In this episode I speak with two local artists, Bill Grimes and Noah Stotz about their upcoming exhibit titled Amalgamation at the Durango Creative District Gallery featuring their sculptural work. The show begins Friday August 7th and runs through Friday August 28th celebrating the creative possibilities of turning different elements into functional art objects using unorthodox material combinations. The Durango Creative District supports our local creative economy with grant writing, advocacy, gallery exhibits, resources and other technical support. Amalgamation opens Friday August 7th from 5 - 8pm during First Friday Art Walk at the Durango Creative District Gallery located at 1135 Main Avenue. For more information and gallery hours you can visit it their website at durangocreativedistrict.org

In this episode we'll be talking about the 40th Anniversary Season of Music in the Mountains, a premier classical music festival which began Thursday July 9th and runs through Sunday August 2nd. Joining me in the studio are Angie Beach, Executive Director and Vadim Gluzman, Artistic Director and international award winning violinist. This summer season presents an extensive schedule featuring a long list of over 100 world class musicians, soloists and visiting ensembles who come to Southwest Colorado highlighting a variety of music styles including chamber music, orchestra concerts, pops, world music and family concerts presenting something for everyone. The season started off with the Free Community Concert Series of chamber ensemble performances on the mobile stage in Durango, Bayfield, Ignacio, Mancos and Pagosa Springs. This year there is also an exciting addition to the Music in the Mountains education programs, the new Violin Academy with Vadim Gluzman in partnership with the Arkady Foman Scholarship Fund, an intensive program for extraordinary young violinists from around the world and the region. Although this festival remains a community program, it has become recognized as a destination festival bringing beauty, energy and joy to many. To buy tickets and find out more about the 2026 season you can visit the website at musicinthemountains.com

In this episode I'm excited to be speaking with local Durango artist Nancy Byers who over the last seven years has been creating art using fused glass. Her unique and beautiful pieces have been exhibited in many locations in the region. Raven House Gallery and BurroFest both in Mancos, Colorado, the Durango Creative District's Bicycle Art Show, Durango Open Studio Tours, KDUR Furniture As Art and at the Turquoise Raven Art Gallery for their Music of the 60s, 70s and 80s exhibit in Cortez, Colorado. When she describes her career path she calls it "Aviation to Art" so we will also be talking about her 20 years as a commercial pilot for Continental Airlines. Before that she was a Music and Elementary Ed teacher. After retiring from the airlines she ran a winery for 5 years in Golden, Colorado. Nancy will tell you that "Life takes many twists and turns that lead to something exciting" To see images of her fused glass art and to find out more about Nancy you can visit her website at nancybyersart.com. You can also find her on FaceBook and Instagram.

Joining me on this episode is Judith Reynolds to talk about her exhibit at the Durango Creative District Community Gallery. The show is titled "30 Years of Durango Toons: A Retrospective of Political Cartoonist Judith Reynolds" Her cartoons have appeared in the Durango Herald's Arts and Entertainment as well as Opinion sections. Judith began her career with the Herald in 1995 and in addition to being the local cartoonist she is also their art critic writing previews and reviews for music, theatre, gallery exhibits and most art events in the Durango area. The exhibit at the Creative District Gallery opened on Friday July 3rd and will continue through Friday July 31st. If you missed the chance to visit with Judith at the opening reception you can join her for the artist talk Thursday July 23rd at 5:30pm titled "Outsiders and Iconoclasts: A History of American Political Cartooning" The Gallery is located at 1135 Main Avenue, Durango. For more information and gallery hours you can visit the website at durangocreativedistrict.org/community-gallery. The exhibit is a collaboration of the Durango Creative District, Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College and the Durango Herald.

In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Joel Arnold about the upcoming Four Corners Gem and Mineral Show which has been happening for the lat 72 years. The show takes place this Friday July 10 through Sunday July 12 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds with 67 dealers from around the world displaying their rocks, gems, minerals and jewelry. The show is put on annually by the Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club which was established in 1947. Joel has been a long time member as well as President and Vice President of the club where he teaches classes in advanced cabochon making. In addition to many classes and access to the studio the club hosts field trips to Creede, Silverton, Del Norte and South Fork for rock hunts. The gem show which brings in 4-6,000 shoppers is their biggest event of the year. Entry to the gem show is $5 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. The La Plata County Fairgrounds is located at 2500 Main Avenue n Durango, Colorado. To find out more about both the Four Corners Gem and Mineral Club and the Gem Show you can visit the website at durangorocks.org

