The Museo de las Americas in the Art District on Santa Fe celebrates the new generation of Latin American artists in Denver with Outside In 303. The collection of work represents the modern voice, a perfected hand in the challenges of multi-modal craft, and a wild and varying American point of view. The stunning exhibition opened on June 19 and will run for the rest of the summer until September 21. It shines an important spotlight on Colorado and Latin American artists’ influence into the modern century.
Outside in 303 at the Museo de las Americanas.
Artists include Mario Zoots, Jack Avila, Javier Fidelis Flores, Kans 89, Victoriano Rivera, Gabriel Salazar and Josiah Lopez. The show is curated by Maruca Salazar and Gwen Chanzit and serves as a platform for the amazing work of each artist. Everything from street art, to fine art, to urban contemporary art is represented.
Contemporary artist Josiah Lopez‘s Outside In 303 pieces were stunning, black and white, and drew my attention immediately in. The characters are chaotic and lethargic, yet each individual line is full of energy and life. The local artist tells a story and his creations are more than what meets the eye.
Josiah Lopez’s artist statement:
“The marks told the story of the beautiful crude, the elaborate conversations, transforming the surface.”
Josiah Lopez at Outside in 303!
Equally impressive were the new works by local artist Mario Zoots who has received deserved critical acclaim this year as Westword‘s 100 Colorado Creatives, and one of the Red Bull curates the Canvas Cooler Art Project winners going to SCOPE Miami for Art Basel. Zoots also found time to get his masters degree in Fine Arts from the University of Denver. This Denver artist is unstoppable.
Mario Zoots at Outside in 303!
The show challenged the artists to create their voice on the walls. The Museo released a statement about the Outside In 303 exhibition:
My plate is full! … And I have devoured my place in this world. I smell the poison vapors of the can and am protected by smoking mirrors, I find cold alleys, phantom shadows, and the other side of the tracks. The cracks in the streets of my neighborhood reflect ancient peaks to the West of my heart. Can I be swallowed by the streets and become invisible? I call The West Side warriors to protect the hollow ground. But…for now I can only paint the emotions, dreams and hopes of the voices on the walls.
Another local artist under the name “Kans 89” created some visceral, pop-art paintings for the Outside In 303 installation. Kans 89 used modern iconic brands, those echoing a surreal Micky Mouse club, in unusual and disruptive forms. The piece pictured below reminded me of Jimeny Cricket on acid.
Kans 89 at Outside in 303.
The Museo de las Americas has compiled a beautiful walk through the point of views of modern Denver. Take time to visit the Museo now while you can to see Outside in 303 in person.
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Outside in 303