Guerilla.

The word conjures images of a dangerous underdog toppling a mighty foe who dared to underestimate its resolve. It worked for the Minutemen in 1776 against King George and again a couple hundred years later for the Viet Cong against King Dick.

The military parallels were only an outside thought when McCarson Jones held the first “Deliciously Weird" guerilla art show in 2008, but this year's crop of outré artists are taking aim at an enemy as seemingly invincible and evil as any of history's most fearsome tyrants - cancer.

To be clear, “Deliciously Weird" is first and foremost an outlet for local artists, known and unknown, to show their stuff in public and maybe even make a few bucks: Jones charges only a nominal entry fee to cover the night's rent and entertainment and allows the artists to keep 100 percent of what sells.

But at each of the previous shows, including last fall's “Ferocious Feelings" spinoff, she's donated the entire take from admission to a local charity.

For Saturday's show, charity begins and ends much closer to home. Judi Jackson, a longtime Durango resident and the mother of Jones' good friend Kyla Jenkinson, is in Denver battling a rare form of lymphoma.

Locals may know Jackson from her years teaching fifth-graders in Ignacio or as an employee at Bank of the San Juans. The proceeds for Saturday's door - a $5 donation is suggested but more will be accepted (wink, wink) - will be given to Jackson's family to offset some of the astronomical costs of her medical trials.

“There are so many great organizations that are doing great things, but when you have the chance to help someone you love so much - directly …" Jones said, leaving the sentence unfinished.

The guerilla shows have grown in size each time, and the 2010 version of “Deliciously Weird" filled up with works from more than 35 artists weeks before the deadline for submissions. With live DJs (Fort Lewis College volunteers David Quiroz and Ashlee Robison, this time), food (from May Palace) and some of the most progressive and creative minds in town under one roof, “Deliciously Weird" is bona fide nightlife on Main Avenue.

“Carson's one-night art parties have exploded opportunity and optimism for artists, collectors and lovers of culture in Durango," said Kristen Smith, one of Jones' original guerillas. “She has the unique ability to find beautiful spaces to showcase local art and the music of local DJs. I have a feeling that these shows are going to become even more popular, must-be-at events."

Exactly what “Deliciously Weird" will look like this time around will remain a closely guarded secret until show time Saturday afternoon.

Even for those comfortable with the avant-garde, this show can defy definition. Some works can hang on walls, others can stand alone and some can fit in a small box.

Expect electronic media, traditional craft work and anything in between.

“Ah, Carson!" wrote artist Amy Vaclav-Felker, who has two submissions in Saturday's show, in an e-mail.

“I am so glad that she is the Captain - no Admiral - of the ship that navigates the Durango art undercurrents. She is like the Pirate Queen that goes from dock to dock, rounding all us crazies up and then we get to set sail into the artistic unknown … for dare I say … adventure! She is the coolest … and Durango is the best place ever, because of Carson."

High praise, indeed, but there are few shows in the region, or anywhere else, like Jones'.

Not only does she not share in the sales profits with the artists, but after paying the bills and donating the rest, she walks away without a dime. This is truly art for art's sake, but don't tell that to Jenkinson or her family.

“It's not a fun time for us, but I grew up here, and you just take for granted sometimes being from a small community because when things like this happen and you experience the effects of knowing so many people from different walks of life and they all pull together - it's hard to talk about," Jenkinson said.

ted@durangoherald.com