DENVER ART MUSEUM

A STORY for Introverts:

This is an easy choice. I’ve shooed away the bashful introvert living in my head to walk through the crowd, I trust the Denver Art Museum to hold my hand for security. Regardless of which day of the week it is, everyone comes out for Free Day, so I expect plenty of ducking and dodging between exhibits.

I’m the first to admit that sitting still in front of one painting or sculpture for longer than 60 seconds is torture for my ADHD soul, so despite the immensity of this museum, I’ll be in and out. I know my visit is free today, but marching past reception feels wrong. The woman behind the desk forgives my bumbling nature to pass me the appropriate sticker that identifies me as a welcomed guest. I’m in.

I’ve been here before and know about the bridge from one building to the other. This place is huge. What a massive risk introverts take for the peace of mind art brings. Such a risk, I might not see that second building at all today. Before ascending the iconic staircase, I breathe and remind myself I’m not obligated to spend any more time here than I’m comfortable (and that goes for each piece of art). I’m allowed to move at my own pace. For all the calm art museums bring, I have to remove this one unnecessary pressure before every trip. Now I can enjoy this.

First floor and first stop, I find the new space inspired room. Compared to the rest of the museum, they should call this area a closet, but when it contains the essence of the universe, I guess I’ll give it some slack. These whirling and shiny things beg me to press my face against the glass. Bright baubles buzz inside, and I can’t tell if they’re selling classic sci-fi or some great unknown. This glittery Space Command by Chris Bagley is quick, but fun.

Now I’m traveling back in time to the 19^th century for the best European and American art. This will be where I spend my whole day, or it would be if there wasn’t a flow of traffic. Every brushstroke in this room roars, even the more fluid ones. I see the intention behind them all. There’s chunky texture hanging next to porcelain smoothness, juxtaposing the sharp contrast of life. It’s beautiful. All I can wonder is how these painters did this. How did they choose their color palettes, their placements, perspective, and every other detail?

I could stare at this oil painting by Emile Eisman-Semenowsky for the rest of my life. I swear it’s a photograph, but more realistic. Light emanates from the paint particles, it’s self-illuminating. The texture is both silk and lace, but it’s oil. How? I’ll stand here and think about it until closing time.

Monet’s room is predictably spectacular. Can I live here? I won’t take up much space, I promise. There’s no need to explain the immensity of this space to anyone, Claude Monet is a little famous, after all. If it weren’t for all this security, I would stand in front of Monet’s The Houses in the Snow, Norway for the rest of my life. How do you paint snow to look so real? I’m sure if I reach one finger…I wouldn’t. But, if I did get a single finger on this painting, I bet that pastel bulk is cold to the touch.

I must peel myself away from this room, or I’ll never see the rest of the museum, not that I expect anything else to compare to my moments with Monet. I guess I’ll find out, so a-wandering I go.

I’m no art aficionado, so some of this stuff isn’t my cup of tea, but that’s why art is great, there’s a style for everyone. I like the weird ones, abstraction, vivid colors, and chunky brushstrokes. Gustave Doré arrests me with “The Family of Street Acrobats: The Injured Child.” I’m not sure what I’m looking at, but it’s mesmerizing. Is that a demon watching a child die in its mother’s arms? Or is it a sympathetic clown? The emotions are undeniable. Isn’t art great?

I wind around the corridors to find modern and contemporary art. It’s as bizarre as you’d expect. Abstraction and vibrant colors draw me in, and some of these could keep me tethered for ages. Striking lines and graphic shapes on submarine yellow stains pull my mind in joyful directions. Yellow does that. It’s a dog running through the park with its leash trailing behind, or a rower paddling down the Thames, or something else magnificent. Layered custard and charcoal vines thrown together make such breathtaking images. Why do I love everything abstract? Because this is how I fine-tune my imagination.

Prismatic structures and sculptures made of hats decorate this place. It’s cozy and playful, an eccentric home away from home and I never want to leave. The gift shop tries to bid me farewell with sweet trinkets, but I step back and ask myself if I really need that quirky cutting board. I don’t cook, but wouldn’t it look adorable in my rented kitchen? At least that “Museum Nerd” t-shirt would get some use. Of all the nick-nacks, my eyes linger on the cat-shaped candle the longest. Maybe next time.

Just-So-You-Know DETAILS:

The Denver Art Museum functions like other art museums; some exhibits come and go, the rest are long-term. Modern and contemporary art are always in style, so you’ll find a wing or two to scratch that itch. Old European classics are trustworthy, bringing in big crowds with those rooms full of Monet and Van Gogh. For the rotating exhibits, any solid art museum will post what’s upcoming on their website or on billboards throughout town (the DAM is known for using that latter trick).

The history of the art space is also documented on their website, but most Denverites know the museum from sight. The building shaped like an upside-down pyramid and the one trying not to look like a torture castle, or the massive cow sculptures you want to climb all over, those are the landmarks telling you you’re close. If you pick the correct entrance, you’ll even find a café and restaurant.

There are several free days listed throughout the year, but if you miss them, the prices aren’t out of this world. At most, a non-resident adult will pay $22. There’s a parking garage located next door, and a nearby bus stop for the car-free folks. When you’re done with the art, the rest of downtown Denver is one step outside.

The GIST – Should You Visit the Denver Art Museum?

The only thing that changes from one art museum to the next is the specific art displayed. The styles and artists rarely change, in fact, most art museums even employ similar architects. With that in mind, one trip to any art museum should satisfy your art cravings. So why are we visiting these museums repeatedly? It’s the line you hear in every movie with an art gallery scene, the line you hear from any art snob, the line that makes you cringe: “This piece evokes so much emotion.”

Art isn’t something we stop needing after one exposure, it’s a lifelong necessity. A world without art is beige and flat. The constant threat of any artistic output is what keeps everyone hopeful, ecstatic, peaceful, or uplifted. Maybe Frida Kahlo doesn’t take you there, but does Cardi B? You might not love expression, instead, you might be a major MCU fan. Art comes in all shapes and sizes, but art museums deliver a very specific slice of emotions that’s hard to find anywhere else.

---

Visit the DAM website for dates, exhibits, and more.

If you like art museums, read my blog about MoMA.