Events at CVA
CVA offers artist talks, tours, lectures, workshops, classes and much more to foster a deeper understanding of the work we have on view. Most programs are free to attend and open to all. Subscribe to CVA Happenings, our monthly newsletter, to stay in the know about our latest offerings.
Opening Night
August 6, 6-8 pm
Join CVA for a celebration of our new exhibition Sequesterings. Featuring the work of 10 artists transform post-consumer and post-industrial plastic into evocative sculptures that capture a drive for environmental justice. Enjoy a first look at the exhibition along with refreshments and music while socializing with artists and art-lovers alike. Experience interesting new art and a fun night out!
Register to attend with a $10 donation that helps support the exhibition. CVA members attend for free!
Crafty Action Society
Wednesday, August 19, 5:30-8pm
MAKE ART WHILE MAKING A DIFFERENCE
Grab your friends for an evening of craftacular fun! Join us for crafting in support of Women’s Bean Project. A non-profit whose mission is to provide employment, resources, and community to women on the path to self-sufficiency, their transitional employment program has empowered over 1,500 women in the Denver community since it began in 1989. Through their work making nourishing products, like delicious bean soups and spice blends, these women learn self-confidence and how to support themselves in breaking the cycle of poverty.
From nourishing food to state fair art competitions, the bean is a universally available art medium that can be used to create richly textured, colorful mosaics that rival other art forms. Crafting with beans will stretch your fine motor skills and challenge you to elevate a humble material. You’ll come away from it having enjoyed a hands-on experience resulting in a beautiful, one-of-a-kind mosaic, all while supporting an excellent cause rooted in our community. Show your support for Women’s Bean Project and get ready to explore your creativity!
With this program, we are raising money for the organization that we are hosting, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Tickets are available on a sliding scale from $10 – $40 which will also cover supplies, snacks, and the assistance of our teaching staff.
What is Crafty Action Society?
Crafty Action Society is a way to bring people together to learn from local organizations working for social change and to become craftivists who use creative expression to cultivate awareness and spread their message. This monthly series meets on the 3rd Wednesday of every month. Each session will start with a presentation from a local organization about how your creativity can help their cause. After that, we’ll bring out the craft supplies and get to work creating. We’ll explore techniques from quilting and embroidery to stenciling, collage, and papier-mâché ensuring activities are accessible to beginners and more advanced makers alike. Materials, snacks, and beverages provided.
Use your art and craft skills to address social justice issues. With Crafty Action Society you will:
- Craft in community
- Connect with local orgs activating their efforts toward social justice
- Learn from artists already creating for activism
- Gain access to art + craft materials
- Develop new techniques
Future Crafty Action Society Events
Sept 16: Crafty Action Society with ReCreative
Oct 21: Crafty Action Society with Birdseed Collective
Nov 18: Crafty Action Society with Interfaith Alliance
Jan 20: Crafty Action Society with Sun Valley Kitchen
An Evening with Aurora Robson
Aurora Robson, Fire Ball, 2023
September 17, 6-8 pm
You’re invited to a special evening with featured artist and co-curator of the Sequesterings exhibition Aurora Robson. Enjoy refreshments while getting a behind-the-scenes look at the exhibition and taking a deep-dive into Robson’s work, which inspired the exhibition.
The evening is sponsored by the CVA Leadership Council as a fundraiser for CVA’s programs.
$20 donation for admission, CVA members FREE
First Fridays
Art District on Santa Fe First Friday Art Walk
First Friday of every month, 6-8pm
The First Friday Art Walks are the signature event of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. All year round, rain or shine, the District comes alive on the first Friday of each month as thousands of visitors descend upon Santa Fe Drive to view art from hundreds of artists in galleries, studios, co-ops, upstairs, downstairs, in alleys, on the street—everywhere!
On First Fridays, CVA always has something fun happening, whether it’s vendors and cultural partners in the parking lot, fantastic exhibitions in the galleries, or art-making activities in the classroom, there’s something for everyone!
VASD Lecture
Visiting Artist, Scholar, Designer Lectures
The Visiting Artist, Scholar & Designer Program fosters participation and collaboration with both the institution and the MSU Denver community. An integral part of MSU Denver Department of Art’s mission, the Visiting Artist, Designer & Scholar Program is an invaluable resource for students, faculty, and the community. The program is an interdisciplinary and culturally inclusive initiative, bringing nationally and internationally renowned artists, designers, and scholars to engage with the Department of Art. All lectures are free and open to the public and take place at the Center for Visual Art.
