XI ZHANG WRAPS UP MONTH IN ARGENTINA AS DENVER AND US AMBASSADOR FOR BIENNIAL OF THE AMERICAS

Today marks the last day for Plus Gallery artist Xi Zhang as he concludes his month-long residency in Buenos Aires at URRA as an ambassador for Denver and Platform 5280 Biennial of the Americas.  Zhang's stay in Argentina has been a productive one, with several new paintings completed and a host of smaller study works including his terrific series on gold-leaf.  We can't wait to have Xi back in town to hear more about his experience and to showcase some of the works created in the lower half of our hemisphere. Thanks to Platform 5280 for their belief in and selection of Xi for this opportunity, and to URRA head Melina Berkenwald and this year's fellow resident artists who made Xi feel at home.

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MELISSA FURNESS FEATURED IN FORT COLLINS NATIONAL JURIED EXHIBITION VISIONS AND VIEWPOINTS OPENING TONIGHT, NOVEMBER 30th FROM 5-7PM

Tonight the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins opens the exhibition "Visions and Viewpoints," a national juried show curated by guest jurors Louis Recchia and Zoa Ace. The exhibition, which includes one of Plus Gallery artist Melissa Furness' recent paintings "Constant Acclivity,"  should be a provocative showcase of works in a mix of painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, photography, sculpture, video, and new media.  If you happen to be in Fort Collins this evening, stop by to see the show and say hello to Melissa.

Constant Acclivity 

FINAL WEEK FOR SUSAN MEYER EXHIBITION "PLATO'S RETREAT" - SELECT HOURS FOR THANKSGIVING WEEK

This is the final week to stop by Plus Gallery and view Susan Meyer's wonderful and ambitious mixed media exhibition "Plato's Retreat."  The gallery will be closed this Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, but otherwise open for regular hours on Wednesday as well as Saturday, which will be the last day for the show.  Next week the centerpiece of the exhibition will travel to Miami and go on view at Aqua 12 Art Fair in association with ArtSlant as one of four international artists curated into their "Fringe Frontier" competition showcase.  For more information on ArtSlant visit their website at http://www.artslant.com

Plus Gallery was thrilled to have Dana Schutz visit the gallery and take in Meyer's exhibition a couple of weeks ago while she was in town for her Logan Lecture and exhibition opening at the Denver Art Museum.  Schutz is not only one of the most interesting painters in the world today, as anyone who has seen her spectacular exhibition at the DAM can attest, but she's also one of the most gracious and oddly wholesome artists we've ever had the opportunity to meet.

DU Professor Sarah Gjertson with Dana Schutz at Plus Gallery

BILL AMUNDSON TAKES THE STAGE AT THE DAM NEXT WEDNESDAY FOR A HISTORIC LOGAN LECTURE

Next week is going to be one of the most entertaining of the year as Plus Gallery artist Bill Amundson makes his way back to Denver for two great events. First up is his Logan Lecture at the Denver Art Museum on Wednesday evening, November 28th.  Following on the heels of Dana Schutz and her terrific lecture should be no problem for Bill, he is one of the most fun and engaging speakers in the world of art. This is the second year that the series has featured a Plus Gallery artist, we could not be more thrilled for the recognition of the talent within our program and the opportunity for the museum and in particular the DAM Contemporaries to put them in such a prestigious community spotlight.  Get your tickets online now and join us next Wednesday evening.

http://damcontemporaries.denverartmuseum.org/

Amundson works in the permanent collection of the DAM, left to right: "Nervous Patriot," "Teen Excavation," and "Self Portrait with Pricey Mountain Homes"

Also set for next week is a small showcase of recent works by Bill in our upstairs viewing space to coincide with his 60th birthday this January.  In addition to his recently completed, absolutely mind-blowing drawing "In the Valley of the Job Creators," we'll be presenting an assortment of new self portraits including "Bad Discovery II," "Sixty And Loving It! (Annotated Version),"  I Saw The Figure Sixty In Gold (Thinkin' Positive)" as well as the intellectually, artistically profound "Beaux Arts Nude With Penis Remote."  We'll host an opening reception and fun-filled event next Friday evening, November 30th.....see below for more details.

