searching “16th Street Mall Project” in the Apple or Google Play stores and downloading the mobile app.
by Regan Bervar | May 20, 2022 | Travel
High Ridin’ Todd Bannister
by Luke Schmaltz
Todd Bannister is a competitive dirt bike rider, participating in the Monster Energy AMA (American Motocross Assn.) Supercross Championship.
For the uninitiated, this extreme iteration of motocross features pyrotechnics, huge jumps, and hairpin turns on a track of dirt and mud that looks like it is designed to punish as much as it is to entertain.
Meanwhile, stadiums full of exuberant fans cheer on their favorite riders and savor the carnage when the inevitable body-mangling pileups take place.
Road Worthy
Although he was born in Colorado Springs, Bannister currently resides in Eaton, Colo. That is, when he isn’t out on the road pushing his personal boundaries to further his position in the overall rankings.
Bannister competes as a “privateer” which means he is not a corporate-sponsored, factory-backed rider with a huge team of technicians, an enormous budget, and the high-profile hoopla that comes with all of the hype.
To the contrary, Bannister exudes positivity, humility, and a genuine smile that no doubt makes his handful of sponsors, his family and his fellow member of Team Faith proud to be in his corner.
Doggone Exciting: Colorado hero, shown with his riding companion, competes in the Supercross circuit with a winning smile.
Vision And Purpose
Team Faith was founded in 1994 by Brian O’Rourke, a former high-level competitor in the sport who now serves as Manager and Team President.
O’Rourke’s vision is to imbue the tremendous impact extreme sports stars have on young people with a positive, constructive message.
After all, athletes in Supercross and other arenas are highly influential, especially through social media, and O’Rourke vows to “influence the influencers with the message of Christ.”
Emulate Your Hero
O’Rourke’s team consists of Road Pastors, Pit Pastors, mechanics, former riders, his wife and PR Director Monica, and a handful of professional riders. As a rider for Team Faith, one of Bannister’s roles is to spread the good word while competing at his highest level in Supercross.
While being guided by his team’s evangelical endeavors, Bannister also looks to his personal Supercross hero, Trey Canard, for human inspiration. Canard is a former five-time Monster Energy AMA Supercross Champion (among other accomplishments) while also holding the unofficial title of “The Unluckiest Rider Ever.”
His crash reel plays like a cautionary video shown in a driver’s education class or something a doting parent would show to a child showing interest in motorcycles. Yet his personal faith and positive outlook always helped him overcome adversity and forge onward.
Returns From Injury
Up In The Air: Bannister soars above the track in dirt bike competition. The sport requires monstrous jumps and pinpoint landings. Photo: Dave Black
“That guy [Canard] is such an awesome dude,” Bannister begins. “His faith with Jesus has taught me a lot. I like to put that towards my racing and my career, especially with my team [which is] a ministry. He always had such a great attitude on life no matter what. Whenever he had something go wrong, he put his best foot forward and just kept on going. I always put [him] as someone to strive to be like,” Bannister explains.
Just like his hero, Bannister recently suffered a shoulder injury which sidelined him for most of the 2022 season.
April 30th at Empower Field at Mile High marked his return to the Supercross track and doing so in his home state made the event extra special.
“Colorado has its own feel,” Bannister explains. “The track here [at Mile High] is a little harder packed and the altitude has an effect too. It’s high altitude and I like it,” he says with a grin.
Breaking Bread
Feeding The Faith: Team Faith spreads the good word and feeds hungry riders at event competitions.
Understandably, Bannister likes high-energy music, and orchestrates his pre-race ritual accordingly. “I’m a really big punk rock guy,” he explains. “I also like pop-punk, so I usually go for a lot of Blink 182.”
As a member of Team Faith, Bannister also participates in the weekly ministry-based practice of feeding anyone and everyone in the race paddock (race team staging area) who might need a meal. With all of the privateer racers on a budget, it can amount to quite a few people.
“My favorite thing we cook that I like is the chicken because it’s healthy,” he laughs, “I go with that and a salad. I keep it kind of light because I have to race. I don’t care who you are, you’re always going to be nervous to a certain extent, so I try to keep the food down.”
