LOOKING FOR HOLIDAY GIFTS? WANT TO STIMULATE THE ECONOMY? CONSIDER SHOPPING PLUS GALLERY

One of the absolute misunderstandings within the community of contemporary art is that you can't find a good bargain or even something remarkably well priced at a gallery as established as Plus.  We have a number of excellent recommendations for this years holiday shopping, whether you are looking for someone special on your list or upping the ante on your own with an art investment that will leave you satiated for the rest of your life.  While we always highly recommend considering the Plus Gallery artwork inventory in depth at any time, here are just a few items we think you should take note of for holiday gift-giving and receiving:


Bill Amundson Limited Edition Print

The first of it's kind for both the artist and the gallery, a high-quality print from a master artists presented in conjunction with Bill's current exhibition "Blurred Vision" and supported by Modern in Denver magazine.  Available for $250 each in an edition of 58, numbered and signed by Bill.

New Plus Gallery T-Shirt

Artwork and text from Bill Amundson's  savage and scintillating "Art Speak Remote" will grace this years new Plus Gallery holiday shirt, available in very high-caliber t's silkscreened in three colors in select sizes for both men and the ladies.  This year's design was inspired not only by Bill's artwork but by the opening salvo at his amazing artist talk on November 4th.  Available for pre-order now at $30 or at $35 once they are finished and unveiled at Frank T. Martinez exhibition opening on December 8th.

 








Xi Zhang - Dream Dusts book

Plus Gallery's most recent in-house publication is a tribute to the remarkable career of Xi Zhang.  At just the age of 26 this artist has produced some of the most fascinating and finely-hones bodies of work by any artist we've encountered.  The book looks and feels good, combining a multitude of Zhang's best and most recent works together with select text on the artist including his fascinating 2011 thesis writing.  Available for $100. We might also recommend asking about some of Xi's smaller, most affordable works, just a few are left and available at the gallery.
 
Jenny Morgan - New Frontier

We have exactly 2 more fresh copies of our first Plus Gallery book "New Frontiers" by Jenny Morgan, at a cost of $120.  After these two are gone, they will only be available by special order or direct from blurb.com for $150. A definitive collectors item and essential for all fans of Morgan's work.

Gabriel Liston's "How to draw your family"

A new and exquisite gem arrived at our doorstep recently by one of our favorite painters Gabriel Liston.  His handbound "How to Draw Your Family" is a fun and inspired combination of the artist's loose, magisterial sketches and often misunderstood wit.  We think it's the perfect stocking stuffer and are expecting a small run of copies to be available soon for the holidays.  Cost will be based on how much we like you and/or how badly you want one.  We also suggest considering any and all of the fine paintings from Liston's recent exhibition "Still on the Wrong Side of the Water" presented last july to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Plus Gallery in Denver.  Did we also mention the fine and affordable "Blue Book" tiles by Liston?  Also perfect for stocking or boxed, wrapped and stuck under a tree or two.
 

 










Ideal Woman & Mirror, Mirror Necklaces by Allie Pohl

Absolutely the ideal holiday gift, Allie Pohl has taken her concept of the "Ideal Woman" and developed a multi-tiered strategy for world domination, both as an artist and an icon.  We expect big things from Allie in the near future following her stunning solo exhibition "Mirror, Mirror" earlier this year at Plus Gallery.  We have a small supply of her necklaces, both the Ideal Woman in various colors and formats, as well as the new "Mirror, Mirror" that only the most deserving females can wear.

Plus Gallery gift certificate

Can't decide if that special someone will like that radically innovative new William Betts painting?  Not sure if Bill Amundson's "Eric Cantormoretti" will bring a smile or a frown? Don't make your holiday burden more than it needs to be, consider a Plus Gallery gift certificate in whatever amount you deem worthy, available just like cash and without an expiration date.

Riva Sweetrocket paintings (if you are in Niwot)

A few of Riva Sweetrocket's most recent paintings are currently on view at the Manifest Art Gallery in Niwot, on loan from Plus Gallery for their inaugural exhibition.  Sweetrocket recently left Denver for NYC, a move that we have no doubt will increase her collector base and elevate the level of her career substantially.  As a result, everything left in her inventory is worth consideration now, those prices are unlikely to go anywhere but up from here.  Read a little about her show in last week's report from the Longmont Times:

http://www.timescall.com/lifestyles/entertainment/ci_19349207

Colorado Artists turn bicycles into Works of Art for USA Pro Cycling Championship

11 artists from Colorado were selected by Plus Gallery owner Ivar Zeile to take brand new Cannondale bicycles and turn them into works of art, each pairing with a country that will be racing next month in the state for the historic USA Pro Cycling Challenge.  Plus Gallery hosted an unveiling event for the bikes on Thursday, July 28th, the only opportunity for the Denver public to see the bikes before moving on to Denver International Airport where they will be prominently displayed atop the baggage claim terminals during the month of August.

Here are select images of the artists and/or their bikes, you have to guess which country each one represents.....otherwise you can find out onsite at DIA starting Monday August 1st.

