AURORA CREATES October November 2017 Arts & History Worth Discovering RISING UP 7/20 Memorial Set to Soar Concept image courtesy of Douwe Studios
AMESSAGE from the Editors During October and November in the Aurora Cultural Arts District (ACAD) the following theatrical performances will be presented: Company, August: Osage County, The Little Dog Laughed, Hearts of Palm, Honeymoon in Vegas, Hi-Hat Hattie and Red. Seven shows in two months by three companies, Vintage Theatre, Theatre Esprit Asia and The Aurora Fox, all within five blocks of each other! Is there any other place in all of Colorado where that happens? Is East Colfax Avenue (and environs) the Broadway of the West? Also in ACAD, over the next couple of months we ll see the premiere of The Aurora Fox s new Cabaret Series featuring Kenny Moten, and The Denver Dolls & Vintage Vocal Trio. There will be an art exhibit at DAVA, a mural covering a building on Dayton Street (see story on page 5), a performance by Kim Robards Dance, a free Native American Heritage Month & Día de Los Muertos concert, and a free sneak peek event at the new People s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave., featuring an Aurora Arts Sampler to provide a taste of the bountiful art taking place in our city. And if that weren t enough to convince you that Aurora s arts district is the hottest on the planet, how about this? It s the return of the Aurora Symphony Orchestra to The Fox for its inaugural concert of its 40th anniversary season. But wait there s more! Aurora Dance Arts presents Alice in Wonderland, also at The Fox. And for our younger audiences, two groups will be performing or presenting at the People s Building for the first time with works geared for them. Q1GO Productions will present a staged reading of Her(e), an original work by local playwright, director and performer Nathaniel Foster. The play explores Colorado teens experiencing homelessness specifically the 40 percent of homeless teens who identify as LGBTQ+. And Visions Performing Arts will inaugurate its monthly Rock Da Mic events, a spoken word competition for youth. Now, go see a show. They re closer than you think! Check calendar on pages 3 and 4 for dates and more details. ARTIST SELECTED to create 7/20 Memorial The Public Art Program has been working closely with the 7/20 Memorial Foundation on the journey toward a memorial. A custom selection process modeled after the city of Aurora s Art in Public Places selection process was created for this independent nonprofit composed of survivors, families and others affected by the 2012 theater shooting. After months of discussion, thought and research, 7/20 Memorial Foundation board members decided they did not want the memorial to include elements commonly found in more traditional memorials such as political statements, names and direct references to the event. The idea that took shape focused on creating an uplifting and inspiring experience rather than a solemn and commemorative environment. They wanted to create a place that would be welcoming to everyone. The location of the memorial is within the Aurora Municipal Center s waterwise demonstration Reflection Garden at East Alameda Parkway and South Chambers Road. One hundred sixty-nine artists applied for the project, and four were invited to develop formal proposals. The finalists met with the foundation board, toured the site, and met with staff from the who shared relevant artifacts from the collection, with first responders and with students. Then, the artists shared preliminary thoughts about how they would approach the project. They returned two months later to present their final proposals. On the morning of Aug. 26, Douwe Blumberg of Kentucky was announced as the artist selected to create the memorial. With three public art pieces already in Aurora, including the popular Steel Stampede at the Morrison Nature Center, it is clear that Blumberg s work resonates with this community. Blumberg is an accomplished artist who has completed over 200 commissions and several memorial projects, including the Americas Response Special Operations Monument placed by Ground Zero in New York. He is a great listener who has captured the essence of what the 7/20 Memorial Foundation is seeking, and is turning it into something real and meaningful. The artwork Ascentiate will include 80 sculptural cranes flying together toward the center and then rising upward as a group. Each bird will be approximately 4 feet long from head to tip of the tail, and as they fly upward, the completed sculpture will be 18 to 20 feet tall. The goal is to have the artwork installed in late spring 2018. Many staff members from across the city as well as community members have worked together with the 7/20 Memorial Foundation board to help realize this memorial. 1 AURORA CREATES
