Visual Arts
From abstract expressionism to public art, summer’s canvas is awash in a variety of styles.
“Women of Abstract Expressionism,” June 12-Sept. 15, Denver Art Museum
DAM has set expectations high for this show, which brings attention to some overlooked female painters working at the mid-20th century height of abstract expressionism. You may know Helen Frankenthaler and Joan Mitchell, but be prepared for a stunning, and overdue, introduction to Ethel Schwabacher, Sonia Gechtoff and other worthy names. DAM, 100 W. 14th Ave., Denver, 720-865-5000 or denverartmuseum.org.
“All New Women,” June 12–Sept 18., Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
This is one of those shows that will either be a disaster or the best idea to come along in a decade: side-by-side showings of classic society portraits by painter John
Singer Sargent and neo-classic self-portraits by contemporary photographer Cindy Sherman, who makes herself up to look like society women. Separately, they’re geniuses … but together? Gotta see that, I say. FAC, 30 W. Dale St., Colorado Springs, 719634-5581 or csfineartscenter.org.
David Freeman, “Observing (A)trophy Life — Celebrating Our Luxury of Social, Personal and Political Addiction,” June 18-July 16, Leon Gallery
This freewheeling exhibit of works by Texas-based Freeman will offer a smart take on issues of immigration and border blocking just as Donald Trump will be heating up the dumbeddown version. How can you resist a show that promises “drug cartel-inspired, mixedmedia trophies, life-sized piñatas in the image of border patrol guards and refugees, and colorful, border travel photographs”? Leon, 1112 E. 17th Ave. 303-832-1599 or leongallery.com.
Finishing School, “BLISS,” June 23-Sept. 11, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
BMoCA turns over its space to the California-based, artist collective Finishing School, known for its participatory projects exploring connections between “surveillance, power and play.” “BLISS” promises to provide urbanites with all the tools they need to avoid detection by the pervasive electronic tools that have their eyes on all of us. BMoCA, 1750 13th St., Boulder. 303-443-2122 or bmoca.org.
Patrick Dougherty, site-specific installation, June 26-July 4, Green Box Arts Festival
The Green Box fest pulls together art, music and dance, but it gets its biggest bang from the monumental art installations it produces by major names in the field. This summer, renowned “stick artist” Patrick Dougherty will pull together one of his massive branch sculptures using debris leftover from recent floods in the area. Various locations, Green Mountain Falls (about 10 miles northwest of Manitou Springs), greenboxarts.org.
Guido Ignatti, “Set Up,” July 1-Sept. 11, Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
The MCA has been performing a crucial public service lately importing artists from across the Southern Hemisphere and showing how similar — and how different — their viewpoints are from the creative minds in this country. Expect some wild adventures in this exhibit of paintings and installations by Brazilian artist Guido Ignatti, who explores the possibilities of artistic interventions in urban life. MCA, 1485 Delgany St., 303-298-7554 or mcadenver.org.
“The Revolution Will Not Be Gray,” July 1-Oct. 16, Aspen Art Museum
The Aspen Art Museum has a lot going on this summer, including don’t-miss exhibits by Gabriel Orozco and John Outterbridge. But this group show, looking at the art of protest, will probably be the loudest, broadest and most revealing. In the lineup: Andrea Bowers, Pedro Reyes, Adam Pendleton and more. AAM, 637 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen, 970-925-8050 or aspenartmuseum.org.
“Dance in American Art,” July 10-Oct. 2, Denver Art Museum
Sometimes the shows that seem easy are actually the most challenging. Will this wideranging assemblage of paintings and photographs depicting dancers such as Fred Astaire and Katherine Dunham come off as crowd-pleasing fluff or serious mashup of two great art forms? Either way, it’s a good bet for beating a heated summer afternoon. DAM, 100 W. 14th Ave. 720-865-5000 or denverartmuseum.org.
“The Swarm,” Aug. 12–21, the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts
We’re not sure what to expect from artist Tasha Lewis’ community public art project — except magnetic blue butterflies, hundreds and hundreds of them spread around town. The installation is part of BIFA’s growing festival of art, music, theater and dance that’s suddenly making the mountain town a worthy cultural destination in summer. Various locations in downtown Breckenridge, breckcreate.org/bifa.