“Alley on the 16th Street Mall,” painted by Susie Hyer, who was
juror for Littleton’s current Own an Original Exhibit at the
Littleton Museum, is included in the 2010 Denver Plein Air Festival
Exhibition,” which runs through Dec. 31 at the Denver Central
Library’s Vera Ellison Gallery, seventh level.
“En plein air” is a French expression meaning “in the open air”
and many tend to think in terms of natural landscapes in this
category. But during August and September of this year, more than
100 artists painted in Denver’s Golden Triangle (Near the Denver
Art Museum) and in downtown Denver, creating a portrait of the
city’s cultural scene. (A visit to this show combines nicely with a
Denver Art Museum visit across the plaza). Judges were Jill
Rosentrator, who directs the state’s Art in Public Places program;
Rose Frederick, writer and curator of the annual Coors Western Art
Exhibit; Dean Sobel, Director of the Clyfford Still Museum, under
construction at 13th and Bannock. Admission is free. Gallery hours:
10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays
to Fridays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays; 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays.
A “Holiday Lights” concert by the Colorado Wind Ensemble will be
at 7:30 Dec. 11 at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5984 S.
Datura St., Littleton. Music by Reisteter, Anderson, Kalman, Bass,
Staffeldt, with narration of Bass’ “The Night Before Christmas” by
Charley Samson of KVOD. CWE trombonist Eric Staffeldt’s “Chants de
Noel,” was a 1999 commission and a new, as yet unnamed work by
hornist Ken Soper will be performed. The audience is invited to
sing along and then submit a suggestion for a title. Tickets:
$12/$10/$5. At the door or holidaylightsticketsonline.
“A Littleton Christmas” with the Littleton Symphony and Young
Voices of Colorado will have two performances: Dec. 10, 7:30 p.m.
at Littleton United Methodist Church, 5984 S. Datura St., Littleton
and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 8817
S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch. Bach, Tchaikovsky, Vivaldi, seasonal
favorites, including a world premier of “A Spirit of Ether’ by
European composer Graham Lack, newly commissioned for choir and
orchestra.. Tickets: $15/$12/ free 21 and under. 303-933-6824,
www.littletonsymphony.org.
(Cash/check only at door).
The Parker Chorale, established in April 2010, will present “A
Holiday Gift of Song” at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10 at Parker United
Methodist Church, 11805 S. Pine Drive, Parker. This new chorale,
conducted by John J. Polinski, has grown to 70 members. It has
established a grant program to aid local high school vocal
programs. Tickets: $7 online, $10 at the door. www.parkerchorale.org.
The Castle Rock Orchestra and the Adult and Children’s Choirs of
the First United Methodist Church of Castle Rock present “Spirit of
the Season,” at 3 p.m. Dec. 12 at the First United Methodist Church
of Castle Rock, featuring “Peter and the Wolf” and the “Home Alone
Suite by John Williams. The program will also include music by
American composer Leroy Anderson and British composer Peter
Warlock.
Celebrate the season at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at Bemis Library, 6014 S.
Datura St., Littleton, with “The Joy of Christmas, Past and
Present,” with the Joe Peterson Rhythm Trio and the JPO Andrews
Singers and emcee David Hixon. These offshoots of the
Littleton-based Joe Peterson Dance Orchestra will feature sacred
and secular Christmas favorites. Free. 6014 S. Datura St.,
Littleton. 303-795-3961. Note that Bemis is in a Food for Fines
mode until Christmas, if overdue fines lurk. And that gently used
gift books are for sale on a special table. Dec. 11 is the last day
for ticket sales for the annual Friends of the Library/Museum
Holiday’s Evening at the Museum, which happens at 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Dec. 12. Bundle up and stroll the luminaria -lit Littleton Museum
grounds at 6018 S. Datura St. Bonfires, a variety of boiled and
baked Christmas puddings, hot cider, cookies, caroling around the
piano in the parlor, music and wagon rides ( the mules will have
their bells on) — a holiday such as Littleton’s early residents
might have enjoyed. Santa will listen to children’s wishes and the
Smithtonian Hand Bell Choir will be in the museum classrooms.
