Denver artist Witold-K (Kaczanowski) plans to mark his 76th birthday next month just as he did his 75th: by jumping out of a plane.
“Since I first saw skydiving as a young boy, I thought if I ever got the courage I would do it,” he says in his Arte Gallery at 329 Detroit St. “I only felt I was a coward, I was afraid. But I did it, and I loved it.”
His 11-year-old son (!) was waiting on the ground for him, so it was a lesson to both of them. “Everybody has the right to be afraid — and to overcome that fear,” he says.
It has been a big year for Witold-K. After his jump, he had a glorious one-man show of 163 of his paintings at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam.
“As a result, I am selling like hotcakes in Europe,” he says, adding that it’s frustrating that he gets little attention in Denver. Sure, his paintings hang at the Denver Performing Arts Complex and have graced countless Colorado posters, including ones for the Denver International Film Festival and the Aspen Music Festival. Still, he says there is a “lack of curiosity” about his work here. He has worked and lived at his Detroit Street studio since 1981, but few of his neighbors drop in to see his impressive inventory.
So drop in. But not during the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in July. “I go to the mountains,” he says, obviously not a fan of the street fest.
Alert to Team Keating.
Phil Keating, the Mayor of Hottieville, is coming back to Denver this weekend to celebrate his 40th birthday.
After high-profile stints at KUSA- Channel 9 and KDVR-Fox 31, Keating took a job as a national correspondent with Fox News in 2004. He’s based in South Beach Miami these days and hitting the road to cover the presidential election.
His birthday is Friday, so expect to see his freak flag flying over various restaurants and clubs in Denver.
“I usually don’t care about birthdays,” he says. “But this is the big 4-0. The best thing about turning 40 is it’s the new 30, and I’m still feeling like I’m 29 1/2.”
He has 10 days off from work — and a one-way ticket to Denver. “I’m going up to Vail on Saturday for the end of the season — always a lot of parties up there. Then it’s destination unknown.”
Love & marriage.
America’s favorite red/blue couple, James Carville and Mary Matalin, were in town Monday night as part of the Unique Lives & Experiences series. So what are their secrets for a 15-year happy marriage? Carville says it’s all about surrender, retreat and capitulation. Matalin says it’s separate bathrooms, separate closets and separate TV remotes.
City spirit.
In what’s bound to be one of the quirkiest concerts of the year, Flight of the Conchords comes to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on May 15; tix on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at Ticketmaster. . . . Sez who: “What are you talking about? We love girls and spaghetti.” — Conchords member Jemaine Clement
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Husted also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at 303-954- 1486 or bhusted@denverpost.com. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
