James Holmes plays many parts in the local arts and culture community
By Kastle Waserman
When the sun rises, community leader and artist James Holmes takes care of business before a day of meetings, lunches, and art openings and makes time for his fine art practice.
He holds a long list of accomplishments from nearly 30 years of leadership service across the arts, cultural and business sectors.
“I was talking to my dad the other day about how busy I am, and he told me, ‘You’ve always been like that!’” Holmes recalls with a laugh.
The native of Sheridan, Colorado, started in politics by volunteering for local candidates; next, he started a mortgage banking company. Then, he joined the art world, responding to his calling to be a visual artist. Through networking, he was asked to be involved in various projects. “If the project is something I’m interested in, it’s a good group of people that are respected, and I feel like I can contribute something, I try to find a way to say ‘yes,’” he says.
We asked Holmes to list his top three projects:
Executive Director of Cherokee Ranch and Castle Foundation
This European-style castle and the ranch’s 34,000 acres were donated to the public by former owner Mildred Montague Genevieve “Tweet” Kimball. The Foundation now runs the property as a wildlife sanctuary, science institute and cultural event center, as well as housing a vast collection of antiques and art and overseeing Kimball’s Santa Getrudis cattle herd.
“I feel a tremendous responsibility to be the steward of a really interesting, visionary woman’s legacy,” Holmes says. “When I go to work, I try to do what Tweet wanted to do and fulfill that promise. I’m really proud of what we do every day.”
Editor’s note: You can read more about Cherokee Ranch and Castle here at avidlifestyle.com
Denver Art Museum (DAM) Trustee and Executive Board Member
Holmes began volunteering at DAM in 1997 and has played a significant role in the museum’s inclusivity efforts as an African American Outreach Advisory Committee member. He helped establish the Denver Art Museum Black Art Collective in 2023.
“We’re a group of approximately thirty individuals who have raised more than one hundred thousand dollars and helped fund two major acquisitions by participating in the overall funding of significant purchases. The group is still growing and raising funds for future acquisitions.”
Fine Arts Painting Practice—and Being Part of the Arts Community
While Holmes works to advance the arts in the community, he is also a fine arts painter in his own right. Working from his studio in the Santa Fe Arts District, his colorful abstract expressionist paintings have been featured in several exhibits and installations, and he is a member of the D’Art Gallery, where he will have a show in August. “When I think about my painting practice, I see it as a part of my role of a broader commitment of supporting the arts and culture in our community,” says Holmes, who actively attends and promotes other artists’ shows and is a collector. “I make sure my collection represents Colorado artists, and I try to be a good customer by acquiring art through the galleries rather than online.”
Holmes credits community and arts activist Arlene Hirschfeld as a mentor and his dad as an early inspiration for his work: “My dad is a blue-collar mechanic, and he has a heart for service. He ran for mayor of Sheridan in 1968 during a volatile time in society. He was probably the model for me, thinking you could take some of your time and give it away to do something for your community.”
