Untitled: Artist Takeover
Join artists Quána Madison and Wes Watkins for the first Untitled: Artist Takeover of 2024. With the theme of "Cultivating Spaces," the night of performance, artmaking, and one-of-a-kind experiences will be centered around the idea for everyone to be the authors of their own stories.
The event is inspired by All Stars: American Artists from The Phillips Collection, a ticketed exhibition on view for a limited time through March 3, 2024. Visitors can upgrade to a $20 All Access ticket (specially discounted for the night of Untitled) which includes Untitled (general admission) as well as entry to the two ticketed exhibitions All Stars: Artists from The Phillips Collection and Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks.
Contributing creatives include Access Gallery (DPA and Adrien Law II), Benu Amun-Ra, Hadiya Brown, Lisa Engelken, Christa Fredrickson (Safonia), Venus Cruz, Denver Public Library Choir, Tara Gover, Rachel Kaplan (Guided By Humanity), Donna Mejia, members of Denver Public Library's All Seasons Choir, Phamaly Theatre Company (Rachel Graham, Laurice Quinn, Ratt Walsh, Maggie Whittum), Jacob Russo, Safonia Choir, Snubluck, Devin "Speaks" Urioste, Melissa Watkins, Wes Watkins Ensemble, and Zachariah White.
Event Program
Performances & Experiences
Not-to-miss moments happening throughout the evening. *Some performances will occur twice.
6:15-6:45 pm, PERFORMANCE, Visual Jazz: A Live Painting Experience, Martin Building, Level 1, Creative Hub
Live painting experience featuring artist Quána Madison painting spontaneously in response to live music performed by the Wes Watkins Ensemble. She will interpret the feelings she has as she listens to the music and transform those emotions into colors and marks on the canvas.
7 pm, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, And Another Thing, Martin Building, Level 7 Gallery
Have you ever had questions about Denver, Denver Art, or life as a Denver Artist? Write them down and join Venus Cruz in a musical Q&A, accompanied by the Wes Watkins Ensemble.
*7 pm & 8:15 pm, THEATER, Scenes from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamilton Building, Level 1 Atrium
Performance of a selection of scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare’s most well-known comedy, by a group of actors from Phamaly Theatre Company. Directed and produced by Maggie Whittum. Cast in order of appearance: Fairies: Rachel Graham, Oberon: Laurice Quinn, Titania: Maggie Whittum, Bottom: Ratt Walsh.
*7:15 pm & 8 pm, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, Safonia Choir, Hamilton Building, Level 2 Atrium
Adult treble choral ensemble, Safonia, singing a cappella in a variety of styles and languages. Directed by Christa Fredrickson.
*7:15 pm & 8 pm, RADIO PLAY, Denver Was Different, Hamilton Building, Level 4 Gallery
Denver Was Different, a radio play by Melissa Watkins. The fonders of a failed arts collective talk about how Denver has changed but art has endured.
*7:15 pm & 8 pm, DANCE PERFORMANCE, Transcultural Fusion Dance, Martin Building, Level 7 Gallery
Join Donna Mejia for Transcultural Fusion Dance (TcFD), a movement ritual for multi-heritage souls.
7:30 pm, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, Atrium, Hamilton Building, Multi-level in atrium spaces
A multi-level musical performance by the Wes Watkins Ensemble and members of Denver Public Library's All Seasons Choir.
*7:30 pm & 8:15 pm, PARTICIPATORY EXPERIENCE, Accessible Yoga, Martin Building, Level 7, Summit Room
Gentle yoga movement and breathing practices will be offered to settle the nervous system and inspire open-hearted wonder, creativity, and community connection. Facilitated by Rachel Kaplan of Guided By Humanity.
*7:30 pm & 8:15 pm, OFFBEAT ART TOUR, Access Gallery, Martin Building, Level 7 Gallery
An insightful tour from Access Gallery artists, DPA and Adrien Law II.