SPOTLIGHT ON: Arts Healer Auset Maryam Ali Auset Maryam Ali, an Aurora resident for 13 years, found her calling at an early age to provide healing through performing arts; her distinctive background has prepared her for her next entrepreneurial endeavor: the opening of a (public) performing arts school in Aurora where urban performing can be fostered. AC: How did you first get interested in performing arts? AMI: I have been in the arts since I was 2 years old. My family is highly artistic. While all of us were multifaceted in our talents, we all had a specific role. My maternal greatgrandmother was a photographer who documented all of the great African-American performers from Josephine Baker to Ella Fitzgerald. My grandmother was an actress, poet and playwright. My mother is a singer. My family is also highly spiritual and rooted in activism. My paternal grandfather and father are national bishops and pastors, and I saw how performance was in all aspects of the life that I wanted to do. My father exposed me to activism and using my voice to entice change. I began getting paid as a dancer at 12 years old, and I was hooked. Also at 12, I started writing seriously after reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X and watching Sarafina. I made the decision then that healing through the performing arts was the call I accepted. I saw the healing of relationships and the social justice awareness that the stage could provide in a digestible way for any audience. It was the only thing that served my revolutionary, creative and healing callings at the same time. AC: What are some of your current projects? AMI: Visions Performing Arts Company, a nonprofit, is opening a performing arts middle and high school in Aurora! Right now, that is our focus. Our school is dedicated to preserving urban performing arts. Half of the day, students will be in their academics, and the other half will be in their majors. Our majors are innovative and appealing to urban performing arts students. Hip Hop, Theater, Dance, Audio Engineer, Tech, Visual Arts, Costume, Hair and Make-Up are just some of our most requested majors we are excited to be offering. Our goal is to be open by fall 2020. We are welcoming board members, teachers, staff, vendors, partnerships, parents or just community cheerleaders who want to get involved. We want our school to be a choice for all in the metro area. We will host community involvement meetings because we need everyone involved. Rock Da Mic is one of our monthly fundraisers that will get the community excited about what we will be producing as an actual school. AC: What do you love about arts and culture in Aurora and/or ACAD? AMI: We have been around for 13 years; the majority of our existence has been in Aurora. Aurora is unique in the diverse and rich cultural experiences that can be shared here. We want our student performers to be represented by our population. Preserving those voices through the stage is our mission. Educating our students to identify with historical figures will enhance their educational experience. Aurora is the perfect breeding ground for that. AC: What are your hopes for Aurora s and ACAD s artistic growth? AMI: We hope that we can aid the city and ACAD in ensuring that equity and opportunity to access happen. We hope that Aurora can be a beacon of how to keep community engaged and involved and where we cultivate future and upcoming artists that are interested in staying in the arts and in preserving their unique voices. I personally hope that I can contribute to that tradition and that Visions Performing Arts Company is in the fabric of our growing heritage and a resource of authentic artistic experience. Rock Da Mic is a monthly spoken word competition for youth. Youth in the metro area have a voice that deserves to be heard. Visions Performing Arts Company is excited to partner with the city of Aurora Cultural Services Division and host Rock Da Mic at The People s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave. Starting in November, Rock Da Mic will take place 3 to 8 p.m. the last Saturday of the month. Participants should be in grades 8 to 12 and must attend all rounds. The audience helps judge by applause. Because Rock Da Mic is a fundraiser for Visions Performing Arts Company (see article above), a $10 entrance fee is charged. For more information visit visionsperformingartscompany. org or call 720.620.2316. Oct. - Nov. 2017 2
