City Celebrates Denver Arts Week with IMAGINE 2020 District Challenge Events

In the spirit of IMAGINE 2020 -- Denver’s Cultural Plan, Mayor Michael B. Hancock has challenged City Council members to infuse arts and culture into their council districts during Denver Arts Week (Nov. 2-10).

“Thanks to the creativity that our City Council representatives show during the IMAGINE 2020’s District Challenge, Denver’s residents and visitors have yet another way to celebrate arts and culture during Denver Arts Week,” Mayor Hancock said. “The IMAGINE 2020 District Challenge exemplifies how, through collective leadership, we can integrate the arts into everyday life and infuse art in each of Denver’s neighborhoods.”

Denver Arts & Venues is providing $2,020 to each council member to find artists, organizations or programs in their districts, and to create new programming or enhance an existing program. Denver residents and visitors are encouraged to participate in the IMAGINE 2020 District Challenge events happening during Arts Week:

• District 1, Councilman Rafael Espinoza and At-Large Councilwoman Debbie Ortega: In conjunction with several community groups, Espinoza and Ortega have teamed up to create “Arts Street Silhouettes,” 38 brightly-colored, life-size pedestrian silhouettes that will be installed on the fence at 14^th Ave. and Federal Blvd. Neighbors are invited to help paint silhouettes Nov. 7, 1-5 p.m. at the Decatur – Federal Light Rail Station at 2800 W. Howard Pl. This community-designed art installation explores how community art and tactical urbanism can promote placemaking and traffic calming effects.
• District 3, Councilman Paul López: “La Alma de Catrina” activities will take place along Santa Fe Drive between W. 7^th Ave. and W. 11^th Ave. on Nov. 2, 5:30 – 9:30 p.m. Community members will enjoy mariachi bands, face painting, sugar skull creation and very special performances by Colorado Ballet throughout the evening. Additional activities will also be presented at Su Teatro (721 Santa Fe Dr.), Museo de las Americas (861 Santa Fe Dr.) and Colorado Ballet (1075 Santa Fe Dr.).
• District 4, Councilwoman Kendra Black: Renowned Chilean-born artist Lorenzo Martinez will be hosting several community creation workshops to construct locals’ versions of a paper fish that show their country or place of origin while also sharing their own personal stories. The completed fish will be set as an art installation in each of the four workshop locations with a QR code linking people to a video overview of the project, highlighting several members of the community along with their stories. The workshop dates are as follows:
  • Nov. 3, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Hampden Branch Library (9755 E. Girard Ave.)
  • Nov. 5, 3-4:30 p.m., Ross University Hills Branch Library (4310 E. Amherst Ave.)
  • Nov. 6, 5-7 p.m., Pembrooke on the Green Community Center (10700 E. Dartmouth Ave.)
  • Nov. 6, 3-4:30 p.m., Thomas Jefferson High School (3950 S. Holly St.)
• District 5, Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman: Councilwoman Mary Beth Susman invites the Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood to paint the Oneida Street pedestrian staircase Nov. 8, 1 p.m. The staircase connects two adjacent cul-de-sacs and is located at 800 S. Oneida St.
• District 11, Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore: District 11’s “Green Valley Ranch Art Loop” will bring art, culture and creativity to Green Valley Ranch Town Center Park (5050 Argonne St.) while also encouraging residents to live healthy and active lifestyles in the process. On Nov. 7, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., community members will reimagine their public spaces in a new, fun way as they engage with the art.
• At-Large Councilwoman Robin Kniech: Kneich’s project was inspired by the deaths of three homeless Denver residents, Christopher Zamudio, Nicole Boston and Jerome Coronado. A mural will be painted Nov. 10, 10:30 a.m. near the underpass at I-25 and Broadway, titled “Healing Through Art: Cowboy, Rome and Nikki.” The intention of this mural is to help heal people who feel trauma stemming from this tragedy, as well as a visual reminder of Denver’s residents experiencing homelessness.

In addition to the Denver Arts Week events, a handful of IMAGINE 2020 District Challenge projects have already been completed or will be completed within the next few months:

• District 2, Councilman Kevin Flynn: A free community concert May Bonfils Stanton Theater at Loretto Heights Oct. 11, 7 p.m. featured the Colorado Symphony performing two of Ludwig van Beethoven’s most beloved overtures.
• District 6, Councilman Paul Kashmann: A poetry slam scholarship will be awarded at South High School (700 E. Louisiana Ave.) in Feb. 2019
• District 7, Councilman Jolon Clark: Several electrical boxes at intersections along Federal Blvd. were painted Oct. 8-12 in a community-led project. The completed electrical boxes can be found at the Federal Blvd. intersections of W. Alameda, W. Exposition, W. Kentucky and W. Florida.
• District 8, Councilman Christopher Herndon: Councilman Herndon utilized his $2,020 District Challenge budget to provide art supplies to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver.
• District 9, Councilman Albus Brooks: This “Before I Die” mural will focus on bringing the community together through a depiction of the past, present and future of the Whittier neighborhood. Date and time TBD
• District 10, Councilman Wayne New: Featuring Denver Municipal Band’s jazz ensemble, this family-friendly concert took place Sept. 30 at Cheesman Park. Children enjoyed decorating wearable capes and masks to show off their inner superheroes, which they were encouraged to wear during the concert and beyond.

At the Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in Arts & Culture luncheon on Nov. 15, in addition to the other awards, Mayor Michael B. Hancock will honor his favorite IMAGINE 2020 District Challenge activation with a special award.

The IMAGINE 2020 cultural plan was unveiled in 2014 and captures community aspirations, and provides strategic direction for arts, culture and creativity to thrive in Denver.

For more information on the IMAGINE 2020 District Challenge events, please visit ArtsandVenues.com.