Arts and Entertainment continued from page 48 Best Secret Gallery Friend of a Friend Gallery 1115 Acoma Street foafgallery.com Art historian Lauren Hartog and artist Derrick Velasquez (who’s done this sort of thing before in his own basement) teamed up a year ago to start and curate their well-named Friend of a Friend Gal- lery, an art space hiding away in a room at the impressive 1904 Evans School build- ing. Exhibitions can be hard to fi nd and are only open by appointment following their receptions, but it’s well worth the effort to fi nd work by these artists, who fl y both under the radar and through the clouds above it. Best New Gallery Bell Projects 2822 East 17th Avenue 720-663-9099 bell-projects.com Bell Projects has actually been around for a while, languishing inside Walnut Workshop, an artist studio community in RiNo. But in January, gallery founder and curator Lindsey Bell relocated to the former home of ARTAOS Gallery on East 17th Avenue, across from City Park, and it’s a whole new ball game. As at Walnut Workshop, the building is shared by art- ist studios and other businesses, but the address also comes with street appeal, thanks to the 1907 red-brick building’s big picture windows and arched roofl ine. Bell Projects has come out into the light, bringing along challenging shows by young artists. See it shine. Best New Art Space RiNo ArtPark 1900 35th Street rinoartpark.com Denver boasts plenty of public parks to be proud of, some with recreation centers, pools and pickleball courts, a few even with sculptures. But while its river ac- cess provides recreational assets, the new RiNo ArtPark stands alone in its emphasis on arts and culture. It truly took a village to turn the ArtPark into a public haven and creative hotbed with artist studios, a gallery, a food incubator for immigrant women and a public library unique to Denver, with fl exible maker space for DIY productions. Explore them all — or just sit by the river and watch the water fl ow by. 50 Best Museum Shop Denver Art Museum 100 West 14th Avenue Parkway 720-865-5000 denverartmuseum.org The Denver Art Museum gift shop carries an array of unique knickknacks that you didn’t know you needed until you step in- side — and realize you want to buy every- thing. There are books, puzzles, stationary, jewelry, handbags and shirts, art supplies and more. The finds include miniature sculptures of some of Denver’s famous pub- lic artworks, such as “Dancers”; ceramic mugs, vases and lanterns embellished with famous paintings; and beautiful sand hour- glasses. There are plenty of options for all ages, and it’s as easy to get lost in the bounty of the museum’s store as it is in its array of excellent exhibitions. Best Museum for Tourists Museum of Contemporary Art 1485 Delgany Street 303-298-7554 mcadenver.org Denver is a street-art city, but the Mu- seum of Contemporary Art shows that this city also has a strong grip on the fi ne arts. With a passionate curatorial team who have an eye for compelling works that make a statement, the MCA had blockbuster exhibits last year focusing on Deborah Roberts and Jason Moran, and has kicked off 2022 with exhibits that question the roots of abstraction with stunners showcasing Eamon Ore- Giron and Dyani White Hawk. Watch for more creative programming at the Holiday Theatre annex. Best Museum for Locals Denver Museum of Nature & Science 2001 Colorado Boulevard 303-370-6000 dmns.org If you grew up in Denver, it’s likely you spent some time at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (fka the Denver Museum of Natural History). A favorite destination for school fi eld trips and family outings, it’s one museum that kids don’t forget: an immersive experience long before there was a name for that. Imaginative young- sters in awe of decades-old museum high- lights — such as the dramatic polar bear diorama, monumental dinosaur bones and the constellations displayed on the planetarium ceiling — want to see their favorite displays here again and again, as do certain adults who grew up here. Best Museum You’ve Never Heard of Museum of Friends 109 East 6th Street, Walsenburg 719-738-2858 museumoffriends.org In a small town like Walsenburg, if you come across a museum on the main drag, you expect it to display mining imple- ments or painful reminders of Colorado labor history. Instead, the Museum of Friends is a nonprofit contemporary art space opened in 2006 by townies Brendt Berger and Maria Cocchiarelli, who envi- sioned an institution with a collection sup- plied by artist friends, with an egalitarian and inclusive policy. Does this mean Walsenburg could become the next Trinidad? With the town part of the newly designated La Veta Creative District, it’s a possibility. Best Immersive Roller Skating Experience Rainbow Dome Pop-up locations rainbowdome.com Artists Frankie Toan and Therin Zimmerman were far from experienced skaters when they APRIL 7-13, 2022 WESTWORD | BACKBEAT | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | westword.com
