COVID’s wrath may have derailed the beloved Sweetheart Festival this year, but it hasn’t stopped the Sweetheart City from spreading creative love.
Many staples have returned for Loveland’s 75th Valentine season, like giant red hearts, love notes, signature events, twinkling lights and plenty of love.
Friday, a new exhibit from the Loveland Creative District kicks off with “Something Red.” The display collected seven artists who have transformed vacant retail window spaces around town into their own love letters with displays from full-on sculptures to vignettes, light installations and dioramas. Visitors can view the displays through March 12. The list of locations can be found at downtownloveland.org/creativedistrict.
For “Something Red,” local creatives were tasked with interpreting what the vibrant, deep color means to them.
Amelia Furman, whose exhibit “The Color of Community” is on display at 120 W. Fourth St., said she thinks red is a complicated color. As a painter, she said working with red is both challenging and rewarding.
“To me, it represents danger, risk, passion, love, blood, heart, humanity, sacrifice and life,” Furman said. “In order to access the fruits of this color, we need to also take in the other parts of red that are a bit more challenging — danger, risk, sacrifice. So there is this tremor, or conflict, that comes with the color red.”
Furman’s display, a collaboration with Shadow Play Films, takes on a retro vibe with a speakeasy bar as the backdrop.
Red was “the perfect color for this deep concept,” she said.
“When I think of red, I think about the complexity of relationship and community,” Furman said. “This past year has put such a strain on both of these important elements in our lives. Even if we can’t get together right now, we need to be reminded that relationships and community are worth fighting for.”
Mirroring a quaint 1920s establishment, Furman said it’s meant to reflect on a place where people connect with friends and where vulnerability is welcome.
“Hidden away from the surface, these places became safe spots to put down your mask and be real,” Furman said. “Many of us associate sharing a drink with letting down our guard and I associate it with being with my friends that love me at my worst and best.”
Furman said, yes, there can be negative aspects to bars, so she decided to focus on the “beautiful” happenings among these neighborhood gathering spots.
“The scene is meant to invite people to come and sit and enjoy a sip of kindness. A shot of love, a pint of trust,” Furman said, “ingredients for authentic friendship and community.”
The collaboration with Shadow Play will loop a three- to four-minute video with clips from silent films featuring Charlie Chaplin. From the icon humorously mixing a drink at a bar to a skating rink soiree, the lighthearted clips are family friendly, Furman said.
Artist Kerri Sewolt created an installation called “Spread the Love,” on display at 231 E. Fourth St., that features a robot made from found objects she has collected over the years — many scavenged from Loveland Recycle Center and Loveland Habitat for Humanity Restore.
“It began as a single robot projecting his heart, his love, out into the world,” Sewolt said. “It’s a tribute to those of us who work to make the world a better place with a single action.”
Originally titled “Big Love” — the three-dimensional masterpiece leapt from a paper sketch — Sewolt said she mixed the concept with a painting of hers titled “Downhearted” that pictures a robot grasping for his falling heart hanging by a wire.
“What if the two of them were together? And one was consoling the other?” Sewolt said. “In current times, I’m sure we can all relate with either robot.”
She said the challenge has been fun to build.
“I’ve been quite pleased with my new rusty treasures that will be given a new life and purpose during this event,” Sewolt said. “Nothing pleases me more than seeing a smiling face as they view my creations. My goal is to always spread good cheer.”
Sewolt said she’s enjoyed watching the Sweetheart Festival evolve since she moved to Loveland in 2002.
“As a working artist, I love how Loveland’s Valentine’s Day events always try to incorporate art,” Sewolt said. “I personally have always seen this week as a working holiday for myself — creating and giving back to this amazing community. When I moved (here), I can honestly say I had no idea what this place had in store for me.
“It may sound cheesy, but I love Loveland, and I know Loveland loves me.”
Furman agreed that the town makes it a priority to engage its local artists in the annual celebration.
“To me, that speaks of true community,” Furman said. “(It’s) not just one person putting a show on, but getting many different folks to participate and add their voice.”
And even though Furman said she’s never really loved Valentine’s Day, she said Loveland has been changing her mind over the years.
“The way Loveland celebrates the holiday feels very honest and heartfelt,” Furman said. “We still use all sorts of cliché items, but I love that we can do that and not take it too seriously. There is something about just enjoying symbols that have been part of our lives.”
Area Valentine events
Drinks: The official wine by Sweet Heart Winery is a 2018 Malbec with a custom-designed label created by artist Billie Colson; the Loveland Chamber and Grimm Brothers Brewhouse teamed up to produce a barrel-aged Baltic Porter called The Bleeding Heart as the official beer; coffee lovers can celebrate the season of love with Top of the Lake Coffee Roasters’ gingersnap Sweetheart Blend that can be found at the Loveland Visitors Center, 5400 Stone Creek Circle.
Valentine Walk in the Woods: Take your valentine for a stroll under a variety of shining lights with the Devil’s Backbone towering in the background. Attendance is very limited, guests can reserve an arrival time; 5:30-8:30 p.m. Sunday; Savage Woods, 1750 Savage Road, Loveland; $45 per couple; thesavagewoods.com
Something Red: Local artists have created masterpieces interpreting their meaning of the color red for this art installation that occupies seven window spaces around downtown Loveland. Visitors can stroll through Valentine-themed lights around town; exhibits will be up through March 12; free; Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue, Loveland; lovelandcreativedistrict.org
Loveland Lights: Chapungu Sculpture Park is ablaze in red and pink lights and adorned with heart-themed décor; 5-9 p.m. nightly through Sunday; Sky Pond Drive, Loveland; free; lovelandcreativedistrict.org
2021 Sweetheart Classic: Warm up the chilly weekend with a run through downtown to River’s Edge Natural Area. Participants can do a virtual or in-person run and can bring a significant other or can join other singles for the race. There will be socially distanced start times for waves and safety measures in place. Keep an eye out for sweetheart mascot Valentina; 2:30 p.m. Saturday; Fourth Street and Railroad Avenue, Loveland; $35-$60; sweetheartcityracing.com
Valentine’s Day Princess Tea & Concert: This weekend, Magical Moments will have the Ice Queen, Snow Princess, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty singing about their experiences with true love followed by a meet-and-greet photo opp; 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Sunday; 920 Ninth Ave., Greeley; $25; magical-moments.ticketleap.com
Group Wedding: This vow renewal and wedding ceremony offers customized options, photos, a love lock to put on the famous “Love” or “Heart” sculptures, gift bags, cupcakes and more; 4 p.m. Sunday; Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra, Sky Pond Drive, $95; visitlovelandco.org
Be My Valentine: This virtual event features two of Northern Colorado’s beloved musicians Dave Beegle and Wendy Woo live from the historic Rialto Theater’s stage; 7 p.m. Saturday; suggested donation is $20 per person; backstagerialto.com/events
RED | A Valentines Experience: This evening of worldly food and wine pairings (and associated dances) brings in culture and dance with Door 222 crafting tapas from France, Cuba, Brazil, Spain more; 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Cleveland Room, Desk Chair Workspace, 201 E. Fourth St., Loveland; $200-$400; visitlovelandco.org
Valentine’s Day Stand-Up Comedy Showcase: Have some holiday laughs as Steve McGrew and Jodee Champion perform two shows; 6 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday; Moxi Theater, 802 Ninth St., Greeley; $25; moxitheater.com
The Link LonkFebruary 12, 2021 at 11:08AM
https://www.timescall.com/2021/02/11/artists-find-community-love-with-something-red-exhibit/
Artists find community, love with ‘Something Red’ exhibit - Longmont Times-Call
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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