Denver Art Talk: April Hoy on costuming, Burning Man and the fine art of corset-making

​The newly rehatched Denver Art Talks, hosted by Eric Matelski, will hit the new year running by featuring designer/seamstress extraordinaire April Hoy as its first guest of 2011. Hoy has stitched her way through many behind-the-scenes professional layers: She's a stage costumer, a corset-maker, a textile restoration worker, a pattern maker in the automotive industry, a teacher and, most recently, art-car team member at Burning Man.

Hoy works out of the Art Salon, a unique northeast Denver gallery, studio space and art classroom at 2219 East 21st Avenue, where she also teaches sewing and couture classes (in addition, the salon hosts a weekly Couture Café & Sewing Lounge on Monday nights). Whatever the case, she's clearly led an interesting life, which will be on view for all who attend tomorrow night's art talk.

Enchanted Mushroom Forest Artcar Project, Burning Man.

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​In the DAT tradition, Hoy's evening on the hot seat will include a warmup period with spins of her favorite tunes by DJ Check One, poetry by Clare Connelly, and possibly fire dancers (dancer Danielle Odette is confirmed, although she'll have to use glowsticks), a drum circle and...mustaches. The Q&A follows. It all begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow (January 4) at the Crossroads Theater, 2590 Washington Street in Five Points; the first twenty guests to arrive will be awarded free single screener passes for the Festivus Film Festival. Admission at the door is $10.