Starting this summer, Arts & Venues Denver invites art and architecture lovers to participate in FREE Public Art Tours - on foot, bike and scooter. These free guided tours focus on small segments of the City’s Public Art Collection and give citizens and visitors the opportunity to venture inside venues such as the Ellie Caulkins Opera House and Colorado Convention Center to view works and hear the intimate details of their creation and installation.
WALKING TOURS
Denver Civic Center Public Art Tours
The Denver Civic Center tour, led by docent Leon Krier, will focus on the over 100-year history of Denver’s public art and architecture. From Alexander Proctor’s bronze Bronco Buster to Beverly Pepper’s Denver Monoliths, and the Neoclassical Capitol to the Beaux-Arts Civic Center Park and Postmodern Denver Public Library, this tour is sure to inspire.
Sunday, June 26, 10:00 a.m
Sunday, July 17, 10:00 a.m
Sunday, August 14, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, September 11, 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, October 16, 10:00 a.m.
Meet: Sea Lions Fountain on the north end of Civic Center Park
Duration: 90 minutes
Colorado Convention Center Public Art Tours
Why is that escalator laughing at me? And, what’s with the big blue bear peering through the window? Get the answers, plus see Denver’s 300 million-year history unfold in a short 100-foot walk on this fun and educational tour of public artworks in the Colorado Convention Center.
Saturday, June 11, 11:00 a.m.
Saturday, September 17, 11:00 a.m.
Meet: “I See What You Mean” (a.k.a. The big blue bear)
Duration: One hour
Denver Performing Arts Complex
The Denver Performing Arts Complex (DPAC) is one of the most impressive performing arts centers in the world, featuring 10 performance spaces connected by an 80-foot-tall glass canopy, and world-class art to match. Participants will learn about Stephen Batura’s epic mural “Rehearsal” in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, with all of its fascinating characters and scintillating stories. John DeAndrea’s hyper-realistic sculptures will make you look twice - are those ballerinas breathing? Get a new perspective on Jonathan Borofsky’s “Dancers” in the DPAC Sculpture Park by standing directly underneath the 60-foot sculptures and listening to the music composed by the artist himself to accompany the dancing giants.
Saturday, July 2, 1:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 17, 1:00 p.m.
Meet: Entrance to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Duration: One hour
BIKE TOURS
The popular free public art bicycle tours will return for 2011. The tours will last approximately two hours, with a distance of almost three miles, and make use of available bike routes and paths.
Stapleton Public Art Bike Tour
Check out new public art at Stapleton with Stapleton Public Art Consultant Barbara Neal, and stick around for a concert on Founders Green! Highlights include “Thought Balloons” at the Central Park Recreation Center, “Chorus” in Westerly Creek Park and “The Picnic.”
Saturday, July 23, 3:00 p.m.
Meet: Founders Fountain Plaza in the 29th Avenue Town Center (East 29th Ave. & Roslyn St.)
(Limited to 15 people.)
Downtown Denver & Central Plate Valley
The tour will be led Public Art Administrator Rudi Cerri. Highlights include art at Denver Skate Park, Commons Park, Colorado Convention Center and Civic Center Park
Sunday, September 18, 10 a.m
Meet: City of Cuernavaca Park, located at 20th St. & Platte St., at the pavilion across from the parking lot.
(Limited to 15 people.)
*All participants will be required to wear appropriate safety gear, including a helmet. Participants must sign a release form and will need to provide their own bike, water, food and repair kits.
SCOOTER TOUR
New for 2011, the inaugural Parks & Public Art Scooter Tour! The tour will be approximately two and half hours.
Parks & Public Art Scooter Tour
The tour, led by Public Art Administrator, Rudi Cerri and Landscape Architect and City Park Planner, Britta Herwig, will meander throughout the city stopping at some of Denver’s beautiful parks to view and discuss the art and history of the parks with a rest stop and picnic at one of Denver’s gorgeous parks.
Sunday, August 28 10 AM
Meet: The tour will meet at City of Cuernavaca Park’s parking lot, located at 20th St. & Platte
(Limited to 15 scooters.)
*All participants will be required to wear appropriate safety gear, including a helmet. Participants must sign a release form and will need to provide their own scooter, water, food and repair kits.
To sign up, please contact Rudi Cerri at rudi.cerri@denvergov.org or 720-865-4307.
For more information on Denver’s Public Art Program, please call 720-865-4313 or visit www.denvergov.org/publicart
Arts & Venues Denver’s mission is to enhance Denver’s quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, artworks and entertainment opportunities. The department seeks to maximize synergies and will continue to oversee public arts, city permitting Create Denver Week, One Book One Denver, and staple programming including Five Points Jazz Festival. Additionally, Arts & Venues will oversee many of Denver's most sophisticated, high-profile facilities including the Denver Center Performing Arts Complex, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, the Denver Coliseum and the newly acquired Crossroads Theatre.