october 05-07 06 Fall Quilt Sale Call 303.739.7950 for schedule Aurora Center for Active Adults 30 Del Mar Circle Gateway to the Rockies Art Show Award presentation and reception 5 7:30 p.m. 15051 E. Alameda Parkway Proudly presents a staged reading of Her ( e ) Her(e) explores the trials and despair of teen homelessness through the eyes of a young protagonist Elizabeth, a 16-year-old recently displaced from her home after coming out to her family. 21 22 27 Polynesian Arts and Culture Days: Hula dancing, talk story and ukulele lessons 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Closing performance: Company $ 2 p.m. Aurora Fox Cabaret Series: Kenny Moten Aurora Fox Studio Theatre 9900 E. Colfax Ave. Tickets: $10 at door or visit q1go.org 9995 E. Colfax Ave. Saturday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m. In partnership with the city of Aurora Cultural Services Division 07 07-08 13 18 Opening Night: Hearts of Palm 7:30 p.m. Theatre Esprit Asia ACAD Gallery Theatre 1400 Dallas St. Drawing and Art Show Tour $ 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Aurora Singers presents Come To The Cabaret $ Sat. 7 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. East Middle School 1275 Fraser St. Wine Tasting and Art Show Tour $ 6 7:30 p.m. Lecture: Southern Colorado Trade $ Noon 1 p.m. 15051 E. Alameda Parkway the Aurora Fox Cabaret $22 7:30 p.m. series Oct. 27-28 Nov. 17-18 Dec. 31 New Years Eve on the Mainstage Feb. 16 & 18 March 23-24 33 AURORA DANCE PROGRAM PRESENTS Alice In Wonderland 28 Aurora Fox Cabaret Series: Kenny Moten Aurora Fox Studio Theatre 9900 E. Colfax Ave. Aurora Arts Sampler 6 8:30 p.m. The People s Building 9995 E. Colfax Ave. ImmiFest - Caribbean 10 a.m. 6 p.m. Aurora Cultural Arts District 1400 Dallas St. 20 Drawing and Art Show Tour $ 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Nov. 10-12 Tickets: $12 Four Packs: $40 Aurora Symphony Orchestra 2017 Gala Swing & Rock n Roll $ 6:30 p.m. Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club 23155 E. Heritage Parkway Aurora Fox Arts Center AuroraGov.org/Dance 29 Aurora Symphony Orchestra presents Heavenly Life $ 3 p.m. 3 AURORA CREATES
november 01 03 04 10-12 11 14 15 Colorado Folks Arts Council: Native American Heritage Month and Día de Los Muertos Noon Music and Art Show Tour - trio from the Aurora Symphony 6 7:30 p.m. Opening Night: Honeymoon in Vegas 1468 Dayton St. Aurora Potters Guild Pottery Sale Ecotech Institute 1400 S. Abilene St. Parol Lantern Making Workshop $ 9 a.m. Noon Aurora Potters Guild Pottery Sale Ecotech Institute 1400 S. Abilene St. Aurora Dance Arts presents Alice in Wonderland $ Fri., 7 p.m. $ Sat., 2 and 7 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. Saturday Soiree Diamonds and Pearls $ 7 p.m. Kim Robards Dance KRD Venue 9990 E. Colfax Ave. Q1GO presents staged reading of Her(e) The People s Building 9995 E. Colfax Ave. Festival of Opening Exhibit: Wreaths 18 th annual Lecture: Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs $ Noon 1 p.m. August: Osage County $ Oct. 1-15 Company Through Oct. 22 The Little Dog Laughed $ Through Oct. 22 Hearts of Palm Theatre Esprit Asia ACAD Theatre Oct. 7 29 Exhibit: Innovation Through Nov. 17 DAVA 17-18 18 22 24 25 ONGOING Aurora Fox Cabaret Series: The Denver Dolls & Vintage Vocal Trio Aurora Fox Studio Theatre 9900 E. Colfax Ave. Polynesian Arts and Culture Days: Hula dancing, talk story and ukulele lessons 11:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Exhibit Opening Wings to Satellites Opening Night: Hi-Hat Hattie Opening Night: Red Visions Performing Arts Compamy Presents Rock Da Mic Youth Poetry The People s Building 9995 E. Colfax Ave. Gateway to the Rockies Art Show Through Nov. 11 APS Student Traveling Art Show Barnes & Noble Oct. 1 30 Suss Buick-GMC Oct. 30 Nov. 30 Aurora Schools Fed. Credit Union Nov. 30 Jan. 2 Honeymoon in Vegas $ Nov. 3 Dec. 17 18th Annual Festival of Wreaths Nov. 14 Dec. 8 Exhibit: Wings to Satellites Nov. 22 June 3 Hi-Hat Hattie $ Nov. 24 Dec. 23 Red 1468 Dayton St. $ Nov. 25 - Jan 14 Oct. - Nov. 2017 4
