Abend Gallery Fine Arts

Damn, the impression artist on exhibit now is good! It was worth the bike trip up Park Ave, and almost hitting four separate groups of people with my bicycle and coming inches from being hit by a car. It was a crazy night, St. Patrick Day weekend in Denver. Fools, be getting drunk, and the heat is on. But all’s well that ends well. This part of E. Colfax has improved much in the last ten years, don’t be afraid to check out this gallery, and indulge with the creative types.

The art has been wonderfully selected to show a variety of styles and artists.
While the art is beautiful, the work done behind the scenes is a little rough. I took in a 13×19 graphic design poster. After picking out a frame, I was told they would be shipping it out of state (a bummer when I took it to a local shop that I thought would be keeping it local) and that it would take two weeks. Two weeks later my gut says that I should call before walking more than 2 miles — I was right. The poster was not completed. I was asked if I needed this in a rush (my answer was no) and then told that it would take another full week. When the day came around that the frame was suppose to be in (again) I received no call. I decided to wait on calling because I was told that I would be called. I waited for 4 more days before my partner received a call saying the frame was in. Then when arriving on a tuesday to pick up my frame, the store was closed — no message on the machine, and no notice posted on their doors. It was like they just decided not to go to work on a snowy day. Finally, when I am in the building, picking up the frame, they couldn’t find my paperwork. Once they found my information I was told I would pay about $ 25 more than I was quoted ON TOP of receiving the frame late. After expressing my frustration, they took the price down to what it was quoted with tax, which satisfied me enough to be done with them.
Severely disappointed with the communication and punctuality of this business.

First time here… a friend was showing his art. The place was clean, nicely set up and my family enjoyed the event. I’ll be back… long way from Parker though.

I undertook the long drive up to Colfax to go to the opening reception (featuring a friend of a friend of mine). It was hosted at the Abend Gallery. This show runs from March 2^nd through April 7^th, 2012. The tagline is «1 Gallery, 2 Shows, 3 Points of View (Ann Gargotto, Jean Shom, Cheryl St. John) + Cake and Pretty Horses (Michael Dowling — Solo Exhibition)».
The Gallery is quite large and is a very nice, eclectic space. I heard that there used to be a grocery store on this location. Currently, the Gallery is set up in such a way that the main rooms are subdivided to allow focus on individual pieces and groups as your circulate through the gallery. The last room was set up as a larger, more open area. This room was devoted to «Cake and Pretty Horses».
I saw some thought provoking, and emotion inducing, paintings. Some reminded me of O’Keeffe’s, some were very evocative landscapes, others would not have looked out of place at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, MT. The pieces that I came to see were the ones by Michael Dowling. Yes, there were a ton of horse paintings. I think my sister, when she was was 11, would have been enthralled. The play of light and shadow in his work was very cool. I particular enjoyed the «Round Cakes 1» (sp) painting, which was done on the bottom of an old, round table. It almost seemed to be pulling all the ambient light into a black hole (if you will) with a small, understated, yet illuminated, cake demanding your focus and attention. Michael seems to have a wry sense of humor, when you talk to him.
As part of the reception, Abend gallery was pouring red and white wines, they were offering soft drinks, and they had a yummy selection, of cheese, crackers, dips, veggies, fruit, and sweets.

Abend Gallery offers a variety of great original art by local and national artists as well as affordable framing. This gallery wonderfully interacts with its patrons and the public through many art demonstrations and gallery events.
Check out their website for more information at