Thanks to the City of Loveland Cultural Services Department and Visual Arts Commission’s Art in Public Places initiative, the Rialto Theater’s Devereaux Room is getting a unique upgrade.

The organizations partnered with Philadelphia-based musician and artist Aaron Harel to install a one-of-a-kind art piece made from upcycled hardwood drum shells.

The drum shells will provide a colorful addition to the west wall of the popular community event space, which has undergone some recent renovations to improve the overall look of the area.

“Aaron’s artwork will be a backdrop for speakers, an object of conversation as people mingle, and perhaps the subject for selfies for those who wish to remember their experiences at The Rialto,” said Joe Patti, Rialto Theater manager.

Harel will be in Loveland from Nov. 5 through Nov. 11, to install the custom piece in the room.

The city of Loveland Cultural Services Department and Visual Arts Commission is dedicated to “promoting and enriching the quality of life by providing diverse cultural experience through history, all forms of artistic expression, and in community celebration.”

The Visual Arts Commission oversees the Arts in Public Places program, which sets aside 1% of city capital projects  of $50,000 or more.

The organization accepts gifts of art from private donors, makes purchases for the city’s art collection, provides for suitable display of collection pieces and maintains the collection.

To learn more about Loveland’s Art in Public Places, go to lovelandpublicart.org.

Harel, a working musician in addition to being an artist, first became intrigued with the idea of creating art from music while working in a drum shop making custom pieces.

During his work, Harel noticed the manufacturing process left a variety of different sized drum shell cut-offs that were just disposed in in the trash.

A champion of the environment, Harel collected the discarded wood pieces and assembled them into a visually appealing sound-dampening acoustics for in a room.

“I have a strong drive to find a use for materials that others tend to not see value in,” the artist said.

That one project blossomed into a new venture, A.J. Zone Design, and the creation of lamps, wall planters, panels, freestanding acoustic panels and other pieces in different colors and patterns using the drum shell castoffs.

When creating a piece, Harel arranges the shells in a way that disperses high frequencies and creates fewer echoes as well as takes into consideration “key design elements” such as balance, shape, color and weight.

Harel’s completed art pieces combine function with visual aesthetics.

Harel learned about the Loveland Art in Public Places call for artist submissions from a friend that lives in the city.

After reviewing the project’s specs, Harel felt that he would be “a good fit” and applied for consideration.

“I’ve had an inspiring time creating this project for the Rialto Theater. It’s allowed me to take my signature design style and explore a larger scale,” Harel explained. “Not only is this project done with 100% upcycled drum shells, but we were able to plant 220 trees. I aim to regenerate wood for every square foot of work I create.”

When he’s not busy creating art pieces, Harel is a full-time touring and studio drummer.

While he worked on multiple projects throughout college, Harel primarily plays with two live-electronic groups — 5AM Trio and Wax Future.

The drummer has also shared the stage with music industry greats such as Clozee, Subtronics, Daily Bread, Boogie T, Of the Trees and Esseks, playing in legendary venues like Colorado’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Pennsylvania’s Electric Factory.

Harel also lends his music skills in creating drum sample packs for musicians that provide an “endless combination of sounds” using handmade drums, cymbals and other noisemakers.

To learn more about Harel, his music and art work, go to https://bit.ly/3QDbTwx.

The Devereaux Room is a multi-functional 1,530 square-foot space that can be used for meetings, events, birthday and anniversary parties, reunions, business gatherings and more for up to 120 guests.

Depending on clients’ needs, the room can be customized with adjustable lighting, seating options, bar service and food catering and the addition of a Steinway Baby Grand Piano.

The space is open for reservations by the public, businesses and organizations across the community.

The standard rate to rent the Devereaux Room is $276 for eight hours with $56 per additional hour.

Nonprofits interested in renting the event space can do so for $212 for eight hours, with $56 per additional hour.

There are additional fees for the use of video projector, podium, green rooms and other upgrades.

For more information on Devereaux Room rental, go to https://bit.ly/40gN4tb.

The Rialto Theater, which houses the Devereaux and Hoch rooms, is a century-old staple in the community of Loveland that initially began as a silent movie theater.

Construction on the theater began in 1919 and was headed by local businessman and Bank of Loveland President William C. Vorreiter and designed by Denver architect Robert K. Fuller.

At the time, the Rialto was touted as “…the finest theater north of Denver,” by the Loveland Daily Herald.

The theater changed ownership throughout the years and served as an indoor retail mall at one point.

In February 1987, the city’s Downtown Development Authority purchased the building and began renovating and restoring the historic theater back to its glory.

To date, the Rialto Theater is the hub of Loveland’s arts culture with numerous concerts, plays, musicals and other performances from local and nationally touring artists taking place throughout the year.

In a nod to the building’s original purpose, the theater shows independent films monthly and twice a year screens silent films accompanied by live music.

Some of the upcoming performances scheduled at the theater include:

• “The Jerseys” — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 10
• “The Long Run: Colorado Tribute to the Eagles — 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11
• Letters Aloud: “Thanks, But No Thanks — The Best Rejection Letters Ever” — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17
• “Rockin’ Nutcracker” — 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19
• Loveland Choral Society: A Season of Celebration — 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8
• A screening of the film, “Elf”— 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14

The Rialto Theater is located at 228 E. Fourth St. in downtown Loveland.

The theater’s box office is open from 12:30 p.m to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday and from 3-5:30 p.m. on Friday.

A list of upcoming events and performances, as well as how to purchase tickets, can be found by going to rialtotheatercenter.org.