If you’ve been to a First Friday event, or been inside the doors of Battery621, you know that we like to have art hanging in many locations around the main level. Some of them are in places where you normally wouldn’t be able to hang art due to glass panels or not wanting to ruin the walls. Luckily for us, we found a solution, and a great partner in the process. We teamed up with AS Hanging Systems to create flexible hanging areas that can handle pretty much anything that can be hung. We’ve had paintings, posters, skateboards, and other mediums up already, with no end in sight. So if you’re in the market for a system to hang some art, check out the products the AS Hanging Systems has to offer.

So our First Friday Fun Facts will be a little bit different than our regular Fun Fact Friday posts. In the FFFF, we’ll let you know what you should be looking forward to at tonight’s First Friday event.

First, there will be artwork. The Got Metal? gallery continues its run in the Spyder gallery, complete with sculpture, metalwork, and paintings. Secondly, we’ll have new art from Whit Boucher of Boulder, Colorado. You can check out his work at Phivekvisuals.com or tonight in the Icelantic Gallery and the common area. There is already some great stuff hanging on the walls.

Secondly, we’re going to kick things up in a different notch. Tonight, we’re celebrating America as July 4th is just around the corner. We’ll be decorated out in Red, White, and Blue, and we encourage you to come over dressed up in your best America ensemble. Icelantic will be holding a costume contest for the best American themed costumes, with yet to be announced prizes to go to the winners. We’re also going to have cotton candy and snocones available for all attendees, and just because Battery621 is the coolest place to be… We’re going to have a Stars and Striped waterslide in the parking lot!

Third, we’re going to be debuting the Battery621 First Friday Gigantic Jenga tournament. We’ve taken Jenga, made it much bigger and burlier, and those of you interested can compete in a bracket style tourney for prizes as well. We think this is going to go off, so get here to sign up. Tournament starts promptly at 8.

Lastly, we’ll have live music tonight from Dynohunter. You can get a preview of their sounds at http://soundcloud.com/dynohunter. Dynohunter starts at 9, and will be on until 11 in the Spyder Gallery.

That’s about it for tonight, but you never know what else is in store unless you get down here tonight. Doors open at 7 with adult beverages provided by TommyKnocker Brewery. See you all then!

The amount of pine destroyed by beetles in Colorado is staggering. What were once healthy trees are now diseased and standing dead, primed to start a forest fire. In order to help save the forest, these trees are being cut down and put to good use by artists, builders, and do-it-yourself types all across Colorado. Battery621 is no exception to this movement.

Inside Battery621, you’ll find over 30,000 linear feet of beetle kill wood. Icelantic’s gallery would be the first part people see when entering the North side of the building. On the South side, Spyder’s upper level showroom and gallery houses a beetle kill stage, back wall panel, and a 34 foot long custom ceiling installation. Over in the offices of The Public Works, a new installed timber frame loft was created from beetle kill as well. All of us inside here are doing our best to contribute to the cause of finding good uses of Colorado’s surplus of standing dead.

Check out some other projects The Public Works has done utilizing beetle kill.

http://thepublicworks.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/trophies-tornadoes-beer-and-biking/
http://thepublicworks.wordpress.com/?s=beetle+kill

For more info on beetle kill, check out an article from the Denver Post here.

It’s official. The RISE in the WEST fundraiser held at Battery 621 on 5/14 raised $8,504 for the American Red Cross, with help from the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter. This is the first event of this kind that 621 has been a part of, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. Congrats Patrick Ryan Corrigan, Jake Rishavy, and Ricochet Denver! The weather was a bit uncooperative, but spirits remained high, art and services were big on, and every attendee had a great time. Everyone inside the 621 walls is stoked that we could be a part of this, and we looking forward to doing something similar in the future!

Last week’s First Friday event at Battery621 was our biggest yet. The event saw a lot of new artwork from many sources, new live music, and tons of fun as always. First, the Spyder showroom transformed into its first art installation, showing the work of over 10 native Colorado artists. Spearheaded by metalworking genius and Evergreen native Glenn Vogel, the installation showcases many artistic mediums. Guests saw paintings, metalwork, and enameled pieces, just to name a few.

In the common areas, Icelantic’s artist Travis Parr came in from California to display never before seen artwork here at 621. Guests and Icelantic fans have come to know and love Parr’s artwork on Icelantics skis, but this First Friday was all about his paintings. The pieces he brought looked great, including a pattern he created for a 686 outfit and a custom Icelantic surfboard.

Lastly, live music was provided by the sounds of Vox de Ville. The band featured one of 621′s own, Dave Boger from Jiberish clothing. Dave started the night off spinning beats on the Spyder stage, transitioned one the keys with Vox de Ville, and then back to the tables for the rest of the night. 621′s guests were more than pleased, and Dave and Vox’s music capped off a great First Friday at 621.

