What began as an industrial area has blossomed into one of Denver’s most colorful and creative neighborhoods. The Santa Fe Art District is a testament to the power of community and artistic vision, home to over 100 art studios and numerous creative businesses. The district thrives on the passion and creativity of its residents.
During the early 2000s, artists relocated to Santa Fe Drive as commercial property around Larimer Square became too expensive. Now, street art adorns every corner and alleyway, adding to the district’s colorful charm. The 910Arts building, which formerly housed a SevenUp bottling facility, has become a prime example of a mixed-use property in the arts district. The building has since been converted into studios, lofts, galleries, a cafe and a dance studio. Inside Kashi Kari Gallery, you’ll find Judy Weaver.
“The art district in Santa Fe goes from about [4th Avenue] all the way down to 12th. It includes the Museo, Su Teatro, which is a theater, and the Colorado Ballet Building, along with about 100 different art studios and art-related businesses in a very walkable area. It’s one of the largest in the country that is a walkable art district,” Weaver said.
Judy has been part of this community for years and was instrumental in beautifying the alleys, checking in on store owners and rediscovering the place she already loved so much.
“It is such a vibrant creative space. Lots of creative people and the energy is very special and fun,” she said.
Legal mural painting began in the district in 2007. The city wanted fewer vandalized and graffitied walls, so officials created the alley beautification project during Arts Week, which has taken place every November since. Many of the original murals have now been covered with new ones.
“The very first Arts Week, I was on the art district board, and I was given the task of alley beautification. So we took the alley from Inca [Street], from 10th to 8th, and we paired up youth organizations with artists, and they earned their walls by cleaning their part of the alley,” Weaver said. “That started bringing murals into Denver, then we were able to get the city to begin an Urban Arts Fund, which was part of the graffiti eradication money that they had, so they would give grants to artists who were doing murals, basically to keep graffiti down. Now, murals in the city have just blossomed.”
Every building and store has a creative sense to it and is very colorful. Some buildings, like the Colorado Ballet, have a mural on the facade, in this case created by Anna Charney. Walking around with Weaver, one sees the district’s progress with each wall covered in paint. Murals change rather frequently, or they are not changed at all, so on Santa Fe, a wide variety of new and old murals dating back to 2007 are on display.
The Center for Visual Art, owned by MSU Denver, is covered in artwork inside and out. The space is used by students and faculty for exhibitions, artist talks and workshops. Weaver mentions she loves to go there to see where art is going and what the students are up to.
The art district also offers a glimpse into Denver’s rich history. The Museo de las Americas is open to the public and welcomes everyone who wants to see, learn about and explore the neighborhood arts.
“Everything here is from the community, by the community,” said Danaris Santos, Museo de las Americas’ guest services manager. The mural crawls, which are offered for students in grades K-12, take place in the historic Westside neighborhood of the Santa Fe Arts District.
“During this guided hour-long walk, students engage in conversation, explanation and history of the ever-changing murals that cover the alleys, fences and buildings in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District. The various styles of murals on display showcase the changes in Denver’s Westside, bringing awareness to social causes such as the Chicano Movement, gentrification and support of the arts,” said Semilla Coronado, Museo de las Americas’ education coordinator.
The district keeps growing and now spreads all the way to the Ballet Building. To keep the district buzzing, there are First Fridays, Third Fridays, and Final Sundays, welcoming around 1,000 people. In August, the roads close to make it a pedestrian-friendly First Friday, receiving about 10,000 guests. Artists open their studio doors to the public to show their art and alleyways and meet potential customers.
Many of the local businesses and galleries also participate in the events. Petals and Pages, a local gallery, bookstore and flower shop, hosts open mics on the first Thursday of every month, game nights on Third Fridays, and has seven different book clubs for each genre of literature.
“One of the owner’s goals was to create a place for women, queer people and any number of marginalized people of the community to be comfortable,” said Olivia Seitz, a bookseller at Petals and Pages.
Green Lady Gardens, a store full of houseplants, vases and pottery made by local artists, participates in First Fridays by having local musicians play in the store and is looking into hosting workshops. On Eighth and Santa Fe Drive, ReCreative Denver is a nonprofit creative reuse and community art center that caters to artistic minds. It offers secondhand art supplies, cheaper fabrics, photography backdrops, and a vintage store section.
Walking around gave Weaver a chance to roam and rediscover the murals. She stumbled upon Ratha Sok, a muralist who worked with her on the Alley Beautification project. He started the West High School Mural Club and still paints murals to this day. Sok was there at the beginning of the mural scene in Denver. Weaver said the young artist is close to her heart and loves checking in on his work and what the community accomplished together.
“The artists you find in The Art District on Santa Fe embraced a rundown but culturally important piece of Denver, turning it into a vibrant area filled with art in all forms. Having the privilege of being a part of that transformation and preservation through my involvement in the development of 910Arts and various boards and committees has been a highlight of my life.”