BBeginning Nov. 21, the Aurora History Museum will open a new exhibition titled: Wings to Satellites about an Aurora milestone, Buckley Air Force Base. Buckley has established itself as one of the most prominent economic and physical landmarks in the history of Aurora. From its early days as a bombing range for Lowry Army Air Field, to its current role in providing the nation with strategic missile warning defense as well as serving as a home for the Colorado Air National Guard s 140th Wing, Buckley AFB PUBLIC ART BRIEFS HNew Mural to Brighthen Northwest Aurora Highly-accomplished metro area muralist Bimmer Torres has been selected to create a mural for the city s Day Labor Center, 1521 Dayton St. The proposed artwork will cover all four exterior surfaces of the building and presents dynamic and heroic larger than life images of people working. The completed artwork, expected to be completed in October, will be quite visible and will help to visually activate the area with bold colors and scale. The artist was selected through an invitational process that initially included nine artists. 5 AURORA CREATES has been a ubiquitous, if sometimes mysterious, feature of the city s past. Attendees to this exhibition will learn about the rich and storied history to match that of its host wing. Established just prior to the entry of the United States into World War II, the base has served the needs of all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces for 75 years. The exhibit will run Nov. 21 through June 3, 2017. During his interview Torres explained how his grandfather had worked as a day laborer for a period of time. Coupled with his skill as a muralist, this personal understanding helped Torres take his approach to the next level. Torres spent time meeting with members of the day laborer community to discuss their thoughts and ideas about the project and he has set aside a portion of the project budget to hire day laborers to assist in the creation of the mural. More on the mural and the artist in the next edition of Aurora Creates. TAKING FLIGHT at the Aurora History Museum Nineteen men wearing flight suits and gear standing in a straight line in front of a P-51 aircraft and a tower on the base runway. Identified as the120th Fighter Bomber squadron at home station, Buckley Field in Aurora, Colorado. Courtesy of, Photographic Collections Long-time Aurora citizens and military veterans are encouraged to contact the museum staff to share their memories of Buckley Air Force Base Please check the website for upcoming programs associated with the exhibit. Admission to the Aurora History Museum, 15051 E. Alameda Parkway, is always free. For more information, call 303.739.6660 or visit AuroraMuseum.org. Mini Chalk Art Festival Art in Public Places Commissioner Amy Cheslin, a frequent participant (with her husband Stanley Turner) in the Denver Chalk Art Festival, used her experiences and connections to create a miniature chalk art festival as part of the 7/20 Memorial Foundation 5K & Beerfest event on Aug. 25 in conjunction with the announcement of winning memorial proposal (see cover story). Yulia Avgustinovich Reven Swanson
THE AURORA POTTERS GUILD FALL POTTERY SALE Friday, Nov. 3 from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ecotech Institute 1400 S. Abilene St. Aurora, Colo. 80012 TThe Aurora Potters Guild Pottery Sale is a much anticipated fall tradition in Aurora. This year, the sale will show the work of 25 local potters and feature the work of Syd Leiker. The event displays hundreds of pieces in a variety of styles and aesthetics. It includes sculpture, seasonal decorations, dinnerware, cookware, jewelry and unique gift items, making it a terrific place to begin your holiday shopping. The show is always well received, and patrons are impressed with the range of colors, sizes and variety of pieces available within a reasonable price range. The guild has been in existence for 35+ years. The guild is a collection of like-minded advanced pottery artists, many of whom practice out of the Bicentennial Art Center. For more information on the fall pottery sale, please visit Facebook.com/ AuroraPottersGuild. IIn September, the Bicentennial Arts Center welcomed the