Rokko Aoyama and Doug Sink

Sabin Aell

Suzanne Bates

Justin Beard

Bradley Borthwick

Donald Fodness

Rafa Jenn

Viviane Le Courtois

Frank T. Martinez

Tara and Ryan Pattie

Jason Thielke

Plus Gallery intern Ida Chorney on Allie Pohl's "Mirror, Mirror"

        Being a student and resident of Colorado for three years now, I have been familiarized with Allie Pohl's work, and ideal woman icon. However, it was not until spending the last few weeks with Pohl's newest exhibit, Mirror, Mirror at the Plus Gallery that the meaning behind her work really came to life. Not only does Mirror, Mirror offer beautiful aesthetics through the combination of reflection and light, but as is consistent with all of Pohl's work, it speaks to and questions vital contemporary societal values and ideals.

        Growing up in the age of Barbie dolls and Disney princesses combined with the progression of digital enhancement, we find ourselves living in a time of grossly over exaggerated standards, where idealized perfection has become impossible to obtain. By utilizing the classic Barbie doll torso and further digitally enhancing the image, Pohl has created an icon that highlights our societies absurdities in a raw and honest way. The graphicness of Pohl's ideal woman icon, and the way in which she presents it, allows for the transformation of our societies physical ideals away from something we strive for, towards something dehumanized, and separated from reality. It is in this way that Pohl's work hits home for me, especially after spending so much time with her new exhibit in the gallery. The ideal woman becomes something to admire, to reflect upon, and not something to attempt and obtain. Mirror, Mirror shows the impracticality of aspiring to look like something, or be something that only exists through digital creation.

         Unlike previous exhibits, Mirror, Mirror includes a strong emphasis upon personal reflection and the value our society has put upon finding the "perfect mate". The exhibit displays a caryatid of five chrome ideal woman figures, surrounded by a variety of rectangular mirrors displaying words that are most commonly used in online dating profiles, as well as a neon ideal woman. Through her exhibit, Pohl emphasizes the juxtaposition between how we present ourselves to the public, and how we see ourselves in private. The mirrors display words such as "creative", "witty", "smart", etc. adding to the idea that in our contemporary world, even our personalities are open to digital enhancement. The experience of Mirror, Mirror cannot be experienced in a greater way than through interaction. Experiencing the exhibit first hand, one can see themselves, the ideal woman, and the ideal personalities we project, resulting in a culmination of a beautiful visual experience, and a forum for societal criticism. A truly unique experience.

         The Plus Gallery provides the perfect setting for Pohl's new exhibit, due to the gallery's ideological contemporary-progressive nature, and how the simplistic beauty of the space accents the inherent simplicity of Pohl's work. I have never seen an artist speak to and criticize societal issues in such a unique, beautiful way as Allie Pohl. Pohl has successfully taken the absurdities of our society and brought them into a new light, a light that allows us to move past unattainable goals of perfection, and begin to see ourselves in reality. I look forward to sharing Pohl's work and the creation of social change that will undoubtedly ensue. 

XI ZHANG UNVEILS AN IMPRESSIVE NEW PAINTING AT CU BOULDER ART MUSEUM FRIDAY, APRIL 1st

review "Fearing the Worst - Angst in new Japanese Art" with  "Ikeda is a visionary.  His large drawings in acrylic paint, applied with pens, describe masses of organic life, castle architecture, and a city, all infinitesimal in detail......... It would take you hours to explore thoroughly, and then you'd have to start over, to refresh your memory.  Does this sound like a stunt?  It's an enchantment."

We would say much the same for Xi Zhang's recently completed painting "No one's wonderland," a massive, extraordinarily dense work that conjures up many references from history as well as our most contemporary times, covering wide ground.  It's an unusual swath of life unlike anything ever seen in Colorado and maybe elsewhere, a pure merger between Chinese culture and the experiences of an artist absorbed into american life during his formative years as a painter.  Xi has always tilted the experimental curve within Denver's contemporary scene from the start a few years back.  His latest is an exciting, surreal view into the artist's brain, as close as one might get to that condition in a single work of art.

Zhang's new painting will be unveiled this Friday, April 1st from 5-7pm at the CU Boulder Art Museum for the exhibition "Beyond-2011 Spring MFA Thesis Exhibition."  Join us for the reception and to view Xi's achievement from 5-7pm that day.

CU Art Museum

1085 18th street
Boulder CO 80303

Xi Zhang with "No One's Wonderland / Form is Emptiness"

MIKE WHITING'S "RHINO" GETS BEST OF WESTWORD AWARD

Plus Gallery artist Mike Whiting received recognition in this week's "Best of Westword" for his public sculpture "Rhino" located at the corner of Larimer and Broadway.  The work was installed last October and commissioned through funds of the Broadway Viaduct Lower Maintenance District.  The BVLMD will be hosting a public dedication for Whiting's "Rhino," "Pinkie" and "Mr. Green" along with Mike Mancarella's "One Way" in celebration of the neighborhood improvements on First Friday in May the 6th.  The event will take place at Plus Gallery, more details to follow soon but save the date now.

http://www.westword.com/bestof/2011/award/best-art-district-icon-1770246/

ADDITIONAL PRESS COVERAGE FOR ALLIE POHL'S ORLANDO MUSEUM EXHIBIT

Alli Pohl's "Ideal Woman" continues to draw attention, read the latest on her contribution to the exhibition at the Orlando Museum of Art.

