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Week of November 10, 2022
DENVER, COLORADO
A publication of
VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 51
‘A little treasure in the city’ Gala will celebrate efforts that bring diversity, Spanish-language inclusion to Denver Art Museum BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Walking through the Denver Art Museum with Clara Ricciardi is like traveling back in time to Mesoamerica and experiencing it firsthand. She’ll tell the story behind a ttipqui pin used by the Inca to pin clothing, or point out an intricate detail — and why it’s there — in a Spanish colonial era painting. The museum’s Art of the Ancient Americas and Latin American Art collections are here to “empower (people) to learn more,” Ricciardi said. Ricciardi is DAM’s senior Spanish language and community engagement liaison. She’s a key person behind the museum’s bilingual gallery labels and wayfinding, bringing more appreciation of diversity to Colorado. She’s worked toward that goal with the museum for three decades. On Nov. 18, the museum will honor Ricciardi’s efforts at its 40th Collectors’ Choice fundraiser gala. Collectors Craig Ponzio and John and Sandy Fox will also receive accolades for their visionary contributions to the museum. Ricciardi, who has a background in law studies, is originally from Mexico City and at age 21 came to California to work for the Consulate General of Mexico. While there, she met Geno Ricciardi, whose family has a century-long connection to Colorado. On their first date, Geno
Colorado wants to be the best in outdoor recreation BY JASON BLEVINS THE COLORADO SUN
Clara Ricciardi, the Denver Art Museum’s senior Spanish language and community engagement liaison, will be honored at the museum’s 40th Collectors’ Choice fundraiser gala for her efforts that have made the museum more diverse and inclusive.
SEE TREASURE, P4
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 11
PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN
When the Outdoor Retailer trade show pulled out of Denver this year to return to its longtime home in Utah, Colorado’s outdoor industry leaders promised the departure would be a good thing. The loss of the twice-a-year trade shows — which irked brands that have been battling with Utah politicians over the state’s opposition to expansions of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments — was an opportunity to create a new type of event for the outdoor industry. Conor Hall, the director of Colorado’s outdoor recreation office, suggested maybe the state could host a business trade show that also worked as a consumer-friendly festival; a “South by Southwest” for the outdoor industry and its passionate fans. The seed of that new event was planted this week as the nascent Big Gear Show announced plans to move from Park City, Utah, to downtown Denver alongside the first-ever (e)revolution e-bike trade show. The June 8-11 event at the Colorado Convention Center next year will host not just brands, manufacturers and retailers with two days of business-to-business SEE TRADE SHOW, P2
SOCIAL EXPLOSION
Monitoring Chile’s Estallido Social from Colorado P14