Aquí Show’s third-anniversary event is scheduled for 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Maven Hotel, 1850 Wazee St. Organizers expect more than 100 vendors, artists and musicians at the downtown Denver gathering, which celebrates three years of Aquí Show, according to Westword.
Rivera’s original plan was a one-year sobriety anniversary exhibition for himself. “meant to be a solo art show celebrating my one-year anniversary of being sober,” he said, according to Westword. After renting a space too large for a solo show, he invited other artists to take part, turning the planned personal celebration into a larger event.
The scale has changed considerably since the group’s first official event in November 2024, which brought together ten artists and forty attendees, according to Westword’s earlier reporting on Denver’s sober art scene. The anniversary gathering is expected to host more than 100 vendors, artists and musicians.
From Art Exhibits to Open Mics and Fashion Shows
The group’s programming now includes sober open mics and fashion shows as well as art exhibitions. Westword reports that Aquí holds monthly events and weekly art classes, offering regular opportunities to make and share work in alcohol-free settings.
Sponsorship losses and venue costs have presented challenges, according to Westword’s anniversary report. Earlier coverage of Denver’s sober art scene said Aquí has held events at Void Studios, 1790 South Bannock Street, where artists could display any amount of work for a flat fee per event.
Why the Maven Hotel
Rivera described the Maven as a deliberate choice, saying “everyone deserves a spot in a place like that,” according to Westword. Aquí events are free to attend and alcohol-free, the outlet reported in its coverage of Denver’s sober art scene.
The Site’s Earlier History
The Maven is in Dairy Block, a LoDo district developed in 2017 by Sage, McWhinney and Grand American. The site previously held Windsor Dairy and a lumber yard, according to Dairy Block developer Sage Hospitality Group.
Rivera has also been clear that the events aren't exclusive to people who claim a recovery identity. “It doesn't require you to identify as an addict or alcoholic to belong there. The only ask is that you're sober during the event,” he said, per the outlet. That low barrier to entry has helped the project reach beyond a narrow recovery community and into a broader audience of sober-curious artists and attendees, especially as Generation Z has been widely reported as the most sober-curious generation on record, as reported by Westword.
Artists Who Found a Home at Aquí
Artist Damaris Santos has shown work at Aquí for nearly two years and described the events as an inclusive, safe place for sober people who enjoy art, according to Westword. The outlet also reported that Rivera let Santos vend for free at some events when she was facing financial difficulty.
Multimedia artist Racheal Caaw has said that sober events helped her connect with others without using alcohol to relax, according to Westword. In another example of the group’s activity in Denver’s art scene, Aquí organized a group exhibition featuring Elijah Sylar as he returned to the local scene, as reported by Westword.
The anniversary event will take place at the Maven, growing from Rivera’s original plan for a solo exhibition. More than 100 vendors, artists and musicians are expected at the Saturday gathering, putting the group’s alcohol-free event model in a downtown hotel setting.
