The only tradition associated with Design After Dark is that everything about it is nontraditional. The theme, the venue and the food always have a unique twist and once they’ve been done, they’re never repeated.
This year’s theme was Cirque, but a circus it was not. At least not in the traditional sense.
Stilt-walkers and brightly colored bunting helped create a festive atmosphere and the food stations from included some circus-style treats. But the overall vibe at Denver’s historic McNichols Building in no way resembled a night under the big top with Barnum & Bailey.
Cirque, which is put on by the Denver Art Museum Design Council with Megan Hudacky of and Craig Rouse of serving as co-chairs, was more of an homage to , with the emphasis on contortion, tension and illusion. Which were also the suggested themes for works that 28 artists contributed for the evening’s auction.
A judges panel headed by Darrin Alfred, associate curator of the DAM’s Department of Architecture, Design & Graphics, gave Mathias Leppitsch of the So Over The Top award for his creation, “Float Drift.” The nod for Most Twisted went to David Larabee and Dexter Thornton of for their “Apotluckalypanini Press;” and the prize for Most Daring went to “Ashes” by .
With support from a crowd that included Carmel Koeltzow, Joshua Van Engen, Stephanie Blake, Jason and Rachel Miño Gaede, Sara Ford, Brian Bartlett, Amanda Logan, and Piper Vitale with fiance Joel Pehrson, the event raised $30,000.
