Colorado has always held a special place for me. There is something about the light, the landscape, and the cultural energy of the Mountain West that feels deeply aligned with the kind of work I make. So when I was selected to participate in the Annual Contemporary Art Survey at The Lincoln Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, it felt like more than an exhibition opportunity. It felt like a homecoming of sorts.
The Annual Contemporary Art Survey is a nationally juried contemporary art exhibition held each year at The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins' premier arts and cultural venue. The 2015 edition ran from August 29 through October 10, with an opening reception on Friday, August 28, from 6 to 8pm.
What made this exhibition particularly meaningful was the juror: Dean Sobel, Executive Director and founding director of the Clyfford Still Museum in Denver, Colorado. Sobel is one of the most respected voices in American contemporary art and museum leadership, and his curatorial eye shaped a show that was rigorous, thoughtful, and genuinely exciting. He led a gallery talk from 5 to 6pm before the opening, offering context and perspective on the selected works.
Being chosen for a nationally juried exhibition, reviewed by a curator of Sobel's caliber, was a real affirmation. And doing it in Colorado made it even better. Every time I show work in this state, I leave feeling recharged. There is an openness here, an appetite for serious contemporary art that I find rare and energizing.
The Lincoln Center continues to be one of the most important platforms for contemporary art in the Rocky Mountain region, and I am grateful to have been part of this survey.
Artist Series
This post is part of an ongoing series on artists who have shaped my practice. Each post explores a different figure whose work, ideas, or creative philosophy has left a mark on how I think about painting. Recent posts in the series include:
