"GIVE US A HAND" As We Celebrate Our Silver Anniversary!
Started as an artist cooperative in 1983, Show of Hands has been in business 25 years. The celebration is grass roots, and rather than looking for applause we asked artists to "GIVE US A HAND" in raising money to benefit the Helen B. Davis Endowed Scholarship. Dr. Davis is a local artist, mentor and a retired professor. Years of "salons" in her living room for artists to cross critique their work inspired many artists and she is well loved and respected.
Seventy artists are each "giving us a hand" by embellishing a wall hung 14" wooden hand template. They may work in their own media or think outside their craft. The templates were laser cut from MDF. The artists may alter the template however they choose, understanding that it should not radically change in size.
Craftspeople from throughout the United States (one Canadian) were invited to participate in this project which runs from June 21 through September 24, 2008. Seven of the artists are from the original 16 who began Show of Hands in 1983. Eight have connections to Helen Davis, for whom the scholarship was previously named. Two hands will be collaborative works from elementary schools where Show of Hands does annual projects with the art teacher and students. The majority of hands are being created by current Show of Hands artists. The support and enthusiasm from the artists has been overwhelming and we are getting incredible support from our community. Each work of art will be auctioned online to support the Helen B. Davis Endowed Scholarship at the Women's College of the University of Denver. We are getting assistance on creating the online auction, advice on publicity and prime space donated.
The hands will be unveiled on Saturday June 21 at the Show of Hands birthday bash, where bidding begins. The "GIVE US A HAND" show will then travel to The Cherry Creek Arts Festival, TACtile: Textile Art Center and the Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery before being hung in the Hirschfeld Gallery at the Women's College of the University of Denver in early September. Bidding will continue online until noon on September 24, followed by a party that same evening at DU to honor both Helen Davis and Show of Hands. Follow this project via our website www.showofhandsdenver.com and start bidding on June 21.
-Debra Kneale
The
Give Us a Hand exhibit will be at the following venues:
June 21-30: Show of Hands,
210 Clayton, Denver CO 80206,
(303) 399-0201
July 3-6: The Cherry Creek Arts Festival, The Inn at Cherry Creek,
233 Clayton St. Denver, CO 80206 (303) 377-8577
July 9-31: TACTile Art Center,
7777 E. Hampden Avenue, Denver, CO, 80231 (720) 524-8886
Aug 6-Sept 4: Boulder Arts and Crafts Gallery,
1421 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302 (866) 656-2667
Sept 7-30: Hirschfeld Gallery at the Women's College of the
University ofDenver,
1901 E. Asbury Ave.,Denver, CO 80210 (303) 871-6808
The final reception will be held September 24th at the Hirschfeld Gallery. All events are free and open to the public.
Show of Hands
210 Clayton Street
Denver, CO 80206
303-399-0201
www.showofhandsdenver.com