The big Blue Bear has something new to look at in the Colorado Convention Center. In a public-private partnership between the City & County of Denver and SMG (the center’s management firm), $235,000 worth of new art has been installed in its halls.
Local artists created all the pieces, selected by art consulting firm NINE dot ARTS.
“Half of the artists in the new slate are under 35, which is impressive considering most public artists are over 40,” said Martha Weidmann, CEO and co-founder of NINE dot ARTS. “For many of the artists, this was the largest scale permanent installation they have ever worked at, including veteran artist Roland Bernier, who installed the largest piece of his nearly 60-year career. The art committee showed an amazing vision and faith in Denver’s emerging talent to knockout results.”
Most convention centers are also learning centers where people come to be engaged and broaden their knowledge, said Kent Rice, executive director of Arts & Venues for the City of Denver, so it’s appropriate that art be an important part of the building’s environment.
“Convention centers today must provide practical, green, efficient and easy to use space, but art and atmosphere are just as important to create surroundings that are conducive to learning and to conducting business,” said John Adams, an IAVM member and general manager of the Colorado Convention Center.
You can view all the pieces here.
(Image: NINE dot ARTS)
