Taste Test

Each winter season, Understudy hibernates.

Hibernation is essential to the long term success of many creatures and is a time for renewal, regrowth, and ultimately regeneration. Some animals emerge from their dormancy in a state of hunger and curiosity, while others emerge as totally new creatures; capable of new feats they could have only dreamt of before. This winter Understudy will undergo its own metamorphosis, and in the spring of 2024 Understudy will emerge from winter afresh, anew, and ready to blossom with the rest of the spring flowers.

While we slumber, we leave you with a taste of artwork from six local artists and art collectives: Andy DiLallo, Doug Spencer, Derik Penny, Gigi Louis, Kenzie Sitterud, Paulus van Horne, and Prismajic. This collection of work is our nourishing cocoon, and we hope it sustains you as it will us through these chilly months.‍

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Artist Bios:

Kenzie Sitterud
Kenzie Sitterud is a multimedia artist specializing in large-scale installations, commercial art, freelance graphic design, and public art projects. Initially immersed in the queer and DIY music and installation scene in Denver (2004-2009) and later in Seattle (2009-2023), Sitterud returned to Denver in 2013 to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Kenzie's work has been showcased at institutions including the Denver Art Museum, Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Meow Wolf Denver, Breck Create, Platteforum, and various galleries within Denver's vibrant art districts. Sitterud was an Artist-in-Residence at the RedLine Contemporary Art Center from 2017 to 2019. ‍

Paulus van Horne
Paulus van Horne (they/them) is a sound artist and researcher based in Boulder, Colorado. They are in their final year of a PhD program in Emerging Technology and Media Art Practices at the University of Colorado Boulder. Paulus’ creative practice encompasses radio production, game design and large-scale audiovisual installation. Paulus’ research focuses on voice synthesis, machine learning, and gender simulation.

Gianni Louis
Gianni Louis is a dynamic artist, specializing in the realm of digital art, where pixels become her canvas and imagination knows no bounds. Her artistic odyssey began with a curious exploration of the digital realm, and over the years, it has evolved into a kaleidoscope of vibrant creations that breathe life into the digital canvas.

At the heart of her window box display stands a mesmerizing infinite mirror, where one of her pieces takes on a new dimension. The reflection creates an illusion of endless depth, drawing viewers into a captivating visual journey that seems to stretch into infinity. It's a commitment to infusing the public space with creativity and joy, where the magic of art becomes a source of inspiration and a respite from the hustle of daily life.

Andy DiLallo
Andy DiLallo (he/him) is a media artist exploring the intersections of technology, art, and human/machine interaction. Holding an MFA in Art Practice from CU Boulder, his work investigates cultural shifts prompted by machine learning and the interplay with digital media. Andy has showcased internationally at SIGGRAPH, Athens Digital Arts Festival, IndieCade, The Wrong Biennale, and COP26. Parallel to his art practice, Andy is a software developer at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, where he collaborates with a team at Unity Technologies to create a VR heart surgery planning tool.

Prismajic (Eric Jaenike and Jennifer Mosquera)
Eric Jaenike and Jennifer Mosquera have been doing immersive art for over a decade. They cut their teeth in immersives in 2012 with the founding of Artistry Events & Design, an art forward event design and production company. They rebranded in 2017 as Prismajic and created two wildly successful immersive experiences: Natura Obscura in 2019, which hosted over 55,000 guests; and the pop-up Shiki Dreams in 2020, which was named the 4th Best Immersive Art Experience in the country by USA Today. Their latest experience, a permanent and completely reimagined and expanded version of Shiki Dreams, will open in December of 2023 at Colorado Mills Mall.

Doug Spencer and Derik Penny
Doug Spencer is a self-taught, interdisciplinary artist living and working in Denver. Derik Penny is an artist and woodworker based in Denver.

The window box, titled "Tempus Vincit Omnia" ("time conquers all"), is an abstract collection of processed memories. It intends to create a warm space that reflects their individual work as well as the comfort of tangible objects and veers away from the digital tendency to view art as solely a commodity.

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‍Public Hours:

Understudy will have no open regular hours from December 10, 2023 - March 17, 2024. Guests are instead encouraged to stop by and view the artwork we have on display from the exterior of the gallery at any time that is convenient to them. The artwork is exhibited in window boxes that can be viewed from the outside of each window, and there are six different window boxes that make up the exhibition.

Understudy is free-to-visit and open to all. We are located at the Colorado Convention Center / Theatre District light rail stop near 14th and Stout. Look for the Shantell Martin art bench.