Jeff Lambson

I can’t think of anyone more deserving of inclusion in Jann Haworth’s group portrait for the Denver Theatre District than Jeff Lambson. Jeff is the director and curator at the Emmanuel Art Gallery on the CU Denver campus. He has also served as an important mentor in my career, and someone I can still call for advice, now as a director of an arts organization myself. One of the things that makes Jeff a strong mentor is his leadership style, which is relaxed and supportive. All of the staff who work at the gallery have the opportunity to be a part of every aspect of building an exhibition including: curation, installation, collaborating with artists, and exhibition design. This level of exposure is uncommon in our field and fosters competitive skill sets.

Two of the most pivotal experiences I had while working at the Emmanuel included Oliver Herring’s 31 Days where I served as a curator, artist assistant to Oliver, and as his printer, which I still do to this day, and the Punk and New Wave Graphic Design exhibition where I served as the preparator, exhibition designer, and as a co-curator. These experiences were crucial to my development as a professional and also made possible the career I have today. I don’t think I would have had this variety of opportunities in any other organization. One of Jeff’s favorite aphorisms is “a rising tide lifts all boats,” so it is a pleasure to highlight a person that embodies this as a value in his work.

Jann’s project feels close to my heart because my first foray into working in galleries was during Jann’s 2017 exhibition at the Emmanuel. This show was one of Jeff’s first flagship exhibitions, offering students the chance to travel to Jann’s cabin in Sundance to select artwork and hone their art handling skills. I made the second trip to Salt Lake while we were working on the Rat Fink show and had the joy of further exposure to Jann and her practice. Even though this nomination letter is not about Jann, it is worth mentioning her brilliance as a thinker and as an artist. This mural will be a special addition to our city celebrating all of the wonderful unsung heroes in the community.

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*Each organization nominated their honoree with an essay. Those essays are posted here, as submitted, to maintain the organization's unique voice and authenticity.

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