10 Things Not to Miss During the 40 West Arts 10 Year Celebration
Art Crawl’s are back, and we’re going big for our 10 year street party.
40 West Arts is proud be back celebrating our 10 year anniversary with our signature Art Crawl!Join us on August 6th from 6pm-9pm in the district to celebrate all things arts & culture on West Colfax. Share in memories, toast to the future, and enjoy the now! We’re so excited to see you again.
Here’s a shortlist we put together of 10 things you won’t want to miss:
1. see a joy bomb
Photo: The Handsome Little Devils perform a Joy Bomb along the 40 West ArtLine during the COIVD-19 pandemic in 2020 | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Marcy Leisten
Join The Handsome Little Devils in the district beginning at 6:00 at Mint & Serif. Walk with them as they parade through the district with their signature Joy Bomb! What’s a joy bomb? Well, it’s a joy based and socially distanced art parade full of all of the theatrical wonder!
The company will circle the district all the way through the Creekside Residences and into Lamar Station Plaza, passing all four of our art hub locations, you' can’t miss ‘em.
Also, starting at 7pm, head to the stage at 16th Avenue where they will have variety performances and live musical guests!
2. experience live music in every hub
40 West Arts is all about celebrating art in all it’s forms! From DJ’s, intimate Blue Grass instrumentals, and large stage performances, live music will play at every hub from a variety of talented artists.
Be sure to stop by the 40 West Studios - a live performance by Alfred Muro will be on site playing guitar built by our own 40 West Studio Artist Wilson Burnham.
Stages will be present in the Teller St. Hub, Mint & Serif will host DJ Travel Kit, and more!
Photo: Flourish Galleria hosts live DJ at their grand opening party in January 2020 | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Dave Rein
3. walk an art market with 25+ vendors
Photo: Vendors of all varieties display their work at the June 2021 Creature Arcade Art Market during the first Friday Art Walk | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
Keep the party going down 16th St. in the Teller St. Hub with a live art market featuring 25+ vendors, live art demos, and more in front of Liquid Metal Coatings, TH!S Print & Design, Craven Metal, Hammered Down, and Creature Arcade.
Creature Arcade’s First Friday Summer Art Market brings it every month, with art booths for everyone.
And worry not — explore indoor and outdoor gallery locations as you move between hubs to stay cool in the summer heat!
4. join in a community mural project
Stop by TH!S Print & Design and make your mark on their community mural project!
They will host a community mural project where participants paint and decorate around a vinyl peel, and then later peel the vinyl to display a holistic work of art.
Their vinyl stanchion will be revealed at the end of the evening following your additions to the project!
Photo: A mother and daughter add a blue splash to the community mural along the shed at Sprout City Farms Mountair Park farm. The mural project was designed by DAAS and completed by community members in July 2019. | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
5. try something new at the fingerboarding skatepark
Photo: Vendors, Fingerboarding, and more at the July 2021 Art Market by Creature Arcade | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer: Katy Zeigler
Learn to Fingberboard! Fingerboarding is a miniature version of skateboarding — people "skate" with their fingers on tiny skateboards.
Join this beginner-friendly space and park with competitions and lessons all evening long in front of TH!S Print & Design.
6. see art DEMONSTRATIONS and take drop in classes
Inside our gallery locations you’ll find a number of art demonstrations and easy, free, take-away projects.
All Its Own at the Vance St. Hub will host drop in classes, Lamar Station Plaza Hub will host piercing metal demos by Rolina Carter, NEXT Gallery will have Gelli Prints, Red Herring Art & Supply will feature water coloring painting by Mazn Kuldinow and a crochet circle with Shaunna Perkins (feel free to bring you are working on! Even if it’s not crochet necessarily!)
Photo: Community members create holographic tokens, which can be found hanging on the “Eye Heart 40 West” fence installation along 16th St., lead by artist Katy Casper | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
7. enjoy tons of art from over 15+ gallery locations
Photo: Art goers stop to contemplate work at Pirate: Contemporary Art during the June 2019 Art Walk | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
See brand new art at our gallery locations including the Spectrum: “Past, Present, & Future” at the 40 West Gallery, “Escape” at NEXT Gallery, a solo exhibition at EDGE Gallery by Eric Jones, and so much more!
See rotating gallery art at all of our 4 locations, especially at Pasternack’s Art Hub, our most dense gallery location — including 5 galleries in one locations.
8. taste a special twist on a classic at westfax brewing
Head to Lamar Station Plaza to celebrate with WestFax Brewing! They’re releasing a special twist on a classic named after our little arts district that could.
Enjoy a grapefruit twist on the 40 West IPA — West Coast IPA developed by WestFax Brewing at the start with the help and support of the 40 West Arts District, the Lakewood West Colfax BID, and the West Colfax Community Association.
We’re grateful for their partnership everyday, so send them some love, from us.
Photo: WestFax Brewing & 40 West volunteers step out of the sun at the 2019 Colfax ArtFest at Lamar Station Plaza. | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer: Katy Zeigler
9. find the dinosaurs and win prizes
Photo: A dinosaur flashmob, celebrating the 2018 opening of the 40 West ArtLine bursts onto Lakewood Pl. at the June 2018 Art Walk | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
Start your evening early and complete the 40 West ArtLine Dinosaur Scavenger Hunt! Pickup a worksheet (and coloring page!) at 40 West Gallery, Mint & Serif Coffee House, WestFax Brewing, or Red Herring Art & Supply — then take to the ArtLine!
Discover our three dinosaur inspired installations at each of the 3 parks along the 4.5 walkable-bikeable-dog-takeable outdoor art gallery and return it to the 40 West Gallery any time from now until the end of August.
You win prizes just for playing and an entrance into our $150 gift basket raffle if you get them all right!
10. grab a bite to eat on your journey
Stay hydrated, happy, and full all night. While we recommend checking out district locations like Mint & Serif and WestFax Brewing, or friends of 40 West Arts like: Yabby Hut, Chicago Style Beef & Dogs, or Max’s Mexican American, have no fear of finding food!
Rainbow Yeti snow cones will be making an appearance in the district alongside other awesome food trucks at each of our 4 hub locations.
Grab a bite to eat and get on the go all evening long!
Photo: Visitors grab a bite to eat at the 2019 June Circus Street Party & Colfax Art Crawl from Dude Bro Taco. | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
Photo: The Mint & Serif family celebrates daughter Jaden Hendrix art opening at the 2021 June Art Walk | Credit: 40 West Arts District, Photographer Katy Zeigler
BONUS: Keep the party going!
We’d like to give a special shout out to Mint & Serif Coffee House, who will be celebrating their 5 year anniversary on Saturday, August 7th at the Vance St. Hub. Mint & Serif are proud partners of the 40 West Arts District and members of WCCA.
Join them and all of the other amazing businesses at the Vance St. Hub for music, specials, a bouncy castle and more!
From the Mint & Serif website: “The vision was, as a family, tp build an inclusive, warm, welcoming and safe space. A space to create, write, read or socialize in. We’re passionate about our community, the arts and supporting local businesses. Thank you for checking us out and we hope to see you soon.”
They’ll be open all day — from 7:00am to 6:00pm
Congratulations Mint & Serif on 5 years, we’re so grateful you’re here!
See more details about First Friday at our “What’s Happening” Page and Download Our Special District Map!