Tickets $10/$4 (Friends members $7/$3) at Bemis Library, Littleton
Museum. 303-795-3950. (If not sold out, tickets will be available
at the door on the 12th. Limit 1500).Artists on Santa Fe Gallery
presents its 23rd Annual Holiday Exhibit, with photographs,
pottery, paintings and jewelry in the colorful building at 747
Santa Fe Drive in the Arts District. Macy Dorf of Littleton owns
the gallery. 303-573-5903, www.artistsonsantafe.com. The
Great Western Art Gallery’s Annual Holiday Show features miniatures
by gallery artists through Dec. 23. Many south area artists are
represented by this Denver gallery, owned by Hilliard Moore of
Highlands Ranch, located at 1455 Curtis Street, Denver-just north
of the Performing Arts Complex. 303-396-2787.“Tuba Christmas”
brings 400 tuba players from the region, including the south area,
to perform together from 1 to 2 p.m. Dec. 12 at Skyline Park, 16th
and Arapahoe Streets in downtown Denver. Many of the musicians
decorate their instruments and wear nifty hats and scarves. The
event just feels happy! Free. www.DowntownDenver.com,
303-534-6161.“Sing We Now of Christmas” is the title for Kantorei’s
holiday concert, scheduled at 3 p.m. Dec. 19 at Augustana Lutheran
Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver. The a capella group is
conducted by Richard Larson, retired choral director at Chaparral
High School in Parker. Tickets: $20/$15, 303-388-4962, www.augustanaarts.org.“Making
Merry,” the Stories on Stage holiday production will be at 1:30 and
6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 in the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Performing
Arts Complex. Actors Maggie Roswell, Nick Sugar, Sam Gregory and
Randy Moore will read stories. Tickets: $25. 303-494-0523, storiesonstage.org.Several south
area artists are represented in the 24th Annual Fine Art Market and
Show Dec. 10-19 at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m.
Sunday. (Happy hour, cash bar and snacks 6 to 7:30 p.m. daily.
720-898-7276, www.arvadacenter.org.Birders:
beginners, intermediate and advanced are invited to participate in
Audubon Society’s annual New Years Day Denver Urban Christmas Bird
Count on Jan. 1. Spend a half or full day outdoors. This activity
takes place all over the nation, giving a current account of winter
bird populations. There are 13 Denver areas designated with a
leader/contact person for each. $5 charge for expenses of a
chili/potluck party afterwards. See: www.denveraudubon.org and click
on Warbler for information, 303-973-9530. Also, Roxborough State
Park hosts a Bird Count on January 2, starting at 7:30 a.m. Call
303-973-3959 by Dec. 30 to register. $2 chili charge for
party.Littleton painter Robert Spooner is a Gold Medal Winner for
his “Yellow Roses” in the Oil Painters of America 2010 Western
Regional Exhibition, held at Mountain Trails Gallery in Jackson,
Wyo.. More than 1,200 paintings were submitted, with 100 selected
for the exhibit by juror Albert Handell.Good news! Popular local
musician Chris Daniels, who has been battling leukemia, will return
to Swallow Hill Music with Chris Daniels and the Kings, at 8 p.m.
Dec. 10 for “An Acoustic Night with Chris Daniels and Friends.)
Daniels was director of Swallow Hill at one time. Tickets: $15
advance/ $17 day of show. www.swallowhill.org, 303-777-1003
x 2.The South Suburban Community Orchestra performs at 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 10 at Grace Presbyterian Church, 251 E. Sterne Blvd.,
Centennial. Music by Waltefuel, Vaughn Williams, Brahms, Burt,
Mozart, Bach, Respighi/Rossini. $5 donation requested. The
orchestra is holding a silent auction with possible holiday gifts.
www.ssorchestra.org.“Festival of
Carols” with Littleton United Methodist Church’s three choirs,
Colorado Chamber Orchestra, Chancel Ringers at 8:30 and 11 a.m.
Dec. 12: Carols, sacred poetry, scripture, music. LUMC, 5984 S.
Datura St., Littleton. Free. 303-794-6379. Holiday Concert by the
50 year old Denver Concert Band, which includes many south area
musicians, including Music Director Jacinda Bouton and Associate
Director Ken Kopatich, at 2 p.m. Dec. 11 at Central Presbyterian
Church, 1660 Sherman St., Denver. Tickets: $10/$5. www.denverconcertband.org.“Christmas
in Colorado Concert” by the Sound of the Rockies barbershop style
chorus will be at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Newman Center,
2344 E. Iliff Ave., University of Denver. Tickets:
303-933-3501.
