Sunday, January 25, 2026

The Madden Gallery at the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Colorado




Our daughter works in an office building in the Greenwood Village area of Colorado and wanted to view an exhibit in a new gallery, part of the Museum of Outdoor Arts (MOA), which opened in the fall of 2025. We had a prior visit to the Marjorie Park Sculpture Park in July of last year, and we were also interested to see the indoor gallery.  We met our daughter at her office during her lunch hour to walk over to the Palazzo Verdi, a 15-story office building located at 66363 Fiddlers Green Circle. 



The Palazzo Verdi's building lobby space was recently renovated to include the 10,000 sq foot Madden Gallery, which will host three to four temporary art exhibitions each year.
Formerly known as The Madden Museum of Art, the gallery space was founded by MOA Co-Founders John and Marjorie Madden and first opened in October 2008 alongside the debut of the Palazzo Verdi office building. The Madden Gallery now offers regular hours, is open to the public, and is currently free of charge.



The first exhibit was "Metaphorming TIME" by Todd Siler.

Exhibition Dates: October 21st 2025 – February 13, 2026


According to the Madden Gallery's web site: 

This exhibition showcases a selection of Todd Siler’s paintings, sculptures, drawings, monotypes, and artist’s books—works he calls “Metaphorms.” Rooted in the creative processes of the human brain, Siler’s art fuses symbolic language, metaphor, and invention to explore time as the universal connector linking all aspects of life.

Through neural-inspired textures and thought-provoking imagery, Siler examines humanity’s past, present, and future: how we confront urgent global challenges, how civilizations rise and fall, and how creativity can shape a more sustainable future. His practice, grounded in the principles of ArtScience and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), invites viewers to engage as “Metaphormers”—lifelong learners, creators, and problem-solvers.

Metaphorming TIME is both a reflection on human ingenuity and a call to collective action, inspiring audiences to imagine and build a better world together.



Siler explains his predominantly mixed media art on his website:

"I’m a Cerebralist! I meld abstract and representational forms with sensual and conceptual elements, using all media and means of communicating. For the past three decades, I’ve explored the nature of the human mind and creative process: how we think, create, learn, invent, innovate, and communicate. My art shows how the mind is connected to all of its creations: from the words we use to describe our thoughts & feelings to the technologies we build to see everything in the world that words cannot fully describe...




...Cerebralism encompasses all forms and expressions of art. Through art, we can connect and transform everything (information, knowledge, ideas, experiences) to create new meanings and purposes for everything. Art makes life meaningful. It inspires wonder, while challenging the limits of our vision and imagination."



Please click on the photo above to read more about the exhibit and the artist's descriptions.





We all enjoyed getting a close-up look at all the elements incorporated in his artwork.



A small section of the Madden Gallery still had some of the former exhibits when the space was called the Madden Museum of Art before the renovation.



John W. Jr and Marjorie Madden were avid art collectors and together amassed an impressive and diverse collection. The Maddens' collecting philosophy centered around the places they were inspired by in their travels and the relationships they developed with artists.

In January 2016, the University of Denver was pleased to accept the Madden Collection as a permanent addition to the University’s holdings. John W. Madden, Jr., developer of the Fiddler's Green campus in Greenwood Village, CO., donated a collection of 133 artworks valued at $10 million to the University of Denver.




Please click on the photo above to enlarge it to read more about John Madden.



There was also a wonderful tribute to his wife, Marjorie Madden, and their family history.


There was some "rare to us this winter" snow on the ground when we left the Madden Gallery this past December...


...but our spirits were warm with the 
Joy of all the beauty we just saw inside!


The pretty snowy mountain view from our daughter's office's outdoor parking lot.

We enjoyed our visit to the Madden Gallery and agreed that their mission to "make art a part of everyday life" has certainly been accomplished through their generosity!

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Monday, January 19, 2026

The Argo Gold MIne and Mill and the Argo Tunnel in Idaho Springs Colorado


Every other month, a group of our friends---we jokingly call ourselves "The Motley Crew"-- take turns to plan an outing where we all visit a local place of interest or have dinner together at the host's home.  In September, we visited the historic Argo Mine and Mill, located at 2350 Riverside Dr. in Idaho Springs, Colorado. 

On January 5, 1859, during the Colorado gold rush, prospector George A. Jackson discovered placer gold at the present site of Idaho Springs, where Chicago Creek empties into Clear Creek. It was the first substantial gold discovery in Colorado,
and the town became the center of the region's mining district throughout the late nineteenth century.


We took a pre-reserved tour. The tours are professionally guided and last about an hour and a half.


While we waited for our tour to begin, we were able to look at a few exhibits inside the visitor center. The drawing above shows the Argo Mine and Mill on the left and the Mighty Argo Cable Car on the right, which is under construction and is expected to open this year.With only a 10-minute ride, the cable car will reach an elevation gain of 1,300 feet and will provide access to more than 500 acres of hiking and biking trails.


There were old photos of the mining operation on display...


...and examples of minerals and artifacts found in the mine and on the grounds.

The photo will enlarge for easier viewing when clicked on.


A photo of a group of Cornish Miners and examples of the pay in 1927 for men working different jobs in the mine, earning from $3.50 to $7.50 a day in wages.


The first stop on the tour was the Argo Tunnel, which extends over four miles from Central City to Idaho Springs, under an area of extensive mining. The purpose of the tunnel was to drain problematic water from overlying mines and to provide a direct route to ship ores from the mines to the Argo Mill. The tunnel took 17 years to complete and was the world's longest tunnel when it was completed in 1910.  It operated until January 1943, after a major hydraulic accident in the tunnel killed four miners. World War II closed all gold mines, and the Argo Tunnel never reopened. 

