Denver Public Art dedication: “Ascent” at City and County of Denver Building; Chime On, Denver! Celebration
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Denver Arts & Venues Public Art program, in conjunction with artist Kevin T. Padworski and Denver Deputy Mayor Happy Haynes, will unveil “Ascent,” a new musical composition commissioned for the 10-bell chime of the City and County Building.
What: Denver Arts & Venues Public Art dedication of “Ascent”
When: Thursday, Aug. 24, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Denver City and County Building, 1437 Bannock St.
“Ascent” will be played on significant and special days for the City of Denver.
In honor of the new chime composition, the University of Denver carillon will also play “Ascent” and the historic Daniels & Fisher Tower on the 16th Street Mall will toll its chimes at 5:45 p.m. in celebration of the new composition.
Following the premiere of “Ascent,” the public is invited to Chime On, Denver! a celebration reception with musical performances by Perry Weissman 3, Greg Tanner Harris, and Kuxaan-Sum at McNichols Civic Center Building (144 W. Colfax Ave.) directly across Bannock from the City and County Building. The three musical groups will interpret “Ascent” in their own styles and perform brief sets of their own music, and composer Kevin T. Padworski, will hold a brief talk on the composition process.
The dedication and following celebration are free and open to the public. RSVPs are requested.
From the artist:
"The goal of the composition was to capture the essence of the people the music aimed to represent - the people of Denver. With a quickly growing population, full of diversity and a multitude of backgrounds, I sought to create the music that would evoke this catalytic energy. The task of composing for bells combined with a limited set of pitches was a unique and exciting challenge (and privilege). My process would consist of multiple site visits to play and hear the bell tower, and being 'on location' to compose - planting myself downtown surrounded by people to draw the music from them. The result is "Ascent" - a composition that features ascending musical lines that represent the city - its growth, the people, the topography of the state, and hope in its bright future. Bells have such an iconic and timeless sound, and it is my hope that this new music can be heard in a new way to serve and inspire the people of this city.”