Article by Marcia Darnell
Local Arts – April 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
WHERE DO KNITTING, crocheting, good works, and good talk converge? The Fiber Floozies of Alamosa.
“I love the club for the gab sessions,” said Nora Gengo, who was working on a scarf for a neighbor’s daughter. “We talk about yarns and projects, and we exchange helpful hints that you don’t read in magazines.”
Article by Jennifer Dempsey
Local Arts – October 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
AFTER THE PRODUCTION of their first show together as a company in January 2003, Greg West and Shelley Jacobs realized they shared more than a similar taste in theater.
“After producing [the play] Shadowbox, we discovered that we did, in fact, share a brain,” said Shelley, associate artistic director of Stage Left, the community theater company she and West founded in 2002. “Somehow with our different backgrounds we have the same frame of reference for what is quality theater and how to get there. My experience is way more from the community and educational institutions and Greg has worked professionally for 20 years and has that prism to look through — in fact, he was part of a Tony Award-winning crew.”
Article by Sunnie Sacks
Local Arts – September 2004 – Colorado Central Magazine
“Danes are my love and sculpting is my passion,” says Guffey artist Louise Peterson. Peterson has used her Great Danes, Bella and Nandi (Nandi died earlier this year), as models for her award winning bronze and pewter sculptures.
But dogs were not always the subject of her work. More than a decade ago, Louise Peterson attended sculpture classes at several community colleges in Southern California, and her models were the more common, human variety. But after Louise and her husband Chris moved to Colorado, the artist was unable to find figure models to use in her work.
Article by Marcia Darnell
Local arts – September 2004 – Colorado Central Magazine
THE HOUSE OF CREED is a hidden treasure. It’s hard to find but worth the trek — a cozy home with an impressive array of musical tools, including several varieties of drums, keyboards, speakers, synthesizers, and other electronic tune-makers. Floating amid this sea of aural delights are books, papers, and original art pieces, many his own. A poster of Malcolm X faces another promoting Earth Day.
Article by Sue Snively
Local Arts – May 2004 – Colorado Central Magazine
THOSE WHO TRAVEL north from Buena Vista toward the Colorado Midland tunnels and Elephant Rock may experience an unexpected treat. There could be some musical accompaniment to the scenery.
Just before crossing the Arkansas River, as you go past a driveway with a BoatArk painted on a large rock, roll down your windows and go slowly. If you’re fortunate, you might hear the sound of a Steinway grand, coming out of a house of wood, glass and stone.
Article by Lynda La Rocca
Local Arts – February 2004 – Colorado Central Magazine
WHEN I MOVED TO Central Colorado from the east coast in 1982 Salida was, in the words of the great Jimmy Buffett, “a dyin’ little town.” So was Leadville, which is where I settled. Frankly, so was much of central Colorado. Mining and, to a lesser extent, railroading — the region’s two major industries — had collapsed, plunging residents into the “bust” end of what has historically been called the “boom-bust” cycle.
Article by Marcia Darnell
Local arts – July 2002 – Colorado Central Magazine –
When I arrived at Don Richmond’s studio in Alamosa for our interview, he was working on a computer, gazing intently at squiggles and symbols that looked like an alien language to a hack writer. He explained that he was burning a CD for a young musician, having used the computer as a recording device.
“None of the music was synthesized,” he emphasized, “it was just recorded on the computer. The advantages are instant access, and easier cutting, splicing and editing.
Article by Mary Woods
Local Arts – December 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
WHERE IN THE WORLD could a neophyte violinist and wannabee-Texas-fiddler be welcomed into the ranks of a serious classical orchestra? The same place where teachers, miners, nurses, librarians, veterinarians, attorneys, students, retired military, media professionals, and oh yes, professional musicians, also devote their time and creative skills to producing orchestral music.
In the Upper Arkansas Valley. In the Alpine Orchestra.
Brief by Central Staff
Local Arts – November 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
It was easy for us to claim with both honesty and modesty that we were the leading monthly magazine in Central Colorado — we were the only one.
Now there’s Metaphor, which bills itself as “Salida’s Monthly Poetry ‘Zine.”
The idea, according to publisher Carla Sonheim, is to document the monthly open-microphone nights at Bongo Billy’s Salida Café.
Article by Marcia Darnell
Local arts – June 2000 – Colorado Central Magazine
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS isn’t old for a redwood, a building, or a human being, but for a small theater in a tiny town, it’s ancient.
“So few arts organizations are this old,” says Richard Baxter, artistic director of the Creede Repertory Theatre. “Considering the location — Creede has only 500 year-round residents — it shouldn’t exist.”
Brief by Central Staff
Local arts – April 2000 – Colorado Central Magazine
One of our favorite annual late-winter events, the Sonofagunn in Gunnison, didn’t happen this year.
Sonofagunn is a satiric musical comedy, based on familiar works like “Brigadoon” and “Atlas Shrugged,” filled with clever local twists that are side-splitting even if you don’t live there.
Article by Marcia Darnell
Local Arts – February 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
SOME PEOPLE are lucky and discover early on what they want to do. Some are very lucky, and get to do it. Then there are the extraordinarily lucky few, those who get paid for doing it.
Jocelyn Lillpop is extraordinarily lucky, and she knows it. She’s been a professional artist since she sold her first painting, of a horse, at age 8. Lillpop was thrilled to be able to buy back that painting a couple of years ago.
Brief by Central Staff
Local Arts – February 1999 – Colorado Central Magazine
Potter and Poet get Fellowships
Two Central Colorado creative types were among the 26 recipients of 1999 Artist Fellowships in Visual Arts, Literature, and Performing Arts from the Colorado Council on the Arts.
Article by Marcia Darnell
Local Arts – February 1998 – Colorado Central Magazine
IT’S A PARTY! The hall is packed with 25 years’ worth of students, teachers, supporters and admirers of Semillas de la Tierra, the San Luis Valley’s longest-lasting dance troupe.
“I’m so proud,” says co-founder Patsy Martinez. “If you’ve ever felt your whole body just shine with pride, that’s how I feel.”
Article by Columbine Quillen
Local arts – April 1997 – Colorado Central Magazine
Barbara Baker was born in Central Colorado, but left our region at the age of three. Although born in Fairplay, Baker studied ballet in London and modern dance in New York City, and she danced professionally in both Chicago and New York.