Downtown showcase.

Festival at Pavilions filled with paintings, floral design

ArtStir festival on the 16th Street Mall features 100 local artists.

As a breeze blew Saturday along Denver’s sunny 16th Street Mall, a steady stream of passers-by and art enthusiasts browsed through the fourth annual ArtStir festival at Denver Pavilions. The exhibits, which wound down Glenarm Place and alongside 15th Street, featured work only by Colorado artists.

“It’s what they say: location, location, location,” blacksmith, painter and photographer John Haley said of the benefits of setting up shop next to the 16th Street Mall.

The festival, which continues Sunday, includes arts ranging from blacksmithing and painting to floral design and swing dance.

A crowd of hundreds continually replenished itself from the nearby mall and the Denver Pavilions stores overhead.

“So many people have moved to Denver (lately),” said show director and cofounder Wendy Manning. “They’re craving local art.”

For the second consecutive year, ArtStir partnered with VSA Colorado/Access Gallery, a nonprofit that provides creative and educational opportunities for people with disabilities. The organization’s booth sold artwork by disabled students.

“When I was in high school, one of my teachers asked if I wanted to have an internship,” said Jareth Charles, a VSA artist. “I was told to make some art, and I did, and they liked it.”