Critic’s pick
Dancing across borders
Today and Saturday. It’s a tall order, but Ballet Hispanico has been doing it successfully for more than 40 years — celebrating the vastness of Latino culture through dance. In the process, the New York-based company has become a staple of the American cultural scene. The oft-traveling troupe will make two stops in Colorado this weekend, performing at 7:30 p.m. today at the University of Colorado at Boulder’s Macky Auditorium (CU Artist Series) and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff. Ave. (Newman Center Presents). The program will include “Espiritu Vivo,” a new work by Ronald K. Brown exploring the intersection of the African and Latino diaspora. Tickets: today, $12-52, 303-492-8008 or . and Saturday, $33-49, 303-871-7720 or . Kyle MacMillan
Family Fun
Fasten your seatbelt for this circus
Through Oct. 9. The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus is amped up in its latest show, “Fully Charged,” at the Denver Coliseum. The emphasis is on big thrills with daredevils and death-defying stunts. Watch out for “The Human Fuse,” a duo of Ukrainian strongmen, Tabayara the tiger tamer and the flying Fernandez Brothers. Preshow party and animal open house are free to ticketholders. 7 p.m. tonight; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Future times vary. Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St.; 720-865-2475. Tickets are $15.50-$80.50 for adults, $10-$80.50 for kids. Buy tickets at or call 800-745-3000.
Sights, sounds and cider at Lakewood center
Saturday-Sunday. Guzzle down some fall fun at the Lakewood Cider Days at Lakewood’s Heritage Center. Apple presses will be everywhere to convert apples into sweet cider; — bring your own fruit, or purchase apples onsite. Also on tap: live music, hayrides, a vintage tractor pull, an apple bake-off, arts and crafts booths and tours of the Heritage Center’s historic buildings. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Lakewood’s Heritage Center, 801 S. Yarrow St. $7 for adults, $4 for children.
Last chance to do some artful mud-slinging
Through sunday. This weekend’s the last chance to get dirty at the Denver Art Museum — the museum’s Mud Studio closes after Sunday. The activity area is a holdover from the “Marvelous Mud” exhibit, and lets kids try creating with clay: see artist demonstrations, try out a pottery wheel and make clay crafts with your hands. Admission is free on Saturday for Colorado residents. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Avenue Parkway; 720-865-5000. $13 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, $5 ages 6 to 18. Colorado residents receive a discount.
Thrills, chills gear up Fright Fest at Elitch’s
Through Oct. 31. Starting Saturday, Elitch Gardens transforms for Fright Fest. During daylight Saturdays and Sundays, thrills will be kid-friendly with a lights-on haunted house, costume contests, trick-or-treating and a “Gross Out!” show. After dark, Fridays through Sundays, things turn sinister: “Fright By Night” takes over the park. Rides will continue operating throughout Fright Fest. 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Elitch Gardens, 2000 Elitch Circle; 303-595-4FUN. $37.99 for guests 48 inches tall and over, $27.99 for those under 48 inches or over age 62. Kids 3 and younger are free.
Visual Art
An arresting setting
Monday. The General Services Administration’s Art in Architecture program brings art to unexpected places. Beginning Monday and running through Oct. 14, three area artists — Gifford Ewing, John Boak and Rick Dula — will have works on view at the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse, 901 19th St., one of Denver’s most striking contemporary buildings. The free exhibition opens with a public reception at 4 p.m. Monday. Kyle MacMillan.
Forest fires among exhibition’s inspiration
Thursday. Anna Kaye, one of the bright young talents on the Denver art scene, creates exquisite charcoal drawings exploring the terrible beauty of forest fires and their aftermath. Her latest works will be on view along with paintings by Lorelei Schott in “Touch the Earth,” an exhibition at the Sandra Phillips Gallery, 744 Santa Fe Drive. It opens Thursday with a public reception from 6 to 8 p.m. and runs through Nov. 19. Free. 303-573-5969 or . Kyle MacMillan
Classical music
Hear Takàcs violinst in a solo performance
Tuesday. So tightly cohesive are great ensembles like the Takàcs Quartet that it’s easy to forget what fine individual musicians make them up. That’s certainly the case with Edward Dusinberre, the Takàcs’ superb first violinist. Audiences will have a chance to zoom in on his artistry during a recital with pianist David Korevaar at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday as part of the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Music’s Faculty Tuesday series. The free concert will take place in the Grusin Music Hall in CU’s Imig Music Building, 18th Street and Euclid Avenue. 303-492-8008 or . Kyle MacMillan
Poetry
SlamNuba takes a page from “One Book” text
Friday. Friday evening at Five Points’ Crossroads Theater, they’ll be slamming “One Book, One Denver.” And we mean that in a good way. The monthly SlamNuba presents an evening of book-inspired poetry, featuring Liza Garza — an Emmy-nominated poet, vocalist and songwriter — at the mic. Free, but it’s also first come, first in the door until full. Cash bar. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Show begins at 8 p.m. Crossroads Theater, 2590 Washington Street. 303-832-0929 or . Lisa Kennedy
What happens when artists join forces
There are notable exceptions, of course, but visual art remains an essentially individual pursuit.
In “14 Collaborations,” an exhibition at the Art Students League of Denver, co-curators Jeff Wenzel and Michael Gadlin set out to challenge that tendency and see what would happen if solo-oriented artists worked together.
They invited groups of two and three area artists — including some unlikely combinations, like super-realist Quang Ho and Wenzel, an abstractionist — to join forces on large- and small-scale collaborative works.
As might be expected, some of the resulting two- and three-dimensional pieces seem a bit unwieldy and forced. But if none can exactly be called revelatory, a few are commendably cohesive efforts.
Among the latter is “Mentors,” a digital triptych by Tony Ortega, George Rivera and Quintin Gonzalez. It helps that all three regularly create sociopolitically themed works that deal with Chicano culture.
Likewise, the imagery of Jill Hadley Hooper and Homare Ikeda is seamlessly integrated in an untitled solar-plate print made in conjunction with master printer Mark Lunning.
“14 Collaborations” runs through Oct. 19. Free. 303-778-6990 or . Kyle MacMillan
