Speaker 0: and unexpected loss. All right. Seeing their hands raised, there are no presentations. There are no communications. We have two proclamations this evening. The first one is a proclamation honoring the retiring Denver arts and venue employees for their decades of service to the city and county of Denver. And Councilmember Torres, will you please read Proclamation 904 US? Thank you.
Speaker 2: Council President. Proclamation 20 Dash 900 in honor of retiring Denver arts and venues employees for their decades of service to the city and county of Denver. Whereas, Denver Arts and Venues is the city and County of Denver agency responsible for operating some of the region's most renowned facilities, including Red Rocks, Park and Amphitheater, the Denver Center excuse me, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, Colorado Convention Center, Denver Coliseum, and the McNichols Civic Center Building. And. Whereas, Denver Arts and Venues also oversees the Denver Public Art program Create Denver, a CFD Tier three granting process, arts education fund and other entertainment and cultural events such as the Five Points Jazz Festival, the Urban Arts Fund. P.S. You are here an implementation of Imagine 2020 Denver's Cultural Plan and is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all of our programs, initiatives and decision making processes. And. Whereas, Denver Arts and Venues strives to enrich and advance Denver's quality of life and economic vitality through premier public venues, arts, cultural and entertainment opportunities so that all may thrive. And. Whereas, its five retiring employees exemplify the values of exceptional customer service, hard work and dedication. And. Whereas, Patricia Abraham Muhammad served the city for 21 years, most recently in the Cultural Arts Division. And. WHEREAS, Robert Bobb, Folksy, served the city for 29 years in the arena's division. And. WHEREAS, Joanne Medina served the city for 22 years at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. And. WHEREAS, Mary Valdez served the city for 20 years 18 with the Denver Public Art Program. And. WHEREAS, Louis Veal served the city for 29 years in the arena's division. And. Whereas, Patricia, Robert, Joanne, Mary and Louis made significant contributions.
Speaker 0: To the growth and success.
Speaker 2: Of the agency and will be greatly missed. Now, therefore, be a proclaimed by the Council of the City and.
Speaker 0: County of Denver that.
Speaker 2: The city and County of Denver hereby honor.
Speaker 0: Patricia Abraham Muhammad.
Speaker 2: Robert Bob Foxy, Joanne Medina, Mary Valdez and Louis B Hill for their devotion to the arts community in Denver. And that the clerk and recorder of the city and county of Denver shall affix the seal of the city to this proclamation, and that a copy be transmitted to Denver arts and venues.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman Torres. Your motion to adopt.
Speaker 2: I move that proclamation. 20 dash 900 be adopted.
Speaker 4: Second. Second.
Speaker 0: All right. It has been moved and seconded comments by members of council. Councilwoman Torres.
Speaker 2: Thank you, Madam President. This is.
Speaker 0: A division that's so near.
Speaker 2: And dear to my heart because of my own personal love for arts and music and theater in Denver. And the work that they do really creates and enriches the cultural vein throughout our city. So I really do want to thank all of these individuals for their many, many years of service to Denver. I do want to in particular call out Mary Valdez and would.
Speaker 0: Refer.
Speaker 2: Folks who are unfamiliar with her work and her.
Speaker 0: Impact.
Speaker 2: To District three to West Denver or to a lot of neighborhoods, to the article that was done about her titled How one Woman Helped Commissioned 300 Murals in Denver. And the first paragraph of that I'll read in 2018, the Denver Public Art Program increased its collection by nearly 30%, commissioning over 60 murals through the Urban Arts Fund . The total amount of murals in the collection now totals at just over 300. Although this is a monumental task that sounds like it required a full staff to accomplish. It was all coordinated and curated by one woman, Mary Valdez. Valdez works under worked under the Denver Arts and Venues Division of the Denver Public Art Program and started commissioning murals via the UAF in 2009. In the decades since, Valdez's reputation in the street art community in Denver has blossomed because she curates the city's walls like a gallerist. I just wanted to thank in particular Mary for supporting our local artists in West Denver and throughout the city and really elevating the art that paints our entire city. Thank you, Madam President.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Flynn.
Speaker 4: Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. Councilwoman Torres, I want to echo your comments about Maribel Diaz and her contributions. I had the honor of working with her on the selection committee when the better Denver bond issue finally got around to the Hadley Library renovations that were just recently done about a year and a half ago. And she just shepherded that process so eloquently and so inclusively. And and we came up with that with a very, very fitting artwork that's going to go in there. But I was really impressed with how she handled that. And I believe that, as you said, I think we will miss her and I look forward to seeing that maybe she mentors someone to take over and and proceed as efficiently and as inclusively as she did. Thank you, Madam President.
