Imbibe Denver and Denver Arts & Venues Present Slue Foot Sue’s Shindig

Imbibe Denver and Denver Arts & Venues have gone Western and are throwing a barn burner of a beer festival. Slue Foot Sue’s Shindig takes places on Friday, May 9 from 6 – 10 p.m. at the McNichols Building (144 W. Colfax, Denver CO 80202). The event will feature craft beer, BBQ, live country music, and Western fashion by Rockmount Ranchwear. This event highlights Imagine 2020: Denver’s Cultural Plan art exhibit The New West: Contemporary Perspectives of the Rocky Mountain Region.

“Artists and brewers are both creating works of art and we thought an event combining the two would create an interesting and thought-provoking juxtaposition,” said Casey Berry, founder of Imbibe Denver. “After all, art is in the hand of the beer holder.”

The New West: Contemporary Perspectives of the Rocky Mountain Region showcases works by Western artists, each expressing a very personal connection to the Rocky Mountain region. Featured artists include: Maura Allen, Duke Beardsley, Mark England, Rocky Hawkins, Adam Jahiel, Charles Lindsay, Robert McCauley, Gordon McConnell, Tracy Stuckey, Barbara Van Cleve, Arin Waddell and Theodore Waddell. The exhibit is open to the public Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-3pm and by appointment, through May 25.

Where does the name of this event come from? One of the artworks in the exhibit is Slue Foot Sue, a painting by Fort Collins artist Tracy Stuckey inspired by a popular romantic folk tale. Stuckey depicts Slue Foot Sue in a modern Western style dress, flying through the air shooting her pistol. In the story, Slue Foot Sue falls in love with Pecos Bill. On their wedding day Sue insists on riding Widowmaker, Pecos Bill’s horse.

Widowmaker is jealous of Sue for taking away Bill’s attention from him and he throws her off in a fit of rage. Because of the bustle she wears, Sue bounces out of control and ends up shooting herself high into the air. Her bustle continues to bounce her higher each time and eventually she lands on the moon and is unable to return to earth. Unable to rescue her, Bill is left to mourn her loss.

General admission tickets for Slue Foot Sue’s Shindig are on sale now for $10 at imbibedenver.com/sue. Ticket includes three tokens each good for one 12 oz. craft beer by participating breweries City Star Brewing, Backcountry Brewery, Great Divide, Station 26 and Jagged Mountain Brewery, delicious BBQ from Moe’s BBQ, live country music from Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angels, and the opportunity to purchase Rockmount Ranchware shirts, accessories and posters.