Everybody missed different things when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world to go virtual. For some it was concerts at their favorite venues, others movies at their local silver screen and for still others it was getting to hear in person from some of the country’s leading historians.
Fortunately for those in the final category, History Colorado has relaunched the in-person version of its Rosenberry Lecture Series. The series kicked off in September with Jorge Zamanillo, founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino, and will be bringing fascinating discussions to audiences all season long.
“The series has been a mainstay for a long, long time at History Colorado, where we bring in great speakers from around the state and country, all with an eye toward telling Colorado stories we can all connect with,” explained Jason Hanson, chief creative officer with the organization. “We’re excited to return after two years of virtual talks, which just weren’t the same as the series our patrons have come to know and love.”
The series runs through Wednesday, May 17, 2023, and can be attended in-person at the History Colorado Center, 1200 North Broadway, or virtually. Each lecture will be held on the third Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m.
Some of the discussions attendees can look forward to include:
Oct. 19: Colorado’s Unlikely Gender Crossroads: The Remarkable Story Behind the Book, “Going to Trinidad”
Veteran journalist and magazine editor Martin J. Smith discusses Trinidad’s surprising role as a world center for gender-confirmation surgery, and the doctors and medical pilgrims who have had their lives changed there for 41 years.
Jan. 18: The Life and Times of Colorado Barbecue
James Beard award-winning author and culinary historian Adrian Miller will provide an informative and entertaining look at people and places that shaped Colorado’s barbecue traditions.
March 15: The Once and Future Hope of Dearfield: Colorado’s African American Colony in the Early 20th Century
The African American farm colony of Dearfield was founded east of Greeley in 1910 and black homesteaders were able to realize their dream of owning land and building their own community. The decade-long Dearfield Dream Project is working to tell the story of this unique place. This talk is presented by Bob Brunswig, Ph.D., professor emeritus and university research fellow at the University of Northern Colorado, Richard Edwards, Ph.D., director emeritus of the Center for Great Plains Studies at the University of Nebraska and George H. Junne, Jr., Ph.D., professor and coordinator of African Studies at the University of Northern Colorado.
“The series is really about helping people realize we’re all connected to a shared past and helping them encounter stories they may not be familiar with or realize is connected to their life in some way,” Hanson said. “You can hear amazing stories about the past and see how we’re all connected by a place called Colorado and the experiences both us and our ancestors have had.”
For information and tickets to the Rosenberry Lecture Series, visit historycolorado.org/rosenberry-lecture-series.
CSO plays an evening of quartets
For those looking for the grandeur and sweep of orchestral music with something a little more intimate, you won’t want to miss the Colorado Symphony’s “An Intimate Evening of Famous Quartets,” held at the Parsons Theatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway in Northglenn, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 6.
The performance will highlight the music of violins, violas and cellos as they play works from famous composers through the ages. The concert will feature Yumi Hwang-Williams, who has been Concertmaster of the Symphony for more than 20 years.
Get tickets for the concert at https://northglennarts.org/.
Evergreen celebrates 49 years of watermedia excellence
If an art exhibit has been going for 49 years, somebody must be doing something right. The Center for the Arts Evergreen is hosting the 49th Rocky Mountain National Watermedia exhibit, which runs at the gallery, 31880 Rocky Village Drive in Evergreen, through Saturday, Oct. 29.
The annual show is one of the top watermedia exhibitions in the country and goes beyond the traditional transparent watercolor, by including acrylic, egg tempera, gouache and mixed media.
The show is juried by watercolorist Soon Y. Warren, who selected 62 works out of around 500 submissions. For more information, visit http://evergreenarts.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Carly Rae Jepsen at Mission Ballroom
I know there are countless reasons to love pop stars like Beyonce and Taylor Swift, but my favorite is Canada’s Carly Rae Jepsen.
I’m so excited that Jepsen is releasing a new album — the fantastically titled “The Loneliest Time” — on Oct. 21 and she’ll be at the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver, a week before at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 12. The initial singles have been quite promising and I can’t wait to hear them along some of her flawless classics.
Get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
