ART

Virtually unknown in Europe until the Middle Ages sugar quickly became ubiquitous in western diets. Influencing agricultural practices, global economies, dietary habits, and language, sugar holds a central place in Western culture. (Just try to imagine a world without it!) Including historical photographs, microscopic enlargements, and literary and artistic responses in a variety of media, this exhibition examines the power of the sweet stuff. The exhibition features sugar-inspired artworks by Gypsy Ames, Christina Marsh, Karen Kunc, Kate Leonard, Tracy Linder, Meredith Nickie and poetry by Jessy Randall and Dave Mason.

On three Tuesdays during the exhibition, I.D.E.A. will host a series of Sugar Salons featuring sugar-related activities, lectures, and performances. The final Sugar Salon will close the exhibit on Thursday, January 21, 2010.

Sugar Salon #1: Performing Sugar
Tuesday, November 24 at 4:30 p.m.
Chemistry experiments with sugar & performance of Rare Sugar. The first Sugar Salon will feature chemistry experiments with sugar “performed” for the audience and gallery talks by featured artists, who will speak about how the structure and properties of sugar inspired them. At 6 pm, I.D.E.A. and the C.C. Music Department will present a performance of Rare Sugar. Australian composer Nigel Westlake was inspired to create the piece after watching a television program about a chemist who works on unusual forms of sugar.

Sugar Salon #2: Producing Sugar
Tuesday, December 1 at 4:30 p.m.
The second Sugar Salon focuses on the historical and contemporary impact of the sugar industry, both regionally and internationally. Featured artist and former sugar beet farmer Tracy Linder and Colorado College faculty will use the exhibition as a springboard for an informal discussion of the local and international economic, social, and political impact of producing sugar.

Sugar Salon #3: Sugar Inspirations
Tuesday, December 8 at 4:30 p.m.
The third Sugar Salon celebrates sugar-inspired art and literature. Featured artists will discuss sugar-related works, student will give a sugar-lift print demonstration, and authors will read sugar-inspired poetry and prose. To acknowledge the importance of sugar to the holiday season, the event will also feature a sugarplum tasting and possibly an appearance from the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Sugar Salon #4: Sugar Rush
Tuesday, January 21 at 4:30 p.m.
The final Sugar Salon will feature sugar sculptures and a demonstration of sculpting techniques by James Gallo, Executive Pastry Chef at the Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, Colorado, with commentary on the history of sugar sculpting and chemistry behind Gallo’s manipulation of sugar as raw material by Sally Meyer, Professor of Chemistry at Colorado College. At the conclusion of the event, participants will help artist Julia M. Becker ritually destroy the sugar mandala created for the exhibition.