Canvas

May 15, 2014

Countdown to the Festival: July 4, 5 & 6

As the weather starts to warm up and everything begins to bloom, it's a sure sign that the 24th annual Cherry Creek Arts Festival is approaching. We're excited to share another fun, dynamic and memorable event.

With 250 juried artists, family-friendly Artivities, music, food, and other events, we're confident you'll enjoy the Festival just as much as we enjoy putting it together.

Thank you for your continued support and participation!

Terry Adams

President and CEO

2014 Festival Poster by Dolan Geiman on Sale Now!

This year's commemorative poster is Dolan Geiman's "Colorado Blue Jay."

Geiman, a mixed-media artist from Chicago, creates unique and original collages from salvaged wood, found objects, and other recycled materials.

Discussing his inspiration for the piece, the Blue Jay, Geiman said, "In Colorado, it is surely one of the most beautiful, its beauty rivaled only by the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. The intricacy of the piece and brilliance of the bird reflects the ways the Arts Festival brings art to life over the 4th of July weekend."

The poster is available for purchase online at Cherry Art Shop, and visitors to the Festival may also purchase the poster onsite.

2014 Tagline & Logo

The Cherry Creek Arts Festival is signified each year by a unique cherry logo. For 2014, the realistic cherry is alive with a leafy stem and is dripping with color.

However, as with all art, the interpretation is entirely up to the viewer. It could be said that the rich and colorful cherry symbolizes the Festival's vibrancy.

2014 Festival Features 250 Incredible Visual Artists

250 juried artists and eight "Emerging Artists" will feature their work at the 24th annual Festival. 32 of the artists are from Colorado, and 86 of the artists are first-time CCAF exhibitors. The artists will represent 13 different categories: ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, metalworks, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture and wood.

The exhibiting artists were carefully selected by a panel of jurors from over 2,000 applicants -- making the Cherry Creek Arts Festival one of the most competitive art shows in the nation.

Congratulations to this year's artists! To view the full list, visit 2014 artists. To see images from each artist, visit the gallery.

Janus Inspires Youth Art Appreciation

Michelangelo once said, "A man paints with his brains, not his hands." Today, there is more evidence than ever of a powerful link between arts education and cognitive development. In an environment where budget cuts are forcing school districts across the nation to either scale back or completely eliminate their arts education programs, Denver-based Janus and the Cherry Creek Arts Festival have - for over 11 years - been helping to keep the arts alive in Colorado schools..

A completely unique initiative, the Janus Student Art Buying Program encourages students to explore art in school and then provides them with a hands-on art-buying experience at the Festival where they get the chance to purchase artwork for permanent installation at their school.

New this year, you are invited to the Janus Student Art Buying Showcase on Saturday, July 5, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Janus Art Experience tent on Fillmore near 2nd Avenue.

Additionally, four schools are given the opportunity to purchase art for the Mobile Art Gallery, which travels to various public schools, libraries, and community centers across the state.

Overall, the program works to foster art exploration and appreciation among students, with the hope of inspiring a life-long sense of self expression through the arts.

To learn more about the initiative, and Janus' other good works in the community, click here.

Photos by Frank Montanez

Opening Gala Tickets Available Now!

You're invited!

The art patron event of the season:

Thursday, July 3

Support our mission for arts education 365 days a year by joining us for an elegant and memorable evening.

ON SALE NOW!

The Opening Gala is hosted by the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek and presented by Colorado Business Bank and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles.

Interested in Becoming a Volunteer?

Each year, a team of nearly 1,000 volunteers is needed to produce the Cherry Creek Arts Festival. Our volunteers serve on a variety of committees to help present a broad array of art experiences over the 4th of July weekend. Simply put, we could not be successful without them!

Festival volunteers are dedicated to helping CCAF achieve its overarching mission: supporting arts education in Colorado so that art can live here 365 days a year.

Above all, CCAF volunteers have a great time in a passionate environment.

If you're interested in getting involved, click here.

The volunteer program is presented by Xfinity.

Photo by John Schultz

In This Issue

Commemorative Poster

2014 Tagline & Logo

What's New

Janus Student Art Buying

Quick Links

CCAF Website

Exhibiting Artists