Plus Gallery salutes artist Riva Sweetrocket, on her way to a new life in the big apple!

Last week brought very sad news for the gallery and Denver's art community as Plus Gallery artist Riva Sweetrocket moved from her home and studio in the Rino District to continue her career in New York City.  Normally we would have hosted a major farewell for Riva but her anxiety amidst one of the toughest real-estate markets ever and pressure to make the move presented numerous challenges for her and her husband Rohan.  We have no doubt that she will be back one day to present new paintings here at Plus Gallery, but until then we salute one of the most natural, gifted and personable artists to ever live in Denver.

Plus Gallery will continue to represent Riva and is thrilled to see what the move will do for her career.  If Jenny Morgan is any indication, it will be the best thing she could possibly do and we expect her value to soar!  We'll keep everyone posted on her developments from here and extend her best wishes to her many friends, collectors and everyone who supported her career while she was in Colorado.   Best of luck Riva, we will miss you!

Here's a brief but fond look back at Riva:

Riva at the Foothills Art Center with her magnificent diptych, 2007

One of the greatest works ever displayed at Plus Gallery, 2008

Denver Post's "Top Ten Art Shows of 2008"

First choice for the Denver Theatre Districts outdoor art gallery, 2009

Riva at the Buell with city of Denver curator Rudi Cerri, 2009

Pure bliss in action, 2009

Riva discusses her work for the DAM Contemporaries at her most recent Denver exhibition at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 2010/2011

Terrific Gabriel Liston Book Available on Blurb.Com

"We Will be rich for the rest of our lives" is a gift from artist Gabriel Liston to the world, his first compilation of ink drawings and crayon and oil landscapes becoming blue book tiles and oil paintings, in one complete package. Through 40 pages Liston has given a wonderful glimpse into his career and artwork, the cover boasting one of his best paintings to date (and available to see in person at Plus Gallery along with the rest of his masterpieces).

Take a preview and consider purchasing this gem at the following link:

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/919757

Gabriel Liston - We'll be rich for the rest of our lives

"Gabriel Liston: Take That and Stand by For Trouble" by Jesse R. Fisher Now on YouTube

Plus Gallery's current exhibition of new works by Gabriel Liston features a short video profile of the artist by New York Filmmaker Jesse R. Fisher.  It is an impressive, thoughtfully constructed film in it's own right and an excellent accompaniment to Gabriel's work in the exhibition.  We have posted Jesse's film on our youtube site at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VPAOzA8RLc

Here's what Jesse has to say about the film:  "Gabriel Liston: Take That and Stand By for Trouble is a short documentary born out of my interactions with the artist during the last weeks of his residence at the New American Art Union in May 2010. In that residence, Liston moved his painting studio into the gallery and invited visitors to peruse his notebooks, to observe him at work in the gallery, and to engage with him in conversation. Similarly, Take That... is both a window into the artist's past and his present (now past). It sketches the history to that point of Liston's own blend of work and life, and offers evidence as to how each one informs the other."

Jesse R. Fisher is a filmmaker and film and video editor based in Brooklyn, NY. As a director, his work is generally situated around relationships, particularly those between humans and the spaces that they inhabit. As an editor, his work has shown both in the US and abroad. He is currently in production on a short documentary about folks who are interested in the New Jersey Meadowlands.

Jenny Morgan To Visit Denver For Ten Days, August 16-26th

Plus Gallery artist Jenny Morgan didn't hesitate when asked if she would come to Denver for an extended stay, a working vacation or our own version of an artist "residency" as she will work on a new painting during her time here.  The Denver market is where Jenny's fabulous and fascinating career started and continues to play a significant role in her current growth and emergence as an international talent of importance.  The first eight years of her career have been unprecedented in so many ways and a significant factor in Plus Gallery's ten-year history.  Morgan will return to Denver next spring to unveil an entire new body of work here with us, sure to be one of the major art events of 2012.

Tune into the Untitled Art Show next wednesday August 17th at 6pm to hear a live interview with Jenny at the start of her visit to Denver, we're sure it will be worth listening into.  http://www.UntitledArtShow.com

Shannon Novak's Latest Public Project Is Astounding!

New Zealand artist Shannon Novak sent us images of his latest project, an absolutely remarkable temporary installation piece for the New Plymouth Clocktower coinciding with the Taranaki International Arts Festival.  The work is akin to his "Winged Crescendo" that currently graces the exterior awning here at Plus Gallery, one of the most impressive collaborations we've ever been involved in (considering the artist created the piece half-way across the world and has never visited Plus).  We applaud Novak's efforts and congratulate him on his latest and most impressive endeavor for the people of New Zealand to enjoy.

Read more about the project at:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/5400888/Like-time-this-colourful-artwork-will-be-fleeting/

August Is Bill Amundson's Month at the Mellow Mushroom

We just received a few copies of the Mellow Mushroom's 2011 calendar and discovered that Bill Amundson's artwork from their downtown Denver location is featured for the month of August!  One of Bill's largest commissions to date, his giant mural at MM on the Sixteenth Street Mall between Larimer and Lawrence is a feast for the eyes and probably the most staggeringly impressive artwork publicly on display in an interior anywhere in the state of Colorado.  Stop by to check it out if you haven't already and enjoy some tasty pizza!

Channel 9 New Profile on DIA Bike Project

If you missed Channel 9 news profile last week on the Plus Gallery curated DIA bike project you can take a look online by visiting:

http://denver.metromix.com/arts-culture/article/usa-pro-cycling-bike/2757230/content