http://www.onviewmagazine.com/apr_may_2011.html

PLUS GALLERY TO MAKE SHIFT IN PROGRAMMING: WILL CARRY WORKS FROM JOHN FIELDER, OTHERS

Plus Gallery will make a substantial shift in programming starting today, Friday April 1st, with the addition of popular photographic works by Colorado legend John Fielder as well as other artists of supreme merit.  The move was prompted by Governor Hickenlooper's recent decision to celebrate Colorado's burgeoning status as an art mecca with the addition of a giant reproduction of Fielder's work in his new office on Capital Hill, as well as the success of last month's "Month of Photography" celebration, not to mention the countless people who have said "why don't you just carry artwork that might sell?"   Once we start to see positive results from the veritable cash-cow that Fielders work is likely to present, additional artists such as Thomas Kincaid will also be considered for key positions within the gallery stable.  Reproductions of works by Vincent Van Gogh, Edward Munch and Damien Hirst are likely to follow in the coming months.  Stay tuned for more details!

In case you missed it on your last drive through Colorado

OPENING RECEPTION FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT PLUS GALLERY - XI ZHANG: AWAKING DREAMS + NICK MUSAELIAN: HEROIC PAINTING

Plus Gallery concludes 2010 with the pairing of Boulder artists Xi Zhang and Nick Musaelian, two of the most exciting painters to emerge in the region in the last five years.  Zhang's "Awaking Dreams" and Musaelian's "Heroic Painting" create a visual experience like no other, each with recognizable elements that exude an intense reach for something extremely deep, thoughtful and playful all at the same time. This is the second major gallery exhibition for Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design graduate Zhang, who was noted as "Emerging artist of the year 2008" by art critic Kyle MacMillan in the Denver Post and who is currently finishing his MFA at CU Boulder.  The exhibition is Musaelian's debut in the Denver market, following his recent MFA from the New York Academy of Art and hot on the heels of recent exhibitions in NYC, Toronto, and Dublin.

Zhang and Musaelian split the main exhibition space on the first floor of the gallery, while upstairs will contain a display of Zhang's "b-sides" including his multi-panel erotic works that are all the rave.

We invite you to join us for the opening reception this Friday, December 3rd from 6-9pm.

GREAT NEW WORKS AT PLUS GALLERY BY RETTIG, MEYER, SWEETROCKET AND LISTON

A number of new gems were brought into Plus Gallery this last week and will be on view for the opening reception this Friday, including an elegant new triptych by Hunt Rettig, a singular small-scale painting by Riva Sweetrocket, a new (and absolutely stunning) new sculpture by Susan Meyer in the vein of "Shaft" but more compact, as well as 7 new blue book tiles by Gabriel Liston that diverge slightly from his regular's in that the skin is stripped away from the figures (ie....they are skeletons), not to mention a handful of super-affordable woodcuts, monotypes on paper and for the first time ever, compact monotypes on board. 

Stop by to see these gems, and the other great works currently on view by Plus Gallery artists.

NICE WRITEUP ON LAST WEEK'S AVANT GARDE FILM SHOWCASE AT PLUS GALLERY

Those who missed one of our best events in the gallery history, last week's "Into the Avant Garde - Landscapes," can read about it online from Westword's Benjamin Dayton who was as thrilled as everyone in attendance to be a  part of the evening.  We are sure to do more programming like this in the future.
http://fwix.com/denver/share/54e13f652c/avante-garde_dazzled_at_win_wears_landscapes_last_night_at_plus_gallery 

STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL MID-WEEK REPORT

The Starz Denver Film Festival is now well underway, with screenings occurring not only at the one-time festival central at the Tivoli Center but also at the new film center on Colfax next door to the cities two most treasured retail institutions The Tattered Cover and Twist and Shout records.   The festival's big-ticket items take place at the swanky Caulkins Opera House, which is a well suited, glamorous context for film or just about any affair.    That's where a packed house caught Danny Boyle's latest  127 hours, a spectacle that perhaps sounds better on paper but managed to pull its weight for the most part on the big screen.  While Boyle was set to receive the Mayor's yearly career achievement award the following evening, he was not available to introduce his big night film, leaving some in the audience to wonder if he was trapped under a rock in a Utah Canyon.  Fortunately the subject of his latest was in town, and in fact a Denver resident, providing as unique an introduction to his story as one could ask for, a nice and fitting touch for the festival.  His story is, of course, quite simple: man goes on an outdoor expedition to the Canyonlands of Utah, tells nobody where he is going, briefly meets and carouses with a couple of young women (whom he does not sleep with, even though he looks like James Franco), continues on his merry way and all of a sudden ends pinned 7/8 ths of the way down a slim canyon by a boulder that dislodges as he confidently traverses through.   It's definitely a fatalistic moment that could have ended much worse from the start, but if you believe in a playfully vengeful god, this scenario is far more appropriate.  And of course there are a ton of different possibilities in how to direct this material, Boyle proves as capable as anyone to ride this one-trick pony though I'd be hard pressed to call it his best (and I for one was not a Slumdog fan).  There are a lot of good reasons why people will connect with the film, however, whether it's having suffered any kind of injury involving a severed digit, or the mutual appreciation of isolation from your fellow man as a superior state of being.  And just about everyone I know has done something stupid that they end up regretting, though few go so far as to be able to contemplate the site of their own grave over it. The whole thing makes for a good night of drinking and storytelling, and the fact that the subject hails from Denver makes it all the sweeter as a major component to get the festival rolling.

