Under a Clear Blue Sky is a collection of collages and prints by Lucy Holtsnider and ArtLab Interns that explores the question: What could Suncor be? The Suncor oil refinery in Commerce City has long been a source of pollution and severe health effects, impacting the surrounding neighborhoods. While it has played a role in Colorado’s economy, its environmental impact raises urgent concerns. The body of work in Lucy’s exhibition imagines transforming the site into something new, something that serves the community while contributing to Colorado’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

*ArtLab Interns visit Suncor in February and pose for a group photo with Resident Artist Lucy Holtsneider*

Denver has a history of repurposing outdated infrastructure in creative ways. Two notable examples are Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Stapleton Airport. Once a chemical weapons facility, the Arsenal was transformed into a 27-square-mile wildlife refuge. Stapleton Airport, once an important transit hub, was redeveloped into Central Park, now one of the most successful urban redevelopment projects in the U.S. These sites prove that spaces once considered beyond repair can be reimagined for a better and more sustainable future. Suncor represents the next major opportunity for transformation.

*An ArtLab Intern looks through a special camera showing polluted gases from Suncor’s smokestacks*

For the project, Lucy introduced the ArtLab interns to relief printmaking, guiding them through the process of carving, inking, and printing their own visions for what Suncor could become. Their prints, displayed alongside Lucy’s work in the exhibition, explore alternative futures for Suncor, proposing ideas such as an animal sanctuary, an arts complex, and a sunflower-themed amusement park. By providing the interns with technical skills and a creative platform, the project empowered them to think critically about environmental justice, urban planning, and the role of art in social change.

*An ArtLab Intern looks at their recent print during a workshop session in January with Lucy Holtsneider*

Lucy herself focused on affordable housing in her individual collages, consisting of prints and ceramic tiles. The exhibition has received notable media attention, with an article in Westword, and a news segment called Positively Colorado on Channel 9News, bringing the conversation to a wider audience and emphasizing the importance of community-driven solutions to environmental and urban challenges. This recognition underscores the impact of her work and its ability to spark important discussions about sustainability, urban planning, and the role of art in shaping public consciousness.

*A group applauds for Lucy Holtsneider at the opening reception of “Under A Clear Blue Sky” featuring the work of Lucy and the ArtLab Interns*

Under a Clear Blue Sky is an invitation to rethink the future of Denver. What if Suncor were seen not as an inevitability, but as an opportunity? Denver’s history has proven that change is possible, and Lucy’s work challenges viewers to imagine what comes next.

Lucy’s exhibition was made possible by the Science and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).

We want to say THANK YOU to Denver Metro Area residents for supporting more than 30 years of arts, science and culture through SCFD. In partnership with SCFD, Lucy’s residency project uplifts:

Youth through unique educational experiences
Community economic health and vitality
Environmental justice and arts for social change
Creativity, culture, and science and the wonder and experience that represents our lives

SCFD is the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, a tax collected and distributed to 300 cultural organizations in our seven-county Denver metro region including Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties. Just one penny on every $10 spent in the district creates vibrancy for us individually and collectively. Visit scfd.org.