Every arts group with a couple of empty walls - or an open sidewalk - is putting up work with a political flavor to mark the Democratic National Convention and offer commentary on the state of the nation.

Here's a sampling:

* MCA/Denver: Outside its building at 1485 Delgany St., the museum will install the giant ice sculpture The State of Things, by Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese. After 2 p.m. Wednesday, the piece will begin to melt so that letters spelling "democracy" fade away in about a day. The artists are making the same work the next week in Minneapolis-St. Paul for the Republican National Convention.

MCA also is sponsoring a portion of Suzanne Opton's Soldier Billboard Project, so her Soldier Claxton: 120 Days in Afghanistan will go up Monday at 1950 Lincoln St. The work is to remain on view there through Sept. 21.

Information: 303-298-7554.

* Robischon Gallery's "Dialog:Denver" is really two shows on one theme: political expression.

In the front spaces are works by artists involved in the city's "Dialog:City" project, including a pair of spinning sousaphone bells burbling John Philip Sousa marches, by Ann Hamilton; DJ Spooky's graphically rich posters for his performance Sunday of Terra Nova: The Antarctica Suite; and crisply printed 2-D panels from R. Luke DuBois' Hindsight Is Always 20/20.

The back space holds work by Colorado artists that will be put on yard signs bound for the other convention as part of the "My Yard:Our Message" project. Gary Emrich's war-funding credit card is especially pointed.

"Dialog:Denver" continues through Sept. 20, followed by a solo show of Hamilton's work. Robischon is at 1740 Wazee St. Information: 303-298-7788; robischongallery.com.

* MoveOn.org artist Shepard Fairey and Upper Playground this week will turn spaces north of LoDo (including Andenken) into the giant Manifest Hope Art Gallery, with work by artists from around the country.

Expect a lot of images of expected Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama.

Major names participating include Fairey (he has a giant banner on the parking ramp of the Colorado Convention Center), Sam Flores, Ron English, Chris Pastras and David Choe. Several other artists will be chosen for view (and auction) online by jurors, including MCA/Denver executive director and chief curator Cydney Payton.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday at 2990 Larimer St. Information: manifesthope.com.

* "Pictures of You: Images From Iran" organizer Thomas K. Loughlin expects to begin installing this large pavilion/multimedia cultural showcase late Sunday afternoon in Civic Center.

The structure and exhibition will be open to visitors Monday and Tuesday. Loughlin and the Crested Butte-based Manjushri Project agreed to share their space with the Re-create 68 Alliance after each entity had won one day in the city's lottery for park permits during the DNC.

Loughlin has visited Iran several times and in this project will include banners with faces of Iranian citizens, verses of Iranian poetry, ambient sound recorded in Iran and lighting effects that simulate the passage of time. It's all about education.

The completed pavilion was on view earlier this month at an arts festival in Crested Butte, provoking numerous types of response, he said.

"It's like the taking of a portrait of the United States right now," Loughlin said recently. "The light we're using is Iran."

Information: picturesofyouiran.org.

Mary Voelz Chandler is the art and architecture critic. Chandlerm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2677