CVA holds Grand Re-Opening celebration next week

From @Metro
May 26, 2010

The CVA will mark its 20th Anniversary in its new, permanent home at 965 Santa Fe Dr. The main entrance borders the building’s parking lot.
What do you get when you cross great art with a preeminent public urban baccalaureate college? The grand re-opening of Metro State’s relocated Center for Visual Art.

On Thursday, June 3, from 7-9 p.m., the CVA will host a public reception to celebrate its new permanent home at 965 Santa Fe Dr. The evening will feature the center’s inaugural exhibition: MIX: CVA + The Art District on Santa Fe. The re-opening marks the CVA’s 20th Anniversary and is one of several kick-off events in a year-long celebration of the College’s 45th Anniversary.


“The opening is a great way for Metro State to celebrate as we mark two monumental anniversaries,” says Jennifer Garner, CVA director and curator since 2005. “Sharing this marvelous occasion with our longtime supporters, especially the arts community, will really enable us to grow our outreach programs and enhance our educational mission.”

The CVA’s existing community partnerships already work with a diverse mix of constituents, including public schools, the business community, foundations and Metro State students.

Cecily Cullen, assistant director and curator, adds, “The community on Santa Fe Drive has welcomed us with such enthusiasm that it has shown us the amazing potential of not only the new building, but the potential for CVA to play an important role in our new community through our outreach and exhibition programming along with community collaborations.”

According to Metro State Vice President for Institutional Advancement and Foundation Executive Director Carrie Besnette, “Our move has been a true exercise in how a community comes together to make a difference.”

Renovations in preparation for the CVA move-in included landscaping and cleaning the neighborhood alleyway on Comcast Cares Day, April 24. Painting originally scheduled for that day of volunteerism was postponed because of rain, but thanks to volunteers from Sun Construction, contractor for the renovation, and Metro State, the project is complete.

The new space will be filled with works by 30 artists from the Santa Fe Arts District at the June 3 Grand Re-opening.
Opening exhibition
MIX: CVA + The Art District on Santa Fe features works from artists and galleries within the district and serves as a vibrant setting for events highlighting creative education and community partnerships. The exhibition runs June 3-July 3.

“MIX is a celebration of our induction into the Art District on Santa Fe,” says Cullen. “We are throwing ourselves a house-warming party, and invited 30 artists who have studios and or gallery representation in the neighborhood to participate. In a way, we’re letting them know that 965 Santa Fe Drive can be a home for the whole community as well.”

Artists in the exhibition represent 910 Arts Studios, Access Gallery, Artists on Santa Fe, CORE New Art Space, Sandra Phillips Gallery, Sizzle and Bang, Space Gallery and Spark Gallery. Specific artists in the exhibition include:

Roland Bernier, a member of Spark Gallery, who has contributed to the Denver art scene for many years with his innovative take on word play in visual art.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Art Anna Kaye, who will represent the Sandra Phillips Gallery with a brand new and stunning large-scale charcoal drawing.
Rik Sargent, who has a studio across the street from the new CVA, will exhibit a maquette of his sculpture One World One Water. The full-size sculpture will be installed on the Metro State campus next year.

Three banks of nearly ceiling-to-floor windows add drama to the building’s east side.
The MIX exhibit is only a sample of what’s to come for the new location. “The art world is a tough business and for the CVA to have a permanent space demonstrates Metro State’s true commitment to the community, in that we will be very focused on creative education and delivering some really wonderful exhibitions,” Garner says.

Teaching space
A division of the College’s Art Department, the CVA has a dedicated classroom in its new location.

“This will enable us to teach a lot more workshops, both for outreach programs and programming associated with exhibitions. I’m really excited about teaching there myself,” says Garner, an assistant professor of art who teaches a senior exhibit course and senior thesis.

As the final touches are being put on the new building, Garner says, “I think it’s breathtaking. It’s a fantastic space. I’m smiling really big right now.

"I hope everyone from the Metro State community will come to the public reception, meet the artists, and see for themselves why we're all smiles!"