Battery621 will be back for June’s First Friday, complete with new art and new music. Hope to see you then!

Photos courtesy of Kara Primomo Photography

We are proud to announce that we will be hosting the Rise In The West fundraiser for Japan on May 14th from 7-10pm. Put on by Ricochet Denver, the event aims to raise funds for those in Japan affect by the tsunami and earthquakes. See below for the full press release and event poster.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 27, 2011
Denver artists and creative entrepreneurs present “Rise in the West” fundraiser for Japan Tragedy

Contacts:
Jake Rishavy | (720)231-6542 | jake@ricochetdenver.com
Patrick Ryan Corrigan | (303) 910-9213 | thetiredpirate@gmail.com

DENVER—Online pre-registration opens today for Rise in the West, a visual art- and action sports-based fundraiser created by a group of Denver artists and creative professionals with personal and business connections to the people of Japan.

Rise in the West, taking place Saturday, May 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., will feature a silent auction of works from a number of local artists and creative professionals, as well as a variety of products donated by local businesses. Attendees will enjoy samplings of local craft brews and food from a number of local mobile food trucks. All proceeds from the event will benefit the American Red Cross in its efforts to provide relief to the people of northern Japan affected by tsunami and earthquakes.

The event, spearheaded by local artist Patrick Ryan Corrigan, AKA The Tired Pirate, will be held in partnership with a number of local creative entrepreneurs at Battery621 at 621 Kalamath Street, in the Denver Santa Fe Arts District.

Event space, auction items and promotional support have been generously donated by Battery 621 resident companies and friends including well-known action sports, lifestyle and media brands Jiberish Clothing Company, Icelantic, The Public Works, Spyder, and many others. Services ranging from chiropractic sessions to beauty services will be available for bidding. Artworks will include original works and prints from local artists including Corrigan, Kurt Redeker and Knew Conscious, Tripps Prints, Digital Mavrik, AugArt Design (the big art division of Eye Candy Graphics), and many others.

Artist print services are being generously donated by Denver-based visual media company, Harmonic Media.

New artist and product sponsors are being announced daily from today until the event date on the event’s Facebook page.

For Corrigan—who has family living fewer than 60 miles from the Fukushima nuclear power plant—the cascading tragedies that followed an 8.9 magnitude quake off the coast of Japan on March 11, 2011 hit far too close to home.

“My family and I have an intensely personal connection to Japan, and we were devastated to hear of the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster,” said Corrigan, who creates locally under the moniker Tired Pirate. “Because of my own ties to the area and those of my friends— many of whom have travelled to Japan for various action sports—the tragedies of recent weeks have inspired in me an intense desire to help.
“This desire, along with my passion for our thriving Denver art scene, has inspired me to create an exciting event that would not only raise money for the beautiful country and people of Japan, but also shed a light on the Denver’s growing cultural movement,” he added.

The event will feature live music, craft brews from official beer sponsor, Fort Collins, Colo.- based Odell Brewing Co., and food from a number of local mobile food trucks. Rise in the West is currently soliciting additional event sponsors and product donations. Registration for the event ($16 online in advance, $20 at the door) is now available online HERE. For additional details, please visit www.riseinthewest.org or www.facebook.com/riseinthewest.

After the exhibition ended on Larimer Square, Something Independent installed their Art of Winter display for a one-night showing at Battery621 for March First Friday. The Art of Winter featured independent, boutique ski and snowboard companies who are incorporating innovative art into their topsheet designs, as well as a group of talented Colorado artists who created original works on recycled skis and snowboards. “Our main goal with this exhibit was to celebrate and support the growing connection between art, industry and snowsports in Colorado”, said Kara Primomo, Art of Winter Event Curator.

The night kicked off with a wine tasting from Infinite Monkey Theorem and beer from Great Divide Brewery. As the night went on, the crowd mixed and mingled, flowing in and out of Icelantic’s gallery space, where guests could then try some beer from Tommy Knocker, another local brewery. All of the skis and snowboards from the Art of Winter were auctioned off at the end of the night, with the proceeds benefiting the Larimer Arts Association and the Something Independent Entrepreneur Award.

“The atmosphere was great and the hosts were very friendly. The whole experience really has me second guessing my career decisions…. Your office space just seems to have such great chemistry. The art exhibit really motivated and inspired me to re-visit some creative ideas I’ve had in the past. I look forward to next time!” –Curtis Sattison, First Friday attendee

A special thanks to Spyder for the use of their space on First Friday; The Public Works for their assistance with the installation; Icelantic and all of our friends here at Battery621!

*Something Independent is an initiative promoting the industry and culture of snowsports in Colorado*

Photos courtesy of Free Lunch Photography