Teaching Artist Updates

Teaching artist Andrea Asali will be co-presenting a free clowning workshop in French for kids ages 5-10 (and their grownups) on the second Sunday of the month this fall, starting 9/14 at 2pm in Southeast Denver. Please email worldlanguagearts@gmail.com for more information or to register.

Destination: España

Colorado Chamber Players welcomes back virtuoso guitarist Masakazu Ito in a program of baroque and early classical music by Italian and Spanish composers: Boccherini, Vivaldi, Narvaez, Caldara and Ortiz.

• When: Friday October 10, 6 pm
• Where:  Epiphany Lutheran Church (790 S. Corona in Denver, near Washington Park)
• More info HERE

The Michael Friedman Band  will perform a musical blend of R&B, Blues, Jazz and original tunes at the following event:

• When: Saturday, September 13, 2025, 3:00-4:30pm
• Where: Art on the Green at Curtis Park (2349 E. Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village, CO 80121)
• More info HERE

• When: September 6-7
• Where: Salida, CO

• When: October 4-5
• Where: Taos, NM

• When: November 15-16
• Where: Santa Fe, NM

• When: November 22-23
• Where: Santa Fe, NM

• When: December 21
• Where: Del Norte, CO

We’re proud to celebrate Think 360 Teaching Artist donnie l. betts, a producer of the award-winning documentary The Holly, which took home top honors at the News & Documentary Emmy® Awards in New York City on June 26!

Directed by journalist Julian Rubinstein and produced alongside Dia Sokol Savage, The Holly investigates gentrification, gang violence, and activism in Northeast Denver—centered around the story of anti-gang activist Terrance Roberts. The film aired nationally on Rocky Mountain PBS and has been praised for its bold, investigative storytelling. Learn more HERE.  The film is available to stream on Apple TV and Amazon Video.

Recent & Upcoming Work from Helen Eberhardie Dunn:

Avant Music Festival

Date: June 29, 2025
Location: BloBack Gallery, Pueblo — blobackgallery.com
Description: Avant musicians were invited to collaborate in a day-long event. Helen offered a 30-minute improvisational set on yogic songs, incorporating breathwork and inviting friends to participate in this meditative sound exploration.

EARTH Exhibit

Date: June 2025
Location: Museum of Friends, Walsenburg — museumoffriends.org
Description: This group exhibition focused on EARTH-related imagery. Helen contributed FLOWrate, an action painting from the 2023 ritual performance of the same name.

Earth Day Ceremony

Date: June 21, 2025
Location: Museum of Friends, Walsenburg — museumoffriends.org
Description: This free community event marked the culmination of the Community Healing Tree, a participatory mural installation built from months of community reflections and offerings. The evening included:

• A sound healing and solstice ritual celebrating the symbolic role of water

• A live performance of Catharsis: Blooming Void by Hella Songbeetle of SkySoul Collective

• The River of Words Reflection, where attendees contributed poetic offerings

• A ceremonial deconstruction and ash release into the river, honoring impermanence and transformation

• Light refreshments and informal community connection

Upcoming

EARTHflows — Exhibition & Performance

Dates: September 5 – October 4, 2025
Location: CSU Pueblo Art Gallery — More Info
Description: A landmark exhibition featuring EARTHflow action paintings from past ritual performance events, including:

• FLOWrate improv at Studio 121, CSU Pueblo (March 2023)

• EARTHflow / Rebirth, a student and community collaboration at CSU Pueblo

• Cracked Earth / Risong Blue, BloBack Gallery, Pueblo

Opening night (September 5) will feature Siddhe Tree, a collaborative improvisational ritual and performance pour.

Transcendent Femme

Date: September 2025
Location: GOCA (Galleries of Contemporary Art), Colorado Springs
Description: Helen will lead a sound healing workshop and contribute sound and sculptural installations to Goddess Spaces, a multidisciplinary celebration of divine feminine expression.

Wendy Videlock will feature at the First Annual Grand Mesa Writers Symposium August 8-10.   Featuring along with Wendy are bestselling authors Shelley Read and Timothy Winegard.  Find out more HERE.

Wendy also has new poems appearing in the following anthologies: Deep Wild, an Anthology of the Back Country and Western Colorado Voices.

Cleo Parker Robinson presents Bolero:

Join the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble for the beginning of their 55th season at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House with Bolero. Bolero is a classic work choreographed by Christopher Huggins with gorgeous music and movement. This performance is appropriate for all audiences. Tickets are on sale starting June 19th.

