Vibrant Arts Scene Part of Community Canvas
Published Apr 16, 2007
A painting titled 2-17 by Frank T. Martinez is among those on display at the Foothills Art Center.
Maybe it’s the mountain setting, the blue skies, the clean waterways, the acres of open space. Whatever the case, it is easy to get inspired in Jefferson County.
That is absolutely true with the arts, as Jefferson County is filled with museums, art galleries, theaters and concert venues. Those concerts include 10 each year by the Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, which stages five of its performances in various Jeffco parks.
The abundance of museums includes seven concentrated around the city of Golden, displaying everything from gems to quilts. Among other museums are two in Evergreen and one in Morrison, the latter featuring fossillized bones from nearby Dinosaur Ridge.
“I believe the outdoor beauty brings a certain kind of resident to Jefferson County, and those residents have a wide variety of healthy interests,” says Rick Bernstein, executive director and founder of Miners Alley Playhouse in Golden. “The arts provide something more cerebral that is attractive to these people.”
Besides Miners Alley, theatrical and art venues include the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, the Lakewood Cultural Center and Golden’s Foothills Art Center, which is housed in an 1872 Victorian church building.
Both Golden and Evergreen offer sculpture walks in their historic downtowns. Also in Evergreen is the Evergreen Chamber Orchestra.
“There are more than 60 performing arts theaters in the Denver metropolitan area,” Bernstein says. “In our case at Miners Alley Playhouse, we try to pick challenging, artistic pieces to entertain Jeffco audiences, including one of our annual plays that takes on a really provocative subject.”
Also a huge regional success is the 9,000-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre, a storied entertainment venue situated at the base of the foothills of Jefferson County.
“It is quite easy to get immersed in the arts if you live in Jefferson County,” Bernstein says. “The arts are just another aspect of the fine quality of life we enjoy around here.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
Photo by Wes Aldridge
Current Weather Conditions In Golden, CO (80401)
Cloudy, and 33 ° F. For more details?
Click here...
