ART
THRU JULY 21: Timothea Biermann: “Cattitude” – Blue Tile Gallery Timothea Biermann is proud to present “Cattitude” an exhibition of silkscreen monotype prints and abstract paintings on view from July 3 to Aug 3, 2024, at Englewood’s Blue Tile Gallery. Cat lovers are decidedly not the only ones who will appreciate Biermann’s unconventional print works. While the palpable personalities of her two black cats are at the forefront, they accompany an ode to her father’s vinyl record collection in one series and become the symbol of her political takes in another. The public is invited to an Opening Reception on Saturday, July 13, 4-8 p.m. at 3944 S. Broadway, and to an Artist Talk at the gallery on Sunday, July 21, 1-3 p.m. The show wraps with a Closing Reception on Friday, August 2 from 4-8 p.m. Art lovers are encouraged to combine their July 13th visit with other area openings and make an evening of it. SeeSaw Gallery, four blocks South at Radcliff, is hosting “Oscillations,” then stop at Rising Gallery on Broadway and Chenango en route to see the 41st Annual All Colorado Art Show at Curtis Center for the Arts.
THRU AUGUST 11: Beneath the Surface: Explorations in Artistic Depth by Johanna Morrell and Alexandra Elliott – SYNC Gallery In a harmonious convergence of perspectives, Alexandra Elliott and Johanna Morrell redefine the boundaries of artistic expression. Elliott’s work breathes life into brokenness, exploring the beauty found within imperfection through the medium of broken glass and water-media, while Johanna Morrell’s art embraces spontaneity and unpredictability, navigating the challenge of painting in reverse on plexiglas. Inspired by the Japanese concept of Wabi-Sabi, Elliott invites viewers to perceive the world through a lens of acceptance, while Morrell’s process-driven approach yields creations that defy expectation. Together, they weave a narrative of transformation, challenging viewers to reconsider notions of beauty and spontaneity in the realm of art.
NOW ON VIEW: Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place – Denver Art Museum The exhibition is created from three projects photographer Fazal Sheikh made on the Colorado Plateau from 2017 to early 2023. Sheikh’s portraits and landscapes shed light on the far-reaching consequences of extractive industry and climate change. The photographs in Thirst | Exposure | In Place expose indelible marks on the Colorado Plateau and American Southwest landscape that have been etched by both geological and human forces. Through this beautiful and sometimes frightening new work, Sheikh encourages viewers to witness the consequences of the past and imagine the shape of the future.
THRU JULY 27: Street Dialogue: Devin Urioste, Paul Lukes, and Darin Balaban – Alto Gallery Join us at Alto Gallery (1900 35th St, Suite B, Denver, CO 80216) on First Friday, July 5, 6 – 10 PM for the opening reception of Street Dialogue, a mixed media group exhibition featuring works by Devin Urioste, Paul Lukes, and Darin Balaban. Street Dialogue is a show exploring our relationships with the environments and the interactions that happen through the application and removal of layers of paint, paper, and other materials. Free event and refreshments, open to the public. Artist in attendance. On view July 5 – 27.
THRU AUGUST 10: NEW EXHIBITION – Space Gallery Featuring new work by Frea Buckler, Jennifer Omaitz and Conny Goelz Schmitt. Artist reception July 10th, 6-8pm. Space Gallery – 400 Santa Fe Drive. 303-993-3321 www.spacegallery.org
MUSIC
JULY 19: Vampire Weekend – Red Rocks Amphitheatre The band embodied the spirit of live music, led by front man Ezra Koenig’s stage presence and interaction with the crowd. Seeing Vampire Weekend on stage reminds you just how deserved their critical acclaim has always been, and the charming oddities of their work reminded me why I love music in the first place.
JULY 26-28: The Underground Music Showcase – Broadway and 1st Ave The best festival of the summer is back for another rowdy weekend on South Broadway is the three-day music festival. Check out Indie artists out of Australia like Tkay Maidza and Amyl and the Sniffers in the headlining slots. Don’t forget about the dozens of Local 303 alums to also be announced!
AUGUST 5: STRFKR – The Summit Music Hall A STRFKR set is not to be missed. From the over the top costumery to the flotation devices of all kinds hoisted out towards the audience, every aspect of their set brings drama and non-stop fun.
COMEDY
AVAILABLE NOW: Kevin Hart: Mark Twain Prize for American Humor – Netflix It’s actually a roast of Hart by some of the biggest names in comedy. As she did in Tom Brady’s special, Nikki Glaser is also a highlight here as she appears alongside Dave Chappelle, Tiffany Haddish, Jerry Seinfeld, Chelsea Handler, Jimmy Fallon, and more. As for Hart, his consolation is that he was able to accept the annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
FILM
OPENS JUNE 21: Kinds of Kindness – In Theatres A triptych fable, following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing-at-sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (Poor Things), starring Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe, Jesse Plemons and Margaret Qualley.