My following evening out proved to resonate on a much different level.  Longtime film society patron and collaborator Joey Porcelli unveiled her first short film Condemned to an appreciative audience preceding one of the superior documentaries of the festival There once was an island. Joey's anger over the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989 once brought her to the brink of creating her first short film, a simple combination of text and imagery relating the tragedy in straightforward terms.  That she ended up shelving the project could be due to a lot of reasons, but she found new reasons and a stronger context to reprise the piece once this summer's BP oil-spill began to impact the collective consciousness.  It's hard to really critique a brief, socially aware work such as this, the timing and context is really what gives it impact.  But it's as much a statement about history repeating itself as it is a view of how visual history and our access to it have dramatically changed in just twenty years, for aspiring filmmakers everywhere.  Regardless, it was a nice moment in the bigger picture of the festival that brought one of it's longest and probably best patrons to the forefront on screen.

The feature that followed proved to be well worth the trip, the treatise of a remote island and existence of a 1000-year old culture being threatened by global warming proving to be significantly less heavy-handed than I would have imagined.  What is depicted is a scenario that captures the drama of life on many different levels, the context of sea-levels rising simply forcing many ageless issues that at the root of humanity. Some of the Islanders are against the option of moving en-masse to the larger mainland of Papua New Guinea, while others embrace the concept of being the "first" to make new roots and get on with their lives.  Much of the problem comes from the scale of the island economy and how that relates to the mainland culture, but the issues relating to it are relevant to a larger picture and one gets the feeling that it's more a matter of motivation than anything.  It's hard to watch the beach-side homes get flooded in real-time from an unusually high-tide, but the question begs as to why the islanders don't move their homes further inland to avoid such catastrophes in the first place.  Beach-front property is a costly thing no matter where you are, but the people of the film are also greatly limited in resource and education that might help them to adapt to the threat that's slowly brewing.  Ultimately, there are no firm resolutions offered and there is unlikely to be any.  The wider context of how many people across the globe may be threatened by nature's evolution drives the final point home, one most of us may or may not ever know in our lifetime.

The big-screen experience is definitely the high-point of attending the festival, but fortunately I had time to review several other films in advance of their festival screenings, including another local effort of feature-length in the narrative category that will make its debut towards this week's end.  Starz Film Festival staffer Neil Truglio's We are the sea has nothing at all to do with rising tide's, at least not those of the earth, but it has everything to do with impending change and understanding of the human spirit and personal evolution that can be enhanced through the interaction with others.  This quite, understated film was very impressive on a number of different levels, though it's most noted as an interpretation of the music by the Sub-pop band "Iron and Wine."  Truglio shows a fine gift for composition and pacing, one that is rare from a first-time effort and should allow him to move on towards a more developed career in film.  His acting leads (which include our ex-babysitter Chantelle Frazier) deliver honest and inspirational performances that could also pave the way towards greater careers in film.  It's nice to see this kind of talent so close to home, and I don't think the selection of "We are the sea" is gratuitous at all, particularly judging by how many other festivals across the country it has already been included in.  Perhaps there is a true movement occurring here in Colorado, and hopefully our new governor might find it wise to finally advance the cause of film production across the state so that one day big-time directors like Danny Boyle might decide to spend their budgets in Colorado instead of our neighbor Utah (though we must say the creative talent in the industry there is extremely high!).

It's nice to have the opportunity to watch something like "We are the sea" and compare it to other current indie-fare such as Tiny Furniture, a quirky narrative whose director has been touted as one of the 25 US filmmakers to watch by Filmmaker magazine.  Director Lena Dunham shows obvious ambition and ability with her film, providing a level of much-needed depth to the proceedings by serving as actor, writer and director.  But her vision might leave some audiences cold, as a lot of the proceedings come across as pretty pretentiousness, including the contemporary art context which rarely if ever seems genuine in narrative film.  I like to laugh and so wanted to but only on occasion did laughter come naturally with "Tiny Furniture," even the more inspired moments that are kind of funny. But it should speak well to a younger audience that takes "youtube" artists seriously and is a fine example of contemporary society finding a voice in film.

The changing of the guard

Two other films gained entry into Starz this year most likely on the basis of their major awards through prior prestigious festivals, including Berlin's Silver Bear winner How I ended this Summer and recent Cannes jury prize winner A Screaming Man.  Both also fit the mold of their relative festival wins quite well, and neither is likely to see much box-office outside of the festival circuit. These are excellent tales of human nature getting the best of the individual, along with elements far out of anyone's control having the greater impact.  In the case of the Russian "How I ended the summer", two men of tremendous age-disparity and circumstance share a remote work station at the Arctic Circle, their breakdown in communication leading to potentially tragic results. The film fits well into the genre of Russian existentialism as well as a contemporary dialogue on culture shift amongst the generations, and it's as well crafted as one might imagine for a polar narrative.  It's also fantastically long and slow paced, so those who prefer the hyper-speeded up action of "127 hours" may not do as well here.  "A screaming man" is a more sustained and perhaps durable affair that shows the context of impending rebel-based war in Chad as a disruptive force on ordinary lives, with a slow building family conflict leading to tragic (and most likely quite common) results.  The simplicity of the narrative is handled with strong, subtle direction by Mahamat-Saleh Haroun, which seemingly defies much tradition for the Cannes prize by virtue of location though really it's as solid and thoughtful a piece as anything likely in contention this year.  And it's definitely in keeping with the mission of Starz or any caliber film festival in providing substantial world cinema that might otherwise go unnoticed.

