by Arthur Guerin
The Qatari royal family has paid
$250 million for Paul Cezanne’s painting The Card Players, making it
“the highest sum ever paid for an art work,” according to the UK’s Telegraph.
THERE'S HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES and plenty of artistic inspiration for everyone at the 20th annual Art
Students League of Denver Summer Art Market, June 9-10, and the Cherry
Creek Arts Festival, July 6-8.
“A world auction record was set for a work of contemporary art when Mark
Rothko’s Orange, Red, Yellow, painted in 1961, sold for just under $87
million.”
“Fine art feeds the soul,” it’s been said,
and it is quite fortunate that nourishing one’s artistic appetite does not
require such a king’s ransom. Over the next couple of months, local art lovers
will have a pair of fine arts festivals to fill their senses and tempt their
collectors’ instincts at more affordable levels.
No exhibition brings the world of art
more in reach of the masses than the Art Students League of Denver’s Summer
Art Market. Celebrating its 20th year in 2012, the ASLD market – set
for Sat.-Sun., June 9-10, 10a.m.-5p.m. – features 270 members,
students and faculty artists, from emerging to professional, displaying the
full breadth and depth of creative media.
The Summer Art Market began humbly in
1980, in the parking lot of the League’s historic Sherman Street School at 200
Grant St. “We just dragged a few tables and easels out in the parking lot and
leaned the art on the fence,” recalls Dennis Pendleton, League faculty artist
and founder of the Summer Art Market.
In addition to the stunning art work on
display, the Market will feature demonstrations, KidART
activities, live entertainment, a wine garden, and a benefit art sale
showcasing past Best of Show winners as well as several well-known local
artists who don’t typically show in the Summer Art Market.
For a list of exhibitors as well as other
information about ASLD’s many courses and workshops, visit asld.org or call 303-778-6990.
National and international artists will
share the artistic spotlight with Colorado talent when the Cherry Creek Arts
Festival returns for its 22nd annual run Fri.-Sun., July 6-8.
The CCAF is a grand blend of the
visual, culinary and performing arts. This year will see 101 first-time
exhibitors out of the 236 juried and eight emerging artists selected from over
2,000 applicants. Painting, glass, ceramics, digital art, photography,
sculpture and much more will provide a nearly overwhelming feast of eye candy
for the 350,000 visitors expected to fill the streets of Cherry Creek North
throughout the weekend.
The CCAF also provides an interactive
element for wanna-be artistes. Artivity
Avenue will give everyone the chance to create a worthy masterpiece. The entire
family can show off their inner Picasso while lending a hand to the Imagination
Collaboration mural, while Creation Station will entertain and educate the
young ones in your entourage with a variety of hands-on art projects.
If you’d rather watch The Food Channel than
ESPN, you’ll be well taken care of at the 2012 Festival. Some of
Denver’s favorite restaurants will be present along Culinary Avenue, to temper
your hunger and quench your thirst, while the Culinary Stage hosts chef
demonstrations showing you how the masters create those dishes you savor.
Is Culinary Avenue threatening the sanctity
of your waistline? Never fear. The Art of Fitness will be active once again
when Festival Mornings encourage CCAF patrons to try out new and fun
ways to stay fit. Workshops will include a variety of fitness options and take
place on St. Paul St. from 9-10:30a.m. each day of the
festival.
When you need a break from the browsing, and
feel like carousing, live music and dance will keep the Janus Plaza Stage (on
Fillmore, between 1st & 2nd Ave.) and the Beer Garden Stage (on St. Paul
St., between 2nd & 3rd) jumping throughtout the Festival.
Calypso, blues, country, rock, jazz – and even a tribute to Elvis –
will fill the days with fun, with the Beer Garden Stage going late-night,
8-10p.m. on July 7-8.
Once again, seniors and others with mobility
concerns will be able to get an easier look at the Festival during
Accessibility Hour, Sun., July 8, 9-10a.m.
For details about the 2012 CCAF, call
303-355-2787 or visit cherryarts.org. |
