Why "town minus cow"?

2008-07-26T12:34:00.000-07:00

A few years ago I was enjoying a cocktail at a party in Brooklyn on a muggy summer night. When a gallery owner from Chelsea asked me where I lived, I told her that I was from Denver. Her first question, predictably, was, "Do you ski"? No, I admitted, like I've done 100 times before. Knowing that I was an artist, she asked, "are there galleries there"? Somewhat surprised by the question, I said, "of course, Denver has a vibrant and growing art scene, lots of talent, and many good galleries". Her next statement got to the crux of the matter: "I love cowboys!"

Hmm.

Not caring anymore if I offended her, I said, "well, now, you may not know it, but funny thing ... you see, Denver is actually a CITY, and cowboys tend to hang out where there are .... well, COWS." Ignoring my snottiness, she instantly moved on to her love of snow.

Yeah.

Denver's population has grown by a third in just the past ten years, we've added an International Airport, 2 new Museum expansions, and a host of galleries. The art scene has grown from a handful of scrappy co-ops to a full spectrum of culture for every taste, including cutting-edge contemporary work that's as good as any seen on the coasts. The town is filled with talented artists and public love for the arts. It's a little-known fact, but Denver citizens contribute more public funding for the arts per capita than any other U.S. city.

So then, why does the cowtown image persist? Well, in part it starts with us. Denver has a classic low self esteem problem, or what I like to call "bi-coastal envy". It's time to put an end to all that. Denver's art and culture is like a hidden treasure, and it's time to shine some light on it!

town minus cow will feature reviews, interviews, and commentary on the art & artists of Denver, Colorado. Feel free to add comments, make suggestions, or back-talk, as you see fit. Don't expect any cows, though. Nothing against cows, but their time has passed.