Today I'm excited to be speaking about the San Juan Symphony's upcoming 41st Anniversary Season called "Larger Than Life" featuring four concerts including performances by guest soloists. Joining me in the studio are Thomas Heuser Music Director and Conductor of the symphony and Meghann Zenteno Executive Director who together created this outstanding program. You'll hear music by composers such as John Adams, Gustav Holst, Melanie Bonis, Johannes Brahms and Amadeus Mozart with guest soloists Norman Krieger on piano and Tommy Mesa on cello. The San Juan Symphony has been bringing professional high caliber music and concerts to the region for over four decades as well as exciting collaborations with other community organizations. The symphony also has many programs to support music education including youth orchestras, Side by Side performances, scholarships and a new Young Artists Competition! In addition to the full symphony experiences they host chamber music and chamber singer performances, a Bach Festival and the Majesty of Christmas through the Beyond the Concert Hall series. The regular season performances take place both at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College here in Durango, Colorado on Saturday evenings at 7:30pm and at the Henderson Fine Arts center at San Juan College in Farmington, New Mexico at 3pm. Beginning July 6 new season tickets are available at 50% off for first time subscribers in Durango and 25% off in Farmington! For more information and tickets you can visit the website at sanjuansymphony.org.

In this episode we are talking about the 8th Annual Durango PlayFest taking place Tuesday June 23 through Sunday June 28 at the Fort Lewis Community Concert Hall. PlayFest brings professional and emerging playwrights together with professional actors and directors from around the country to workshop new plays. Joining me in the studio is Felicia Meyer, Artistic Director and Producer of PlayFest who is also the Chair of the Performing Arts department and an associate professor of theatre at Fort Lewis College. She has a background in theatre and film and holds an MFA in directing from the American Film Institute and a BFA in Theatre Arts from New York University. Of the 200 plays that were submitted, four were selected for the event. With me are two very talented local actors who will be taking part in the readings as the plays are developed. Tara Demmy is a teacher, clown and historian originally from Philadelphia, she has a PhD in theatre performance studies from the University of Maryland and is a member of Durango's Merely Players Theatre Company. Tara studied Lecoq movement-based theatre at the Helikos International School of Theatre Creation in Italy. Also joining me is Jason Lythgoe, originally from Southern California who has performed on stages across the country from the Old Globe in San Diego to the Kennedy Center in DC. He has appeared in many productions at both the Durango Arts Center and the Merely Players. His most recent short film, The Station, has won numerous awards and has been screened in festivals around the world. Much of his time is dedicated the Durango Arts Center running the Youth Theatre program there, he also helped create the Durango Arts Repertory Theatre company. For tickets and to find out more about this exciting event you can visit the website at durangoplayfest.org

In this episode we will be talking about the 7th Annual BurroFest in Mancos, Colorado happening this Saturday June 20 from 10am until 5pm. This event has become a Mancos tradition featuring a day of burros, artists, obstacle course, food trucks and more. This year the theme is "Burro Birthday Bash" celebrating Colorado's 150th Anniversary. Joining me in the studio today are two of the local artists who will be paired with a burro. Mike Harder works in both oil paints and bronze sculpture. Her background in biology and love of the natural world contributes to the work she does bringing out the character of the animal. Also joining me in Elizabeth Kinahan, oil pinter and animal artist focusing on the beauty and personalities of farm animals. She is committed to the preservation of nature and wildlife. There will be 16 burros joining of which 8 will be obstacle course racers and the other 8 will be ambassadors, some are returning and others are new this year. In addition to the Maker and Artist Market which will host 34 artists, there will be educational booths, a Burro Paint and Sip workshop, a film and talk about Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch by a local historian and a Beverage Pasture. For more information on all the activities you can visit burrofest.com

Join me for a conversation with Durango artist Marie McCallum whose paintings done in the classical realism style bringing to life images of clothing, shop windows, store fronts and automobiles. He work is influenced by her years as a dressmaker, sign artists and Trompe l'oeil painter. She studied painting at Otis College of Art and Design and sign graphics at Los Angeles Trade Tech. This Saturday June 13th from 3-7pm Marie will be showing her work at Thrive Artisan Boutique for a pop-up show and sale located at 809 Main Avenue. There will be an artist talk at 5pm. Marie has won awards for her work and has shown extensively in Arizona, California and Colorado. For more information about Marie and her work you can visit her website at mariemccallumart.com.

In this episode I have the pleasure of speaking with Aimee Morse and Allison Wall, both founders of the SW Mahj Club offering beginner lessons, guided games and open play events for American Mahjong. Their mission is to spread the love of the game of Mahjong across the Four Corners. In addition to Durango, they also host events in Santa Fe and Telluride offering special gatherings for birthdays, Mother's Day, corporate events and other special occasions. This community based organization brings people together where they can make new friends while learning a new skill. What started small has continued to grow to include many members who play the game at many locations and businesses around town. Allison and Aimee recently opened the SW Mahj Clubhouse in the Main Mall at 835 Main Avenue, suite 214 as a home base hosting regular games. For more information or to join the SW Mahj Club you can visit the website at swmahjclub.com You can also follow them on Instagram and FaceBook.