From the pages of Peter pan

Jan 31 - apr 1, 2020

This exhibition features artwork inspired by the "boy who wouldn't grow up."  Penned by J.M. Barrie in 1904 as a play, Peter Pan has seen various iterations on stage, in books, dance, song, and film over the last century. Filled with nostalgia, wonder, and peril, the different adaptations focus on the mischievous boy who can fly, and the adventures he has with Wendy while crossing paths with pirates, lost boys, Captain Hook, fairies, and a nefarious crocodile. 

The artists in this exhibition are students at CU Denver's College of Arts & Media and Arts Street@YEA.  Creating art inspired by the story and Colorado Ballet’s 2020 production, “From the Pages of Peter Pan” offers tunnel book vignettes of harrowing scenes, graphic design posters, and a life-sized animatronic crocodile. The artists explore a seemingly innocent tale while examining the turbulent world we live in through their poignant artworks.

Visual Arts students at the College of Arts & Media, University of Colorado Denver created the tunnel books, posters, and motion graphic pieces on display. The classes involved in the project include Motion Design 2 taught by Michelle Carpenter, Illustration 1 Spacial Thinking taught by Rebecca Heavner and Travis Vermilye, and 3D Motion Design taught by Travis Vermilye.

Arts Street youth artists, ages 14-21, created Neverland Treasure over the past four months. Participants included youth artists from the creative industries academy at Colorado High School Charter and its after-school internship program. Arts Street@YEA uses the power of the creative arts to empower underserved youth to pursue future education and employment opportunities.

Special thanks to CU Denver Professors Michelle Carpenter, Rebecca Heavner, and Travis Vermilye; Amy Banker and Chelsea Romaniello of Arts Street; Mark Heiser and Peter Dearth of the Denver Performing Arts Complex; and Gil Boggs and Mark Chase of the Colorado Ballet.

This exhibition and the student gallery workers are supported by a generous gift from Stella Yu.