Westword previews ATOMICELROY'S HOMETOWN at the MODERN

"Atomic Elroy (aka Tom McElroy), a fixture in the Colorado Springs art community, isn’t an easy person to explain. A one-man artistic mover and shaker, he puts you in mind of a Phil Bender, but...a Phil Bender in Colorado Springs," says Denver entertainment weekly, Westword. In this preview, AE describes himself as a "lone voice in the forest" and an "artistic salmon floating up the stream."

He won't be alone this Friday, Feb. 6, for the Opening Celebration of ATOMICELROY'S HOMETOWN at the FAC MODERN in the Plaza of the Rockies as part of the First Friday Art Walk. Admission is free and the public is welcome from 5-8 p.m.

Dream City 2020 closes Friday at the MODERN

Dream City 2020 closes this Friday at the FAC MODERN. The exhibition features vintage photography from the Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum and art inspired by those photos created by local artists like Jay Miller and Laura Ben-Amots and students from FutureSelf. Admission is free to the public.

Dream City opening is a dream come true

The First Friday Art Walk crowd mingled without incident with the FAC exhibition opening patrons in downtown Colorado Springs this past Friday at the Dream City 2020: Through the Eyes of the Artist Past, Present and Future opening celebration at the FAC MODERN. An estimated 281 were in attendance. Here you see Warren Epstein from the Gazette posing with Bettina Swigger of COPPeR and the FAC's Sam Gappmayer next to a stylish sign.

Gazette: A wide-angle view of arts

New Gazette arts writer, Tracy Mobley-Martinez, attended the opening of Dream City 2020: Through the Eyes of the Artist, Past, Present and Future, and asked attendees what role will arts play in Colorado Springs in 2020.

Artist Marica Hefti said, "I think a very large one, not just because I'm an optimist. But since I came to Colorado Springs in 1991, there was literally one commercial art gallery. Can you imagine that? But then they came, all kinds of galleries came and went. ... Once - I used to say ‘if,' but now I say ‘once' - once you have a whole country buying original arts, there will not be enough artists in the world to satisfy it all. And why not start in the Springs?"

A visit to Altered Space

Watch Springs Culture Cast's visit to the latest exhibition at the FAC MODERN, Altered Space: 21st Century Installation Art...

Altered Space media previews from Gazette, Westword

Bold art alters space
FAC curators take on unpredictable exhibit
By Mark Arnest, The Gazette (Feb. 1)

• “Altered Space: 21st Century Installation Art” is the riskiest exhibition the Fine Arts Center has hosted in years, say curators Blake Milteer and Tariana Navas-Nieves. “We’re committed to balancing our traditional role as an anchor for the community and going out on a limb,” Milteer said. “Part of what a curator does is create a beautiful, cohesive exhibit,” he said. “This is different.”

Rooms with a View
FAC MODERN dedicates a show to installation art
By Susan Froyd, Westword (Jan. 31)

• “(Matt Barton) says, ‘I want the overall sense of the work to be positive, fantastic and wonderful while being woven with what can, on the surface, be thought of as dark.’ That means his room might be haunted by stuffed animals and found animated video clips or, somehow, a tornado. Hi-tech and lo-tech, heaven and hell.”

Interview with Altered Space artist Gwen Laine

Gwen Laine has lived in Denver since 1975. She earned her BFA from the University of Colorado, where she studied photography, sculpture and art history. Her work has been exhibited throughout the U.S. and has been published internationally ... more

Interview with Altered Space artist Matt Barton

Matt Barton currently teaches 3D art making for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs’ Visual and Performing Arts department. Following brief stints as a Chuck E. Cheese dancing rat and Victoria Secret shop stock boy, Barton spent a year in Italy as an artist apprentice. He earned his Masters in Fine Arts in 2006 from the Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh ... more

Interview with Altered Space artist Christina Marsh

Christina Marsh, from Lindenhurst, Ill., is currently in her second year as the Riley Scholar in Residency at Colorado College. She earned her Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana. Her works have been exhibited in many venues including the Schmucker Gallery at Gettsyburg (Pa.) College and Eastern Illinois University’s Tarble Art Center. She also participated in the Mobilivre traveling exhibition that was shown in 14 states. Her work has incorporated food, photography and prints ... more

2007 Fine Arts Center highlight reel

Check out our 2007 Year-in-Review video, featuring all the highlights of the past year ... the grand opening of our new building, award-winning theatre productions, groundbreaking exhibitions, special guests and more!