YUST LOVELAND MUSEUM GALLERY EXHIBITION NOW OPEN - CATALOG'S AVAILABLE AT PLUS GALLERY

The Loveland Museum Gallery recently opened the exhibition "Dave Yust - 40 + Years of Printmaking: A Retrospective" in honor of the career achievements and depth of one of Colorado's most historically significant contemporary artists.  The exhibition features a treasure trove of rare works that have defined Dave's career, as well as a look at his most recently completed series of Heart-shaped Monotypes.  It warrants the trip up north from anyone interested in Yust's artwork, providing an exceptional compliment to his 2008 partial retrospective hosted by the Arvada Center.

We have posted images from the exhibition on the Plus Gallery website, and now have copies of the 72 page full color catalog at Plus as well.  Take your friends or family up to Loveland over Thanksgiving to see this outstanding show, or anytime throughout this winter up through February 17th, 2003.

http://www.plusgallery.com/artists/yust

On Saturday, December 1st the DAM Contemporaries will host an artist-led tour with Dave Yust at the Loveland Museum Gallery as well as a guided tour of "De Wain Valentine - Colorado's Valentine."   The tour starts at 11am and is limited to 20 DAM Contemporary members. To sign up contact 720-913-0150 by November 28th, or get more information visit the DAMC website.

AUSTIN PARKHILL OPENING RECEPTION + SELECT NEW DRAWINGS BY BILL AMUNDSON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30TH 6-9PM

Plus Gallery concludes the strongest year in the gallery history with the debut solo exhibition "At Your Best" by the exceptionally talented emerging artist Austin Parkhill. Parkhill's first solo exhibition with Plus Gallery comes on the heels of his acceptance in the current Western Edition of New American Paintings, as well as being one of 50 artists from the USA to be selected for the 2nd edition of the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition recently hosted by the Smithsonian Institution at the National Gallery in Washington D.C. Parkhill has gradually built an outstanding series of paintings that are impressive in scale, technique and coherence that capture a snapshot-style pose of his subjects.

Plus Gallery will also host a special subsidiary exhibition on our second floor of recent works on paper by legendary artist Bill Amundson, who who returns to Colorado to deliver a Logan Lecture at the Denver Art Museum on Wednesday, November 28th and to celebrate slightly in advance his 60th birthday. Plus Gallery will host a reception for artists Austin Parkhill and Bill Amundson on Friday, November 30th from 6-10pm.  The reception is free and open to the public.

Happy Thanksgiving from Plus Gallery

Plus Gallery would like to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving holiday this week. As we reflect on what has been one of the most outstanding year's in our 11 year history, we would like to give extra special thanks to all of those who have gone the furthest in supporting the artists within our program through collecting their work. Nothing that we do would be possible otherwise and the impact it has on our artists and their careers is invaluable. We also give thanks to those who view the gallery itself as one of the more sacred places in the community for cultivating lasting, distinguished and compelling talent and who understand that regular visits here are one way to show that appreciation. We give great thanks to each and every one of our artists for their pursuit of quality and distinction within their work and own lives, and for supporting our efforts both individually as well as collectively. Thanks to the performers and national artists such as Susan Alcorn, Janet Feder, Jeremy Bailey, Alison O'Daniel, Louise Dam Eckardt Jensen, Tom Blancarte and Conrad Kehn who have traveled to Denver to give us such terrific and memorable evenings for our experimental series. We thank venues such as the CVA, Arvada Center and Denver Art Museum for including our artists in their  programs and exhibitions this year, as well as major publications like the ever impressive Modern In Denver for taking note of our artists with spectacular features in print. Thanks also to Westword, Denverarts.org and the RiNo Crow for continually providing a sneak peak or mention of our efforts. And lastly, we thank our terrific interns who have helped us greatly in this past year, we hope that your experience will have a lasting impact!