The vibrant and eclectic Month of Video festival, also known as “.MOV,” returns to Denver this July, bringing an exciting array of video-based art to various venues throughout the city.
Running throughout the month, this biannual festival features an entirely free lineup of video exhibitions and screening events designed to engage and inspire the community.
Festival programming includes a diverse mix of offerings, ranging from projection art and video games to live video performances and experimental works.
Festival co-founder Jenna Maurice highlights that the biggest challenges in displaying video art stem from the medium’s requirements, including screens, projectors, and dark spaces to ensure a quality viewing experience.
“You can go to any museum at any time in Denver and see a sculpture, a painting, and a drawing. But video? It’s here a little bit, maybe it’s there. Maybe it’s part of the decor. Maybe it’s not art,” she says, emphasizing the struggle in showcasing time-based art.
This lack of visibility for video art was a driving factor for Maurice and fellow co-founder Adán De La Garza to initiate the Month of Video festival.
“Definitely eclectic, for sure. One of the strong suits of MOV is the diversity of the programming,” De La Garza acknowledges as he discusses the wide range of video art featured in this edition.
Featured programming includes events like a documentary screening, animated short films, experimental music events paired with live video projections, a video game exhibit, and a special showcase dedicated to local artists for the festival’s opening night.
Each venue participating in the festival takes time to curate its own exhibitions, with many spaces focusing on elevating video artists from various segments of Denver’s art community.
De La Garza emphasizes the importance of community: “Different people function in different communities, so they might have access to different artists and different work. That’s really valuable.”
In addition to curating an inclusive space, both Maurice and De La Garza prioritize artist compensation, ensuring that everyone involved in their event is paid for their contributions.
“Every person that we work with gets paid, and I think that separates us from a lot of other festivals and places that are reliant on the art market interests,” De La Garza states.
For patrons who may not want to step inside galleries or engage in a longer screening event, there are several pieces of video art that can be enjoyed from the street.
In the heart of Denver’s Central Business District, festival-goers can view commissioned artworks presented on LED screens, alongside notable video pieces shown on the historic D&F Clock Tower.
Maurice points out the excitement surrounding this public display, noting that the operator of the clock tower found their exhibition to be quite extreme, raising anticipation among local spectators.
As the festival prepares to kick off, attendees can look forward to numerous art events and exhibitions taking place throughout July.
The opening night, titled “Scene Report,” will occur at the Sie FilmCenter on July 5 at 7:30 p.m.
This vibrant showcase features a selection of video works by talented Colorado artists, with the evening culminating in an afterparty at Bar Max.
On July 12, a documentary screening titled “Buildings Are Heavy” will take place at Rainbow Dome from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m., presenting an intimate portrait of Denver’s environment and its influence on community identity.
Further along in the month, a showcase from Tucson-based record label Harmonic Ooze will take place at The Shop at Matter on July 15 at 8 p.m., featuring experimental sound and multimedia projections from talented artists like Glitchybb and Alluvium.
The festival continues with a remarkable animation-focused screening called “Making Taste 6” set for July 19 at Rainbow Dome, followed by an exhibition grappling with animation and narrative conventions, titled “It’s Projecting a Big Hot Video Mess,” on July 25 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The festival will close with an event named “Eclectic Systems” at Rainbow Dome, where three live, experimental performances will challenge traditional notions of video and live performance.
Beyond events, Month of Video will also showcase various exhibitions throughout the month.
Outdoor enthusiasts can witness video art on downtown LED screens within the Central Business District, visible all month long.
In addition, the D&F Clock Tower will feature continuous projections throughout the month, adding to the urban art experience for passersby.
Among the exhibitions, “Unplayable” at The Storeroom Gallery in City Park West will be open from July 3 to September 5, with a special reception scheduled for July 24 from 7:30 to 9 p.m.
At Squirm Gallery in Five Points, “Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again” will be on view from July 7 to August 2, also with a reception on July 25 from 7 to 10 p.m.
“Moving Still: Video Art Highlights from the Dikeou Collection” will be displayed in the Central Business District from July 9 to August 1, with its reception taking place on July 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“Mutual Terrain” can be found at Redline Contemporary Art Center in Five Points from July 11 to August 3, with the opening reception set for July 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Additionally, the exhibition “Free Hors d’oeuvres” will focus on video games at the Rainbow Dome in Sun Valley from July 18 to 26, including a reception on July 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Finally, “Under Pressure” at Friend of a Friend Gallery in Five Points will run from July 25 to August 17, with a reception occurring on July 25 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For those interested in other events in Colorado during the weekend, there are numerous options to choose from.
On Thursday, July 3, an Indonesian Evening featuring the Gamelan Orchestra and puppetry will take place at the Standley Lake Library from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., completely free and open to the public.
Celebrating Independence Day, communities like Denver and Boulder will host various festivities, including fireworks and concerts throughout the weekend.
In Denver, the In(ter)dependence Day Celebration will occur at Huston Lake Park with a community cookout on July 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., whereas the Boulder Symphony will present a special concert on July 4 at the Boulder Bandshell at 7 p.m.
Friday, July 5, will see the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver hold Penny Saturday, allowing free entry for all Colorado residents from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additionally, enjoy a line dancing class in Grand Junction that evening, followed by a fun-filled country dance event lasting until 2 a.m.
On Sunday, July 6, Takénobu will perform at Levitt Pavilion in Denver, presenting their unique string compositions starting at 5 p.m., open to the public at no cost.
Another notable event is City Park Jazz, featuring Chris Daniels & The Kings alongside Freddi Gowdy from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The weekend also includes the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, showcasing 260 juried artists from July 4 to 6, along with music, food, and family activities.
In Colorado Springs, the Broadmoor Traditions Fine Art Festival from July 4 to 6 will display works from over 100 artists.
The ongoing Green Box Arts Festival and performances of “Young Frankenstein” in Breckenridge round out an exciting weekend in Colorado.
As the Month of Video approaches, the anticipation for innovative and thought-provoking video art grows.
Festival goers can look forward to unique experiences, engaging programming, and the chance to appreciate video art in ways that challenge traditional artistic boundaries.
image source from：cpr