Hometown Hero
A hometown hero, Bannister is quick to describe his love for his home state, “Colorado has its own feel. Nothing is like home,” he says.
“This sport requires huge jumps,” he notes. When Bannister is soaring above the track, for just a moment, he says, “A lot is happening really quickly … you just pinpoint a line and you do it in, literally, like, half a second.”
He sticks the landing and rides on.
by Regan Bervar | May 20, 2022 | Main Articles
“Fraud is the daughter of greed.”
by Luke Schmaltz
The continuous exchange of money for goods and services is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week fact of life. The neurology of commerce pulses onward like the relentless heartbeat of the human race. But, like seagulls swooping down on a fishing boat, like termites eating at the frame of a house, like flies laying eggs in an open wound — the fraudsters and scammers are at work ’round the clock, attempting to gain access to what is yours in order to make it theirs.
As technology becomes more and more sophisticated, so too does the savvy of hackers and scammers. Here are a few of the top signs of trouble which are afoot today.
Job Robbers
Savvy Scammers: Be alert for warning signs of a scam. Rip-off artists are working to access what is yours and make it theirs.
The cruelty of a rip-off artist knows no bounds, and if you think no one would try to scam a person who is simply trying to better their position in life by looking for a job — think again.
This scheme starts with a text message offering the recipient a job with a reputable company. This is typically described as a nonspecific position such as “customer service representative.” The person on the other end will say they saw your profile on a job board such as Indeed or ZipRecruiter.
Once you express interest, they will say the hiring manager will need to interview you via Google Hangouts. During the “hangout” they will inform you that you have been hired and proceed to request personal information for your background check, paycheck direct deposit, etc.
Takeaway: Any job offer which comes to you via text from an unknown person should be considered a scam.
Amazombies
Urgent Amazon Bluff: Be wary of urgent emails, text messages, and phone calla about your Amazon account.
One of the top drivers of perpetual, sleepless commerce is Amazon. The online behemoth of retail owns a massive market share so naturally; Amazon scams are proportionately prevalent. In fact, the top news item in this arena is that Amazon scams are up 500% from last year.
Urgent communications about your Amazon account may arrive via email, text message, or phone call. The text or script will say there is a “problem” and that your account must be verified and the matter is “urgent.”
Clickable links will lead you further into the phishing web, as will calling a phone number provided by the message.
Takeaway: Always access your Amazon account via your device and initiate communication from the website chat or messaging portals. Amazon does not send emails or text message with “click here” prompts.
I’ll Be You
People who post notices online for missing pets, items for sale, or requesting specific makes and models of cars or musical instruments can be targeted by scammers pretending to be on the lookout for fraud.
The person will contact you and express concern that they want to “make sure you’re not a scammer.” In order to proceed, they will then send you a verification code from Google Voice and ask you to read it back to them.
In doing so, they are capturing your unique voice imprint and setting up a Google Voice account in your name so that they can continue to perpetuate what they claimed to be wary of.
Takeaway: Never read back verification codes to anyone over the phone.
The Sky is Falling
Phony Phone Calls: Charlatans ask you to read back verification codes to capture your voice imprint and make it their own.
The rise in extreme weather events and the vigor with which the news reports them has viewers highly attuned to the suffering of others.
Scammers see sympathy as weakness and as soon as a hurricane gets named by the World Meteorological Association, a “relief fund” in its name is poised to be launched the moment the storm makes landfall. The same is true with wildfires, tornadoes, and the typhoons.
Charity organizations and relief efforts are monitored by watchdog groups such as the Better Business Bureau, CharityWatch, and CharityNavigator. If you are contacted and asked to donate, you should first verify the legitimacy of the charity through at least one of these organizations. Also, you can Google the charity’s name followed by the word “scam” and any reports of fraudulent activity will come up.
Takeaway: A legitimate charity will never apply a high-pressure hard sell when asking for a donation.
The Metacurse
The latest trend in digital lifestyles, while buzzing with fascination and excitement, is rampant with new opportunities for scammers looking to swindle distracted, googly-eyed gawkers.
This relatively new construct using headsets, virtual reality, and avatars in place of analog interaction has an “emperor’s new clothes” appeal for fraudsters. The avatars of coworkers, customers, customer service reps, and sales agents can all be easily impersonated by hackers.
