AURORA | There’s a cool and damp weekend in store for some cool inside events.
Maybe a pop-up exhibition focusing on the life and work of Anthony Quinn?
“Who” you say?
Sheehs. Kids. Scroll down and check it out.
Here’s a short list of unusual ways to spend the weekend and beyond in and near Aurora.
Anthony Quinn: What am I? ¿Qué soy?
Museo de las Americas is set to debut “Anthony Quinn: What am I? ¿Qué soy?” This pop-up exhibition, curated by Yolanda Fauvet, explores the life and artistry of Anthony Quinn, the first Mexican-American to win an Academy Award and a prolific visual artist.
The exhibition’s title refers to a pivotal moment in Quinn’s childhood when he questioned his identity, sparking a lifelong dialogue about his dual heritage. Curator Fauvet noted, “Quinn had an ongoing dialogue with the labels being given to him as compared to his own relationship to his dual nationalities.” Fauvet finds this exploration relevant today, inspiring more inclusive conversations about identity.
Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, Quinn’s heritage is a recurring theme in his work. The exhibition features self-portraits and pieces from Quinn’s Tribal Series, reflecting influences from Plains Indian cultures. Museo’s Executive Director, Claudia Moran, highlighted Quinn’s ability to navigate both acting and visual arts, stating, “The artistic wealth of Anthony Quinn invites us to reflect on the adaptations we constantly undergo to fit into predetermined social models.”
“Anthony Quinn: What am I? ¿Qué soy?” showcases the artist’s skill in various mediums, from paint to sculpture, emphasizing his storytelling prowess and deep exploration of identity. The exhibition touts profound insights into Quinn’s dynamic relationship with his heritage and his art.
IF YOU GO:
Through Sept 22
Opening reception: 6:30 p.m.-9:00 pm, Aug. 2
Museo de las Americas,
861 Santa Fe Drive
Museum hours:
Tuesday-Friday, Noon-6 pm;
Weekends noon-5 pm
The Power of Poison
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science exhibition provides an interactive experience and incredible way to discover what you’ve always wanted to know about nature’s toxic arsenal.
Through a live performance and interactive dioramas, the spellbinding “The Power of Poison” will take Museum visitors into familiar and novel tales of illness, enchantment and death by poison. Journeying through the Colombian forest, they will uncover fascinating secrets about the many plants and animals that wield poison as a potent tool for defense and survival. Finally, the exhibition will uncover how scientists are studying poison’s effects on human cells to protect, repair and heal our own bodies and improve our health.
IF YOU GO:
Open every day, 9 a.m-5 p.m., Most Fridays 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Included with museum
admission ticket, $19.95-$24.95
2001 Colorado Blvd.
Info: 303-370-6000 and
www.dmns.org/
Vanity and Vice: American Art Deco
Delve into the vibrant era of 1920–1933 and explore the dynamic designs that emerged during this period of rebellion.
Step into the story of a progressive Prohibition-era woman as you journey through her boudoir and a speakeasy, immersing yourself in the Art Deco objects that defined her world. Experience the freedom and change of the time, as American women embraced independence both at home and in society.
From chic bobs to cocktail parties, this exhibition showcases the evolution of the modern woman through fashionable perfume atomizers, vanity sets, and stylish drinking and smoking accessories. Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco invites you to indulge in the glamour of a bygone era.
This special exhibition is included with admission and does not require a separate ticket.
IF YOU GO:
Through Jan. 12, 2025, opens at 11 a.m.
Kirkland Museum
1201 Bannock St.
Info: www.kirklandmuseum.org/vanity-vice/#
Fazal Sheikh
Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place is an exhibition created from three projects photographer Fazal Sheikh made on the Colorado Plateau from 2017 to early 2023. Sheikh’s portraits and landscapes shed light on the far-reaching consequences of extractive industry and climate change.
The exhibition presents Sheikh’s recent work in three interrelated sections: Thirst is a new series of aerial photographs that document the decline of the Great Salt Lake in northeast Utah, which is shrinking due to overconsumption and dwindling rain and snowfall. Exposure examines the impacts of uranium, coal, oil and natural-gas extraction on the American Southwest and on its Indigenous inhabitants. In Place evokes the enduring landscapes of the Bears Ears region in Utah, bringing Sheikh’s photographs together with contributions from scientists and Indigenous communities in and around Bears Ears in southeastern Utah.
Visitors will reflect upon the transformation—and often devastation—of these landscapes in the context of the past, present and future, while considering the juxtaposition of beauty and catastrophe, as well as intimate, human-scale stories and those spanning vast geological eras and changes.
IF YOU GO:
Tickets: Free- $27.00
Through Oct. 20, 10 a.m.
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave Pkwy
720-865-5000
Info and tickets: www.denverartmuseum.org/en/exhibitions/fazal-sheikh
Bright Nights at Four Mile Historic Park
Bright Nights is a collaboration with Tianyu Arts an Culture, Inc., the largest producer of Chinese lantern festivals in North America. This event transforms the Park into a captivating realm with larger-than-life sculptures illuminating the night across its 12 acres. Each year brings a fresh theme, new experiences, and captivating sculptures.
Bright Nights at Four Mile is the only opportunity to experience a Tianyu festival in the Mountain West. The event features art by day and magic by night, and with each new year will come a new theme, a new experience and new sculptures to the festival.
IF YOU GO:
Tickets: $13 – $42
Through Sept. 29, begins at 7 p.m. and runs through 11 p.m. or midnight, schedule varies
Four Mile Historic Park
715 S Forest St.
Tickets and info: www.fourmilepark.org/
Biophilia: Nature Reimagined
Biophilia: Nature Reimagined brings together more than 70 imaginative works, including architectural models and photographs, objects, fashion, digital installations, and immersive art experiences that collectively highlight the transformative power of nature. “Biophilia” is a term popularized by American biologist and author Edward O. Wilson to describe his theory that, as humans have evolved as a species, they have been intricately intertwined with the natural world. Wilson’s hypothesis invites deep reflection and poses relevant questions for audiences to consider life in our hyper-accelerated digital and urban-centric world. Organized by Darrin Alfred, Curator of Architecture and Design, Biophilia provides a space for leading architects, artists, and designers to re-examine and reanimate our intrinsic bond with the natural world.
IF YOU GO:
Exhibit is included in museum
admission. Free for those under 18, tickets range to $27
Beginning July 12 10 a.m.
Denver Art Museum
100 W 14th Ave Parkway
INFO: 720-865-5000 or,
denverartmuseum.org