The B+ is a funny grade. While the D- is known here in these internets as the “Gentleman’s F” (failure, but more polite) the B+ is a comfortable consolation of a very good performance, yet strangely striving. Almost, just quite but not quite attaining the fabled perfection of an “A” but not falling into the gentle quiet of a solid B. It’s a hopeful grade, one full of potential just a fingernail’s grasp out of reach, but also a humbling one that says things are very good, but not quite excellent. Could it be the most lovely yet frustrating grade out there?

For all these reasons, I was a little startled when the Museum of Contemporary Art of Denver announced its program “B+ (Very Good) Explanations.” There’s something at once shocking that an organization would not toss about the hoary old advertising staples of “Awesome!” “Amazing!” “A++!” in a description. It made me do a double take, as I’m so used to the oversell. It also made me wonder why they’d settle for such a title, while being refreshed by their candor and analytic, philosophic titling of a program.

In the “B+” programs (which take place every Tuesday at 6PM for the rest of the month), a different curator will come to the MCA to present a discussion (along with MCA new-ish director Adam Lerner) the works of several emerging artists. Are they moved? Convinced? What is the artistic merit of these up-and-comers? Or is there something they’re in doubt about?

It sounds like a challenging and interesting (not to mention pretty B+ ballsy) to look at “rising stars” of the artworld in such a way.

This Tuesday, Steven Wolf of Steven Wolf Fine Arts joins the melee for some very good (hopefully) discussion.