Darrell Anderson: Risk and Change

June 28-August 4, 2024.

Curated by JC Futrell.

Free for RedLine members, $5 suggested donation for non-members.

About Risk & Change

The retrospective will showcase the breadth of Colorado artist Darrell Anderson’s artistic journey, spanning decades of mastery across various mediums including watercolor, colored pencil, oil-based painting, and sculpture.

Among the highlights of this exhibition will be 10 new pieces, complemented by interactive components that offer a distinctive form of audience engagement.

This approach resonates with RedLine’s ethos of socially engaged art, fostering a dynamic and immersive experience for visitors.

Curated by Anderson’s protégé, performance artist and arts executive, JC Futrell, Risk & Change will narrate Darrell’s journey reflecting on his experiences from the Vietnam War to his personal journey to sobriety. It promises to be a powerful yet vulnerable showcase of art and the human spirit, leaving audiences inspired with a renewed sense of hope and possibility.

As a champion of grass roots involvement in the arts, Anderson has dedicated his life to the enrichment of others. As a recipient of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD) Award for Civic Engagement, Anderson is celebrated for his work and his ability to raise money for non-profit organizations working directly with youth.

Anderson’s artistic endeavors are driven by his aspiration to foster global unity through art. He has proudly represented his hometown of Denver in its sister city, Brest, France, serving as a cultural ambassador and facilitating artistic exchanges by revisiting to create community mosaics.

Moreover, he has conducted art workshops in diverse locations such as a Navajo Reservation in Arizona, Australia, Beijing, Burkina Faso in West Africa, and various small communities across Colorado’s rural eastern plains.

In addition to showcasing Anderson’s work, the exhibition will include pieces available for collectors, including his series of original sketches from his celebrated installation at Denver International Airport.

Furthermore, the show aims to raise awareness of Anderson’s work, with the ultimate goal of donating a piece to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

About Darrell Anderson

Darrell Anderson's passion is to grow at every opportunity and art provides the tool that carries him around the world. It has become his lifeline to success. It provides him with the opportunity to create as he experiences day today living. His philosophy is to give back to the world what he has freely been given.

Anderson's ability to envision the likeness of various people of the world for these projects comes naturally. After many life experiences, he has become a unique and keen observer.

His diversity is shown in the array of commissions he has done, such as the 1993 serigraph of Don Baylor for the Colorado Rockies Baseball Team; portrait of the celebration of Jackie Robinson's 50th Anniversary with the Colorado Rockies; the "Legends of Golf" for Norwest Bank; BET Movies’ "Pan-African Film Festival," just to name a few.

Anderson's diverse background has offered him the opportunity to be involved in juried and invitational exhibits such as the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and Celebrate Colorado Artists; and being a member of the new Mile High Stadium District's Public Art Advisory Committee.

Capable of expressing his art through several mediums, Anderson has taken on the new challenge of mosaic tiles to accomplish several public art commissioned and community projects awarded him. In 1992, he completed two 8,000 foot square mosaic floors at Denver International Airport in Concourse A.

Other exciting public art includes the RTD, MAC Rail "Art at the Stations" completed in 1996; University of Northern Colorado mosaic located in their music library; the Fort Collins Mosaic Mural sponsored by the Boys and Girl Club; the Aurora Community Mosaic Mural, and the Five Points Media Center Mural.

In the summer of 1992, Anderson was invited to represent Denver at "Brest 92", a maritime celebration in Brest/Brittany, Denver's sister-city. He was so well-received and was such an effective ambassador on this artistic and cultural exchange, he was extended an invitation to Burkina Faso's Film Festival 1993 by Alfred Gouba, Mayor of Supone, Burkina Faso, West Africa. He was able to use this opportunity to further expand global cultural appreciation through person-to-person contact with members of their film making and artistic societies. 

