transform lives through art
Archived Learning Labs
Tower of Babel
April 9 - May 18, 2007
It was a wild and crazy adventure as teens from Colfax Community
Network and ArtLab assisted Michael Ensminger in creating the
gianormous Tower of Babel installation. After learning about the story of the Tower of Babel,
Michael and youth took over every available inch of space at
PlatteForum as they experimented with building types in anticipation of
constructing the final installation. Michael, Calah and Embassie made a
guest appearance on Channel 9’s Colorado & Company, talking about
the project and encouraging people to donate Lincoln Logs. Additional
troops participated throughout the process at special Community Nights
and evenings when Michael worked late in the studio. The resulting
installation was a grand capstone of our four years at Suite 125, as
PlatteForum moved around the corner to it’s large new home at Suite 135
in Riverfront Park.
“Some of the
most rewarding moments for me came when an ArtLab kid would give me a
thumbs up, or, when at the opening of the show, the girls I had been
working with were greeting and working the room, enthusiastically
explaining the work to visitors. It was there that I felt the best of
what PlatteForum has to offer shone…kids, who under other circumstances
might not visit a gallery or an art museum, being involved directly in
the creative process, and being respected and validated and put in a
position of responsibility and trust.”
Michael Ensminger
YOUTH ARTISTS
Colfax Community Network
Shannon Salazar, Family Support & Outreach Coordinator
Hannah Snow, Calah Snow, Rebeka Doss, E-Shaw Jackson, Embassie Jackson, Naomi Glao
with support from
ArtLab
Efrem Belay, Neela Haverstick, Candace Hoffman, Lilli Hokama, Embassie
Jackson, Thomas López, Jonathan Moo, Eddie Orozco, Asia Padilla, Calah
Snow, Ruben Villalobos, Jasmine Naranjo, Sarah Sealy, Irving Carillo
Lincoln Log Round up
Christine Garcia; John Mathews; Steven, Beth & Oliver Moyski; Cindy Rossi-Rundle
Community Night Artists
Steve, Beth & Oliver Moyski, Jane Potts, Judy & Spence Gordon,
Jamie Schiel, Meagan Brncick, Erin& Stella & Patrick
Krueger-Trap, Mary Houlehan, Sheryl & Chaz Kraizer, Kate & Max
& Ben Brainerd, Jeffrey Hirschfeld, Dana Miller, Joey Porcelli,
Bruce Fowler, AJ, Alex & Noah, Alexander, Chandler, Charlie, Jacob,
Katrina, Noah, Ryne, Sam & Joe, and Savanna.
Art Volunteers
Dalin Gomez, Elizabeth Faulhaber, Eric & Fenn Zimmer, Kellee Corti, Matt Jaramillo, and Jeffrey Hirschfeld
Special thanks to:
Anne Dodge, PlatteForum Intern; Heide’s Brooklyn Deli; Karen Eilene Saenz, WINEGURUevents.com; Denver Film Society; Karen & Ivar Zeile; Izze Beverage; Christian VanMinnen; PlatteForum’s Board of Directors
and Friends of PlatteForum
