Story and photos by Payton Cordova
Shadows Gather poses in front of “The Archives: 2019-Now,” the photographer’s new exhibit at the East Window gallery. Boulder, Co., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Radio 1190/Payton Cordova)
Shadows Gather, a photographer of Denver’s nightlife scene, launched an archival exhibit at East Window Gallery in North Boulder on Sept. 5. Documenting the club, punk, goth, and drag scene from the eve of Covid until now, the series features thousands of Instax photographs, cascading down two walls of East Window. In reflection of the growing conservative movement in the United States, her series represents a piece of the evolving document of creative expression in the metropolis, which will surely only ripen with time.
Found in each of the hand sequenced frames are the faces and bodies of Denverites, suspended in a flash of confrontation. Shadow’s photographs are proud, messy, and vulnerable. “You look back at some of the photos and you just have that shocked feeling,” said Germ, an event planner and friend of Shadows Gather. “Like, ‘Oh my god, it has been five years! You look different. The people in your life are different. Just from the first night, I had long hair, a beard and it just reminds me of where I was in my life at that time.”
A close view of the 2,160 Instax photos which make up “The Archives.” Boulder, Co., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Radio 1190/Payton Cordova)
Earlier this past Spring, Shadows Gather launched the first photography exhibit at Denver’s own Meow Wolf. “Originally I was from New Mexico,” Shadow said. “I grew up in a very rural part of the state. I always wanted to go and meet people who were more weird and artistic like myself, so I went and found them.”
On Sept. 20, Shadows Gather brought together Denver based performers and event planners Beef Cake, Germ, Eight, and Mother Daddy, for an artist panel inspired by 1990s television segments of club kids who were interrogated before a live audience, reiterating her commitment to the community she documents by giving them a playful voice.
Regarding their fascination with nightlife, the photographer said, “a lot of times it is something that is gone in the morning. They’re just memories.”
A large print of an Instax portrait by Shadows Gather. Boulder, Co., Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Radio 1190/Payton Cordova)
The exhibit will remain open Wednesday through Friday 4:30-7:30 p.m. until Halloween night, Oct. 31, 2025. In the meantime, Shadow will be hosting a final Meet the Artist event at East Window on Oct. 19, complete with signed posters, zines, and collaborative work made in partnership with Denver based screen-printing artist @horsgorl.