OPENS JULY 12: Longlegs – In Theatres FBI Agent Lee Harker is a gifted new recruit assigned to the unsolved case of an elusive serial killer. As the case takes complex turns, unearthing evidence of the occult, Harker discovers a personal connection to the merciless killer and must race against time to stop him before he claims the lives of another innocent family. Directed by Osgood Perkings, starring Nicolas Cage, Maika Monroe, Alicia Witt, and Blair Underwood
OPENS JULY 12: National Anthem – In Theatres Dylan, a 21-year-old construction worker in New Mexico, joins a community of queer rodeo performers in search of their own version of the American dream. While working on a ranch in the breathtaking expanse of the Southwest, they contend with the undeniable forces of nature, family, and love. Directed by Luke Gilford of Evergreen, Colorado.
OPENS JULY 19: Crossing – In Theatres Lia, a retired teacher, made a promise to find out what happened to her long-lost niece Tekla. When Lia learns from Achi, a neighbor, that Tekla might be living in Turkey, they set off together to find her. In Istanbul they discover a beautiful city full of connections and possibilities – but looking for someone who never intended to be found is harder than they thought. Until they meet Evrim, a lawyer fighting for trans rights. As Lia and Achi weave their way through the city’s backstreets, Tekla starts to feel closer than ever.
OPENS AUGUST 9: It Ends With Us – In Theatres The first Colleen Hoover novel adapted for the big screen, tells the compelling story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a woman who overcomes a traumatic childhood to embark on a new life in Boston and chase a lifelong dream of opening her own business. A chance meeting with charming neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) sparks an intense connection, but as the two fall deeply in love, Lily begins to see sides of Ryle that remind her of her parents’ relationship. When Lily’s first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with Ryle is upended, and Lily realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.
THEATRE
JULY 24 – AUGUST 25: Wicked – Buell Theatre WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz… but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.” From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED—the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers as “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”
EVENTS
JULY 12-14: Colorado Black Arts Festival – City Park For 38 years the Colorado Black Arts Festival has served a beacon for artistic and cultural expression for black artists and the community. This movement will continue to empower black artists working in all mediums to have space to create and be their authentic selves. So, join us as we celebrate this wonderful cultural experience through music, food, and art in the heart of Denver- City Park West July 12 – 14.Would you like to volunteer? Please visit: https://colbaf.org/volunteer/
JULY 13: Garden Conservancy Open Days Program – SummerHome Garden 651 S. Vine St. SummerHome Garden will be open for private tour under The Garden Conservancy Open Days Program. Digging Deeper Program also available which tells SummerHome Garden’s path to wildness presented by the founder and the designer, Lisa Negri. Tickets available at gardenconservancy.org. 9am-1pm
JULY 13: Westword Tacolandia – Civic Center Park Tacolandia, Westword’s celebration of tacos, returns to Civic Center Park from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, July 13. Last year’s event sold out, and this year’s will be even better as we serve up unlimited taco samples from the best taquerias in Denver. Enjoy a showstopping menu of tacos from the best spots around, both known and unknown. Out of the 20+ restaurants we’re expecting, we’re sure to offer something you haven’t tried. Discover your new favorite taco here!
THRU JULY 14: Revolt 1680/2180 Runners + Gliders – History Colorado Center This exhibit brings Indigenous Futurism to the Mile High City. Developed in partnership with Virgil Ortiz, an award winning artist and visionary hailing from Cochiti Pueblo, whose works have been displayed at museums around the globe, this exhibit will feature projection mapping and augmented reality alongside centuries-old Cochiti sculptures and Ancestral Puebloan pottery to transport the viewer through time and bring Ortiz’s stunning vision to life. Virgil Ortiz Revolt 1680/2180: Runners + Gliders draws inspiration from the most successful Indigenous uprising against a colonizing power in North American History, the 1680 Pueblo Revolt. In this new installment of his long-developing “Revolt” storyline, Ortiz explores themes of justice and resistance to oppression while reimagining Puebloan time through Indigenous Futurism, science fiction, and fantasy. This exhibit is inspired by the historic figures Omtua and Catua, who served as messengers during the 1680 rebellion, and carried coded messages to the Pueblos of what is now New Mexico.
JULY 16: Killer Queen – Red Rocks Ampitheatre The English rock group Queen is an iconic sensation stacking up 18 number one albums, 18 number one singles and is one of the world’s best-selling music artists. Their performance at 1985’s Live Aid is regarded as one of the greatest in rock history. The music of Queen continues to inspire generations of young and old fans through their infectious rock songs played.
JULY 27 & 28: Colorado Boat Dragon Festival – Sloan’s Lake Park Come join us for the LARGEST Dragon Boat Festival in the country! We are a free admissions festival where you can come celebrate the diverse AANHPI (Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander) cultures through our delicious Taste of Asia Food Courts, Asian Marketplace, Performances on three separate stages, a Dragonland area for kids, and of course, Dragon Boat Racing throughout the days.