You can read more about the Argo Tunnel and Mine and Mill on the website at this link. 



Next, we entered the mill, where we walked from station to station as the tour guide told us the extensive step-by-step process of extracting gold from the ore that contained it.
Various techniques were used to extract gold and other minerals, requiring different machines to process the ore diversity.

The Argo Mill extracted pure gold and minerals from raw ore. At its peak, the mighty Argo processed ore from more than 30 nearby mines, playing a major role in shaping the economy and growth of Idaho Springs and the state of Colorado as a whole.


An example of a gold ore.


The end of the tour lead into a large museum area that had mnay mining displays and artifacts..



As part of the tour, we also had a chance to pan for gold flakes, similar to how placer gold was panned from the creeks during the Gold Rush days.


After leaving the Argo Mine and Mill we all visited the charming town of Idaho Springs...



...and enjoyed pizzas at the popular Beau Jo's Pizza, which is known for its distinctive "Mountain Pie" hand-rolled crust.

It was a fun outing to learn more about Colorado's Gold Rush history and end with a delicious treat!

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Sunday, January 11, 2026

Alluvial Fan and Horseshoe Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park



Today was the first anniversary of my husband coming home from the hospital after undergoing open-heart bypass surgery.  Thankfully, he recovered quickly and has remained in good health. When I went through my Google Photos this morning to post a photo of him, I realized I never edited an entire album of photos I took from a trip we took to Rocky Mountain National Park in early September--see that post here, where I shared the beautiful autumn views in the park.  We spent three days driving and hiking around the park on that trip, and I now want to show an area that we hiked for the first time, called the Alluvial Fan and Horseshow Falls.

Please click on the photo collage to enlarge it for easier viewing.

Information from the RMNP web site: 

"Located off the road to Endovalley, the Alluvial Fan is a beautiful cascade of water flowing down through a boulder field. Reconstructed in 2020, the trail to the Alluvial Fan was designed to be fully accessible. From the west, this path meanders up to a 56-foot bridge crossing the Roaring River, offering access to the east side of the Alluvial Fan. Hikers of all abilities can enjoy breathtaking views of the Mummy Range, Horseshoe Falls, and Endovalley."

There is a lot of information about the definition of an Alluvial Fan on this National Geographic website. 

 


Please click on the photo to enlarge it to read the information.

The Alluvial Fan in Rocky Mountain National Park was created on July 15, 1982, when the earthen Lawn Lake Dam above the area gave way, flooding the Park and the nearby town of Estes Park with more than 200 million gallons of water. Enormous boulders were displaced, and trees and earth were ripped from the ground. Researchers are studying the success and composition of species in this area of the park as life returns to the previously barren land.
The remaining rock sediments and the boulder field are examples of the devastating event. Now, the Roaring River cascades over the boulder fields, creating Horseshoe Falls.



The Alluvial Fan trail bridge crosses over a portion of the boulder field.



A short video view of the Roaring River from the bridge.



The trail continues 0.3 miles with about a 250-foot elevation gain.


As it was fall when I took these photos, the river flow was milder than I'm sure it is in spring when there is significant snowmelt from the surrounding mountains!


We hiked up towards the Alluvial Fan summit at 8,900 feet (2712.72 meters) to see Horseshoe Falls. 


Horseshoe Falls



A short video clip above, so that you can hear the waterfall flow.

Although this is a popular and easy hike, it was a quiet and peaceful place on our visit as we did the hike very early in the morning.


Soon, the rising sun began to light up the falls, and we decided to continue on our way around the park.


We took an opposite path on the way down and saw a large boulder field and a debris pile, which were a reminder of the powerful force of water.


We saw a tour bus parked at the trailhead parking lot when we returned to our car. 


When I opened my car door, a branch from a nearby aspen tree fell on my seat!


I left this little gift of nature on our car's front windshield for the rest of the trip!


Rocky Mountain National Park is so beautiful!

 We are grateful to be able to visit it often, and in all seasons.

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Sunday, January 4, 2026

Happy 2026!


I hope everyone who celebrates had a very Merry Christmas! 
We were excited to see a bit of snow in December, after an unusually dry and warm fall along the Colorado Front Range.


Unfortunately, the weather soon returned to a "La Nina" weather pattern of warmer than average temperatures and lower than average precipitation, which melted all the snow. 
Snowpack levels across the state are currently 53% of normal, which means we will need many snowstorms to catch up
We also had a few days of extreme wind in December--a Chinook wind pattern. The winds blew many leaves into our gardens, but the deer that frequent our property enjoyed dining on them.


Despite all the weather concerns, the Christmas Season looked beautiful in Denver! 


I was busy making our traditional Christmas cookies...


...our house was all decked out for Christmas Celebrations...



...and I prepared many fish dishes for our traditional Italian-American "Feast of the Seven (plus) Fishes" Christmas Eve dinner...



...including a tray of chicken cutlets for our grandchildren who do not like to eat too much fish!



I also follow the Italian tradition of making lentil soup for New Year's Day for 'Buona Fortuna," which means "Good Fortune." Some families actually make a bowl of lentils to eat a few moments after the hour turns to midnight, but I wait until dinner the next day to make sure we can really enjoy the soup as dinner. There are many recipes for lentil soup, and it is easy to make as lentils do not require pre-soaking and cook fairly quickly. It can be made vegetarian or with sweet Italian sausage, which is the way we like it. Here is a link for a Lentil Sausage and Escarole Soup I shared many years ago.


I took a couple of weeks away from blogging to enjoy the Christmas season, and now feel ready to rejoin with a fresh new year's perspective.

Wishing all my readers a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2026!


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