Emilio Lobato Exhibition Earns Critical Acclaim

Emilio Lobato photographed by Robert Sullivan

Reviews are rolling in on the FAC's current exhibition, Emilio Lobato: Mi Linda Soledad (My Beautiful Solitude). The word on the street is that this show is one you don't want to miss.

Michael Paglia of Westword reviewed both the FAC's exhibition and the concurrent Emilio Lobato show, Casi, Casi/Bit by Bit, at the William Havu Gallery in Denver.

He writes, "Do not miss this stunning double dose of significant works by a living master of Colorado abstraction.”

Kyle MacMillan at the Denver Post entitled his review of Lobato's comprehensive 62-piece retrospective "Virtuosity permeates Denver artist Emilio Lobato's mid-career retrospective."

On display now at the FAC:
Emilio Lobato, "Tratando de Recordar" (Trying to Remember) 2008 Oil and collage on panel 72x72" Courtesy of the artist and the William Havu Gallery

Bemis School of Art: Spring Time Family Art Day

A creation from Spring Time Family Art Day at Imagination Place in the Citadel Mall 

The Bemis School of Art partnered with Imagination Celebration to bring a Free Spring Time Family Art Day at Imagination Space on Saturday Mar. 27 from 12:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Participants explored their creativity with their friends and family, enjoying hands-on art projects like activities like spring-time hats and giant flower collage paintings led by Bemis School of Art instructors.

The free event was open to people of all ages, and welcomed passersby at the Citadel Mall space.

Imagination Celebration shared this rave review on our Facebook wall: "Many happy, happy families! We were told repeatedly that the kids loved the kindness of the teaching artists. Thanks for sharing your wonderfulness!!!"

Boardman Robinson Murals on the Move

The second floor 75th Anniversary exhibition at the FAC will feature The History of Commerce, a 10-panel mural by the internationally renowned Boardman Robinson. The mural was commissioned in 1929 by businessman Edgar J. Kaufmann, perhaps best known for his Pennsylvania home, Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece built in 1936.

Soon after completing the mural, Robinson moved to Colorado Springs and served as the director of the prestigious Broadmoor Art Academy, and its successor, the Fine Arts Center School, from 1930-1947.

The panels – each measuring 8’ x 15’ – were originally displayed at the Kaufmann’s department store in downtown Pittsburgh; this will be the first time all 10 panels have been displayed together in decades.

Here’s how Time Magazine described the murals in a Nov. 25, 1929, article: “Beginning with an animated commercial squabble between the Persians and the Arabs, they progress to Carthaginians in the Mediterranean striking a crafty bargain with the Egyptians. Venetians in the Levant when bartering was done with benefit of clergy so that polite thieving was sanctified. Subsequently they show the Portuguese in India, the Dutch in the Baltic, and the English in China, slave traders and clipper ships in the 19th Century U. S. The last is a generalized scene of modern industry— liners in a harbor, airplanes in the air, tall buildings rearing in the background, a sweating structural steel crew. Each unit is related to the whole by composition and color. 

“There are no pretty girls, no idealization, no gold leaf.”

For the anniversary, the FAC has commissioned Robinson student Eric Bransby to paint a mural celebrating the arts. The finished work, measuring 5’ x 27’ will be installed this summer.

Parents' Night Out

Bemis art activities brings out the creativity in everyone!

Friday 5:00-9:00 p.m. | April. 8, June 10, July 8, Aug. 12
Children ages 5-12
Non-Members: $45 Members: $40

Bemis School of Art knows that sometimes, parents just want to have fun. Starting April 8, Bemis will offer Friday night art adventures for the kids while parents can enjoy Friday night out on the town ... or just next door, where Amuzé at the FAC offers live jazz with no cover. See the jazz schedule here.

Drop off your children with experienced art teachers; they will paint the night away while you enjoy you enjoy evening out! Children will draw and paint zany animals on parade. Supervised fun for your favorite young artist! All levels of curious creativity welcome. Visits to the Fine Arts Center galleries will be included. Advanced registration is required. Call 719.475.2444 for more information.

PN1 April 8
PN2 June 10
PN3 July 8
PN4 Aug 12
Instructors: Gabriella Christians
and Nancy Fraser-Coco

Be An Art Detective: Can You Identify This Work?

We're giving away two tickets to The Women to the person who can correctly identify the work standing upright between the two gentlemen pictured above. A hint: this painting was part of an exhibition that the FAC held here in the late 1940s. On the left is Mitch Wilder; at right, Fred Bartlett, both curators and previous directors of the FAC.

To enter, please post your detective work on our blog in the comments below. Let us know the name of the work, the artist, and name your source (or share a link) to prove that you're the winner.

The deadline for the contest is midnight, Sun. Apr. 3, 2011. Let the detection begin!

Girls' Night Out with "The Women!"

Thursday night performances are Mar. 31 and Apr. 7 | 7:30 p.m.

Get the girls together for a night of sophisticated fun at the FAC! On both Thursday night performances of The Women, get a free drink ticket for Deco Lounge with each purchase of ticket admission. Just mention "Girls' Night Out" to the Box Office when you buy your ticket, and we'll take care of the rest.


*Girls Night Out free drink coupon applies only to customers purchasing full priced single ticket(s) for any Thursday evening performances (March 31 & April 7, 2011) of "The Women". One (1) free drink coupon will be issued by the FAC Box Office for each ticket purchased. Customers who purchase their tickets on-line will be issued coupon(s) when picking up their tickets. Free drink coupons must be redeemed on performance date (March 31 & April 7, 2011) and will not be honored on any other date. Offers are not valid with any other coupon, discount, gift certificate or promotion including discounted subscription tickets.

Bemis Art Installation: "Reversal"

"Reversal" is the latest sculpture installation by the students of Nueva Ventura and their teachers, lead by Bemis School of Art instructor Kathy Hutton.

In partnership with TESLA, Bemis School of Art opens its doors every week to Nueva Ventura, a program dedicated to innovative and adaptive teaching approaches for students.

The students brainstormed the concept of bird kites, ranging from black to white, flying from the lake to the sky, but in reverse. The water is above, and the sky is below. One lone golden bird flies against the crowd, exemplifying another theme of reversals we encounter in life.

You can see "Reversal" on the FAC's Second Floor in the Family Discovery Gallery.

Next ArtBar: Mar. 30

ArtBar invites you to join us at the FAC for this month's social gathering. The event offers arts enthusiasts a chance to meet, mingle, and enjoy learning about a different art topic each month.

TONIGHT | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | In the Deco Lounge

ADMISSION:
$5.00 for FAC members | $15.00 for non-members.
All admissions include one glass of wine or one mixed drink.

FEATURING: Live jazz music from the Wayne Wilkinson Trio!

• A free drink ticket with each admission
• Hosted by Sally Hybl and Eryn Carman from The Women
• A tasty 10-minute ArtBite by Museum Director Blake Milteer
• Tapas and appetizers available for purchase from Amuzé
• Nonprofit Spotlight on Dreampower Animal Rescue