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March 15, 2013
Westsider 5
JEFFCO NEWS IN A HURRY Jail death under investigation
Explore boundaries between real, imagined ‘Semblance’ and ‘Guised’ shown at CVA By Sonya Ellingboe
sellingboe@ourcoloradonews.com The Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Center for Visual Art in the Santa Fe Art District, consistently offers exhibits that challenge the visitor to stretch and explore. The CVA will host two related shows “Semblance” and “Guised” from Feb. 21 to April 13, “Semblance,” is curated by Tomiko Jones, assistant professor of photography at MSU Denver and Cecily Cullen, creative director at the CVA. Photos and video works draw us into an enigmatic narrative without a clear linear progression. They navigate a reality not clearly identified, Cullen writes. They explore a tenuous line between truth and fiction and blur the boundary between
the real and imagined. Artists are: Sama Slshabi, Neil Chowdhury, Kim Keever, Robert and Shana Parkeharrison, Laura Shill and Janaina Tschape. “Guised,” an international video exhibition curated by Sama Alshaibi, associate professor of photography/ video art at the University of Arizona, is shown concurrently. It contains seven projects that pose a riddle that at first appearance is not threatening. Upon further examination, hidden and manipulated aspects of the content may grow pointed or threatening. “Guised” illustrates multiple uses of video art formats: mise-en-scene, the long shot, performance, stop motion, animation, collage and interactive historical and contemporary forms. Artists are: Hala Ali and Lantian Xie, Jovan Erfan, Ninar Esber, Coriana
IF YOU GO The CVA is located at 965 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Admission is free. There is a parking area on the south side. Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 303-295-5207, MetroStateCVA.org.
Close, Gary Setzer and Larissa Sansour. The Emerging Artists Gallery will contain juried work by MSU Denver students. Related events include: Collective Vision faculty lecture at 6:30 p.m. March 15, Creative Mission Gallery talk with MSU Denver students at 6 p.m. March 20 and Colorado Ballet Student Performance at 7 p.m. April 5, culmination of a dance workshop for youth ages 10 to 14, inspired by works in “Semblance.” The Colorado Ballet will become a neighbor of CVA on Santa Fe Drive in 2014 — perhaps leading to future collaboration.
How to file a Colorado records request Staff Report Colorado law has placed powerful tools in the hands of citizens who want to know what is being done with their tax dollars and in their names: the Colorado Open Records Act and the Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act. The ability to “CORA” for public records is commonly done by journalists, but the so-called “sunshine” laws can be used by anyone, and they empower people equally. While there are records that can remain sealed, and while copying costs and “reasonable fees” can be charged, the range of records covered by the law is broad.
Filing a Colorado records request is straightforward. Determine the identity of the “custodian of records” for the information you are seeking, along with that person’s mailing address or email address. That is the person responsible for maintaining and keeping the records, or any person having personal custody and control of the records. In the request, list which records law is being cited, and describe the records that are being requested. Be reasonably specific in the description of the records, but also describe them broadly enough to make sure the request includes all records that could hold the information. Ask the recipient of the request for
notification if he or she is not the records custodian, and for the identity of the person who has custody or control of the records. Ask for the records within three working days, although extenuating circumstances provide for up to seven days. Include a sentence requesting a written explanation, including the citation of a law or regulation, if the access is denied. Make sure the requester’s name and contact information are included, and it’s ready to go. For a well-written guidebook to Colorado’s open-records laws, go online to coloradopressassociation. com and enter “sunshine laws” in the search bar.
EDITOR’S NOTE CCM marks Sunshine Week Since 2005, Sunshine Week has been observed to highlight the importance of open government. It’s about the right we all enjoy to have access to public records. It’s about the role we all play in
holding our government agencies accountable to those they serve. Launched by the American Society of News Editors, the initiative is timed to coincide with the birthday of the “Father of the Constitution,” James Madison, on March 16.
Salazar literacy grant announced
Jefferson Foundation has announced the launch of the Salazar Literacy Initiative, a competitive grant opportunity for Jefferson County public schools. The initiative will provide $50,000 annually for local schools to fund programs and projects that help close literacy gaps in reading and writing between different groups of students. Applications for the grants and more information are available at www. jeffersonfoundation.org.
Trail stewardship recruitment Jeffco Parks employs county teenagers every summer to maintain and build trails, while developing a stewardship ethic. The Trail Stewardship Team (TST) is open to eligible youths ages 14-18.
Successful applicants must be a Jefferson County resident in good health with reliable transportation and a positive attitude. All applications must be submitted by March 31. The 2013 program will run from June 17 until Aug. 1, and work is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Wages are $7.78 an hour. In 2012, the TST was integral to trail construction at North Table Mountain Park, Elk Meadow Park, South Valley Park, Apex Park, White Ranch Park and Centennial Cone Park. The beautiful foothills settings and team camaraderie make the physically demanding work fun, enjoyable and rewarding. Qualified applicants will be entered in a random selection lottery will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, April 5. Teens can apply for the Trail Stewardship Team online at jeffco.us/parks until March 31. For more information, please call the program hotline at 303271-5965.
Wastewater regs
The public is invited to review and comment on proposed revisions to the county’s Zoning and Land Development regulations, related to water and wastewater. There are two ways to get involved. The first is to attend the public hearings. The Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on proposed changes at their March 19 meeting, held at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Building, 100 Jefferson County Parkway at 8 a.m. Public testimony is welcome. County residents may also go to the main Planning & Zoning page, www. jeffco.us/planning, and then following the link in the “revised regulations.” Comments may be emailed to Patrick O’Connell (poconnel@jeffco.us) or Roy Laws (rlaws@jeffco.us).
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Sunshine Week 2013 began on March 10, and Colorado Community Media is marking the week by bringing you some insight into how you can obtain public records. Together, we can all work toward greater transparency in our federal, state and local governments.
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“Burdens and Desires” by Neil Chowdhury is included in “Semblance” and “Guised” at the Center for Visual Arts. Courtesy photo
An adult male was found hanging in his cell at the Jefferson County Detention Facility on the evening of March 7. A deputy found the man during a walk-through check of the module where the inmate was being held. Sheriff’s deputies immediately began administering CPR and called for additional medical assistance into the module. The male was pronounced dead on scene at 10:46 p.m. The 24-year-old man was a Department of Corrections prisoner who had arrived at the Jefferson County jail earlier in the day for a court proceeding. The identity of the inmate is being withheld until next of kin have been notified. The death is currently under investigation by the Sheriff’s Office, which reports that indications are that the male died of an apparent suicide. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office will determine the exact cause and manner of death at the completion of their investigation.