Discover Denver’s Arts and Culture this Fall

Denver performing arts

Denver performing arts

The Mile High City’s cultural calendar is packed with a diverse collection of must-sees during the fall of 2013, ranging from an illuminating journey through centuries of French art at the Denver Art Museum to a (literally) explosive exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

 Fall is the perfect time to visit Denver, thanks to great hotel deals starting as low as $52.80. And the savings don’t end there. The new Mile High Culture Pass is the most wallet-friendly way to experience Denver’s thriving arts and cultural world. With the Culture Pass in hand, you’ll receive admission to seven of the city’s most fascinating attractions, all for the bargain, “Mile High” price of $52.80 (a savings of more than $25) or three attractions of your choice for $25 (a savings of $12).

Below is a sampling of 10 exhibits, events and activities that you need to see this fall in Denver.

1.            Take a Trip to Paris’ Art World, Without Leaving The Mile High City

When: October 27, 2013-February 9, 2014

Where: Denver Art Museum

Passport to Paris will transport visitors on a journey through the French art world from the late 1600s to early 1900s. The exhibit includes works by Degas, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec and other “rock stars” of the art world, including the most Monet works ever exhibited in Denver. Passport To Paris is really three shows for the price of one, including:

–        Court to Café: Three Centuries of French Masterworks: See 50 masterpieces that highlight the richness of French painting, ranging from the 17th through the early 20th century, including pieces by Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Claude Monet.

–        Nature as Muse: French Impressionist Landscapes: Focusing on landscape paintings, the exhibition will feature pastoral works from the late 19th century, including gorgeous pieces by Cézanne, Monet, Berthe Morisot, Camille Pissarro, and Alfred Sisley.

–        Drawing Room: An Intimate Look at French Drawings: Offering an up-close-and-personal look at the creative mind at work, this exhibition features approximately 39 works-on-paper, from rapid sketches to finished pastels by François Boucher, Jacques-Louis David, Théodore Géricault, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Toulouse-Lautrec, Monet, and Sisley.

2.            Uncover the Truth with the MythBusters!

When: October 11, 2013-January 5, 2014

Where:  Denver Museum of Nature & Science

MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition comes with a virtual warning sticker: “Don’t Try This At Home!” But you’ll try it all this fall at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, as you uncover the truth behind some of science’s popular myths, via a dozen interactive experiences. Can you really blow down a house by huffing and puffing? Will running in the rain keep you drier than walking? Can you really hang off a ledge like an action hero? Just like the dynamic TV series, Mythbusters: The Explosive Exhibition mixes scientific method with gleeful curiosity and old-fashioned ingenuity to create a hands-on, interactive experience for all ages.

3.            Experience The Cultural Cornucopia of Denver Arts Week

When: November 1-9

Where: Various locations

Denver celebrates all of the arts from performing to visual during this annual event, as locals and visitors explore the city’s neighborhood studios, theaters and galleries, as well as its world-class museums. Highlights include:

–        Know Your Arts First Friday: On Friday, November 1, Denver Arts Week kicks off with this citywide street party: dozens of art galleries in the city’s vibrant art districts stay open late, offering live music, art demonstrations, food and drink, and a chance to interact with artists.

–        Night At The Museums: On Saturday, November 3, nearly two dozen of the city’s top museums and attractions, including the Denver Art Museum, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver Zoo, The Clyfford Still Museum, the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), The CELL, and the Molly Brown House Museum will stay open until 10 p.m. for free, offering special programs, music and events.

–        Denver’s On Stage: Denver’s performing arts world struts its stuff all week long during Denver’s On Stage, featuring special deals and discounts for theater, dance, music and more.

DenverArtsWeek.com is a one-stop shop for all events and information, including hidden gems, family friendly events, and great hotel deals.

 

4.            Quench Your Thirst for Knowledge at Living West

When: Opening November 23

Where: History Colorado Center

Learn how water (or a lack thereof) has defined the spirit, inspired the imaginations, and impacted the lives of Colorado residents in sometimes-unexpected ways. This latest and greatest permanent exhibit at the History Colorado Center explores how Coloradoans have made their homes on this state’s fierce yet fragile land.

5.            Get Irreverent at The Book of Mormon

When: October 22-November 24

Where: Denver Center for the Performing Arts

From the creators of South Park, The Book of Mormon returns to Denver! This cheeky – and oddly uplifting – musical is back by popular demand after a sold-out run in 2012. The winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, do not miss the show the New York Times called “the best musical of this century.”

6.            Walk the Red Carpet at the Starz Denver Film Festival

When: November 6-17

Where: SIE FilmCenter and The Denver Performing Arts Complex

A feast for lovers of adventurous and independent cinema, the Starz Denver Film Festival features more than 200 films from around the world. Indiewire recently named this event one of the top 50 film festivals in the world. The full schedule will be announced in the coming weeks.

7.            Sketch With Still at Drawing/Painting/Process

When: October 4, 2013-February 9, 2014

Where: Clyfford Still Museum

Get a previously unseen glimpse at famed abstract expressionist painter Clyfford Still’s marvelous drawings and sketches. These were sometimes made in preparation for Still’s paintings, but as this fascinating exhibition at The Clyfford Still Museum shows, they are incredible works of art all on their own.

8.            See Unforgettable Photos at Heimrad Bäcker: Landscape M

When: Opens September 27

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (MCA)

The photographer and poet Heimrad Bäcker (1925-2003) dedicated his life to documenting the remnants of Nazism and the Holocaust. These photographs look away from the scenes usually associated with the Shoah – barracks, gates, train tracks – and focus on tiny details that speak volumes: indentations in stone, twisted steel rods, and concrete foundations. MCA Denver’s exhibition is the first of Bäcker’s work in the U.S., and it is the first to show the body of work left behind after his death.

9.            Discover A Vast Collection of International Design Treasures

When: Through December 31

Where: Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art

Explore Denver’s most fascinating small museum. Their latest exhibit, New Explorations in International Design 1878-2000 highlights the museum’s international design collection, recognized as one of the most important displays in North America, from the last quarter of the 19th century through the 20th century. Styles represented include Arts & Crafts, Aesthetic, Art Nouveau, Glasgow Style, Wiener Werkstätte, De Stijl, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern, Pop Art and Post-Modern.

10.         Enjoy the Great Outdoors and Great Art

When: Through January 12, 2013

Where: Denver Botanic Gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens’s Catalyst: Colorado Sculpture celebrates the achievements and vision of Colorado sculptors, as 12 artists have transformed the lush, outdoor landscape with stunning, 3-D work. Perspectives of space are altered as visitors experience the Gardens’ grounds in a new way. The artwork introduces a variety of color, texture, and form into an already rich environment.

@iknowdenver