• When: September 20th 7:30pm & 21st 2:00pm
• Where: Ellie Caulkins Opera House (1385 Curtis Street, Denver, CO 80204)
• Purchase tickets HERE

Michael Friedman & Swingset Jazz – Children’s Performance
Get ready for cool fun for the whole family! Michael Friedman & Swingset Jazz bring a fresh twist to children’s favorites, reimagining beloved songs with a lively jazz beat.

Performance Details:

• Date: Wednesday, June 25, 2025
• Time: 10:00–10:45 AM
• Location: Anderson Park Pavilion - 4355 Field St (at W. 44th Ave), Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

More Info:
Visit the Performances in the Park schedule: rootedinfun.com/Performances-in-the-Park

Tony Ortega and his son, Cipriano Ortega, will co-teach a weekend workshop on smartphone photography and poetry in Taos, New Mexico, from July 18–21, 2025. The workshop will take place at the Casa Taos Retreat and Training Center and is limited to 10 participants.

The $550 fee includes the workshop, meals, and lodging. For registration or questions, contact Daniel Escalante at holboxtaos@gmail.com or 720-987-8148.
More details are available at: Casa Taos Retreats & Events Schedule

Workshop Description:
“A picture can say a thousand words”—but what will your picture say? How can photography and poetry work together?
This immersive weekend workshop explores the relationship between personal photographs and poetry. Tony Ortega will teach participants how to use smartphone photography tools and apps to maximize image quality and creative potential. Cipriano Ortega will lead a series of writing prompts that use visual elements of photography as the foundation for metaphor, imagery, and narrative.

Participants will use the rich setting of Taos as inspiration to discover and amplify their visual and written voices.

Lisa Zimmerman had a poem published in Rockvale Review in May 2025: “Photo, 1938” – Rockvale Review

Her prose poem will appear in the forthcoming print anthology Screaming at America: An Anthology of Disobedience (May 2025).

On June 5, 2025, Zimmerman led a professional development workshop for K–12 art teachers in the Poudre School District, focusing on the intersection of writing and visual art. The workshop was funded by Think 360 Arts.

She also facilitated a persona poem writing workshop at LINC Library in Greeley on April 19, 2025: Event link – High Plains Library District

• Performance at the State Capitol for the opening reception of Think 360's Creative Capital: The Art of Teaching Artistry exhibit
• Traveled to Palisade, CO to perform and conduct a workshop during the March 7th to 10th Trickster Ridge Poetry Festival
• Four readings this March in Denver. For complete details visit https://www.wagingart.com.

Tony Ortega  has the following exhibits on display:

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities

• "Art of the State 2025"
• Where: Arvada, CO
• When: January 16 – March 31
• More info HERE.

The Art Base

• “Imagens de Nepantla” - Solo exhibition
• Where: Basalt, CO
• When: February 7 – March 14
• More info HERE

Colorado State Capital

• "Creative Capitol Exhibition: The Art of Teaching Artistry" - Group exhibition
• Where: Denver, CO
• When: February - August

Next Gallery

• Next Gallery’s 8th Annual: Casa Bonita Show
• Where: Casa Bonita, Lakewood CO
• When:February 14 - March 2
• More info HERE

Upcoming exhibitions for the Month of Photography

Curtis Center for the Arts

• "In the Urban Landscape" - Month of Photography
• Where: Greenwood Village, CO
• When: March 8 - March 29
• More info HERE

Convivio Café

• "Café con Leche" - Month of Photography, 2-person exhibition
• Where: Denver, CO
• When: February 18 – April 7
• More info HERE

Daniels and Fisher Clocktower

• Night Lights Denver Celebrates Month of Photography
• Where: Denver, CO
• When: March 1 - 30
• Digital Projection
• Juried digital projection
• More info HERE

Betsy Tobin's puppetry will be featured in:

The Mariposa Collective presents MOMENTUM

DANCE, THEATRE, VIDEO & PUPPETRY

• JANUARY 31st, 7:30 PM
• FEBRUARY 1st, 7:30 PM
• FEBRUARY 2nd,  2 PM
• Where: the Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut Street in Boulder

• Tickets: $15-25
• More info HERE

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance presents:

DREAMCATCHERS The Untold Stories of the Americas

• Age Recommendations: All Ages
• Content Advisories: None
• When: Saturday March 8th, 2025 7:30 pm
• Where: Northglenn Arts Parsons Theatre
• More info HERE

Curious Theatre Company presents:

A Case for the Existence of God

isa riveting production by Samuel D. Hunter, acclaimed playwright of The Whale. This regional premiere of the Broadway hit offers a poignant exploration of the lives of two men navigating friendship, fatherhood, and the complexities of modern life.  A poignant reminder of the quiet strength found in human connection.