arrival of its new cone 10 gas kiln. The kiln weighs around 3,000 pounds and has an interior firing space of 60 cubic feet. Bicentennial has not had a new gas kiln since 2007. The gas kiln is the heart and soul of Bicentennial s pottery program. It is imperative the kiln is running to the best of its capabilities. The kiln reaches temperatures of 2,350 degrees per firing. Bicentennial is one of only a few pottery studios around the state to offer such firing capabilities. Normally, this type of kiln can only be found at universities with fine art degrees or at expensive private studios. Kilns are not fired just to a temperature. They are fired to a cone level, which accounts for time as well as temperature. Cones come in different numbers, each of which corresponds to a heating rate / temperature combination which will make that cone melt or deform. Bicentennial fires exclusively cone 10 reduction in its gas kiln. NEW GAS KILN at Bicentennial Art Center Firing the gas kiln to 2,350 degrees enables Bicentennial to reach complete vitrification in its clay, meaning the clay is no longer porous and cannot absorb liquids. The center s glazes are formulated for cone 10 reduction firings. The reduction portion of the firing process is where the magic happens. Starving the kiln of oxygen and flooding with excess gas at specific times during the firing creates beautiful blushing (warm colors) upon the raw clay body and luscious full-bodied glazes with an array of colors to the pottery. Firing this kiln requires the skills of an experienced artisan. Pottery Program Specialist Jason Bade creates the glazes, carefully loads the kiln for even firings and controls the air to gas flow ratios during firings to create the reduction atmosphere. Bade must carefully monitor the firing process, evaluating and adjusting the kiln every 15-30 minutes through the 12-14 hour firing process. Curious? Stop by and allow the staff and students to show off their remodeled studio and new kiln. Or even better, join them for a class! Learn more at AuroraGov.org/Pottery. Oct. - Nov. 2017 6
a musical Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by George Furth Sept. 22 Oct. 22 Season THE FOX Is in Full Swing TThe opened the 2017-18 season in September with Stephen Sondheim s hilariously witty musical comedy Company, which continues performances through Oct. 22. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. Next up, the historic venue kicks off its highly-anticipated new Cabaret Series on Oct. 27 and 28 with the dynamic vocals of Denver-area favorite Kenny Moten, performing 12 O Clock Tales: An Evening of Songs and Stories. This 90-minute performance is composed of half jazz and half musical theater interspersed with poems, snippets of artist s biographies and touching personal stories. 12 O Clock Tales will be feature in the intimate setting of the Aurora Fox Studio Theatre. 33 On Nov. 17 and 18, the Cabaret Series continues with a double-bill of swing-era songs by The Denver Dolls and Vintage Vocal Trio. The Denver Dolls are Colorado s most beloved Andrews Sisters/USO Tribute Group performing in the tradition of the beloved female groups of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Vintage Vocal Trio brings back the Golden Age of Hollywood by performing vocal big band, jazz, swing and pop standards from artists such as Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Doris Day, Otis Redding, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and many others. Think The Manhattan Transfer with a retro twist! On Thanksgiving weekend, The Fox proudly opens the second full production of the season, Hi-Hat Hattie, a musical biography of Denver native and Academy Award-winning actress Hattie McDaniel, best known for her portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind. This production stars Anna High, best known to Aurora Fox audiences for her stunning performances in The Color Purple and Porgy & Bess. For more information on The Fox s Season 33, or to purchase tickets, visit AuroraFox.org. CULTURAL SERVICES DIVISION AuroraGov.org/Arts cultural@auroragov.org Art in Public Places 303.739.6747 Aurora Fox Arts Center Box Office 303.739.1970 Aurora History Museum 303.739.6660 Bicentennial Art Center 303.344.1776 Classes: Aurora Dance Arts 303.326.8308 Classes: Pottery, Theatre, Music and Visual Arts 303.326.8650 People s Building 303.739.6670