Stephanie Hilvitz

Art, Friends and Family in the Big D...Day 29

On the last day...caught the Andrew and Jamie Wyeth exhibit

so much more than I expected...the cold, bright Maine light, so evocative. The relationship of father and son, the family history...the DNA. I enjoyed the sketches and water color preliminary drawings, so much movement and simplicity of line. The Warhol Factory connection...did not realize. The layers of washes, numerous painting techniques and tools, so much more experimental that I had imagined. 

many of my favorites in the gallery of the 'Wondrous Strange'...both father and son pushing boundaries of fantastical and quirky

a lovely brunch at Americano, a visit to Jillie and Ty's new place in the RINO district...

a stroll through their neighborhood of graffiti

family photo shoot

and the city crazy for football....

GO BRONCOS!

Grateful for good art..time spent with friends and Tess and Pete...grateful to hang with Greg watching the Broncos and his amazing recovery from back surgery.

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Time, Graduation and Last Night of Lights

Lovely weekend...Pete graduates, Tess did an amazing job of organizing families and friends that gathered...

the big blue bear looking into the huge crowd

 

Lunch with a view from the other side of the big blue bear

Greg and I wandered around Denver until the graduation party later in the evening

The Art hotel and bar...lots of interesting art and views of the gently falling snow and downtown lights...

 

and speaking of lights...the last night of Hannukah

sending love and light via Krista Tippett's On Being

 

 

Buena and Butterfield in the Gardens

Beautiful venue, the Denver Botanic Gardens never fails to offer up interesting artwork amongst the ever-changing landscape. Deborah Butterfield and her Nature of Horses, perfectly set in the gardens

a quiet walk about in anticipation of...

a late summer picnic, gathered to hear the Adios Tour of the Buena Vista Social Club

a magical evening...some of the original performers, 

 

Omara Portuondo, such a sassy performer...really got the crowd dancing! No better place to see them...except perhaps

in Havana!

ENJOY

Fill 'er Up Please

a weekend of creative inspiration brought me to the blog today...a gathering with women artists to discuss the coming year, a trip to a new Museum, an old neighborhood...a bit of time in the studio and such unseasonably incredible weather I took off on my bike and simply ran out of time for the rest of the trips on my list...saving some for next time

Helikon, a gallery and studio space in RINO, it's hip and smart and filled with inspiration...also offers life drawing sessions each Saturday

the Museum of Outdoor Art, some interesting outdoor pieces but not displayed all that well...

the indoor exhibit however...wonderfully thought provoking and interesting work by the Colorado Springs Artist Scott Johnson.

his exhibit entitled Mute Earth, speaking to the nature of earth and dirt and other elemental matter...these pieces, books that were covered with slip and fired, turning into a delicate sculpture of line and form, seeming to be slipping away before our eyes.

salt encrusted garment, fired to this solitary looking creature of the earth...

a little time spent on this new piece...monarch dialogues, more layers to add to this conversation between life and spirit...movement between the planes of life and death

I wanted to get to the Loveland Museum to see xylem: innovation in botanic art...didn't quite make it, next weekend

 

 

 

Traditions...

our holiday tradition...the festivities and lights of Christmas downtown...it snowed, right on cue

a lovey relaxing afternoon and dinner at casa T & P... the Imitation Game at the historic Mayan theater

we take in the lights on a walk back to the casa through gently falling snow...

in the morning, the snow is still falling and we walk past holiday windows for breakfast at the newly restored Union Station

stunning...shops, restaurants and a luxurious space to wait for your train

a walk to the state capitol building...up and up to the very top of the dome and 360 degree views of the city

 a season of JOY
a reason to be grateful

sending love to all

Haiku my heart

 

 

Iron, Gardens and a DAM good time

A pretty perfect way to spend the day...art and inspiration, in many forms. Chihuly at the Denver Botanic Gardens...my 2nd visit, this time in the late afternoon, the light amazing and the flowers in bloom matching and contrasting the installations beautifully.

exotics to natural local grasses, such a quiet and relaxing place in the middle of the city 

the Denver Art Museum, we enjoyed a few of wonderful exhibits, Daniel Sprick's photo realistic portraits that go beyond just an exact representation...some pieces of the work dissolving into loose abstraction.

Beyon Pop Art, a Tom Wesselmann retrospective.  I really enjoyed seeing his work over the years, early collages to laser cut steel and cut paper works.

Also a beautiful collection of Japanese wood block prints

and RINO, one of Denver's best art areas...urban and fresh and vibrant.  We visited Ironton, studios and a gallery space that I am applying to install Las Monarcas, a gentle push to send the migration southward...cross your collective fingers for me please

a very good way to slip into August... 

Straight to the Source

Well not straight to the Source...

went to see the Modern Master's Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum.  Iconic works from Toulouse-Lautrec, Van Gogh, and Paul Gauguin to Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, Robert Motherwell.  

Should not be missed.

The gift shop had some fun treats as well.

Then off for lunch and a bit of exploration at the Source...they call it the one-stop shopping experience for the food-obsessed.  It did not disappoint.

Wine shop...

specialty market

right in their neighborhood.

Just a few Postcards from my little Paradise

Postcards from the Palace

It started with a book club pick 

of murder and mystery in a local landmark...

what followed was an tour of history and intrigue

and high tea

at the Brown Palace Hotel

just a few of my Postcards from Paradise...

Holiday Traditions

 

every year we head to Denver for a holiday weekend of lights and good food

...holiday celebrating

this year we stayed at the lovely Casa Tess...

great location...very comforatable and stylish

and Olive was even allowed to join us.

Christmas dinner of tamales and ham...garlic mashed potatoes, deviled eggs...all the family favs, then a walk to the movie theater.

breakfast in the morning at Jelly...a very fun and very yummy neighborhood haunt

 

afternoon brought a family project...Ikea constructing

some of us were thoroughly exhausted...

the holidays bring

long lived family traditions

making memories

Haiku my HEART 

DAM Good

it is scorching HOT here...and was scorching HOT at the Denver Art Museum

Nick Cave...mixed media, performance art genius...overflowing with inspiration and admiration.

Most of the work here is new, made specifically for this exhibit.  Many soundsuits for which he is known and new work, his 'Rescue' series...Think French ceramic dogs sitting on aging vintage settees under a canopy of lit ceramic birds and flower and fruit and leaves and strings and strings of beads.

as Cave puts it, "ghetto fabulous on one hand, regal on the other."

For those in the Denver area..DO.NOT.MISS.

and SPUN, another wonderful exhibit with interactive and fiber works...also included are some pieces from the Crochet Coral Reef project.  You can be part of this world wide expanding project by crocheting a piece to be part of Denver's Coral Reef.  You can join the community of crocheters every Sat and Sun through Sept 22nd, they will teach you if you don't know how.

Relax for a bit and watch their TED talk about the science behind this project...HERE, fascinating!

we are lucky indeed...to have this museum and all that it offers