The Untitled Final Friday For September

Yesterday was the Denver Art Museum's Untitled Final Friday Event for the month of September, and looking at the brochure that was handed out when I arrived, was quite prepared to make a quick exit.  This month's program was being hosted by MO SPKX, Randy Runyon, and DJ Icewater.  But when the opening performance took place (in the freight elevator, no less, as seen in the photograph on the left), MO SPKX's opening poem was reasonable, the music was not obnoxious, and the various events that I attended were very entertaining.  How sad that I was not able to further my curmudgeon image over this month's festivities.

The highlight of the evening was a tour of the British Treasures exhibit given by Buntport Theater regulars Joan and Charlie (portraying the figures in that famous Denver Art Museum painting) and fellow comedian Evan Weissman. Announcing their arrival on the scene was trumpeter Randy Runyan, as seen in the photo on the right, funky hat and all.  And not to put too fine a point on it, this exhibit, Treasures of British Art: The Berger Collection, has been on exhibit for roughly 400 years now (I am probably exaggerating, but not by much). Considering that the entire north building is closed for renovations, and two major galleries in the Hamilton Building are closed while new exhibits are being installed, there is not much of interest at the museum these days beyond those comedy routines. And to add insult to injury, in addition to the elimination of the free buffet table, this month's food truck was a no-show, too.

The final event I attended was a musical performance by Annastezhaa - really! - who sang and played the harp, no less.  The harp, like the accordion, is not one of your more popular instruments these days, and so it is nice that there are people around to keep those musical traditions alive.  Annastezhaa was very good, although her first number lasted roughly 4 hours.  Once it did end, I sneaked out as she began to talk about her second number.  I did want to get home before 2:00 A.M., after all, when the bars close and all hell breaks out in downtown Denver on the weekends.  Not that I am there at that hour, but I still read the papers, while they are still here.