ONE OF THE COOLEST EVENTS OF THE YEAR COME TO PLUS GALLERY THIS THURSDAY NIGHT

Last summer I had the pleasure of attending the first program of Avant-Garde Cinema hosted by Win Wear and held at Object + Thought, "Dinner and the Avant-Garde."  The evening proved to be one of the most exceptional I've experienced in my entire ten years in Denver, the combination of the outdoor setting in a parking lot with projections on the side of a building, food cooked and served down-and-delicious without fuss or fanfare to an appreciative crowd, which gathered tightly packed in a tiny room to watch a number of the best examples of experimental cinema from the history of film, all projected old-school with the actual 16mm prints....the combination was simply a cinema enthusiasts dream come true and I was enthralled.

Since that time the program has developed into a semi-regular series, the curatorial talent and access by local experimental filmmaker Rett Rogers (along with CU Boulder head projectionist Jacob Barreras) plumbing the depths of the medium in the most excellent manner possible.  The latest iteration will occur this Thursday evening November 11th here at Plus Gallery and we could not be more thrilled.  The screening is dedicated to the poetic exploration of landscapes within Avant-Garde cinema and the work of its most honored artists including Ken Jacobs, Helen Levitt, Len Lye, and Nathaniel Dorsky. On tap are 8 short films that span from the birth of cinema to the present, and offer a range of methods and techniques including sublime documentation, rotoscoped animation, hand painted abstraction, and vivid 3-D.  Whether you are well versed or want to discover the extremes of avant garde film, this is a program not to be missed.  In addition to the films, home made morsels will be served, as well as thoughtful cocktails and a seasonal Great Divide brew.

Doors will open at 8pm, with an hour of mingling, getting the brain lubricated and engaging with the creative audience that will undoubtedly be on hand.  If you would like to join us, a suggested donation of $10 is in place for the event and will be well worth every penny.  It could be standing room only, we're not sure, but if you would like to reserve a spot we recommended contacting Rett Rogers at SirStarrett@gmail.com or calling 303-887-5157 in advance, otherwise bring a blanket to sit on or a pillow.

Win Wear is a small collective of Denver-based artists and musicians committed to the creation and promotion of honest artistic expression, along with the preservation and exhibition of the work which inspires it.

Plus Gallery is committed to redefining the way the community interacts with and understands contemporary art.

JENNY MORGAN COMMISSIONED AGAIN BY NY MAGAZINE

First they asked her to paint a portrait of NYC's most uber-socialite, and apparently they were so impressed that they have once again commissioned her to paint a portrait of one of the most notorious female figures in music of the last twenty years.  We can't wait to share the results........when they are ready!

TWO WEEKS BEFORE SOBEY ANNOUNCEMENT, BRENDAN TANG WINS ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS ART AWARD

The reason why our newsletter maintains a weekly presence is mostly due to the fact that the artists we work with are resoundingly making strides across the board with their art careers.  None moreso than Canadian artist Brendan Tang, who we had the pleasure of introducing last summer in our highly lauded Biennial of the Americas exhibition "You Are Here."  Anyone who has followed the gallery since summer knows that Brendan's stature has been on the rise all year, first with his nomination for the prestigious Sobey Art Prize, which he is now a finalist for (with winner to be announced next week), followed by scads of press from a variety of sources, and this week once again with his receipt of another prestigious award, the 10th annual Winifred Shantz award for ceramics which carries a $10,000 dollar purse.  What does all this mean for Brendan's career? Well, we have confirmed that two of his works from our exhibition will go not only to the 67th Scripps Ceramic Annual in California this winter, but will also return back to Denver for inclusion in next year's focus on clay exhibition at the Denver Art Museum.  Anyone looking for a solid acquisition should consider these works now while you still can, Tang's inventory has been largely depleted recently by collectors from his major exhibitions in Montreal and Toronto......and that's all before next week's exciting announcement of the Sobey winner.

PLUS GALLERY TO HOST "INTO THE AVANT-GARDE: LANDSCAPES" FILM PROGRAM NOVEMBER 11th

Win Wear teams up with Plus Gallery on November 11th to host their third film showcase -- Into the Avant-Garde: Landscapes - an evening of experimental cinema.  The screening is dedicated to the poetic exploration of landscapes within Avant-Garde cinema and the work of its most honored artists including Ken Jacobs, Helen Levitt, Len Lye, and Nathaniel Dorsky. The 8 short films, that span from the birth of cinema to the present, will offer a range of methods and techniques including sublime documentation, rotoscoped animation, hand painted abstraction, and vivid 3-D.

