Rox Arts Gallery, operated by the Roxborough Arts Council at Aspen Grove Shopping Center, 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, has recently moved around the corner into Space 222, close to Tattered Cover and See’s Candy. The artist’s cooperative, which has about 40 members, offers a good-looking, well-lighted place for members to exhibit paintings, pottery, sculpture, jewelry — and space at the back for an ongoing selection of classes, open to the public..
And it is certainly also a spot for shoppers to find a varied selection of original art when they need a gift, or the right item to fill an empty tabletop or wall space at home ...
As I skimmed through a summer class offering that ran to five pages, I was intrigued by Brian Hubbell’s offer of a “Let’s Finish it Up Session” last June. Members had apparently complained about an accumulation of partly-painted works, a familiar situation for those of us who enjoy brushing paints of various sorts onto some sort of surface ... and perhaps not finishing the project!
The Arts Council includes about 40 local artists, and a few people are waitlisted, looking ahead to when a membership opening occurs.
Classes are open to all. Register online or in person and note contact information for the instructor. A pleasant classroom space is located at the rear of the gallery
The listing I picked up last week includes September classes and I’m certain there will soon be a new listing finishing up the year. Many are one-time presentations, including several on how to copy an acknowledged masterpiece, which is how one can understand the process used by those famous impressionists and others. (Painting has been taught this way for a very long time.)
On the second Friday evening of each month, the gallery holds a reception and there are refreshments! Usually, at least 10 artist/members are present to talk with visitors ...
Changes differ for each artist — there is no stated theme of the month — each member manages their own rotations and pays for wall space. “It’s like herding cats,” joked member Art Weeast, who was one of two artists onsite when we called with questions. There are always two members in the gallery when it’s open.
And on the second Friday evening of each month, there is a reception held, open to the public. Artists, such as Christa MacFarland, will be at the gallery to greet visitors. She recently sold a series of paintings to a medical clinic, she said. She wrote of growing up in Kansas, developing a love of nature that translates into her paintings of flowers, a connection she feels today, walking with her husband and boys and spying botanical subjects to paint ... Sometimes, dandelions pop up in her work, she said.
Weeast also mentioned a “Love Letter Project” offered to encourage art in the community — and it’s free to the community. Especially before Valentine’s Day, a blank card and some markers are placed in a zip lock bag and given to people who will hopefully decorate the card and mail it. More than 2,000 went out with Meals on Wheels deliveries, for example. The original recipient decorates the card and sends it to someone they know. The program is announced in early January. Groups are encouraged to make cards at a meeting and send them ...
The Roxborough Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) organization with annual membership dues.
The group encourages children ages 5-15 to create art to be exhibited on flags in the Aspen Grove Shopping Center. Look for them when you visit there.
The phone number for ROX Arts Gallery is 720-724-5730 and the website is roxartsgallery.com. Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