In 1995, Anderson was invited to teach art workshops on the Navajo Reservation with Discover III through the University of Arizona; and teaching students from the International School of Hong Kong. Further travels in 1996 included teaching and workshops for the gifted program of education in Australia. Also included was the creation of a new curriculum, "Creative Expressions," for Educational Management Group which was used in public high schools across the country.

In the summer of 1997, Anderson's travels continued to take him to Beijing, China, to instruct and participate in the first U.S./Chinese Educational Conference where he conducted creative workshops in the "Interactive Learning Center" with Chinese and American students.

Later that year, Anderson returned to Brest, France to create a community mosaic in Kerangoff. The Denver Art Museum’s Alliance of Contemporary Art presented the 2004 AFKEY Award to Darrell Anderson by Lewis Sharp on August, 31, 2004. The award was for Community Service throughout his art.

And just recently, Anderson won the Rex Morgan for award for Civic Engagement and Volunteerism presented by the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District(SCFD) for his “deep commitment to mentoring, teaching, and transforming the Denver metro area for the better.”

About Curator JC Futrell

JC Futrell, also known by his stage name Panama Soweto, is a dynamic arts executive, arts education specialist, and performance poet. He brings a multifaceted perspective to his work, viewing the world through the lens of a working artist within the Contemporary Art World, with a particular focus on Socially Engaged Art and Community Responsive Programming.

Currently, JC serves as a Board Member at CherryArts, a position he has held since 2021, contributing his expertise to the organization's mission of promoting and supporting local arts and artists. Additionally, he is involved in the Denver Foundation John and Edna Mosley Scholarship Fund, as well as the Denver Foundation BRIC Advisory Committee, a role he held from 2020 to 2023. In 2022, he was instrumental in bringing Pulitzer Prize Winner Nikole Hannah Jones to the Denver Art Museum for the BRIC Fund’s anniversary celebration.

JC's commitment to community engagement and advocacy is evident in his involvement in various initiatives and campaigns. In 2020, he served as a Creative Director for Arts for Biden to support the election of president Joe Biden and spearheaded a campaign to rename the Stapleton neighborhood to Mosley Park, advocating for social justice and equity in public spaces.

His campaign to rename Denver's Stapleton Neighborhood after his grandfather, a Tuskegee Airman, gained national momentum, involving senators and eventually the White House, with the result being a hospital named after his grandfather.

With a background in arts education and programming, JC has made significant contributions to institutions such as the Denver Art Museum and RedLine Contemporary Art Center. During his tenure as the Associate Director of Youth and Community Engagement at the Denver Art Museum, he oversaw several community-focused programs, including the School Tours Program and Art Lives Here.

At RedLine, he served as the Executive Director of Education, curating numerous community art showcases and fostering creative expression within the local community.

JC's impact extends beyond the arts community, as he is also a renowned spoken word artist and National Poetry Slam Champion. Under the alias Panama Soweto, he has toured over 300 colleges and universities, captivating audiences with his powerful performances. His work has been featured on platforms such as National Public Radio (NPR), Apple TV, and The Huffington Post, reflecting his ability to connect with diverse audiences and spark meaningful conversations.

In recognition of his contributions as a community leader, JC has received numerous awards and accolades, including the Distinguished African Americans Who Make A Difference Award by the Denver Urban Spectrum, Metropolitan State University's Distinguished Alumni Award, and Diversity Artist of the Year for the National Association for Campus Activities. 

With a passion for activism, arts advocacy, and community empowerment, JC Futrell continues to make a lasting impact through his multifaceted work as an arts executive, educator, and spoken word artist.

Drawing from his extensive experience in public art and activism, JC shares impactful stories to spread hope. His installation, "Re-Imagining Safety," an art installation born from protest signs during the George Floyd protests, helped put pressure on Denver City Council members to eventually sign a bill to hold police accountable in their treatment of peaceful protesters.

JC emphasizes the collaborative efforts of working with diverse artists and offers a compelling approach to meeting our collected Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion needs through creative expression.