Art Colorado - Spring 2024

ART COLORADO

Shawn Huckins

The Artist’s Wardrobe on Two Subjects: Mary and Elizabeth Royall (after Copley), 2023 oil and acrylic on canvas 78 x 64 in

Anne von Freyburg

Anne von Freyburg, Untitled (after Fragonard / Venus and Cupid), 2020 fabric painting: acrylic, synthetic-fabrics, spray-paint, tapestry-fabric, hand-embroidery, polyester wadding, and hand-dyed tassel fringes on canvas 150 x 110 cm

Bitfactory Celebrates 10 Years with a New Show by Founder W. Max Thomason

Owner and curator W. Max Thomason marks the anniversary of his gallery with a new solo exhibition of his work. Thomason established Bitfactory ten years ago as a creative hub housing artist studios and an art gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District. Also, a working artist, Thomason’s latest collection of paintings in a solo exhibition entitled Bespoke, on view April 19 through May 4, 2024. Much of the work features detailed

urban settings focusing on a singular figure that activates and enlivens the scene.

Finally able to concentrate on painting again after several years of personal loss and tumultuous life changes, Thomason found a respite and renewed enjoyment in his creative practice resulting in the body of work that makes up this new exhibition. Some subjects in the pieces are observed unaware, moving through the cityscape by

W. Max Thomason: (above) Even if

detail of We

Legs

day, or quietly lit by the signs and streetlights after dark. The female figures in other works feel enveloped by the darkness and conjure a more haunting side of urban life. Whether mundane or mysterious, each work strives to evoke a particular mood and moment in time.

Visitors to Bitfactory often express their thrill to have discovered the gallery and the gallerist, both an unexpected presence in a district full of art businesses. Thomason with his streetwear style, sturdy muscular physique, striking grey beard and smooth head, invokes bar-bouncer vibes. His “look” however, is in clear contrast to his calm, reserved demeanor and the meticulous space curated with contemporary shows that range from unique and “edgy” to more traditional themes and mediums.

He opened Bitfactory Studios in 2014 and launched Bitfactory Gallery in 2015 with his own solo show, Focused Background Noise. In 2016 he featured famed fashion photographer Gary Wallis and he is proud to have been able to maintain a reputation that attracts well-known artists while still offering plenty of opportunity for emerging creatives who may not be a good fit for other spaces. He is not afraid to confront issues such as domestic violence, as with A.L. Lummus’s well-received “Mettle Martry” exhibitions, or to showcase the beautifully ingenious “Chastity Couture” sculptures of renowned artist Ira Sherman. He is recognized

(top) We Are Passengers on Boats Slowly Sinking, 2023 / (bottom)

No Matter what Kind of Darkness You’ve Been Through, You can Let Some Light in Without Setting Everything on Fire, 2021

as an ally and offers a welcoming space for queer artists and pridethemed exhibitions. Thomason looks back with equal esteem at an exhibition of student work from Denver’s Thomas Jefferson High School—his only to fully sell out—and a pop-up show by May Pang featuring photographs during her “Lost Weekend” with John Lennon. Other highlights have been the all-digital art show with Firm Graphics and the privilege of hosting an intimate concert with the iconic jazz guitarist Bill Frisell.

An artist at his core, Thomason spent years as a full-time musician, drumming and touring with bands such as Carolyn’s Mother and Ten Cent Redemption and working as a DJ at local clubs and raves. In 2011 he switched his focus back to visual art in which he was formally educated and rented a studio above the antique store on 8th Avenue and Santa Fe Drive. He soon discovered that he missed the collaborative environment of an active, engaged group of artists that he enjoyed in art school. Always up to the challenge of creating something out of nothing, when the building at 851 Santa Fe went up for sale in 2014 he jumped at the chance to develop the artist studio community he wanted to be a part of. He took advantage of the prime store-front space and went into the gallery business as a bit of an afterthought, learning the ins and outs along the way. He is proud to have built meaningful relationships, earned a level of respect, and fostered an environment of inclusivity and fun not only for himself but for his tenants and exhibiting artists.

