Firehouse Art Center: Winter Events, COVID Ready 

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New government restrictions are on the way due to COVID surges across the region. This has impacted everyone, including our local art scene, in serious ways. Firehouse Art Center is here to bring some ease to this global pandemic by presenting COVID safe events for our community. 

Are you ready to step foot into another gallery? Miss being surrounded by the fresh smell of canvases and paints? Don’t worry, art lover, Firehouse Art Center has found a way to safely open with their new restrictions. 

There are many different heartwarming events that Firehouse Art Center will be holding the rest of this year. Now, if you are ready, brace your eyes for their newest upcoming events.

Starting November 13th, they are opening to the public for walk-ins available Friday and Saturday from 12 pm to 5 pm.  If those days don’t fit into your busy schedule you can make an appointment, 24 hours in advance, to come on Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. 

With new restrictions comes new guidelines, including a limit on patrons allowed in the gallery. Right now, the gallery is operating at 50 percent occupancy. So, if you and your friends are expecting a fancy night at the Firehouse Art Center, you should call ahead. A 6 ft. distance is also required between gallery patrons. Masks will be mandatory and, upon entering the building, you will be asked to use sanitizer.  

Events will still be offered virtually and in person. The first event, Inktober, will be on November 13th from 6:30-9 pm. You will be able to stream this from the moon if wanted. The Livestream will be on Facebook and there will also be an in person attendance option for those of you who are dying to show off that sparkly new dress or elegant tux. During this event you will have the great honor of meeting the residents of the gallery and students who are showcasing. 

If you are interested in going and viewing student works, you can find them at the Firehouse Art Center in Studio C from November 11th– 25th. The artwork will be available to view during their Inktober event. For those that will be attending via livestream, you can join them from 6-6:30 pm. If you decide to attend in person, they will be going for the entire time. 

On Saturday, November 28th Firehouse Art Center will also be participating in Small Business Saturday. The following day, Sunday, November 29th will be Artist Sunday. Between 12 pm and 5 pm on the 28th and 29th artists, artisans, and craft makers will be showcased at the gallery. 

Buying these pieces could make great holiday gifts and help support local artists. 

Along with these events, the Firehouse Art Center is also dedicating an area to the Front Range Community College Student Show, which will be judged and awarded by cross recruited Denver art critic, writer and curator Michael Paglia. These are pieces that students have made during these tough pandemic times. You can find these pieces in the gallery. 

With Boulder County beginning a level red lock down, more virtual options are being offered. Starting from the moment you are reading this to December 9th you can purchase one of Firehouse’s sweater making kits. These kits will come with felt appliques, pom poms, bells, glue and glitter glue, and other spunky holiday items. You can choose to buy your decorations with a sweater for $35, or if you already have your favorite sweater and just want the design elements this will be $15. For families they will be offering discounts when you purchase multiple kits.

If you are stuck and having a hard time coming up with your own christmas sweater design, then you can join the Firehouse Executive Director, Miss Elaine, for some help. She will be holding a free facebook livestream on December 10th where she will also be creating her own DIY sweater. 

If you thought making your own christmas sweater wasn’t cool enough, there will also be a fashion show fundraiser held on December 17th, but make sure you enter by the 15th. If you purchased a kit, then this includes the 5$ entry fee for the fashion show. 

The show will consist of pictures of everyone’s holiday sweaters up for the contest. You can vote on Best Design, Ugliest Design, Most Colorful, Best Family Picture, and many more, 1$ = 1 vote. To enter into this contest it is $5 per photo entry, unless you purchased a kit. You can enter with either your own sweater or the sweater from the kit. For the winner there will be prizes. For more information on this check out their event website.

On this same night the Firehouse Art Center will be holding a live zoom session. During this session you can expect to learn about how the Firehouse has been connecting the community to art and culture over the past 35 years. 

This coming Spring of 2021 Firehouse will be having a collaboration with BMoCA, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, for the new Studio Project Internship. This project is to reach and engage with a larger range of younger high schoolers online. To apply for this opportunity, submit an application byil Friday, December 11th, at 5 pm.

BMoCA has been doing Studio Project Internship for quite some time. Studio Project Internship is a great way for high school students to become engaged. Through this project subjects like art, art making, and social issues will be discussed. 

The interns will get the opportunity to work with local art activists, partner with nonprofits, and plan events to share their artwork they made during this program. More information on this program can be found on this website. 

As a non-collecting institution BMoCA thrives to be a catalyst for creative experiences. They “present rotating exhibitions and programs that stimulate active participation in the global dialogue about contemporary art”. 

Every year this museum serves over 100,000 people. They have 9 exhibitions and over 500 programs presented for their audience of all ages and backgrounds. BMoCA is located at 1750 13th street in downtown Boulder, CO. They can be contacted at 303.443.2122 or you can look at their website for more information.

Another feature that will be available are zoom art classes. The first session of these will begin on December 1st. More information on these classes can be found on the website.

Go get involved in some of these amazing local art events and show love for your artistic community.