Thursday, March 23, 2006

NUMEROUS + GALLERY ARTISTS RECOGNIZED IN TODAY'S BEST OF WESTWORD!

The world watches and waits all year long for just one issue of Westword.......that's right, the Best of Denver issue, which hit newsstands last night and is now online! Here at + gallery we wait with anticipation to see which awards our artists might garner, checking in with our bookies weeks leading up to the event for the odds. My money, at least what little I have, was riding all the way on Bruce Price for last September's spectacular exhibition FULL. Sure, I thought all of our exhibitions qualified, but Price totally blew my mind with paintings that presented a new direction full of vibrancy and skill, continuing a thread he's established over the course of ten years and exploding it all at once.


Sure enough, Price's exhibition was selected as the Best Gallery Solo show of the year in today's Westword, and we could not be more proud. Or can we...........continuing on the page our youngest artist Jenny Morgan is recognized for having the "Best Running Start to a Successful Career in Art." I don't recall there being an award for that last year, but perhaps its a new category created specifically for Morgan. Is it deserved? I think there are more than a few people out there right now that would say yes, but I'm assuming full validation will come pretty soon.

Two pages later, + gallery secondary artist Warren Kelly pops up with an award for "Best Computer-Aided Art Show," a result of his Pirate effort "Original + Digital" which actually was a tremendous breakthrough in the use of digital technology towards beautiful, intelligent effects. Next page.......+ gallery artist Andy Miller is recognized for last December's stunning exhibition of new work with the honor "Best Sculpture Show." Right below that, and we can only claim credit for having worked with Andrews in the past, but "Best Sculpture Duet" goes to Bryan Andrews and Joe Riche for their exceptional exhibitions at the Arvada Center, still on view, at least for a couple more days.

Finally, the party ends with the most rare award, "Best Artist at Pissing Off the Right Wing," which goes to........drum roll please.......Tsehai Johnson, who never intended nor even considered to piss off anyone, but continues making some of the most jaw-dropping artwork around. To my knowledge, we've not had one Right winger nor the Governor of our State bother to visit to see her current exhibition "Sampling," on view at the gallery as we write. Perhaps they'd not be so pissed off if they were to witness the work in person. We congratulate our artists, as well as all of the others that were included in the "Best of Denver 2006" by Westword.

As far as we're concerned, everyone in the arts deserves an award for maintaining their sanity and standards in the face of both opposition and extreme anticipation. Though the Logan's were rightfully lauded for their contribution to Contemporary Art in this city, shouldn't there rightfully be an award to the "Best friend of Denver artists" award? Maybe next year, or so we hope!