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The exterior of the restored McNichols
Building // (c) 2010 |
The 2010 Biennial of the Americas began on July 1 for a month-long celebration of the culture, ideas and people of the Western Hemisphere. Hosted by the City of Denver, the first-of-its-kind festival welcomes national and international visitors for a cross-cultural experience filled with art exhibitions, concerts, food, film and dance — all celebrating the 35 countries of the Americas.
“This is an exciting time for our hemisphere, with Mexico, Colombia, Chile and Argentina all celebrating their bicentennials in 2010 and the Organization of American States celebrating its centennial,” said Denver mayor John Hickenlooper. “This is the perfect time to bring together visitors and residents, artists, musicians, thinkers, businessmen, scholars, filmmakers and leaders to celebrate the rich culture and amazing creativity of the Americas.”
The international event will take place throughout Denver’s cultural facilities and will be headquartered at the Civic Center Park McNichols Building. Activities include a speakers series, titled “The Americas Roundtable,” and the discussions will offer a public dialogue on topics ranging from energy to climate change with guests that include the former heads of state from Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.
Concerts will fill the Mile High City with the music of the Americas, such as Panama’s Horacio Valdes and a steel drum workshop with Ray Holman, renowned steel drum composer and performer from Trinidad and Tobago.
At the center of the celebration’s visual arts is “The Nature of Things,” a 24-artist exhibition at the restored McNichols Bulding. Denver cultural partners, including the Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Butterfly Pavilion and Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, will host special tours, exhibitions and other events throughout the month.
Biennial of the Americas
www.biennialoftheamericas.org
