Opening Reception "Generations" An Intergenerational Art Show

Highlighting the rich intergenerational connections in the  Chicana/o Art community. By partnering elders with fellow up and coming artists, this unique exhibition will explore how experiences of the past helped nurture the future generation. A three part open dialogue about the creative process.

Storytelling in Sculpture -July

Featured Artist: Cal Duran and Alfredo Cardenas with CHAC artists

Explore the relationship between story and creating a narrative through sculpture. These 3D artists take the mystery out of how inspiration becomes an expression of tactile form.

Alfredo was born in Denver in 1942. Mr. Cárdenas began welding in high school, continued it while in the military service eventually combining it with his art career which evolved into the medium that he uses today. He presently works out of his home studio in Lakewood, Colorado. Although he works in other media, the majority of his present work is in welded sheet metal, specifically three dimensional sculpture. Alfredo, has informally studied ancient Mexican cultures for more than three decades, developed a fascination with Aztec art because of the tribe's rich culture and its dominance in pre-Columbian Mexico. "These images," he says, "are always with me. They represent my heritage. And they have a beauty and simplicity that show me great potential in my own medium-metal."

Cal grew up in Colorado with cultural roots that bridge India and the natives of this land. He explores the parallels between hybrid identities through myth, religion, and ritual. He works with clay and sculpture using ancient traditional processes. For Cal art has been a portal to channel his “indigenous ancestors...where an emotional spinning vortex of artisans, craft-makers, mud-dwellers, star-makers, dream-weavers and earth-brothers and sisters paved the way” for his creative energy.

Both artists have recently exhibited at Museo de Las Americas, Chicano Humanities and Arts Council, Westwood Creative District and 40West Arts District.

Denver Muralists and Their Legacy- Aug.

Featured Artist: Jher Clark and Emanuel Martinez with CHAC artists

Celebrating Denver’s deep and powerful history of Chicano Murals. Join pioneer muralist Emanuel Martinez and graffiti muralist innovator Jher (451) Clark, as we address how murals were birthed in Denver and where they have arrived today.

Born in Denver, Colorado in 1947, Emanuel Martinez began his art career at the age of thirteen.  He painted his first mural in a juvenile facility where he was incarcerated. In his later teens and early twenties, he pioneered Colorado’s contemporary mural movement and worked as a community activist and artist in the National Chicano Civil Rights Movement. During the movement he worked with Cesar Chavez in California, Corky Gonzales in Colorado and Reyes Lopez Tijerina in New Mexico. Throughout his career, Martinez has worked as a muralist, painter and sculptor, receiving international acclaim and prestigious awards for his design capabilities.

Jher has played a significant role in the underground art scene in Denver since the early 90’s. His work has been featured in many magazines and several books over the years, and has been noted as a significant influence by many artists in the street art scene. His artwork varies by medium, specializing in murals, body painting, tattooing, lowbrow and fine art, even music production. He started tattooing in 1999 and has also been hailed as one of Denver’s best tattooists as well. Jher is an owner of Landmark Tattoo in Capitol Hill, which opened in 2011. He has continually been involved in countless local group shows and national shows, several solo exhibitions; National and International tattoo conventions, countless live painting performances, many cultural events, charities, fundraisers, benefits, and even youth art programs.

Denver Visual Artists-Sept.

Featured Artist: Stevon Lucero and Alicia Cardenas with CHAC artists

A chance to meet and talk with one of Denver’s most loved and respected painters, Stevon Lucero and emerging painter Alicia Cardenas.

Stevon Lucero has been painting for over forty years. Since childhood, he has experienced lucid dreams and visions and ventured more than once into separate realities. Through these revelations and studies of metaphysical, philosophical, and historical media, he has been guided to create two unique art forms: Metarealism and Neo-Pre-Columbian or Aztec art. Stevon is on a spiritual journey.

Alicia Cardenas, Native Mexican American painter from Denver, Co who takes inspiration from tribal culture, the earth and its mathematics and her kid Xochitl Mayahuel. She identifies as Chicanative.  Alicia has owned a tattoo and piercing studio in Denver for the last 26 years called Sol Tribe where she tattoos full time.  She has recently begun to take on larger scale projects under the name Tribal Murals to feed her appetite to color the world with ancient designs. You can find her tattoo work @soltribemama or painting works at @tribalmurals .

Sculpture by Alfredo Cardenas