Culture continued from page 12 excellence in theater education, knows from experience that the arts are just as im- portant to those with disabilities: Although his mother was blind and deaf and his father was deaf, they always made an effort to raise him surrounded by art and music. He lost them both to COVID. “We went to tons of Broadway shows; we’d always go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York,” he recalls. “Two folks living with disabilities were paying so much to send us all over to art galleries that they weren’t really experiencing themselves. It’s something that I’ve never lost. ... Im- mediately, with Biome, I was like, ‘We need to create something that’s accessible.’ The different types of workshops on topics from collage to meditation. There are lots of interesting pieces, which are going to be both displayed and an experience.” All of the workshops will be free. During the fi rst, on November 10, artist Zoots will showcase and teach his collage techniques. Hadel’s workshop will include a talk on waste in the fashion industry, as well as instructions on how to create and embroi- der patches from upcycled materials. For the show, she’s installing a series of denim jackets embroidered with fi bers made from plants native to Colorado, such as milk- weed. “One is an homage to east Denver’s local plants,” Diminich says. “One is a riff on history lessons with red fl agstone from Capitol Hill. Another is sort of a wink to the lights on Colfax.” Artist Mario Zoots will lead a workshop in the art of collage in November. mission is [to] create communal experi- ences, where the community can be in contact with professional artists, with folks who maybe might be otherwise priced out.” While going over the artists’ work with them individually, Diminich says each one associated the word “memory” with their respective pieces. “We have a phenomenal artist, Elle Hong. They’re a transgender dancer and video artist, and they have cre- ated a piece which will be displayed that is really putting themselves out there. It’s a beautiful piece,” Diminich says, adding that Hong was nervous about displaying the movement-based video installation at fi rst. Biome, he notes, is meant to empower that kind of vulnerability. “Another major component is each art- 14 ist’s workshop,” he says. “Before our closing in December, we have quarterly events, The next cohort will be assembled in 2024 for exhibition in 2025. And while Grasslands will always be the offi cial host of Biome, Baca is quick to note that the two are separate. “We hope that Biome eventually expands beyond these four walls — the next biennial, maybe. I think it’s defi nitely going to hap- pen,” he concludes. “I’m so proud of what we’re doing right now on a shoestring, com- pletely self-funded. We’re normal people who have normal means. I feel fortunate to have started a business that has allowed me to gather a little bit of a nest egg to say, ‘Let’s pull the trigger and let’s fuckin’ do it.’” Biome 003, Biennial Grand Opening, 7 p.m. Friday, September 16, Grasslands, 100 Santa Fe Drive, free. For workshops and other information, visit artbiome.com. SEPTEMBER 15-21, 2022 WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | westword.com COURTESY OF BIOME