Speaker 0: Thank you, Councilman Flynn. And I'll go ahead and chime in. I believe Mary Valdez has replicated herself numerous times because it would never fail, that we would start talking about wanting to do a piece of art. And I would see her somewhere and she'd say, You know what? I've got this great community artist. And it was just like she was everywhere listening to those requests throughout the city. And so we're going to miss those dedicated arts venues, employees. And Mary definitely has a special place in our heart. And so congratulations on that retirement, Madam Secretary, roll call.
Speaker 2: Me.
Speaker 0: Got you. Torres, I.
Speaker 2: Black.
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Speaker 1: Clark.
Speaker 3: I. Flynn.
Speaker 4: I.
Speaker 3: Herndon I times.
Speaker 5: I.
Speaker 3: Can reach.
Speaker 2: I.
Speaker 0: Ortega by Sandoval.
Speaker 1: I swear.
Speaker 2: I. Madam President.
Speaker 0: I. Madam Secretary, close the voting and announce the results.
Speaker 1: For Vice.
Speaker 0: 12 Eyes Proclamation 900 has been adopted. We have 5 minutes for the proclamation acceptance. Councilman Torres. And we can start the timer. Would you please introduce whoever you like to accept this proclamation?
Speaker 2: Thank you, Madam President. I'd like to ask Maria Valdes. I think she's in on the panel if she wouldn't mind muting and saying some comments on behalf of herself and.
Speaker 0: Her fellow arts and venues employees.
Speaker 1: Hello.
Speaker 2: Everyone. Good afternoon. This is Maribel since. Well, I'm really honored, I got to say, first and foremost for. Forgive me for mentioning Mead the way she did this. Jamie knows. I don't know. Being a Latina woman, born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, coming to Denver from a large family of ten, you know, the what has always been something that was very important and sacred to a lot of Hispanic families. And it still is. I had the honor of working in that community for many, many years through the corridor of Mawson Road, several public art projects along Federal Boulevard with some various artists. And then to top it off, in December of 2019, working with Haim Molina for the incredible totem pole on Federal and Near Sixth Avenue is just fantastic. It was a dream come true to manage that project, and I just got to do a shout out to Jaime Torres because she was so excited for the project and I was so supportive with our team. It was on location for the installation. You know, my time has come short. I was hoping to stay out of your ears, but with the city, it is time for me to say, See you soon. Not goodbye. I wait. I will stay. The art scene, working with private artists and also showcasing my own personal art, which I'm really excited about. But I've got to say, you know, with the 20 years with the city of Denver, I choose people. And I said, you know, I feel like I grew up. It takes a village to raise this kind of kid. And so after 20 years, I just felt like, you know, I was a young mother of two. And being a grandmother of three darling little girls in the experience with the city of Denver has been phenomenal. I've had.
Speaker 0: Sisters who have worked with the.
Speaker 2: City also were just they love their experience being a part of Denver's public art program for 18 years. It's been a dream come true job. I've loved every ounce of it I've grown and I've developed my skills with, you know, working in the leadership of, you know, under Michael Chavis and Tyrion and obviously others and Ginger White and all my colleagues. Root, Rudy Cherry, Brendan Picker, I could just go on and on are just amazing people, amazing people and so, so passionate about what we do. The arts. Is so vital. It's like eating and breathing. In my opinion, we need a daily now. During COVID, we see how important the arts are and how.
Speaker 0: We.
Speaker 2: Need to just really survive. To be creative, to be prosperous and to. You know, create lives. But I can go on and on. But thank you, Jamie, so much from the bottom of my heart. I adore you. I look forward to working on some other projects because we will. We're not done yet. Even though I'm not city employee. I am a freelance art advocate and you will hear from me and we will have our coffee and our lunches and we will spearhead what we need to do in Denver and abroad. So thank you so much for for this opportunity and allowing me to share a few words.
Speaker 0: I appreciate it. Overall in that round of applause for our retirees. And so thank you, Mary Ann, and the other folks that were honored tonight for this and and wonderful retirement. That's exciting for you. Next up, we have 20 dash 0901.
A proclamation in honor of retiring Denver Arts & Venues employees for their decades of service to the City and County of Denver.