The program has been curated by local experimental filmmaker Rett Rogers with the help of Jacob Barreras (Head Projectionist for the Film Studies Program at the University of Colorado, Boulder) who will exhibit all films in stunning 16mm (!)  In addition to the films, home made morsels will be served, as well as thoughtful cocktails and a seasonal Great Divide brew.

Join us for an ethereal evening designed towards sensorial exploration, unprecedented creativity, and ultimately transcendence next week on November 11th, doors open at 8pm.  A suggested donation of $10 is in place for the event.

Seating will be limited, for reservations and more information contact Rett Rogers at SirStarrett@gmail.com or call 303.887.5157.

Win Wear is a small collective of Denver-based artists and musicians committed to the creation and promotion of honest artistic expression, along with the preservation and exhibition of the work which inspires it.

R. JUSTIN STEWART IN COLORADO SPRINGS

Plus Gallery artist R. Justin Stewart continues a year of invitational exhibitions at institutions throughout the country, this time returning to Colorado for the exhibition "Systematizing" at the Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  Opening this Thursday evening, November 4th and on view through December 16th, "Systematizing: part 1" features a site-specific installation titled "fully empty 2," which is composed of numerous pods made of a fabric body and end caps which are linked by rope to each other and the surrounding architecture. Through the installation process, the ropes create tension on the pods, giving shape to the otherwise limp fabric forms. Each unit is defined by its placement within the installation, such that its shape is determined by its relationship to its neighboring units and vice versa, allowing it to form organically. There is no blueprint for the overall installation, but rather the work grows piece by piece in an emergent fashion. In other words, another taut masterpiece by this exceptional emerging artist.

Listen to an interview live at 8pm with Justin tonight on the Untitled Art Show, also available for download as a podcast from their website after the show.

MORE OF THE ALLIE POHL COLLECTION COMES TO PLUS GALLERY

Plus Gallery artist Allie Pohl is quickly becoming recognized on a wide level for her compelling concept centered around the theme of the "Ideal Woman."  She has bridged across platforms that involve both high-art, retail and even environmental installation, the latest of which has now come to Plus Gallery, along with a selection of her scintillating ceramic works.  Pohl's "Ideal Woman: Fence" is another limited edition item with extreme versatility.  The components of the fence can be combined into expansive areas, or as we will have them displayed on occasion outside of Plus Gallery, in their singular modules to contain an object or area.  Stop by to see them for Denver Arts Week, along with the rest of her expansive collection including a wide selection of her popular women's necklaces.

Pohl's significant press profile is growing along with the stature of the institutions who have caught onto her talent, including the Orlando Museum of Art in Florida which will feature Pohl alongside some of the greatest contemporary artists of all time in the upcoming exhibition "XX/XY: Gender Representation in Art." A profile in the most recent issue of the Orlando Arts Magazine had this to say about Pohl:

"Born and raised in Winter Park, where her family still lives, Pohl considers the Orlando area home though she currently resides in Colorado, where she recently earned a Master of Fine Arts at the University of Denver.  She will be in good company in XX/XY - the 60 pieces will include work by Andy Warhol, Robert Mapplethorpe and Georgia O'Keefe.  Not bad for an artist who's only 26." - Terry Godbey, November/December, 2010

DENVER ARTS WEEK LAUNCHES FRIDAY

Denver Arts Week is once again upon us, a week long-plus celebration of arts in our community.  Though a bit redundant for the visual arts community (as we say, every week is "Denver Arts Week" at the gallery), nevertheless it's nice to see the city celebrate one of its greatest assets and something that brings joy to us all in its many forms throughout the year. 

The week always launches with "Super-first Friday" which is this Friday, November 5th when the galleries stay open past their normal bedtimes, including Plus Gallery which will be open till about 8pm or thereabouts depending on traffic.

Plus Gallery artist Bill Amundson has a presence up the street from us at the Mellow Mushroom during Denver Arts Week.  This new, sleek and sexy restaurant on the 16th street mall features a terrific giant mural by Amundson that any fan of his would appreciate, and we've contributed a selection of Bill's smaller gems for their patrons to engage with during DAW including Bill's previous commission for the Denver Theatre District in appreciation of the DPAC.  The Mellow Mushroom offers up a special pizza-pie for the event along with beer specials from Oskar Blues, do stop in for a visit if you are out and about down town this coming week.

Otherwise, Plus Gallery has a spectacular exhibition of new works by California artist Mike Whiting on view through the week and concluding on November 27th.  We guarantee any visit to Plus Gallery to be a worthwhile time if you want to find out about some of the best art being shown in Denver.

STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL PREVIEW FOR THE ARTISTICALLY INCLINED FILM LOVER

This year's Starz Denver Film Festival is right around the corner, commencing November 3rd,and is standing strong after 30 years as one of Denver's cultural touchstones that speaks to an enthusiastic and diverse audience.  While the festival has numerous opportunities for more profitable and high-profile mainstream films (and an exceptional recent history of academy award nominees and favorites filling the bigger slots), it is the specialty subjects and more remote features that really make it resonate.  So while the queueing may still be heaviest for Governor, I mean Mayor John Hickenlooper's brother's film "Casino Jack" or Danny Boyle's latest "127 hours," there are plenty of opportunities to find a seat for some of the more obscure pleasures such as this years focus on Iranian cinema, the Martin Scorsese profile of director Elia Kazan, or even "Pelada," the expose on soccer's universal stature in the sporting world.

