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If you thought the YMCA was just a place for kids to take swimming lessons and go to Jesus camp, think again. While grandpa might grumble about the inclusion of females and “that artsy-fartsy crap,” modern families dig the artistic perks of today’s Y. Case in point: the Y Not Art Gallery Grand Opening at the Lincoln Family Downtown YMCA. The kickoff celebration includes a live poetry/hip-hop fusion performance by GlamPoet and music producer Fiscal, plus “Classic Kitsch Considered: How We Ate, Slept and Played,” an exhibit of vintage memorabilia collages by former New Times contributor Douglas Towne. Think cut-and-pasted matchbooks from places like Denver’s cleverly named Chat & Chew interspersed with bland, repetitive logos for KFC and Denny’s. It’s as much social commentary as it is an homage to the past. “I think the one-size-fits-all model has or will soon peak,” says Towne. “Local retail economies are bound to make a comeback. I just hope some of the quirkier, historic businesses can survive until then.”
Fri., Nov. 6, 6-10 p.m., 2009
