As I sit in Brian Colley’s studio, a small plastic stampede of dinosaur figurines gathers in the corner, suspended above plush eyeball masks and a dim light bulb the size of an adult head. Asked how the dinosaurs play into his art practice, Colley mentions a watercolor series of “Dinosaur Rodeos” he made a few […]
Mike De La Rosa
Swords to plowshares, turning weapons into tools
On Sunday, Feb. 15, the Western Slope Mennonite Fellowship hosted a book preview and blacksmith demonstration at Bethel Chapel in Glenwood Springs , where a crowd of participants took turns slowly transforming a gun into a garden tool. At the forge was Mike Martin, heating and turning a gunstock barrel, instructing participants where and how […]
Ways of Making: What we don’t throw away
Last week, I joined Kathy Honea in her art studio to launch a new series, Ways of Making, which platforms how local artists think within the community. Honea is a distinguished artist with a long history across the Valley’s art institutions, including Carbondale Arts, the Art Base, the Aspen Chapel Gallery, the Aspen Art Museum […]
Ann Korologos Gallery secures its future under new ownership
The Ann Korologos Gallery will remain part of our local arts community after coming into close proximity with dissolution. The gallery, approaching its 33rd year and representing 37 artists, will continue under the same management, now transitioning into new ownership. After its eponymous (namesake) owner passed away in 2023, uncertainty clouded the gallery’s future. The […]
La nueva galería de New Castle — obras pequeñas, un gran comienzo
El viernes pasado se inauguró una nueva exhibición titulada “Mini-Masterpieces” en GogoArts, una nueva galería en New Castle. La galería se encuentra en Main Street, en un espacio bien iluminado que promete exhibir arte local excepcional. Es la primera galería de este tipo en el pueblo, y esta muestra reúne a siete artistas contemporáneos que […]
New Castle’s new gallery — small works, big beginning
Last Friday, a new exhibit titled “Mini-Masterpieces” opened at GogoArts, a new gallery in New Castle. The gallery sits on Main Street in a well-lit space that holds the promise of exceptional local art on its walls. It is the first gallery of its kind in town, and this exhibit features seven contemporary artists exploring […]
At the Aspen Art Museum, Glenn Ligon inspects the record
Glenn Ligon’s exhibition, “Break It Down,” opened at the Aspen Art Museum on Nov. 21. The show explores the artist’s work over three decades, focusing on how a portrait of the self is created by examining external sources. As a Black man, Ligon consistently uses institutional documents to show the friction between his personal life […]
Alphabetized, a new look at Jasper Johns
“Jasper Johns: a whole can only be a part” opened Dec. 2 at the Powers Art Center, marking a shift in the museum’s curatorial approach. Previously, exhibitions were curated in-house by the museum director. This exhibit is curated by the first Jasper Johns curatorial fellow, Jessica Eisenthal. The fellowship is a new program designed to […]
Surls’ ‘Reflections’ installed at the Bush Presidential Center
Last week, I spoke with artist James Surls about his artwork’s installation at the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, located on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. The commission sits in a historically sensitive context. A Texas native, Surls noted previous disagreements with the former president’s policies, including being among […]
Staying Sustainable
It’s official! Sustainable Settings is off the market. The 244-acre biodynamic ranch nonprofit was listed back in April of 2022 for over $24 million with the price increasing weekly. It topped out at $33,333,333.33 and is now deemed “priceless.” According to co-founder Brooke LeVan, the sale was always a publicity stunt. When we think of […]
