Celebrating 150 Years of Art and Community in Denver

The stone building that now houses the Emmanuel Art Gallery has stood on Denver’s Auraria campus since 1876, witnessing the city’s growth and change. In 2024 it marks a century and a half of serving as a cultural hub, and the gallery has opened a new show called “Come Together: 150 Years of the Emmanuel” to honor that legacy.

From Chapel to Synagogue

• 1876: Built as a Romanesque‑Gothic chapel by Bishop John F. Spalding for the local Episcopal congregation.
• 1893: Briefly became St. Andrew’s Church after the original group moved.
• 1904–1958: Sold to Congregation Shearith Israel, offering Hebrew lessons and a Talmud Torah until the Jewish community dispersed after World War I.

Preservation Efforts

• 1963: Artists Wolfgang and Susan Pogzeba rented the former church; they later purchased it.
• 1968: Declared Denver’s first official landmark.
• 1969: Added to the National Register of Historic Places and used as a private studio.

Cultural Transformation

• 1973: Auraria Higher Education Center (AHEC) bought the property for $100,000 and turned it into a cultural center.
• Today, UC Denver’s College of Arts & Media manages the gallery, hosting student and professional exhibitions for more than five decades.

“Come Together” Exhibition

• 20 artists (most from Colorado) explore the building’s history and community impact.
• Highlights:
• Carlos Fréquez – “El Corrido Cosmica” (collage on displacement of 235 families during AHEC’s development).
• August Balderrama – “Resistance” (sheep as an empowering symbol, critiquing social conformity).
• Other contributors: Max Kauffman, Bill Adams, JayCee Beyale, Isabella Briganti, Laura Shill & John Lake, Adam Geluda Gildar, David Griggs, Sammy Seung‑min Lee.

A Living Legacy

The gallery’s directors emphasize that the building remains a gathering place for students, faculty, artists, and the public. They hope the exhibit will highlight the value of preserving historic spaces while fostering new creative expression.