• When: January 18th to February 16th, 2025
• Where: Curious Theatre Company, Denver, CO 1080 Acoma Street
• More info HERE

*Dad's & Their Kids:  Saturday, February 1 at 2pm.   Dads, join us for this play that looks at fatherhood.  BOGO tickets to bring your kiddo and enjoy the show together.  Kids should be 13+.  Use code DadDate

*Student Matinee on February 5 at 10am: A special daytime performance for student groups, featuring a post-show talkback with the cast. Perfect for high school students. Only $10 per student  One free chaperone ticket for every six students.  Call Christy at 303-623-0524 ext. 705

*Educator Night: Friday, February 7 at 7:30PM.  Only $15 for educators! Plus  Enjoy a relaxed networking session at the bar before the show—chat with friends or make new connections!

*Discount for Educators: Educators can take advantage of a steeply discounted ticket ($15 + $2.50 facility fee) to any show throughout the run when you purchase your ticket online and apply "EDUCATOR26" at check-out. You can also mention this code if purchasing in person at the box office.

Emily vonSwearingen has been awarded a competitive grant from the Denver Arts and Venues, Arts and Culture Fund 2025 to continue her work working with Native American students in art and music in Denver Public Schools and at the Denver Indian Center.

Tony Ortega  has the following upcoming solo exhibit and workshop:

Solo exhibit: “Imagenes de Nepantla”

• Where: at the Art Base, Basalt, CO
• When: February 7th, 2025 – March 7th, 2025
• Opening reception and talk Friday February 14th, 5 – 7 PM
• More info HERE 

Children’s Workshop: Creating Arlebrijes (fantastic animals)

• March 8th and 9th 2025

Artwork:

• Bonampak Cholo | woodblock on Mexican bark paper
• Lupe Liberty con dos Chihuahua | etching, acrylic and monotype stencils
• Uncle Sam Wants You | monotype silkscreen over poster

Wendy Videlock has a number of exciting updates, including:

• Wendy did a Tedx Talk on the curious power of words a couple of months ago and it's now available online.  You can see it here:  Wendy Videlock Tedx Talk
• Wendy will be part of a four-day literary festival in Palisade March 6th to 9th.  The festival also features Craig Childs, Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and CMarie Fuhrman.  To find out more click HERE.

Curious Theatre Company presents: 

A Case for the Existence of God is a riveting production by Samuel D. Hunter, acclaimed playwright of The Whale. This regional premiere of the Broadway hit offers a poignant exploration of the lives of two men navigating friendship, fatherhood, and the complexities of modern life.  A poignant reminder of the quiet strength found in human connection.

• When:  January 18  to February 16, 2025
• Where: Curious Theatre Company, Denver, CO 1080 Acoma Street.
• More info HERE

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*Youth and Young Adult Night will be offered January 24 at 7:30: Experience live theatre in a fun, youth-centered environment with  a post-show discussion with the cast. Perfect for ages 14 through college ages. Only $10 a ticket.  Use code YAYANIGHT

*Student Matinee on February 5 at 10am: A special daytime performance for student groups, featuring a post-show talkback with the cast. Perfect for high school students. Only $10 per student  One free chaperone ticket for every six students.  Call Christy at 303-623-0524 ext. 705

*Discount for Educators: Educators can take advantage of a steeply discounted ticket ($15 + $2.50 facility fee) to any show throughout the run when you purchase your ticket online and apply "EDUCATOR26" at check-out. You can also mention this code if purchasing in person at the box office.

Maeve Eichelberger will be at the Coors Western Art show and Sale. This premier annual event and gallery exhibition is held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show.

• When: Jan.11-26, 2025
• Where: 4655 N Humboldt St, Denver, CO 80216 (Located in the Hall of Education on the 3rd floor)

Pam Faro has a number of exciting updates including:

• "Curiosity & Connection: Multicultural Storytelling" - two assembly performances for the student body at Bradley International School, Thursday, January 16, 2025.
• "Deep Imagery" storytelling workshop for Broomfield Spellbinders volunteer storytellers, Friday, January 17, 2025.

The Odyssey According to SETH

Performance poet SETH releases his musical-poetic epic A Black Odyssey joined by the musical ensemble Art Compost & the Word Mechanics. SETH will share his insights into Homer's Odyssey, perform with friends and offer door prizes including copies of the digital 4 CD set.

• When: Saturday, Jan 18th 7-9pm
• Where: Manos Sagrados 9975 E Colfax  Aurora
• More info HERE
• Listen to samples from the audiobook HERE