Denver Art Museum

"No rules. If you always stick to style, manners, and what will work, and you're never caught off-guard, then some beautiful experiences never happen." - Helen Frankenthaler (1928 - 2011) on her creative process.

Inuit printmaking: Top - Sonosilutoo 'Woman Fighting Sea Serpent' (1973)
Bottom - Victoria Mumngshoaluk & Martha Noah 'Bird Woman' (1977) I loved these. 

This post is a few days late - I'm actually in Wyoming now (more on that once I've caught up!) - but I wanted to do a wee post about my day exploring Denver Art Museum on April 25th, which locals call DAM, which I think is great. 

I got the number 6 bus from Westminster, which took an hour and 20 minutes into the city, and on my way I saw a prairie dog! Which I was super excited about but apparently they're considered vermin and a nuisance in Westminster. Oh well. I had a nice wee chat with my bus driver too:
"Do you need a transfer ticket?"
"Uh, I don't think so…"
"Well, take one, in case you feel like a transfer later!"

Some signs I saw on the way:
An auto-repair shop called Butts that had a sign "Butts has gas!"
A comic book shop called "Mile High Comics" (which I thought Stef would like)

Also… buses in Denver have bike racks on the front. Which I think is p-retty cool. 

So here are some pics from my day exploring on my own. I decided it was an Artist Date day. 

One thing I found interesting while meandering around Capital Hill on my way to DAM - every now and then the breeze would waft two scents and two scents only my way - the smell of beautiful cheery blossom trees and the bang of weed. Here's to you, Colorado! No-one is supposed to smoke this (legal) stuff outdoors here, but they do. All the time. In front of cops. Cops who I saw stop, look at the offenders, tell them to move their dogs, (who were not supposed to be sitting in the flower beds) and then move on. Fabulous. 

It smells like cherry blossoms here!

It smells like weed here!

Ok this is a squirrel eating a pb&j sandwich with BOTH HANDS. LIKE A HUMAN CHILD.
Oh man I nearly fainted from the cuteness. 

Day-um!

I might have this mixed up with the other painting below, but I'm pretty sure this is a Joan Mitchell, and boasts the amazing title: George Went Swimming at Barnes Hole, But It Got Too Cold. (1957)

I cannot remember this woman's name, but her art was awesome.
(That's hers just below too)

Urm… can't remember. One of the famous Modern Masters.
I just love it. Oh I think it's an Elaine de Kooning. 

Vertigo-inducing staircase design. 

HUGH KNIVES ON THE WALL. I want this in my restaurant kitchen. 

As part of the Nick Cave 'Sojourn' exhibit there's a bit where kids can make Nick Cave type art using felt on walls. Having tried everything that is meant for children while at DAM, I can attest that this was pretty fun. 

Marie Watt - Blanket Story. A totem pole of local resident's donated blankets. Attached to each was the story of each blanket. It was quite moving, reading some of them. 

A still from Nick Cave's 'Sojourn' with dancers in his Sound Suits. 

Bit'o'Denver

Bit more Denver. This was actually taken another day.

So was this. Bit more Denver. Yes, there are even hiking trails within the city.
Pretty freaking awesome.

After DAM I walked around and got a bit lost and ate some Pho and finally went to a Tourist Information Center to ask where I could get the number 6 back to Westminster, as I'd forgotten where I'd gotten off. The lady was super helpful but told me that the next bus wouldn't be for another hour. I asked her if she had any recommendations for killing the time, and (bear in mind I was within a few blocks of several museums, the Denver Center for Performing Arts - which houses several theaters and shops - a busy shopping area, and some really cool book shops) - this was her cheery answer: "It's happy hour! Have a drink!"