CHANDLER: August to-do snubs locals

Mary Voelz Chandler

Originally published 03:00 p.m., May 16, 2008
Updated 05:53 p.m., May 16, 2008

Denver artists are feeling like chopped liver right now. Who could blame them?

After all, "Dialog:City," the big blowout arts event pegged to the Democratic National Convention, involves artists from anywhere but here.

And as details emerge about problems with raising funds for the convention, the reason for this event, who knows what will happen to plans to shower us with culture?

The estimate is to bring this digital media festival in for under $750,000, but it's already described as an event with hard costs of $415,000. The budget will grow as artists submit their final proposals, with hopes to offset that with in-kind contributions.

But money isn't really the issue. It goes deeper than that.

"I can't keep my loyalty to Denver intact if it's not going to be loyal to me in return - even though I love it," said Lauri Lynnxe Murphy, an artist, arts advocate and entrepreneur.

"If they're going to use (artists) for cultural tourism, perhaps the time to do it is when there are so many people coming here. Perhaps I'm confused as to what (Denver Office of Cultural Affairs') mission is."

The agency's city home page says that is "to advance the arts and culture in the City and County of Denver, to support Denver's economy by cultivating nonprofit and commercial cultural enterprises, and to foster a community that attracts, cultivates, and mobilizes the creative spirit."

As for the Host Committee's goals, cultural-affairs spokeswoman Pauline Herrera notes that those are "hosting the greenest event possible, creative inclusive opportunities for public engagement and participation, capitalizing on this historic opportunity, and showcasing Denver in a manner that would 'wow' visitors and local residents."

The bottom line is that Colorado artists, so supportive of this administration, feel neither showcased nor wowed.

"I feel betrayed," said Murphy, who is among the legion of area artists repeatedly bumped out of studio space over the past few years. She lost her Capsule Events Center space near West Sixth Avenue and Santa Fe Drive when a new owner decided to raze it. She lost her studio in Logan School when it became a parking lot. She's like others navigating the city's volatile real estate market.

Then there's Christine Marie Davis, who recently e-mailed about her frustration with "Dialog:City."

"When I received the notice for Dialog:City and saw no Colorado artists in the lineup, I was shocked," wrote artist Davis. "But closer to home, I felt spurned, after months of trying to line up a venue for my 'green' interactive public art project, contacting all sorts of arts and city organizations with little help and no results. I see this event as the spec- tacle of the summer. What an insult to our local artistic talent."

There's not enough space to list the maze of people she contacted, so my short response? "Yes, Christine, it is."

Herrera says there was "no intention to exclude Denver artists from 'Dialog:City.' " Erin Trapp, the director of the cultural affairs office, said at the "Dialog:City" launch, "There are a lot of possibilities for local artists to participate," specifically in "Cinemocracy," where anyone may enter a short, short film for consideration for screening.

Don't get me wrong - I want it all when it comes to the arts, regional, national and international. But if "Dialog:City" really is planned for those of us here, as noted at the May meeting of the Commission on Cultural Affairs, why hold it in late August?

Even some commission members are a bit queasy, wondering why the city, through its partnership with the host committee, is featuring artists from South Korea, New York, Los Angeles and other locales. The commissioners have heard from artists here, too.

This is an administration that keeps talking about a cultural renaissance in Denver, but who do they think has made it happen? It's not just new museum buildings and big road shows. It's the thriving cultural community that works right here, right now.

Earlier this week, the cultural affairs office released results of two surveys: one on attendance at performing arts events, the other on the space needs of artists, arts groups and creative businesses. Not surprisingly, the responses were: A, find a way to distribute cheaper tickets and, B, we need cheap work and rehearsal space near downtown.

I appreciate that the city officials are asking these questions to reach people here. But what counts is what happens with results that are hardly unexpected.

As I've learned, never sell Denver's arts community short.

"Dialog:City" does.

Mary Voelz Chandler is the art and architecture critic. Chandlerm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2677.

Finding "Dialog:City"

The digital media festival has a heritage.

* The Denver 2008 Host Committee has several committees, including the Community Outreach and Special Events Committee. The Denver Office of Cultural Affairs is part of that committee, as are other city agencies, cultural and tourism groups, and commercial enterprises.

* The Community Outreach and Special Events Committee reviewed proposals for cultural events related to the Democratic National Convention. It chose two: an open- source film festival, now called "Cinemocracy," being developed by the Denver Film Society and the Office of Cultural Affairs, and a digital media festival - "Dialog:City" - developed by the Office of Cultural Affairs with numerous area arts groups and educational institutions.

* The Office of Cultural Affairs hired the director and education/outreach person for "Dialog:City," Seth Goldenberg and Liz Newton. The couple are being paid with funds from the Denver Civic Arts Foundation, the former Denver Art, Culture & Film Foundation.

• May 19, 2008

  11:50 a.m.

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  christinemariedavis writes:

  Great coverage, thanks for your support.