For the late Betty grace Gibson, being a self-taught artist didn’t mean never taking an art class or workshop. As her daughter, Linda Drumm, recalls, being self-taught meant was taking things she learned in these kinds of educational environments and adding her own spin on them.
“She would take the techniques she learned and tweak them so they could be used her way,” Drumm said. “She just enjoyed what she was doing and was always exploring art all the time.”
Now Northglenn Arts is hosting an exhibition of Gibson’s work at the Parson Theatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway (inside the Northglenn Recreation Center). The free show runs through March.
Described by the city as one of Northglenn’s defining artists and arts advocates, Gibson become one of the city’s first homeowners in 1962 when she and her family moved in. According to provided information, she was a secretary at Malley Elementary School for 23 years and also served on the North Metro Arts Alliance Board for 15 years.
She was a longtime believer in the power of art and creativity and Drumm remembers her mother always encouraging her children to try different hands-on activities. When Gibson saw an ad in the newspaper for people who wanted to paint together, she and five other women joined what would eventually become the Paletteers Art Club. The organization is still active and Gibson was a member until her death in 2021 at the age of 95.
Over the course of her career, Gibson experimented with all kinds of styles and media, but watercolor and acrylic were her favorite. She started spending the summers in Taos, New Mexico, and her time there provided a constant source of inspiration, as did the students of all ages that she taught in various arts workshops.
“She instigated a lot of art projects around community,” Drumm said, remembering her mother’s time on the Northglenn Arts and Humanities Foundation Board of Directors. “Mother wasn’t afraid to do anything and she did so many projects around the city.”
Since Gibson loved Northglenn so much, it’s only fitting the city celebrates her with an exhibition that highlights the reach of her creativity.
“At the opening reception a woman came up to me to tell me that she never met my mother, but she’d seen her artwork around for years,” Drumm said. “It means a lot that my mother was that well-known and I’m honored that Northglenn wanted to honor her with this exhibit.”
For more information, visit https://northglennarts.org/art-exhibit/.
Joe Pera Talks With You at the Paramount Theatre
I think we can all agree there’s just not enough gentleness and kindness in the world these days. I know I personally could use more of these traits as we move into a new year. That’s why I’m going to see Joe Pera’s Comedy In Ice tour at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 13.
If you’re not familiar with Pera, he is the star of one of the most delightful shows I’ve ever seen, “Joe Pera Talks With You,” which ran for three seasons on Adult Swim. It is quiet and thoughtful and, most importantly of all, extraordinarily human and kind.
For a warm hug of an evening, get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Start the year with `A Hall Pass to the Galaxy’
What better time than the beginning of a new year to think about the future both near and far? At Stories on Stage’s first production of 2023, audiences are invited to do just that at “A Hall Pass to the Galaxy.” In the show, performers Annie Barbour, Cajardo Lindsey and Ann Marie Nest interpret a range of science fiction stories.
The performance will be hosted in person at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 15 at Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive in Denver, and the virtual performance will be available for streaming at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19.
Get all the details and tickets at www.storiesonstage.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Colter Wall at Mission Ballroom
To thrive in country music, it is all about the voice. Not just the one that comes from the singer’s throat, but the one that comes from their pen as well. Fortunately for Canada’s Colter Wall, he’s aces in both senses of the word. Just check out “Night Herding Song,” a track that features just a few guitar strums and Wall crooning away. It still gives me chills.
His take on country is perfect for this time of year, so you absolutely shouldn’t miss his two nights at the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. He’ll be performing at 9 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19 and Friday, Jan. 20. Get tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