I always start each festival by looking into films that might have a direct connection to contemporary visual art, the lineup generally offering a handful of features with enough zest to satisfy.  While this year's slate is limited in that category, the three I previewed are all solid and in the case of the documentary Marwencol, most likely one of the most unusual and engaging of the entire program.  Jeff Malmberg's depiction of artist Mark Hogencamp's unforeseen artistic journey is so astounding that it almost seems preposterous. Hogencamp and his art isn't exactly endearing on the immediate surface, the man was an alcoholic (and likely difficult human being) prior to being beaten within inches of his life, and made his artistic mark on the world with doll-based photography.  But every single aspect surrounding those two key elements is simply fascinating, the project itself any documentarians dream to reveal.  The title is derived from the universe Hogencamp created entirely from a collection of vintage dolls and whatever other materials he could put together for a very unusual therapy, and is an amalgamation of three real-life figures of great importance to the man.  Of course Mark never had any desire or ambition to share this universe with others outside of his immediate environment, like most artists would, and so the authenticity of the work as well as how he came to find his creations displayed in a prominent NYC gallery is riveting from start to finish.   The subject is treated with the utmost respect, Hogencamp himself offering much in the way of personal depth and sensational honesty that would be highly unlikely without the supreme trauma that created his situation.  And from my own experience in the art business, his work easily reaches way past the best of the genre.  Those who are well versed in the field might recall the 2005 issue of the excellent contemporary art journal Esopus which first featured Mark's story with a limited visual essay and interview.  The film takes the seed from that feature and develops it to thoroughly robust proportions, in essence delivering a gift to everyone who understands that depth of the human experience is of major importance in understanding any single work of art.

I can't recall the Starz Denver Film Festival featuring a screening that is actually a pure work of visual art, at least in a feature-length format, but Phil Solomon's American Falls is just that.  Colorado's reputation as a place for experimental cinema to be made and appreciated can be attributed primarily to the late, great Stan Brakhage, with the festival offering a yearly tribute in Stan's honor to filmmakers exploring the experimental and avante garde.  Perhaps the respect in a sleepy western state such as Colorado wouldn't be the same without Brakhage, but his legacy does seem to have inspired a pure following of both filmmakers and enthusiasts of the genre, including CU Boulder professor Phil Solomon, who was commissioned to create American Falls by Washington D.C.'s Corcoran Gallery of Art for their grand rotunda, in honor of their most celebrated painting "Niagra" by Frederick Owen Church (1857).  The result is a three-screen abstraction that includes a ton of sumptuous emulsion manipulation, historic sepia-toned imagery and a bevy of techniques culled directly from the experimental filmmakers handbook.  It is a striking piece of work that undoubtedly only resonates on a large screen or exhibition space such as a museum, and another gift to the film community here in Denver compliments of Starz.  As a feature, it's relatively brief at 55 minutes but also preceeded by another Solomon short based entirely on imagery from the video-game Grand Theft Auto.  But I must warn, those who don't have a taste for motion-based art may want to stick to the Hickenlooper film.....

Another intriguing work proposing the impact of visual art on society and culture is the US/Russia collaboration The Desert of Forbidden Art, a grand and highly implausible story of a very singular art museum in the remotest of regions, the desert of Uzbekistan.  As with most propositions, the Nikus Museum is the legacy of a visionary and obsessive individual, Igor Savitsky, who fancied himself an artist at a young age but went on to become a most inspiring and important collector of "lost" art.  Through many savvy techniques that involve wooing artists as well as soviet agents to support his endeavor, Savitsky managed to create a singular collection that would obviously never have materialized in any other way. The film imparts many important concepts towards this endeavor, mainly that Savitsky didn't care so much about his own health and well being, as well as that once established it would be up to others to somehow hold it together.  Though that striking ring of familiarity to it, particularly in these parts, the era and location make it a profoundly rich and moving story, one that most anyone with a soul for art should easily enjoy and relate to.  The fact that artists would often give their work up to this madman/visionary is also keen to note, and makes me think a lot about art scenes like Denver's where there is little genuine appreciation for what is being created here, at least in the contemporary vein.  Oddly enough the film includes voice talent by Ben Kingsley, Sally Field and Ed Asner to fill out the historic narrative, proving that at least three individuals based in the mainstream actually do have that soul.

AUTHOR, AUTHOR!

While films relating purely to contemporary visual arts are fewer this year than in previous festivals, there is a nice range of exposes on major literary figures and other topics relating to a historic dialogue on the arts.  The trio of  docs on writers is specifically welcome, each offering a meaty perspective for their respective audiences and collectively delving deeply into the nature of how to approach such topics when the very nature of the subjects isn't exactly visual.  In the case of William Burroughs: A Man Within you are dealing with a figure whose very presence and persona is almost cinematic enough.  At first I questioned the necessity for this treatise on Burroughs, but the effort quickly proved of value in both its perspective of this figure's deeper influence on our culture as well as his emotional gravity as a unique and complex individual.  The access that the young director is given for the project is remarkable enough, particularly as his bio notes his status of film-school dropout. It's hard to imagine Burrough's spending his final years in Kansas, but his relationships within that state are ultimately what led to this doc and it's as fine an effort as one can ask for.  The historic footage is a real treat and a number of the subject's interviewed to flesh things out will also be of interest to most audiences primed for the subject (particularly Gennesis P. Orridge). The director employs some simple animations to turn each chapter, they come across as somewhat mildly fancy displays of creativity but definitely don't take away from the bounty of insite revealed throughout.  Unless someone unveils some footage of Burroughs at a much younger age, this will likely stand as the final take on this fascinating man and his life.

