Terry Glasenapp can be described as a concert and festival enthusiast, filmmaker, DJ and visual storyteller. His most recent endeavor, a multimedia exhibit at Glenwood Springs Arts Council entitled “Paperboy Ambitions,” opened Nov. 14 and will run until Dec. 29. “Paperboy Ambitions” is a visual whirlwind featuring nostalgic collages, vintage posters, newspaper clippings, photos, vinyl records and a plethora of iconic visuals.
Discussing the exhibit’s themes, Glasenapp said many of its messages are near and dear to him as a father, grandparent and someone who appreciates the presence and creation of beauty.
“A theme for me has been activism around peace, the arts and the environment. Those areas mean a lot to me,” Glasenapp stated. “I’m a grandpa, so I want to do well in those areas for my kids and grandkids. Then there’s this theme of creating beauty. The initial idea [for this exhibit] was my collection of flyers and posters. I would tell myself, ‘That flyer or poster will vanish when the event happens, and the artist’s work disappears from public view.’ I figured if I saved it and put it into an exhibit or a collage, it would get a second life. I’m kind of recycling.”
Glasenapp’s love of the news is also a central focal point, hence the name. He shared that growing up in Rochester, Minnesota, his parents were avid readers of the newspaper. Glasenapp himself got involved in the news world as a paperboy. An enigmatic creative expression grew with him throughout his youth and college.
“When I had that paper route, it just stuck with me. It was my first career. There was a time during the creation when I thought about naming the exhibit ‘Paperboy Ambitions at 75,’ but decided to keep it simple,” Glasenapp said, alluding to his age.
Later, while attending Rochester Community and Technical College in the late 1970s, his desire to create art and his relationships with other creatives flourished. Glasenapp and his friends birthed what he called “a happening,” a multimedia showcase that featured film, dance, theater and music. Glasenapp presented graphics and slides during the two showcases he and his buddies were able to pull off.
He also had a very brief stint as a writer while in college when he approached the editor of his school’s newspaper with the idea for a literary page, for which he became the editor shortly after his idea was approved for the paper.
“One day, it might have been the first time I really drank coffee, I got so hyped up that I came up with an idea to approach the college newspaper editor with an idea to have a literary page. The coffee also amped up my courage, and I went in with the idea, and he liked it. I wrote very pretentiously because I was, you know, 18 or 19, but I did bring together a bunch of folks from the multimedia shows to make it happen,” he recalled. Later in life, he submitted works to publications and news outlets in our Valley.
This exhibit also features some of Glasenapp’s family members, including 10 of his extended family members, ages 8 to 74, spanning three generations. Amy Levenson, Devvon, Aaron, Adrian, Justin and Emily Glasenapp are some of the participants.
“For a majority of them, it’s their first time presenting in an exhibit,” Glasenapp stated proudly.
The exhibit will feature an artist’s reception on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 2 to 5pm. Glasenapp and his relatives, along with Sarah, Ada and Bridgitte Gordon, Joan Rankin-Hayes, Shane Wyenn and Saz Doran, will all present and speak to their contributions.
Asked what audiences will take away from the reception and the exhibit overall, Glasenapp said he hopes they will be left with nostalgia and inspiration from the stories on display. He also looks forward to connecting with everyone in attendance.
“I hope people take away some memories roused up of experiences they’ve had from reading the news and posters that reflect the arts and entertainment culture. I would like to see new faces, high school students, and then I would like to see old friends and people interested in history and art,” he said.
The Glenwood Springs Arts Council Gallery (216 E 6th St) is open Thursday through Sunday, from 2 to 6pm.