Wednesday, April 29, 2009

DOCA announces free Denver art tours


This one's perfect for a Cheap Date or as a Tip for Guncles.

The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs (DOCA) is delighted to announce the schedule of free public art tours for the spring and summer of 2009. A brand new tour of the Civic Center area has been added to complement the popular Denver Performing Arts Complex and Colorado Convention Center tours. These guided tours allow citizens and visitors to experience some of Denver’s most architecturally stunning environments, as well as view noteworthy artworks and learn the intimate details of their creation and installation. 


Read all about 'em after the jump:

DOCA’s Spring/Summer Public Art Tours schedule is as follows:

Denver Civic Center
The Denver Civic Center tour will focus on the over 100-year history of Denver’s public art and architecture. This tour provides an incredible snapshot of Denver’s diverse artistic and architectural styles in a single, concentrated area. 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.

· Thursday, May 14, Noon (Brown Bag Lunch Tour)

· Sunday, June 14 , 11:00 AM

· Sunday, July 19, 11:00 AM

· Sunday, August 2, 11:00 AM

· Thursday, September 10, Noon (Brown Bag Lunch Tour)

This tour meets at the Sea Lions Fountain on the north end of Civic Center Park. It will be led by docent Leon Krier.

Colorado Convention Center
Why is that escalator laughing at me? And, what about that big blue bear peering through the window? Get the answers, plus see the Denver region’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, May 23, 1:00 PM

· Saturday, June 20, 1:00 PM

· Saturday, September 19, 1:00 PM



This tour meets at I See What You Mean (a.k.a. big blue bear). It will be led by docent Ava Chappell.

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! On the DPAC public art tour, 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, also in the Ellie, 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, May 23, 11:00 AM

· Saturday, June 20, 11:00 AM

· Saturday, September 19, 11:00 AM

This tour meets at the entrance to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. It will be led by docent Ava Chappell.

All tours are FREE, but limited to 15 people each. To reserve your place, please contact Rudi Cerri at 720-865-4307 or e-mail rudi.cerri@denvergov.org.