8:15 pm, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, A Mash of Modern, Hamilton Building, Level 2, 19th c. Painting & Sculpture Gallery
Have you ever wondered what it would sound like if Mozart's older brother grew up with computers? Wes Watkins, Snubluck, and Lisa Engelken work to create a world where art is the focus, but computers exist.
8:45 pm, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, Taller Than me, Sturm Event Pavilion, Level 2
Jacob Russo performs selections from his upcoming album, Taller Than Me, a reflection on loss, love, and letting go.
9 pm, MUSICAL PERFORMANCE, Wes Watkins Ensemble, Sturm Event Pavilion, Level 2
A musical performance by the Wes Watkins Ensemble.
Drop-In Experiences
Artmaking and other drop-in experiences available during the night.
6 pm-9:30 pm, ARTMAKING, Identity, Power, & Collage, Martin Building, Level 1, Creative Hub
Create a collage exploring your identity with Devin "Speaks" Urioste.
6 pm-9:30 pm, ARTMAKING, Ribbonwork Greeting Cards, Martin Building, Level 1, Sky Blue Workshop
An introduction to Native ribbon work with Tara Gover.
6 pm-9:30 pm, INTERACTIVE STORYTELLING, I Am Because We Are; And Because We Are Therefore, I Am... The Spirit of Ubuntu, Martin Building, Level 1, Wild Plum Workshop
Experience story weaving with Benu Amun-Ra of S.A.C.R.Ed Eco-Center S.A.S.I. Farms.
6:15 pm-8:45 pm, FOOD DEMONSTRATION, Sunday Dinner, Martin Building, Level 1, Ruby Red Workshop
Hadiya Brown highlights the importance of Sunday Dinner in Black and African American communities, with a sampling of Soul Food.
Art Installations
One-night-only installed artwork by Untitled creatives.
Collective Joy, by Quána Madison, Martin Building, Level 1, Creative Hub
Acrylics & Enamel Paints on Unstretched Cotton Canvas, 2023. "When I am dancing at my favorite dance studio in Denver (Block21), I experience collective joy. I created this painting to capture the contagious euphoria that I feel when dancing for fun with a community."— Quána Madison
Rekindling the Joy of Play, by Quána Madison, Martin Building, Level 1, Creative Hub
Selection of Acrylic Paintings, 2023. "One way I love cultivating space for mental wellbeing is through play. Play is just as important for adults as it is for children. Spontaneous painting nourishes my inner child. These are some of my paintings from my creativity play sessions."— Quána Madison
Painted Fashion Collection #01-02, by Quána Madison, Sturm Event Pavilion, Level 2
Painted fashions shown at Sustainable Fashion, Denver, CO, 2022. "I have always been inspired by fashion designers, style, and the psychology of fashion since I was a teenager. Alexander McQueen’s No. 13 Finale performance of a live painted dress presented at his 1999 Spring/Summer show made a lasting impression on me. I love how my painted fashions can allow a person to wear my art and feel the positive energy that I infused into my creations."— Quána Madison
Taller Than Me, by Zachariah White, Sturm Event Pavilion, Level 2
Found object, Acrylic paint, Epoxy Resin, 2023. Created in response to Jacob Russo’s album of the same name.
Bridgewalker, by Zachariah White, Sturm Event Pavilion, Level 2
Acrylic paint, 2017. Quána Madison’s husband, Zachariah White, created Bridgewalker to depict her extraordinary spiritual near-death experience and the cyclical nature of life. The painting cultivated space for healing, death, and rebirth in her well-being journey.
"Looking at this painting inspired me to explore bridges of new possibilities for my life. The light represents the divine and that we are not alone. The mist reminds me of the constant transformations we traverse in our life when we experience healing, recovery, and rejuvenation."— Quána Madison
What is Untitled: Artist Takeover?
Untitled: Artist Takeover is a quarterly collaboration with Colorado-based artists to showcase their work while providing an interactive and immersive atmosphere. Throughout the evening, visitors are invited to engage with events, performances, artmaking, installations, unique experiences, and more.