Interaction based solely on digital identities places all participants in jeopardy of being easily played.
Takeaway: If it seems too unreal to be true, it probably is.
by Regan Bervar | May 20, 2022 | Main Articles
Ground Floor Opinions About Denver’s Meow Wolf Installation
by Luke Schmaltz
Meow Wolf takes visitors through a journey of convergence through the multiverse — a confluence of four separate worlds which collide around the viewer’s senses.
Meow Wolf Convergence Station sits at the crossroad of Colfax Ave. and I-25 like a fortress of the extraordinary — a labyrinth of mind-bending worlds meant to immerse, inspire, and entertain.
The exhibits and attractions therein await to bombard visitors with an unmapped, unpredictable miasma of madness without warnings, wherewithal, or significant signage. The experience lands somewhere between interactive art museum and over-hyped tourist trap. Similar to the institution’s original location in Santa Fe, NM, and the subsequent installment in Las Vegas, NV, this destination is dripping with the artistic input of hundreds of contributors and collaborators — many of which are residents of the Mile-High City. The organization’s official statement is that among the 300+ artists who collaborated, exactly 110 were from Denver.
Whether Denver’s Meow Wolf installation is truly a monument to modern and postmodern art or a sensory overload amusement park on audio and visual steroids is a matter of opinion. These can range from positive to critical to indifferent — depending on one’s perspective and their position on the merits of big business converging with independent artists.
The Repurposing Diorama Maker
Scott Hildebrandt — aka Mr. Christmas — is a Denver-based artist who combines his love for miniatures and holidays into a unique brand of playful creativity. Hildebrandt applied to collaborate with Meow Wolf in 2017 and waited for two years before definitive plans to get to work were made. “In the summer of 2019,” he begins, “I began submitting plans, diagrams, specs, and requirements of the space that I would need. Then, over the rest of 2019, there were several meetings with lighting and sound teams to define my needs for this project,” he explains. “There was quite a bit of momentum at the beginning of 2020, until the pandemic halted everything. [By] late summer of 2020, I was able to finally get started by collecting materials mocking up my design. By fall, I was assembling and designing my concepts and building the framework. At the beginning of 2021, I was in full production mode with a hard fast deadline of May 1st to meet final inspections. For four months straight, I worked seven days a week, around 8 to 14 hours a day to make that deadline.”
Hildebrandt says he considers Meow Wolf to be a hub of artistic merit and an outstanding Denver treasure. “I truly believe that Convergence Station is an art installation and definitely an
Scott Hildebrandt specializes in miniatures and dioramas but his Meow Wolf collaboration is a macro-installation of his work.
art experience,” he says. “The whole venue encourages
Scott Hildebrandt’s Meow Wolf installation is a life-sized diorama made of repurposed materials.
playful curiosity and invokes imagination with art in a way that no other museum or gallery can. Denver is truly blessed to have something like this in their very own backyard. Not only is it good for Denver, but it is very good for the Denver art scene. Convergence Station showcases 110 Denver artists and shows how strong the Denver arts scene really is. Since I’ve started my journey as a full-time artist, I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful artists here in Denver. On any given First Friday, you can explore galleries all over Denver showcasing both new and old artists and be truly amazed at the talent that we have here,” he says.
The Insider
Mar Williams is a Denver illustrator who became involved with the Meow Wolf corporation in 2016 and was subsequently part of a 2019 class-action lawsuit against the company for discrimination. Williams is transgender, and alongside several other individuals had complaints against the company (a B Corporation) for unfair practices toward employees based on gender.
While the matter was resolved in early 2020, Williams maintains a distinctive opinion about Meow Wolf’s role in the arts community. “I’d like to include my earlier quote to Westword, which safely summarizes a lot of my perspective,” Williams says. “My hope is that they do more to lift individual artists than to absorb them.”
Williams goes on to explain, “To expand on a piece of that; Is Meow Wolf authentic art? I think it’s important to separate the brand from the art for that question. Maximalism and the ironic sincerity of meta modernism are ultimately hollow when coming from a brand, because the vulnerable human point of self-reference isn’t sincere or simply doesn’t belong to it. It’s like the Wendy’s (fast food chain) twitter account being edgy. It doesn’t mean anything. I think there’s plenty of authentic art and artists in that space, and while the bigger, flashier, more profitable container may drive more traffic to it, the container isn’t the art, and corporations aren’t collectives.”