(top) As Deihd Uisge (After the Rain), 2023 (bottom) Life Moves

Pretty Fast, If You don’t Stop and Look Around Once In a While You Could Miss It (Taco Tuesday), 2021

Bespoke Opening Night Celebration is on Friday, April 19 from 6 to 9 pm 851 Santa Fe Dr. / bitfactory.net

Tenth Anniversary Exhibits

February 16

March 21

May 2

June 21

August 1

Deb Adams Welles Ann Marie Auricchio Jennifer Bain Jeff Baldus

Andrew Beckham Brenda Biondo Teresa Booth Brown Eva Bovenzi

Robert Brinker Isa Catto K Rhynus Cesark Raul de la Torre

Anna Dvorak Richard Eisen Angela Faris Sharon Feder

John Garrett Jody Guralnick Liz Hickok Fred Hodder Tom Hoitsma

Jeff Horton Etsuko Ichikawa Pamela Joseph Margaret Kasahara

Eden Keil Gwen Laine Margaret Lawless Marietta Patricia Leis

William Loveless Nancy Lovendahl Mike McClung Thomas Müller

Merdith Nemirov Peter Olson Kelton Osborn Collin Parson

Jay Phillips Sara Ransford Mark Rediske Andrew Roberts-Gray

Melanie Rothschild Lorelei Schott Brian Shields Paul Sisson

Allison Stewart Floyd D Tunson Sherry Wiggins Meghan Wilbar

Featured Artists / Fascination St. Fine Art

Michael Cheval, whose Absurdist paintings play on the imagination and delve into a realm that's both peculiar and enchanting.

Tom Everhart, celebrated for his bold and colorful paintings that incorporate iconic Peanuts characters, having been the only artist authorized by Charles Schulz to work with his characters.

Craig Alan, celebrated for his innovative Populous series, where he creates detailed portraits and images through meticulously painted tiny figures. These figures come together to form a larger image, a fascinating intersection of the minute and the grand.

Bill Mack, a self-taught master in the rare art of relief sculpture, works primarily in "alto relief," a style which brings a dramatic sense of depth to his pieces. Mack's artistry is deeply rooted in classical sculptural techniques yet is presented with a modern twist.

Nano Lopez, widely recognized for his figurative and “Nanimal” bronze sculptures that are rich with texture, color, and whimsicality. His bronze animals are depicted with a fusion of organic and fantastical elements, making them uniquely identifiable.

Fabio Napoleoni, known for his colorful and whimsical characters that convey the emotional struggles of the human condition.

Gabe Leonard, the "cinematic artist," known his vivid depictions of cowboys, musicians, gangsters, and gunmen.

Spotlight / Plinth Gallery

The vision for Plinth Gallery is to showcase fine contemporary ceramics, while also providing a location for education in the ceramic arts with extensive outreach to public, private schools, and community colleges. Named for the architecture feature that serves as a base or platform, Plinth Gallery is a gathering place that provides an educational forum for the introduction of contemporary ceramic arts to our community.

Plinth Gallery is an intimate and everchanging exhibition space for contemporary ceramics offering a unique venue with a very well curated collection for those interested in fine, contemporary, and collectible ceramics. Whether sculptural or functional, the gallery provides exhibition opportunities for both emerging ceramic talent as well as established career clay artists. The many styles of clay expression demonstrate a broad diversity of interpretation. They host 5 two-month exhibitions yearly of national and international ceramic artists.

According to Gottfried Semper’s The Four Elements of Architecture (1851), the plinth exists to negotiate between structure and ground. Artists selected for exhibitions at Plinth Gallery take this core idea and use it in their artful manipulation of material in both traditional and abstract ways. While the

idea of the vessel is defined by containment, it is precisely the content that gives the work meaning and inviting of dialog.

2727 E 3rd Ave. Denver, CO 80206 (303) 333-1566

FascinationStArt.com

info@FascinationSt.com

Fascination St. Fine Art & Frame is an established gallery located in the Cherry Creek North shopping district of Denver, Colorado. Founded in the summer of 1992, the gallery boasts 5,000 square feet of gallery space and a rich collection of original paintings, sculptures, and limited edition artworks. The gallery showcases the work of a diverse range of world-renowned contemporary artists and has been a significant part of the Denver art scene for over 30 years.

We host at least twelve art exhibitions per year with our top artists, where collectors and guests can engage with the artists to learn about their inspirations and techniques. Giving back to the community is also part of our DNA, and we partner with non-profits to sponsor fundraisers in our space where we donate a percentage of all proceeds during the event.

Our mission is to help our guests unravel the silent love language of art and foster an environment where individuals can experience profound emotional connections and quiet revelations. We believe in the transformative power of art to transcend words and speak directly to the soul, evoking a range of emotions and sparking moments of wonder, introspection, and enlightenment.