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It’s the same routine every weekend: trying to balance your schedule between park time, the Rocky Mountains, and whatever myriad events are on Denver’s calendar. Well, the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) is here to help. Once a month this summer, FARMCAD Summer Art, Craft, and Food Market merges farmers’ market with arts festival so you can experience the best of both in one place. The next event is this Saturday, July 16 on the college’s 23-acre campus.
Launched in 2015, FARMCAD’s goal is to better connect the community with RMCAD and vice versa. “We created this because we want people to get in touch with local food, arts, and fashion,” says Karina Marconi, ?who does business development and outreach for the school. Organizers upped the ante this year with the addition of live music, new vendors and activities, and more public art. At every event, you can expect a wide variety of crafty goods for sale (think: greeting cards from RMCAD illustration student Julie Kitzes, locally made clothing from the Denver Fashion Truck, and various works from Lakewood Arts Community Art Center & Gallery artists), plus food trucks, a bar, and plenty of free activities for the kids, such as face painting and arts and crafts activities. And Fido can cool off in the dog pool and play with toys in the designated pup area.
Every iteration is slightly different. This weekend’s event features a special guest: Finishing School, a Los Angeles–based art collective. For Evasion Yoga, three Finishing School-ers will lead three, 30-minute sessions (at 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m.) that weave the group’s interests in surveillance, privacy, and power into a fun yoga session. So instead of downward dog, you’ll be focused on “gestures derived from military evasion tactics.” If you’re interested in participating, wear athletic clothing and bring a mat.
August’s event has extended hours, as FARMCAD is partnerning with the West Colfax Mural Fest (alum Daniel Chavez will be painting a mural live) and the Black Cube Nomadic Contemporary Art Museum (the group is placing a temporary art installation on one of the buildings on campus).
Happy weekending!
FARMCAD is held on the RMCAD campus (1600 Pierce St.)—rain or shine—and is free to attend. Dates and times are as follows: July 16 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.); August 20 (10 a.m.–7 p.m.); September 17 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.).