The Multimedia Creative
While artist Dice 51 currently lives in Denver, he is originally from Albuquerque, NM. While he begins most of his work with pens on plain paper, that’s hardly where it stays. The end result of his continued attention to any particular piece can result in p
Mar Williams was one of the first Denver artists to become involved with the corporate megalith, and has distinct opinions on art that is purveyed by big brands.
ens, pendants, wood stacks, laser-cut wood-stained pieces, and more.
Dice’s native New Mexican heritage prompted him to apply to be a Meow Wolf collaborator. “I first started working with Meow Wolf through the events team. I would organize live art and vendors for certain shows at the Santa Fe exhibit, bringing in artist friends from around the country to display their work,” he explains. “I grew up in Albuquerque, so as a local artist in New Mexico I knew I wanted to contribute to Meow Wolf. Eventually with [some] help I was able to apply for the Denver exhibit,” he says. “I spent close to three months working directly on my piece for the exhibit, and the application process was about two years long. I did most of the design and building in the months before installation, then spent two weeks installing the piece.
Dice contends that the experience was unique but positive. “I’ve never worked on something so big,” he begins. “Luckily, I got full creative control once my proposal was accepted, so I could really dive into the creative process without any outside influences. There’s so many people that were involved that I still haven’t met. The result was amazing, I still stumble on work that I’ve never seen there whenever I get a chance to wander.”
Part of Meow Wolf’s brand is intertwined art installments without signage or explanation, leaving uncredited collaborators to take solace in the fact that they got paid to be a part of something big and beautiful. While every artist is credited on the Meow Wolf website, some were determined to put their personal stamp on their work so that curious visitors could find them if necessary. “I wish I was able to attach my name to my project more,” Dice says. “I had to get creative with it, so I hid it all throughout the piece and had a full write up displayed with my pieces in the giftshop. Some other artists fou
Dice 51 next to his Meow Wolf collaboration. The New Mexico native-turned Denver resident relishes his experience contributing to Meow Wolf Convergence Station.
nd great ways to get their name on their piece. I know one had a giant symbol made of QR codes in his room, and the QR codes lead to his website. I think something like that is the best move, something subtle enough it doesn’t take away from the art, but direct enough to actually connect to the millions of people who go to the exhibit. I definitely see Meow Wolf as an art installment. It’s like a giant art piece that you can walk inside of and be a part of. From the exhibit as a whole, to the tiny details hidden throughout, the entire experience is led by artists.”
The Outsiders
Speaking of galleries, one local artist who has curated a prominent presence among the First Friday visual art crowd goes by the moniker of W. Max Thomason. He holds the Meow Wolf phenomenon in ho-hum regard, saying, “Simply put, it is commercial art. No matter what title, label, and/or designation you give it, it is only commercial art. It is not fine art. Nor do I think it should ever be considered fine art. In all fairness though, having never spoken with the designers, creators, or decision makers I cannot say if it was ever meant to be considered fine art, but I do think it should not be viewed or judged as thus,” he contends. “If it inspires, motivates, or speaks to someone, fantastic. It has never done so to me. I think [the] assessment of a modern, repackaging of amusement park-style entertainment is a fair and accurate elucidation.”
Meanwhile, while most of the art world is in some way concerned with Meow Wolf, there are those who remain blissfully unaware of any such phenomenon. One such individual is Abe Brennan — a Denver musician and illustrator, enjoying a post-2020/2021 windfall of design work creating T-shirt art for bands. When approached about Meow Wolf, he blinked, shrugged and said, “Huh? Meow what? Never heard of it.”
Regardless, should you aspire to experience this immersive experience firsthand, be prepared to pay a hefty admission fee. Tickets are priced at $44 to $49, depending on age. Get your money’s worth by choosing an early arrival time and plan on being there for at least a few hours. Then, prepare yourself for a wild, nonstop hyper-stimulating, one-of-a-kind ride. Whether you’re an artist or a spectator, this destination has something for everyone.
