Community Art Exhibit at the Durango Recreation Center Conference Wing

Please drop by the Durango Recreation Center Conference Wing at 2700 Main Ave, Durango, where my work will be exhibited through May 31. I was initially hesitant to embrace the exposure opportunity for this exhibit. Doubts raced through my mind about my work, the venue, the concept of exhibiting “too soon”... random thoughts that didn’t serve me well.

Once I committed to hanging the exhibit and saw a grandmother and granddaughter enjoying a painting together, and the happy, soggy, chlorine-laden kids fresh from the pool padding down the hallway, experiencing the joy of finding animals in the clouds (an elephant! a puppy! a unicorn!!), I knew the exhibition was the right decision.

One of my newest pieces hangs in this show – “Bridge Conversation”. It was inspired by a walk along the Animas River with a friend who vulnerably shared a life situation with me. I felt honored that she exposed this conflict to me. Relationships are strengthened, and friendships are forged through brave moments like these! I need to remember that the next time I hesitate to share.

"Bridge Conversation"

40" x 30" | acrylic on canvas

Horse Gulch Health Campus

Pediatric Partners of the Southwest has been a valued, long-term client since its founding in 2003. To grow at the pace of their dreams, PPSW needed more space. So in 2014, they took on the lofty endeavor of building a 30,000-square-foot health campus near Horse Gulch, a beloved hiking, mountain biking, and public trails system in Durango, Colorado. The space, aptly named Horse Gulch Health Campus, also includes a Mercy Medical group and a dozen other complementary health services.

One of their most significant challenges was to create a captivating logo, fresh identity, and signage package that didn’t tout the usual mundane medical look. They wanted a professional, practical, modern design but also sought to bring the outdoors in. The Partners voted unanimously on the new Horse Gulch identity, pleased to have an identity they felt represented themselves well.

After dozens of meetings with the artistic PPSW business manager, Bauen Group Architecture, the Horse Gulch's CEO and FastSigns Durango, a standout interior and exterior signage package was designed to reflect the surrounding environment using real birch tree bark, handmade paper and a natural color palette.

The exposure of architectural graphics leads the drive-by public to your front door, while indoor graphics ensure the inside environment continues to connect the community to your story.

Essential Beef Bone Broth

This afternoon, an intense spring storm is building black rainclouds to the west, and our tree seeds and blossoms are whipping through the cool air... a perfect day to simmer a batch of aromatic beef bone broth inside. Bone broth is the ideal base for any nutritious soup and is the best-tasting broth, too!

A friend of mine is hesitant to expose their family’s current cancer journey to the world, and I respect this. Each cancer journey is different and should be honored as such. We always want to help when someone is suffering... to "fix" it, to try to ease their burden (if only with a meal), to let someone know they’re not alone, to know they’re loved. Sometimes, soup is the way.

Durango First Friday

The ArtRoom Collective First Friday June Art Crawl

FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2023 AT 4 PM – 7 PM

Come join in the fun – art, food, music, drink, creative inspiration, games and hanging out with local artists! You can purchase locally handcrafted items for yourself or for someone special. The Smiley Cafe will be open for a warm beverage or a sweet treat.

June’s feature artist is Jennifer Floyd. Jennifer started her business “Cartwheel Studio” with a focus on locally sewn and printed children’s clothing and handmade women’s accessories. Cartwheel has since evolved. Now, Jennifer’s still enjoys screen printing, but her primary focus is handmade silver & copper jewelry and belt buckles. Just for fun, On June 2nd at 5:30, Jennifer will have a hands-on screen printing demonstration. Bring a T-shirt and print your own “ArtRoom Collective” shirt to take home with you. This is going to be fun and messy! Take a look at her beautiful work on her website: cartwheelstudioco.com

Get Ready!!! The next Durango First Friday Art Crawl is June 2, the monthly celebration all things local in our amazing community—art and music, culture, unique goods, real food, and movement makers! Last month's city-wide debut was a hoot! There were bands, belly dancers, artists and musicians featured along and near Main Ave. This is going to be a FUN monthly event. Start your First Friday at Smiley to earn a BOGO free Smiley Cafe beverage!

Interested in being a participating Durango business? Check out the Local First - First Friday site here. It's free to participate! See you out on the town on Friday, June 2.

The ArtRoom Collective at The Smiley is a diverse, working studio gallery where 22 artists create, collaborate and share their passion with the community.