Dairy Arts Center

Off the Page Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-08-14 17:00 - 20:00 (America/Denver) | Dairy Arts Center, Walnut Street, Boulder, CO, 80302, United States
On View Aug 14 – Nov 1 | Opening Reception: Aug 14, 5 – 8
This group exhibition explores how contemporary artists engage with the written word, literature, media, and storytelling, examining language as both subject and material. Through practices spanning photography, sculpture, installation, and mixed media, the exhibition asks: What does the word mean today, and how are artists using language as a creative tool, a source of inspiration, or a physical presence within their work?
The exhibition considers the power of words to shape identity, transmit knowledge, and build community, while also reflecting on the evolving role of language in a media-saturated world. It highlights the importance of literature, freedom of expression, and storytelling as vital forces that connect people across generations, cultures, and backgrounds.
Accompanying the exhibition is a rich slate of educational and public programming, developed in partnership with local libraries, the school district, and the University of Colorado. Programming will include author talks, workshops, and collaborative initiatives with nonprofit organizations focused on literacy and reading, creating multiple entry points for audiences of all ages to engage with language, ideas, and creative expression.
Participating artists: Mariel Reed, Nathan Storey Freeman, Bug, Josh Hughes, Dagny Chika, Dawn Siebel, Leona Lazar, Sarah Tenney, Samuel Austin, Lisa Berley, Jacqueline Moulton, Austin Baskett, and Russell Schnell.

BENISE 25 Years of Passion!
2026-08-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Gordon Gamm Theater, Walnut Street, Boulder, CO, 80302, United States
TICKETS
Emmy Award Winning Spanish Guitar and Dance Spectacular.
It’s one hot night as Benise, “The Prince of Spanish Guitar,” celebrates 25 years of fiery Spanish guitar and dance.
Armed with his Spanish guitar and a stage full of musicians and elaborately choreographed dancers, Benise takes the audience on a musical journey through Spanish Flamenco, Cuban Salsa, Brazilian Samba, Parisian Waltz, exotic drumming, and more!
Benise (pronounced Buh-nes-say) shattered the mold of Spanish guitar by combining world music and dance – the only show of its kind!
The 25th Anniversary tour establishes Benise’s Emmy Award winning show as one of the longest running Latin-themed theatrical productions touring the world.
For Benise, music has always been a journey. From his humble beginnings as a street performer, to being featured on the #1 rated show in the USA – Dancing With The Stars. Guitarist and creative force behind the event, Benise, comments “I wanted to push the boundaries of Nuevo Flamenco/Spanish guitar while combining the elements of dance and theater. This show is a celebration of all the shows we’ve done over the last 25 years.”

The Human Animal Exhibition Opening Reception
2026-11-13 17:00 - 20:00 | Dairy Arts Center, Walnut Street, Boulder, CO, 80302, United States
Nov 13 – Jan 31 | Opening Reception: Nov 13, 5 – 8
This exhibition explores how conceptual artists use imagery of animals, creatures, and “the other” to reflect on human nature and the breadth of human experience. Through large-scale installations and sweeping conceptual works, the exhibition examines the symbolic power of the nonhuman as a mirror through which social, political, and psychological realities are revealed.
Focusing on the figure of the animal—and the idea of the “human as other”—the exhibition interrogates themes of aggression, dominance, fear, and control, questioning the often false or ironic divide drawn between humanity and the natural world. What we project onto animals and imagined creatures frequently exposes our own instincts, anxieties, and contradictions, revealing how closely intertwined human behavior is with the forces we claim to stand apart from.
Serving as a launching point for dialogue around American legacy, the exhibition opens space for conversation on politics, history, and contemporary cultural and social issues. By situating animal imagery within broader conceptual frameworks, the works challenge viewers to reconsider narratives of power, violence, and belonging, and to reflect on what it means to be human in relation to the world we inhabit.
Participating artists: Jessica Teckermeyer, Michael Brohman, Tricia Waddel, Xan McKenna, Bailey Anderson, Creative Nations
