Greetings from Barnum!
Starry Night is proud to have been chosen as one of 6 artists to curate works to be displayed on16th Street as part of the Denver Fingerprints project.
The Brief: Create an interactive storefront installation that tells the story of a Denver neighborhood
We chose: Barnum
Why Barnum: To start, World Builder, Tom Varani and his brother Joe live in the neighborhood, with its circus roots, tales of buried elephants, working class neighbors, and goats (?!), it was the perfect choice.
Artist Statement
We built this piece to reflect and honor the Barnum neighborhood. To truly understand the community, we spent a day walking its streets, meeting residents, hearing stories, and taking photos. We were joined by photographer Michelle Christiance and our friend Vanessa Valerio, who generously helped bridge conversations between English and Spanish speakers.
The warmth and generosity of the people we met left us energized and inspired. We photographed individuals, families, and groups from all walks of life. One especially meaningful moment came when we were able to assist with translation for a family hoping to purchase space in the urban gardens.
The final display lives inside a circus tent crafted from aerial silks and features a whimsical scene: an elephant and a small girl flying a kite. At the front of the window stands our ringmaster—put your face and hand to theirs, and a light show begins, revealing hidden blacklight imagery. We’re deeply grateful to Cody Borst for his inventive lighting design and the interactive magic he brought to the piece.
A local urban myth speaks of an elephant buried beneath Barnum Park. In our work, the elephant becomes a symbol of the community itself. Painted on its body are treasured icons of the neighborhood—Curtis Keele, known as “Barnum’s Goat Guy,” who passed away in December; the vibrant community gardens; the neighborhood library; Barnum Park; and fireworks celebrating the Fourth of July, bursting from every street. Faces of our neighbors are lovingly woven throughout.
A Quetzalcoatl, hidden in the background, glows to life under blacklight, illuminating late into the night.
The girl flying her kite represents Barnum’s future. Caught on the kite’s face is a quietly beautiful portrait of a mother and son—hope held aloft.
The Team
Amber Blais
Amber Blais is a visionary creative leader based in Denver, Colorado. As the Founder and Producing Director of Starry Night Productions (formerly Rainbow Militia Circus), she has spent over 15 years crafting imaginative, community-driven performances that blend circus arts, immersive theatre, dance, and visual storytelling. Her work has been featured in Westword, 5280 Magazine, and even the New York Times via her contributions to the relaunch of Casa Bonita. Amber’s innovative approach continues to redefine what performance can mean in Denver and beyond.
Tom Varani
Tom Varani is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans large-scale kinetic sculptures, murals, and photo-realistic portraits. Since 2017, he has collaborated with Starry Night Productions, creating immersive set designs that transport audiences into dreamlike worlds. Tom’s art has been featured at the Denver Art Museum, Burning Man, and various theatrical and dance stages across Colorado.
Michelle Christiance
Michelle Christiance is a professional photographer based in Denver, Colorado, specializing in portraits that convey deep cultural and historical narratives. A graduate of the Rochester Institute of Technology, her work captures intimate stories of people across the globe from artists and musicians in the U.S. to communities in Vanuatu, Nicaragua, Pakistan, and India. In addition to still photography, Michelle creates evocative stop motion animation, with pieces featured in award-winning music videos. Her work is rooted in storytelling, revealing raw emotion and human connection through both still and moving images.
Cody Borst
Cody Borst is an award-winning immersive designer and engineer specializing in themed entertainment. With over 15 years of experience, he has been instrumental in creating interactive experiences that captivate audiences. Currently, Cody serves as the Director of Technology Innovation at Meow Wolf, where he leads the exploration and development of new technologies for immersive storytelling.
Vanessa Valerio
Vanessa Valerio is a Moth Story Slam winner from Dominican Republic, based in Denver. She is an architect during the day and a storyteller and show producer in her free time. She is the host and producer of Singleling Podcast and the traveling variety show Foreign. She has appeared on the Emmy nominee webseries The Feels, the CuNY's tv Emmy award winning series Nueva York, NBC Latino, Buzzfeed, and PBS' Stories from the Stage. She has written for Bust Magazine, Camara Flash and The Singles Spot.
Joe Varani
Joe Varani is an emerging creative force in Denver’s immersive arts scene. As an engineer, tinkerer, and founder of Varani Designs, he brings a hands-on, problem-solving approach to every project. Working closely alongside his brother Tom, Joe has contributed to numerous installations, offering technical expertise and inventive solutions that enhance the audience’s experience.
Behind the Scenes on the Install