'Into the Woods,' 'Katrina' earn PPAC awards

The Pikes Peak Arts Council honored the Fine Arts Center Theatre Company's production of 'Into the Woods' and the FAC MODERN exhibition, 'Katrina: Catastrophe and Catharsis,' on Sunday night at the SaGaJi Theatre, during its 7th Annual Awards for Excellence in the Arts ceremony.

'Into the Woods' earned two awards, including Sally Hybl for "Best Actress" for her portrayal of Cinderella and director Alan Osburn for "Traditional Production." The FAC's Roy Ballard also won for "Behind the Scenes: Set Design" for his work on '1940's Radio Hour' and 'The Last Night of Ballyhoo.'

"For someone who was raised on the FAC stage, to be recognized by the arts community in such a meaningful way is an incredible honor," said Sally. "Truly, being a part of 'Into the Woods' was an honor in itself, and the award is really a testimony to all of those involved in this amazing production."

The 2007-2008 FAC Theatre Season opens on Oct. 12 with a production of Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs.”

“Katrina: Catastrophe and Catharsis” earned an award in the Visual Arts category of "Out of Town." The exhibition was the first in the nation dedicated to the works of internationally respected artists responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, debuting at the FAC MODERN in March.

The current exhibition, “Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Muray,” closes on Sept. 30 and is followed by “Faces in the Crowd: Portraiture from the FAC Permanent Collection” on Oct. 12.

KRCC interview FAC's Sylvester Smith on jazz

Sylvester Smith, known as 'Smitty', is a long-time Fine Arts Center employee and Colorado Springs native who has seen many of the jazz legends from Portraits from the Golden Age of Jazz perform live. He recently shared his memories while touring the FAC MODERN exhibition with KRCC's Kate Dawson. Listen to KRCC's interview (5:56)

Gottlieb Opening Night video

Portraits from the Golden Age of Jazz: Photographs of William P. Gottlieb opened at the FAC MODERN May 4. The exhibit features 71 photos of giants of jazz captured on film by a rookie photographer in the 1930-40s. New FAC curator Blake Milteer is interviewed for this Opening Night video from Springs Culture Cast:

Gazette: Jazz Visions

In Mark Arnest’s preview of the Gottlieb photography exhibit from May 3, new FAC curator Blake Milteer talked about Gottlieb’s ardent love of jazz, which enabled him to gain his subject’s confidence. “The show is about his close-knit relationship with the performers, before, during, after they were performing,” said Milteer. “They’re not studio shots. They’re reflective of the energy of the performance.”

Downtown80903.com launches

Our friends at the Downtown Partnership has launched a new website, called Downtown80903.com, which highlights the benefits of working, living and playing in downtown Colorado Springs. Naturally, visiting the FAC MODERN and Fine Arts Center at 30 W. Dale St. are listed under “Play.”

Katrina Gallery Tour

New Orleans gallery owner and exhibition organizer Arthur Roger with Louisiana artists Willie Birch, Jacqueline Bishop and Dawn Dedeaux, provide a room-by-room narration for Katrina: Catastrophe and Catharsis. Download the first-ever FAC MODERN audio tour on your mp3 player, then come downtown to view the exhibit. Experience Katrina through the eyes – and words – of the artists!
Download (1:03:07) | Listen:

Dr. Michael De Marsche’s NPR interview

On March 7, Louisiana artist Jacqueline Bishop interviewed FAC President and CEO Dr. Michael De Marsche about Katrina: Catastrophe and Catharsis for New Orleans’ NPR station 89.9 WWNO.
Download (10:38) | Listen:

Katrina Opening March 9, 2007

Katrina: Catastrophe and Catharsis, the latest exhibition at the FAC MODERN, opened March 9 and runs through April 29, 2007. Watch the Opening Night video from Springs Culture Cast: