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2016 Program Schedule
8:30 - 9 a.m.
Registration Check-in
9 - 9:15 a.m.
Welcome
Presented by the Arts and Culture community leaders of Brighton.
9:15 - 9:30 a.m.
Fiesta Colorado
Fiesta Colorado Dance Company is recognized as a premier dance company of professional performance. Their performances have been chosen and endorsed by the Mexican Consulate of Denver, the Grand Opening of the Lakewood Cultural Center, where the group presents its regular season. They have performed at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for the Colorado Performing Arts Festival for 6 consecutive years. Their repertoire includes original choreographies that have been featured with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, the International Mariachi Festivals, The Chili Harvest Festival, the Colorado State Fair, and the Downtown Denver Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
9:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Art Incubator – from concept to reality/Main Street Creatives
Presenters… Jac Cuney, Judee Dickinson, Ed Hawkins
Main Street Creatives comprises a fine art Gallery, private Artists' Studios and the Art Academy. Currently located at 36 South Main Street in Brighton Colorado, a site it has occupied for about 5 years, it has received the Downtown Colorado Inc. and Governor’s Awards for Downtown Excellence in the category of Best Creative Industry. The former police department and chamber building is now an incubator for artists and creative entrepreneurs. The space includes rooms for teaching and exhibiting as well as low-cost studios for working artists. Artist salons offer networking and business training. As a business development strategy, BURA is subsidizing the space to attract and grow creative businesses. MSC has 17 studio artists, some of whom help make up the 19 gallery artists.
Jac Cuney
BURA (Brighton Urban Renewal Authority) Redevelopment and Development Projects Director.
Jac played an instrumental role in the collaboration of BURA and downtown artists to develop Main Street Creatives.
Jac’s accomplishments include:
BURA (Brighton Urban Renewal Authority) Redevelopment and Development Projects Director.
Jac played an instrumental role in the collaboration of BURA and downtown artists to develop Main Street Creatives.
Jac’s accomplishments include:
- 2013 Downtown Colorado Inc. and Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence in the category of Best Creative Industry (Main Street Creatives art incubator project).
- 2010 Governor’s Award for Downtown Excellence: Best Adaptive Reuse (the Armory Performing Arts Center).
- 2008 Project of the Year (Brighton Learning and Resource Center)
Judee Dickinson / Artist
Local artist Judith Dickinson, is credited for working on a redevelopment strategy in developing the art incubator project. Judith considers her love, passion, and ability to create and reproduce beauty to be a truly spiritual experience. She is thankful that God has entrusted this gift to her to use and to share with others. Judith has been painting professionally for more than 25 years. She has received many show awards and has also received many varied and honored commissions, including the official portrait of Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. "Portrayal of light in the depiction of the beauty of my world is my main goal. My greatest love is to show the character, the story, and the beauty of the people who surround me."
Local artist Judith Dickinson, is credited for working on a redevelopment strategy in developing the art incubator project. Judith considers her love, passion, and ability to create and reproduce beauty to be a truly spiritual experience. She is thankful that God has entrusted this gift to her to use and to share with others. Judith has been painting professionally for more than 25 years. She has received many show awards and has also received many varied and honored commissions, including the official portrait of Colorado Governor Bill Ritter. "Portrayal of light in the depiction of the beauty of my world is my main goal. My greatest love is to show the character, the story, and the beauty of the people who surround me."
Ed Hawkins / Artist/Instructor
Ed Hawkins, Instructor at the Art Academy, Brighton. Originally from England, Ed creates representational art in various media. Ed is a self-taught artist who has been painting, drawing, and sculpting for a lifetime. He teaches at the Brighton Art Academy, and works with students to grow the artist within. Housed at Main Street Creatives, The Academy provides an inspiring, positive environment serving artists of all ages. “We are all on the journey together, and those a little further along, or stronger, aid those who are still finding their way.”
Ed Hawkins, Instructor at the Art Academy, Brighton. Originally from England, Ed creates representational art in various media. Ed is a self-taught artist who has been painting, drawing, and sculpting for a lifetime. He teaches at the Brighton Art Academy, and works with students to grow the artist within. Housed at Main Street Creatives, The Academy provides an inspiring, positive environment serving artists of all ages. “We are all on the journey together, and those a little further along, or stronger, aid those who are still finding their way.”
10 - 10:15 a.m.
Questions & Answers
10:15 - 10:30 a.m.
Break
10:30 - 10:45 a.m.
Andy Clifton
Acoustic guitar and strong vocals define the music of Andy Clifton. He has gained a reputation as one of Colorado’s most accomplished songwriters and has been nominated Singer/Songwriter-Artist of 2013, 2014, and 2015, by the Colorado Springs Independent and named "Individual Performer of 2004" by The Pikes Peak Arts Council. Based in Colorado Springs, Andy performs solo, or with his 5 piece group entertaining his audiences with his original music or covering artists like Jason Mraz and Dave Matthews.
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
Re-Envisioning Gathering Spaces, Creative Placemaking
Maureen Hearty, Artist & Community Organizer
Maureen Hearty, has been awarded for her work as a creative community builder and creative placemaker. Maureen's work re-envisioning gathering spaces, creating community programming and preserving oral traditions, has created transformative opportunities for residents of the Eastern Plains.
11:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Questions & Answers
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Lunch
12:30 - 12:45 p.m.
The Symbols The Symbols are bursting through the seams of Fort Collins, Colorado with an undeniable amount of talent and energy, combined with a knack for writing great songs. The band includes: vocalist/bass-player/ front-lady Mer Sal, twice Grammy nominated guitar virtuoso Jasco, and veteran drummer Don Stahl. The Symbols write, record, and perform songs that have inspired movie soundtracks, public service announcements, and commercials. Their breed of music is intellectual and spiritual, with modern day deep-pocket grooves, and progressive female croon-meets-funk/neo-soul vocals.
12:45 - 1:30 p.m.
Keynote Speaker - Catherine O’Neill Thorn
with performances by Art from Ashes
Catherine O’Neill Thorn is the founder and executive director of Art from Ashes, an award-winning Colorado nonprofit that provides transformational creative programs for struggling youth. O’Neill Thorn, a member of the National Association of Professional Women, Colorado Prevention Partners Coalition, and the Human Services Network of Colorado, has been conducting poetry and spoken word workshops for youth and adults since 1992 when she developed the Phoenix Rising transformational writing process. She has conducted sessions at juvenile facilities since 1992, including residential and day treatment centers, probation departments, and schools. She established and ran weekly poetry sessions for three years for Columbine students after the fatal shootings in 1999. Participating students gave a public reading attended by international media, and in 2000, O’Neill Publishing produced Screams Aren’t Enough, a compilation of Columbine student poetry, which won the Colorado Book Award. O’Neill Thorn also is a published poet, writer and journalist and was the proprietor of O’Neill Publishing for 12 years.
1:30 - 2:00 p.m.
Creative Programming expression, connection and transformation.
Presenter Courtney Chandler, Director of Programs - Art from Ashes
Art from Ashes (AfA) creative programs provide an innovative approach to addressing the issues that face struggling young people in our society. AfA’s programs use the power of creative expression to engage youth who live in hopelessness because of experiences and/or circumstances characterized by poverty, racism, gender identity, criminal activity and abuse.
Phoenix Rising, helps youth re-imagine their inner narrative, change their story and find their inherent creative genius.
Casting Shadows, through creative play and theater, this program provides youth with a safe environment in which to take risks, collaborate, and experiment with conflict through dramatic structure.
Drawing on Air, through visual and tactile art, this program helps youth find a powerful non-verbal outlet for expression.
Wingspan, through aesthetic movement and physical expression, invigorates the kinetic energy of creativity in marginalized youth.
Adult Workshops, allow participants to access seldom-used right-brain creative ability and discover the power of words to heal. Because the process does not focus on skills development, all levels of writers (including those who think they are not) are welcome and will benefit.
Apostrophe Factor Workshops focus on increased productivity through access to creativity.
Courtney Chandler is Director of Programs and Lead Facilitator for AfA, she recently graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art and Psychology.
2:00 - 2:15 p.m.
Questions & Answers
2:15 - 2:30 p.m.
Break
2:30 - 2:45 p.m.
Armando Silva w/ Musical Accompaniment by
Don Prorak and Jim Theobold
Armando Silva was born in Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico. His family moved to the Northern Colorado area in search of the American Dream when he was just five. Captivated by visual and performing arts, his talents earned him a BA in Fine Arts from The University of Northern Colorado. He strongly believes in community responsibility and continues to lead, educate and give back. As a creative he looks for opportunities to present his artwork in order to paint a bigger picture and to tell stories. He states “my intuition is to find the greens in a red rose and the blues in an orange. Every brush stroke has a rhythm and every color has its voice.”
Don Prorak and Jim Theobold
Don Prorak started the first high school steel band in Colorado, and at Colorado State University. Don owes much to Trinidad, which gave him experience working with the bands Carib Tokyo, Hummingbirds and Pan Groove. The pans and marimba blend almost magically with the high-energy rhythm section for a Caribbean sound like no other.
