Over the centuries many, many artists in all disciplines have tackled the fluidity and unknowability of time. Which means the contributors to Walker Fine Art’s latest exhibit, A Matter of Time, are in good company.

The exhibition runs at the Denver gallery, 300 W. 11th Ave., No. A, through Saturday, Jan. 15. Participating artists — Kim Ferrer, Karin Schminke, Peter Illig, Julie Anderson, Mark Penner Howell and Doug Haeussner — use painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media to explore the ways time is perceived and experienced.

We spoke to gallery owner Bobbi Walker about the exhibit, the artists and the mystery of time.

Interview is edited for clarity and brevity.

Tell me about the impetus behind A Matter of Time?

As Covid has unfolded and morphed over the past 21 months, I believe we have all felt a distinct disconnect in how we measure time. Mark Penner Howell once told me that artists are the harbingers of change, the canaries in the coalmine, alerting society in times where important discourse is required.

The artists in this exhibition submitted bodies of work centered on trying to address the complex, non-linear sequence of how time is experienced in this new world where there is no normal.

As you went about setting up the exhibit, what kind of story were you looking to tell?

Our daily lives have been adjusted and readjusted to accommodate the mandates and uncertainties of the pandemic. We have been shaken out of our routines as they are continually being redefined. This has given us the opportunity to slow down and address how we choose to spend our time. To reevaluate our priorities in a more intentional way, and reconsider how we treat each other.

What makes each of these artists’ work unique from your perspective?

Each artist is delivering their own approach to how the construct of time is perceived, measured and experienced. Because our interpretation of time has become fluid, our understanding of time has shifted, and it is unique to our individual reality. The diversity of medium of each body of work adds to the complexity of the exhibition while trying to convey an intangible concept.

The show tackles ideas around time — what role do you think time plays in the ability to understand or appreciate a work of art?

It has been rewarding to see that in slowing down our daily lives, people are spending more time with exhibitions. They are making an effort to see the intention of the artists and understand their connection to the underlying themes. There is more of a dialogue between the artist and the viewer now which initiates a deeper conversation, transcending a simple aesthetic viewing of the work.

What do you hope people who see the show come away with?

I hope that people will walk away from this exhibition questioning their use of time, reevaluating the priorities that drive the use of each day. Thinking more deeply about how they approach, react and communicate with others.

For more information, visit walkerfineart.com/matter-of-time.

K Contemporary closes 2021 and welcomes 2022

Denver’s K Contemporary is bridging the gap between 2021 and 2022 with two new shows — each bringing a unique perspective of the world: Angel Ricardo Ricardo Rios’ “Zona Rosa” and Shawn Huckins’ “I Know Not Where.”

The shows run at the gallery, 1412 Wazee St. in Denver, through Saturday, Jan. 8. “Zona Rosa” is Cuban-born Rios’ first show in Colorado and features more than a dozen large-scale paintings, according to provided information. Huckins’ show, “I Know Not Where,” is a continuation of his series, “The Birds Will Sing.”

For information on the exhibits, visit kcontemporaryart.com/exhibitions.

Share some holiday laughs with Sam Jay

It is difficult to imagine a time when laughs are more necessary than during the stressful holiday season. And Denver audiences can see one of the most exciting new comedic voices around in Sam Jay. A stand-up and Emmy-nominated writer, Jay made the leap to the big leagues with her new show, “Pause with Sam Jay” on HBO.

Jay will be performing at Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16, 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17 and Saturday, Dec. 18. Visit comedyworks.com/comedians/sam-jay for information and tickets.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats at the Mission Ballroom

Homecoming concerts are almost always the best times to catch an artist live, and over the last decade or so Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff has repeatedly proven that to be the case. He’s closing out 2021 with a pair of performances at Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver.

When Rateliff performs with his group The Night Sweats, there’s always an extra element of swing to things, but these shows will be particularly special because the band will be joined by the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band from New Orleans.

Rateliff will be performing at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16 and Friday, Dec. 17. All you need to know can be found at missionballroom.com/upcoming-events.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.