Presidents Day and the Birth of Foothills Art Center

*Golden Eye Candy – Chris Davell – Presidents Day in Golden – enlarge*

This is Presidents Day, so no mail delivery and government offices are closed.

Virtual Events

6-6:55AM Virtual Dynamic Circuit
8:30-9:30AM Virtual Power Training
10:15-10:45AM Cuentacuentos
11-11:55AM Find Your Balance

Real World Events

6-9PM Golden Game Guild Meet-Up Mondays @ Golden Game Guild

Golden History Moment
Heart and Soul of Golden

*Fifth Annual Golden Sidewalk Art Show –* Colorado Transcript – July 18, 1968

Foothills Art Center got its start on the sidewalks of Golden. In 1964, a group of watercolor artists led by Irma Wyhs organized a Sidewalk Art Show in downtown Golden. It was successful enough that it became an annual event, and by 1967 the artists were looking for a permanent place to display their artwork.

“Foothills Art Center” was incorporated in April of 1967. Among the founders were artist Irma Wys, Heinie Foss representing the Chamber, Holly Coors, Orlo Childs (then President of the School of Mines), Mayor Chuck Goudge, City Attorney Tom Carney, and Vi Hader, the Chamber’s Executive Secretary.

The group began by defining their goals. They wanted to exhibit work by both national and local artists, and host shows for the R1 School District, displaying work by both teachers and students. They also wanted to offer art classes.

*Rubey Bank Building at 12th and Washington – enlarge*

Their second task was to find a suitable home. The top two candidates were the Rubey Bank building and the old Presbyterian Church. The bank had recently moved to 13th and Jackson, where they could offer patron parking and a drive-up teller window, so the older building on Washington Avenue needed a new purpose.

*First Presbyterian Church, built in 1872, with the manse to the right – photo courtesy of Donna Plummer – enlarg*e

The Presbyterian congregation had built a new church in the 1950s. The Unitarians had been renting the old church at 15th and Washington for several years, but they, too, were building a new church and would soon be vacating.

*Foothills Art Center board members with long-term Presbyterian Church members –* Colorado Transcript – May 12, 1968 – enlarge

In the end, the group chose the old church. The Presbyterians, who still owned the building, offered to rent it for $150/month and if the nascent Art Center decided to buy it, they would apply 94% of the rent to the purchase price.

Colorado Transcript – June 16, 1968 – enlarge

They spent the spring of 1968 repairing and redecorating the old building. They built a breezeway to connect the former manse (minister’s home) to the church building. The Art Center’s unofficial opening coincided with the 5th annual Sidewalk Art Show, in June of 1968. The first class, offered that same week, was children’s watercolor.

Colorado Transcript *– June 20, 1968 – enlarge*

The Grand Opening took place on August 3rd, with former Senator “Big Ed” Johnson as the guest of honor. The opening exhibit included selected pieces from the Harmsen Western Art collection. The Harmsens owned Jolly Rancher Candies, which had started in a shop on Washington Avenue.

TRANSCRIPT EDITORIAL: Golden’s New Asset
The people of Golden can feel justly proud of this new addition of art culture in the area and our hope for growth and prosperity are cordially extended to everyone connected with this venture. Well done, well done, well done.
Colorado Transcript – August 1, 1968

Thanks to the Golden History Museum for providing the online cache of historic Transcripts, and to the Golden Transcript for documenting our history since 1866!