That might not be the case with the biography Norman Mailer: The American, which is I believe is the first on this distinguished author.  It is also quite a fascinating journey, I can't claim to have much personal depth with Mailer but it's clear that he's as historic a figure of 20th century literature as Burroughs and a thoroughly different beast to relate to.  The story is told through a progression of his many published novels, as well as a lengthy series of wives through his numerous failed marriages. One gets the sense that were Mailer alive he might not completely approve of the treatment at hand (he dabbled rather unsuccessfully as a filmmaker himself), and at times the documentary relies on symbolic footage to carry the visual message,  but the story of this writers life and impact is strong enough for that to be forgiven and it should prove effective in possibly cultivating a new generation of readers.

Rounding out the focus on authors, and definitely the most remote of the lot, is the essay on writer and activist Grace Paley in the film Collected Shorts.  I will admit to not having any direct prior knowledge of Paley, she's definitely a figure embedded in a specific time and genre.  I can also admit that I was a teetering a bit on watching the piece, it's the most straightforward doc of the lot.  But it is also strong in its own way, at least for those who consider the historic value of the documentary medium.  Paley was obviously an important and daring woman, one who quietly followed a consistent path that resulted in greater standing for women in both literature as well as society at large.  There's even a great sequence that juxtaposes well with the Mailer doc, not to mention terrific footage of the author throughout her years.  Now if only the filmmakers had asked Sonic Youth to score the soundtrack like in the Burroughs doc, it might have a better shot at a larger audience.

WASN'T PUNK JUST SO COOL?

Indeed it was, and at least two documentaries are around to prove that, or at least suggest that the term punk will never die.  The most obvious of the lot is the documentary Blank City, which portrays NYC's hip transgressive culture scene from the 70's, providing a deep and lengthy analysis of how music, art and a certain low-brow spirit led to a number of important movements in film.  While it's certainly a relevant prospect to show how the ascendancy of No Wave and the Cinema of Transgression led to the formal basis of indie film, it all seems just a bit taxing on the viewer, even at only the hour and a half mark.  But there is good solid historic analysis going on here, and ultimately one gets a sense that one thing led to another in a city that rightly cultivated movements and talent across every cultural sphere of importance at a time when lower Manhattan looked like a war bunker.  It's not too much fun to watch snippets by some of the DIY pioneers, their aesthetic barely above the level of most of today's you-tube culture, but there is a ton of relevance when you see the material transform at the hands of an auteur like Jim Jarmusch, who actually had both skill and a hip persona to become a truly relevant and distinguished career director.   But there are some good stories along the way, and it is nice to note that some of these individuals really were not cut out for mainstream success in any way but were also, well, kind of just normal people?

Barbershop Punk takes the term in a different direction, one that in my opinion is a bit of a mistake for the filmmakers.  There is very little that is punk about barbershop, and maybe even less-so surrounding issues of net neutrality.  But somehow the two terms come together to paint a picture of a modern-day hero who found himself one minute on his death-bed, the next as the individual who forced the FCC, Comcast and the federal government to take a closer look at perilous issues of freedom and net neutrality.  It's actually a  bit confusing to relate in a paragraph, let alone a full-length documentary, and unfortunately the first half hour of this piece made me question bothering at all.  But the further Barbershop Punk rolls along, the better it gets and the more it makes us gasp at the complexities and uncertainties facing our current internet-based universe.   It's a human interest story for sure, with the hero being a normal, good natured citizen with nothing really to gain and a lot to lose by going out on a limb, bolstered by a number of interviews from old punks who take this shit very seriously and thus provide something more glamorous for the audience to relate to through the proceedings.  Perhaps someone will decide to give this the Hollywood treatment and jazz it up just a bit, a little fictional context certainly wouldn't hurt!

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

Or maybe not, Europeans have been tossing out ludicrous narrative features by the bucketful for ages, and thus the term "Art House" somehow seems to derive from their better attempts.  But every year the festival is full of efforts that miss the more popular art-house screens here in America and undoubtedly don't make much of an impact in their own stations.  But at least they try, and the Hungarian feature Bibliotheque Pascal seems to at least be some kind of contender.  While well filmed and acted (for the most part) and claiming the mantle of Hungary's nominee for Best Foreign Language Film for the upcoming  2011 Academy Awards, it's doubtful to give the Romanians much of a run for their money as the "it" thing in current world cinema.  But this hallucinatory tale of dreams and debasement does have its higher merits, and when considered, say, in relationship to this year's unlikely blockbuster "Inception" I'd have to say I spent a lot more time trying to make sense of it all after the fact.  It's pretty good, slightly demented fun that feels a perfect fit for the international narrative portion of the festival.

We'll have more reviews and notes on additional films from Starz next week, we recommend getting tickets now for any features you might want to see.