What an amazing year it was been at CHAC Gallery. Thank you for being involved with your community, sharing your creative spirit and helping us continue to share Chicano and Latino arts and culture! 2024 has been an exciting year and is not over yet.
We are very excited for our two new exhibits!
~Honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe and Tonantzin Exhibit Opens Dec. 6th from 5-9pm at CHAC @ 40 West (7060 W. 16th Ave. Lakewood 80214)
~Santos is Art in Celebration of Our Heritage Exhibit Opens Dec. 6th from 5-9pm at CHAC on Gallery on Santa FE (834 Santa Fe Dr. Denver 80204)
READ BELOW FOR: ~CO Gives ~Upcoming Events ~Highlights of the Year ~Featured CHAC Artist Carlos Santistevan
"During the two hours that you spent with us, the students experienced your excitement, creativity and love for art and expression. They were mesmerized and readily opened themselves up to the experience of writing poetry, creating collage and learning about Hispanic culture. We look forward to our future collaboration as we explore the opportunity to have you guide us through a performance art event. We value your time and expertise, and appreciate your kind donation of both." ~Local Educator
CHAC is so grateful for your support over the years!!! Colorado Gives is less than a month away 12/10/24. Early giving has started!!! Please consider CHAC Gallery for your holiday giving. CHAC Gallery is extremely grateful to have been gifted the property on Santa Fe. We also received a capital grant that allowed us to make the Santa Fe building ADA complaint. Thank you so much for you support while the gallery was closed.
There are a few more updates needed at the Santa Fe location! This is what the CO Gives money will be spend on.
Click the button above to donate today!
CHAC Artist/Co-Founder Carlos Santistevan Tells his story of becoming a Santero! Come See the Work of Santero Carlos Santistevan Dec. 6th Exhibit Opening of “Santos is Art in Celebration of Our Heritage” This exhibit was curated by Carlos Santistevan
Carlos Santistevan was born and raised in Denver’s historic 5 Points and still lives there today. He was a graduate of Cathedral High School, with just a few Latino students, he didn’t originally plan on becoming an artist, during his freshman year, his school counselor told him he was not college material and should get a trade. He attended night school at Emily Griffith Opportunity School as an auto body and fender student. During his last year, his instructor asked him to teach welding to new students due to the large class. While teaching this class, he made his first metal sculpture, most of his early works are religious based.
Carlos was one of the Founder of the Crusade For Justice (Crusade), he opened El Griot Gallery, the first Chicano art gallery in the country in 1968. During the Crusade's first Chicano Youth Conference, in 1969, the concept of Aztlan came about, and the art Gallery became El Grito de Aztlan. Carlos was asked to teach art for grades 1-12 at the Crusade's Freedom School focusing on our history. In 1978 the Crusades sold the building and the gallery was closed. During the 1970’s, he began to wood carve and was juried into the Spanish Colonial Art Society’s “Spanish market, Colorado, New Mexico Folk Art”. During this same period, he was a member of the Denver Metro Urban Coalition. Ken Vales, member of the agency and owner of the Colorado Paint, applied and received funds from the National Paint Association to begin painting Murals in Denver. Al Sanchez was hired to recruit artists. Ken Vales taught the artists to mural paint. In the late 1970’s, Enrique Montoya (Corky Gonzales’ nephew) founded the National Chicano Dance Theater. While performing at Bonfils Theater, he asked if Carlos would put together an art exhibit to be seen during intermission. This began the development of the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council.
Carlos recruited Lalo Delgado, for poet and chair of CHAC; Enrique Montoya did dance, Don Cardenas was the Director of the Bilingual Community Center - Film and Al Sanchez did art murals. This group applied and received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1979. Carlos became the Executive Director of CHAC in 1970 and managed the organization out of the personal funds, until late 1970, when the NEA funds were received.
Art below by Carlos Santistevan
Mariposa Gala 2024 was a beautiful way to celebrate all the hard work and dedication that has gone into CHAC Gallery for over the past 46 years!
CHAC Gallery travels to Breckenridge CO to bring Día de Los Muertos traditions.
CHAC Gallery was very pleased to partner with the Armory Performing Arts Center in Brighton this year for Día de Los Muertos.
CHAC Gallery & Cultural Center was founded in 1978 by a group of visual and performing artists. The organization was established as a place where Chicano/Latino artists were provided with a venue to explore visual and performance art and promote and preserve the Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts.
CHAC is an inclusive community of creatives that are dedicated to preserving, showcasing, educating and reflecting the essence of Chicano/a/x, Latino/a/x and other multicultural/multiracial communities.
Interested in becoming a CHAC member? Please click the button below to learn more about what you get with a membership and the different types!
CHAC Gallery & Cultural Center was founded in 1978 by a group of visual and performing artists. The organization was established as a place where Chicano/Latino artists were provided with a venue to explore visual and performance art and promote and preserve the Chicano/Latino culture through the expression of the arts.
CHAC is an inclusive community of creatives that are dedicated to preserving, showcasing, educating and reflecting the essence of Chicano/a/x, Latino/a/x and other multicultural/multiracial communities.
