Backward Glance

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38 | 5280.COM | NOVEMBER 2014 FROM TOP: COURTESY OF PAUL HEASTON; COURTESY OF MARK MOTHERSBAUGH CULTURE Scene ( ) e e we all know denverites gather in bunches to drink beer (pub crawls) and ride bicycles (cruiser rides). But, it turns out, Mile High City–dwellers also converge for a more artistic endeavor: drawing. It’s a local expression of an international trend demonstrat- ed by at least 10,000 members of the nonprofit Urban Sketchers each month. Founded in 2009 by Seattle Times cartoonist Gabriel Campanario, the organization encourages artists to meet up for freehand sketching sessions in metropolitan areas. “Going out and draw- ing on your own is like the difference between pluck- ing around on a guitar in your bedroom and joining a garage band,” says Jim Richards, a member of Urban Sketchers’ advisory board. “You want to keep up with, learn from, and be inspired by each other.” Some of this interaction happens online, where 800 Urban Sketchers correspondents contribute to 50 regional blogs in 30 countries. Although Denver doesn’t have an official chapter, there is an official Facebook group, and Urban Sketchers correspondent and visual artist Paul Heaston also runs SketchCrawl (think bar crawls for artists) one Sunday a month in the metro area. The burgeoning group typically attracts about 20 pen and pencil wielders. This month Richards will lead a special SketchCrawl through central Denver to iconic spots such as the Capitol building, Larimer Square, and Union Station for the national meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects on November 21. This particular jaunt is reserved for registered conference attendees; however, Heaston also plans to organize a second, more casual SketchCrawl open to anyone on the same day. “Urban sketching is such a public and inclu- sive activity,” he says, “so I think anybody should be able to participate.” urbansketchers.org —MARY CLARE FISCHER 2 Weeks “Veter- ans Speak,” the DAIRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS’ CELEBRATION OF VETERANS DAY, will run. From November 7 to 21, visitors to the Dairy can sip coffee and talk with a veteran about his or her ex- periences. The Boulder venue will also fea- ture a gallery of artwork by veterans, and the 3rd Law Dance/Theater company will present the production Wanderer , which depicts the return home of mili- tary personnel engaged in a lengthy war. For more information about how to get involved during the Dairy’s two- week fete, visit thedairy.org. —CHRIS OUTCALT < GET INVOLVED > Pack Mentality Denver embraces a pub crawl for artists. For Mark Mothersbaugh—prolific composer (The Lego Movie, Rugrats), artist (he’s had more than 100 shows), and co-founder of rock band Devo—art means perpetual motion. “My nature is to keep moving forward, even when I’m facing backward,” Mothersbaugh says. The new Mothersbaugh exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver will do just that. ¶ His first-ever retrospective, Myopia (October 30 through April 5, 2015), showcases thou- sands of Mothersbaugh’s drawings, sculptures, videos, photos, prints, and rugs. Yes, rugs. Among the earliest of these are screen prints and decals he made at Kent State University in the 1970s. The wide-ranging exhibit also includes his recent carving of the world’s largest ruby. ¶ Following its Denver debut, the vast visual encounter (the exhibition includes tens of thousands of pieces) heads to Austin, Texas; Santa Monica, California; Cincinnati; Min- neapolis; and New York City. After that, Mothersbaugh can return to what he does best: forging ahead. mcadenver.org —ELEANOR PERRY-SMITH BACKWARD GLANCE MCA Denver celebrates Mark Mothersbaugh’s cornucopia of creation. Paul Heaston’s drawing of a Denver fire station

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Transcript of Backward Glance

Page 1: Backward Glance

38 | 5280.COM | NOVEMBER 2014

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we all know denverites gather in bunches to drink beer (pub crawls) and ride bicycles (cruiser

rides). But, it turns out, Mile High City–dwellers also converge for a more artistic endeavor: drawing. It’s a local expression of an international trend demonstrat-ed by at least 10,000 members of the nonprofi t Urban Sketchers each month. Founded in 2009 by Seattle Times cartoonist Gabriel Campanario, the organization encourages artists to meet up for freehand sketching sessions in metropolitan areas. “Going out and draw-ing on your own is like the di� erence between pluck-ing around on a guitar in your bedroom and joining a garage band,” says Jim Richards, a member of Urban Sketchers’ advisory board. “You want to keep up with, learn from, and be inspired by each other.”

Some of this interaction happens online, where 800 Urban Sketchers correspondents contribute to 50

regional blogs in 30 countries. Although Denver doesn’t have an o� cial chapter, there is an o� cial Facebook group, and Urban Sketchers correspondent and visual artist Paul Heaston also runs SketchCrawl (think bar crawls for artists) one Sunday a month in the metro area. The burgeoning group typically attracts about 20 pen and pencil wielders. This month Richards will lead a special SketchCrawl through central Denver to iconic spots such as the Capitol building, Larimer Square, and Union Station for the national meeting of the American Society of Landscape Architects on November 21. This particular jaunt is reserved for registered conference attendees; however, Heaston also plans to organize a second, more casual SketchCrawl open to anyone on the same day. “Urban sketching is such a public and inclu-sive activity,” he says, “so I think anybody should be able to participate.” urbansketchers.org —MARY CLARE FISCHER

2Weeks “Veter-ans Speak,” the DAIRY CENTER FOR THE ARTS’ CELEBRATION OF VETERANS DAY, will run. From November 7 to 21, visitors to the Dairy can sip co� ee and talk with a veteran about his or her ex-periences. The Boulder venue will also fea-ture a gallery of artwork by veterans, and the 3rd Law Dance/Theater company will present the production Wanderer, which depicts the return home of mili-tary personnel engaged in a lengthy war. For more information about how to get involved during the Dairy’s two-week fete, visit thedairy.org. —CHRIS OUTCALT

< GET INVOLVED >

Pack Mentality Denver embraces a pub crawl for artists.

For Mark Mothersbaugh—proli� c composer (The Lego Movie, Rugrats), artist (he’s had more than 100 shows), and co-founder of rock band Devo—art means perpetual motion. “My nature is to keep moving forward, even when I’m facing backward,” Mothersbaugh says. The new Mothersbaugh exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver will do just that. ¶ His � rst-ever retrospective, Myopia (October 30 through April 5, 2015), showcases thou-sands of Mothersbaugh’s drawings, sculptures, videos, photos, prints, and rugs. Yes, rugs. Among the earliest of these are screen prints and decals he made at Kent State University in the 1970s. The wide-ranging exhibit also includes his recent carving of the world’s largest ruby. ¶ Following its Denver debut, the vast visual encounter (the exhibition includes tens of thousands of pieces) heads to Austin, Texas; Santa Monica, California; Cincinnati; Min-neapolis; and New York City. After that, Mothersbaugh can return to what he does best: forging ahead. mcadenver.org —ELEANOR PERRY-SMITH

BACKWARD GLANCE MCA Denver celebrates Mark Mothersbaugh’s cornucopia of creation.

Paul Heaston’s drawing of a Denver � re station