The ArtRoom Collective is celebrating its 5th anniversary during Friday’s Fall Gallery Walk. (Courtesy)
The weather seems to be cooling from the million-degree summer to a slightly cooler September. And, in another sign of coolness to come, the Durango Gallery Association Fall Gallery Walk has bumped up to coincide with September’s First Friday.
So, grab some walking shoes and hit the pavement downtown Friday to see what’s new in our galleries.
Here are some of the highlights:
The ArtRoom Collective at the Smiley Building, 1309 East Third Ave.
ArtRoom’s 5th Birthday Party, 4-7 p.m.
Enter to win a $100 gift certificate toward any artist’s work – your chance to take home something meaningful and one-of-a-kind. Enjoy cupcakes and light refreshments as you explore fresh work inside our vibrant, working studio gallery. August ArtRoom Pop-up Guest Artist is Heather Narwid of Sideshow Redesigns. Come see their way-out Western decorative men’s snap shirts – free-range funky from the farm to the festival. Snap shirts and vintage garments with patches and embroidery with imagery from classic Western to psychedelic, heavily referencing nature.
Ilze Aviks will open her show, “Drink Your Jucie!” during the Fall Gallery Walk. (Courtesy)
Studio &’s Recess Gallery, 1027 Main Ave.
Drink your Juice! By Ilze Aviks, Opening Reception, 5-8 p.m.
A bit about the work from Ilze: “Like some of you, I have been struggling with startling changes in our lives. It takes me to a sad place, remembering what was. Nostalgia. Sigh. I had fun creating these cyanotypes. Each is a one-of-a-kind image, produced by using sunlight and vintage children’s juice glasses as ‘negatives.’ I have to yield to the vagaries of the weather, clouds, the sun changing angles. A fun and unpredictable process.”
The Recess Gallery features small works (no larger than 5 inches by 7 inches) created by a different artist from around the region. Measuring at just over 8 cubic feet, The Recess gallery is Durango’s smallest art gallery and rotates new exhibits every month. The Recess Gallery is nestled in the back of Studio & Gallery.
Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
Nature’s Tapestry in Plein Air, reception 5-7 p.m.
Snacks and refreshments in the Art Bar. See new exhibit featuring members of the Plein Air Painters of the Four Corners, juried by award-winning Mancos artist Veryl Goodnight.
Patrice DeLorenzo’s painting are part of “Rooted and Worn” at Earthen Vessel Gallery. (Courtesy)
Earthen Vessel Gallery, 934 Main Ave., Unit A
“Rooted and Worn” exhibition opens 5-9 p.m.
Earthen Vessel Gallery continues its 50th Anniversary Celebration Series with Rooted and Worn, a joint exhibition featuring jewelry by Valerie Ziegler and paintings by Patrice DeLorenzo.
“Rooted and Worn” explores time, memory and endurance through two distinct art forms. Ziegler creates jewelry in metal and stone. DeLorenzo’s paintings of flowers, gardens and changing skies reveal new meaning with each viewing. The artists will be present during the opening, offering visitors an opportunity to meet them and learn more about their work.
Sorrel Sky gallery will feature the latest work by photographer David Yarrow. (Courtesy)
Sorrel Sky Gallery, 828 Main Ave.
Sorrel Sky Gallery will feature photographs by internationally acclaimed photographer David Yarrow. Known for his dramatic black-and-white imagery, wildlife, landscapes and cinematic storytelling, this exhibition specifically highlights his work featuring the famous Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge steam engine. The newest image, taken four weeks ago, has become one of the most significant shots of Yarrow’s recent career and will be on display. This latest work joins his legendary series on the American Wild West, where he has previously captured iconic Durango-based scenes like “The Iron Horse,” “Vantage Point,” “The Outlaws”and “Parts Unknown.”
Matthew Sievers will open “Illuminated Expression” at Blue Rain Gallery. (Courtesy)
Blue Rain Gallery, 934 Main Ave., Unit B
“Illuminated Expression” opening: 5-7 p.m. Artist demonstration: 2-4 p.m. Saturday.
Matthew Sievers is a self-described modern impressionist known for bold, texture-rich landscapes that capture the interplay of light and shadow across mountains, storms and shifting skies. His annual exhibition has become a beloved tradition at Blue Rain Gallery Durango, and this year’s show arrives fresh from the easel. The “Illuminated Expression,” exhibition marks a bold new direction for Sievers – blending abstraction with the impressionist landscapes he’s known for.
Toh-Atin Gallery will feature weavings and silver and turquoise jewelry. (Courtesy)
Toh-Atin Gallery, 145 W. Ninth St.
Refreshments and appetizers will be served, 4:30-7 p.m.
Toh-Atin Gallery will feature the spectacular silver and turquoise jewelry of Navajo silversmith Jeanette Dale, along with Navajo Weavings by Ian Victorino, and Master Weavers, Bernyce Largo and Alice Begay. Live music will be provided by local favorites, Jeff Haspel, Jason Thies and Mike Mixter.
Tom Calenberg is part of “Constructs & Extracts” at Durango Creative District. (Courtesy)
Durango Creative District, 1135 Main Ave.
“Constructs & Extracts” featuring work by Tom Calenberg and Maureen May. Opening reception 5-8 p.m. Exhibition dates: Through Sept. 26. Artist Talks: Calenberg: 1 p.m. Sept. 12, May: 1 p.m. Sept. 19.
“Constructs & Extracts,” features mixed-media sculptural work by Tom Calenberg and solar print etchings by May.
Calenberg pulls from broad art historical references and his own alchemy to produce sculptural objects “rooted in mythic tales, literary experiences and personal family history.” Calenberg uses painting, photography, metal, paper, fiber, wood, cloth and found objects to create otherworldly sculptures, constructing a personal iconography with specific storytelling, while allowing viewers to ponder their other-worldly presence.
May distills “images, sounds, tastes, conversations, emotions and experiences” into intuitive abstractions of moments and memories through stunning and witty solar print abstractions. Together, the artists construct and extract their own realities into fantastic storytelling.
Maureen May will show her latest work at Durango Creative District Gallery. (Courtesy)
Also be sure to check out Azul Gallery (781 Main Ave.), Diane West Jewelry & Art (820 Main Ave.) and Wildshots Photography by Claude Steelman (133 E. Eighth St.).