This past October the Denver Art Museum (DAM) opened its dynamic Frederic C. Hamilton Building to much fanfare. Designed by acclaimed architect Daniel Libeskind—his first museum in the United States—the addition features sharp, dramatic angles inspired by the Rocky Mountains and the geometric rock crystals found in the foothills near Denver. The new titanium-clad addition has nearly doubled the museum's size, creating 40,000 square feet of new gallery space for the permanent collection and 20,000 square feet for special exhibitions, along with an auditorium and a museum shop. With its extreme angles, asymmetrical design and reflective surface, the building is a challenge to visitors and to the artwork it holds.
The choice of Libeskind continues DAM's commitment to bold, experimental architecture, inaugurated by its 1971 glassclad building, now called the North Building, the only building in the United States designed by noted Milanese architect Gio Ponti. The new Libeskind building makes the Ponti seem a bit conservative, but with its 24-sided design, reflective and facetted glass tiles, the castlelike North Building holds up its end of the architectural conversation. The two buildings now create a dynamic pairing of architectural voices in the heart of downtown Denver.
In addition to the museum's renowned permanent collections, including those of American Indian art as well as Western American art, three temporary exhibitions are currently on display.
Radar: Selections from the Collection of Vicki and Kent Logan is an exciting exhibition of contemporary art from the collection of these Colorado residents. It will be on view through July 15.
Breaking the Mold: The Virginia Vogel Mattern Collection of Contemporary Native American Art is an eclectic collection of objects; pots, paintings, and textiles by a diverse group of artists. It will be on view through August 19.
Japanese Art: From the Collection of Kimoko and John Powers features about 120 pieces of art; scrolls, screens, sculptures, and lacquerware spanning 12 centuries and will be on view through July 8.
Located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Streets in downtown Denver, the museum is part of the Civic Center Cultural Complex. The museum is less than a mile from the Denver Marriott City Center, site of APsaA's June meeting. The museum can be reached from anywhere in the metro area via RTD, the Regional Transportation District. For bus and light rail information, visit .
The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. The museum issues timed tickets to all visitors to prevent overcrowding in the galleries and recommends ordering tickets in advance, especially if you plan to visit on a weekend or holiday. To learn more or order tickets, be sure to visit the museum's excellent Web site at for a wealth of information about the museum and all it has to offer.
Chris Broughton is APsaA's registration coordinator and a working artist. He holds an M.F.A. from Yale and has received various awards, including the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award. He is represented in New York by the Senior & Shopmaker Gallery.