Jim “Theo” Theobald is an accomplished percussionist with many years of percussion experience including performances at Radio City, The Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Jim was also the principal percussionist for 16 years with Julio Iglesias. Jim has had live performances in over 60 countries worldwide, playing with Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Pavarotti, and Aretha Franklin, just to name a few.
Don Prorak started the first high school steel band in Colorado, and at Colorado State University. Don owes much to Trinidad, which gave him experience working with the bands Carib Tokyo, Hummingbirds and Pan Groove. The pans and marimba blend almost magically with the high-energy rhythm section for a Caribbean sound like no other.
Jim “Theo” Theobald is an accomplished percussionist with many years of percussion experience including performances at Radio City, The Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Jim was also the principal percussionist for 16 years with Julio Iglesias. Jim has had live performances in over 60 countries worldwide, playing with Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Pavarotti, and Aretha Franklin, just to name a few.
2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
PUBLIC ART FORUM
1% For Public Art
Presenter Michael Chavez Public Art Program Manager, Denver Arts & Venues
Michael is the Public Art Program Manager for the City & County of Denver. Denver’s One Percent for Public Art program is in its 27th year with nearly 400 public artworks in its collection and more than $34 million invested in public art. It is a robust program with 30 active projects. In addition to Denver’s One Percent program, Chavez oversees a graffiti prevention and youth development program called the Urban Arts Fund (UAF). Through the UAF, more than 100 new murals have been created in perpetually vandalized areas throughout the City & County of Denver. Chavez holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wyoming.
Presenter Michael Chavez Public Art Program Manager, Denver Arts & Venues
Michael is the Public Art Program Manager for the City & County of Denver. Denver’s One Percent for Public Art program is in its 27th year with nearly 400 public artworks in its collection and more than $34 million invested in public art. It is a robust program with 30 active projects. In addition to Denver’s One Percent program, Chavez oversees a graffiti prevention and youth development program called the Urban Arts Fund (UAF). Through the UAF, more than 100 new murals have been created in perpetually vandalized areas throughout the City & County of Denver. Chavez holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wyoming.
Engaging Community In The Public Art Process
Presenter Michael Stricker Cultural Programs Director, Northglenn Arts
Michael has served as Northglenn’s Cultural Programs Director since 2008 and received a BA in theater from the University of Northern Colorado. He also serves as advisory staff to the Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation and house manager of The D.L. Parsons Theatre. He oversees the Art on Parade committee which includes 42 Northglenn citizens, residents of neighboring cities, former and current Northglenn City Council members, NAHF board members, Metro State College of Denver art students, and high school aged students and is instrumental in Northglenn’s first-ever sculpture garden.
Presenter Michael Stricker Cultural Programs Director, Northglenn Arts
Michael has served as Northglenn’s Cultural Programs Director since 2008 and received a BA in theater from the University of Northern Colorado. He also serves as advisory staff to the Northglenn Arts & Humanities Foundation and house manager of The D.L. Parsons Theatre. He oversees the Art on Parade committee which includes 42 Northglenn citizens, residents of neighboring cities, former and current Northglenn City Council members, NAHF board members, Metro State College of Denver art students, and high school aged students and is instrumental in Northglenn’s first-ever sculpture garden.
Managing Sculpture in the Park
Presenter Kristi Elyce Show/Business Manager for the Loveland High Plains Arts Council.
Kristi has been involved with Sculpture in the Park as a volunteer for many years and is the Show Business Manager for the Loveland High Plains Arts Council. Sculpture in the Park will be celebrating its 34th anniversary in 2017 in Loveland, Colorado, on the second weekend in August. It is the largest outdoor juried sculpture show in the United States. The Loveland High Plains Arts Council, a non-profit organization, hosts the show in order to support the Benson Sculpture Garden, a beautiful park in Loveland that displays over 4 million dollars in sculpture.
Presenter Kristi Elyce Show/Business Manager for the Loveland High Plains Arts Council.
Kristi has been involved with Sculpture in the Park as a volunteer for many years and is the Show Business Manager for the Loveland High Plains Arts Council. Sculpture in the Park will be celebrating its 34th anniversary in 2017 in Loveland, Colorado, on the second weekend in August. It is the largest outdoor juried sculpture show in the United States. The Loveland High Plains Arts Council, a non-profit organization, hosts the show in order to support the Benson Sculpture Garden, a beautiful park in Loveland that displays over 4 million dollars in sculpture.
3:15 - 3:30 p.m.
Question & Answers