Yesterday, I was sitting outside the Durango Arts Center on a bench enjoying my lunch when a large family walked by. A little boy being dragged along by one hand pointed with the other into our gallery and loudly said to his parents, “That’s my most favoritest place in the whole world!” I had to smile. Clearly, this young man has taste. I’m awfully proud that he has discovered what I hope that all the visitors find out: That the DAC is truly a community resource, where people of all ages and abilities can find inspiration, joy, and meaningful connections to the creative process in art and theater.
It was nearly 20 years ago that I visited Durango for the first time with my husband. We were looking to move to Colorado from my home state of Michigan, and my father in law who was from Ouray suggested that we drive his old Jeep over the pass and check it out. People here were exceptionally nice to us, and Durango checked all the boxes for a perfect fit: It had a vibrant downtown, a college, hospital, beautiful outdoor spaces and more restaurants per capita than San Francisco. It was an easy sell.
Since then, I’ve worked mainly downtown and watched every season come and go, with a careful eye for people who are visiting. It’s interesting how tourists examine Durango for the first time. Many people come to ride the historic train, others come to mountain bike, but I’ve been told that one in four people stick around the downtown area to experience the arts and culture. Durango has lovely galleries and shops, and bopping up and down Main and East Second avenues and the adjacent side streets can be peppered with ice cream stops, people watching, a visit to the D&SNG Museum and the Durango Arts Center gallery. Almost every weekend night there is a live performance or film at the DAC community theater.
If you’re visiting this weekend, beat the heat and come on by for an evening show or Sunday matinee of a fun-for-all-ages hilarious live performance of “The Complete History of America, (abridged).” It’s an entertaining collapsed timeline of the history of the U.S., delivered with uproarious wit and squirt guns, (wear your rain gear, you might get wet!) and will leave you smiling. You can also visit the community art exhibit and take home an affordable piece of one-of-a-kind work. Remember the saying: Support live artists ... the dead ones don’t need the money!
If you come to Durango to visit, take home unique memories of time well spent with loved ones. It just might become your most favoritest place in the whole world, too.
- “The Complete History of America (abridged),” 600 years of history hilariously presented in 6000 seconds: 7:30 p.m. July 21-22; 2 p.m. July 23. Tickets $20/$10.
- “SCRIPTprov,” award-winning improv comedy show: 7 p.m. July 28-29. Tickets $20.
- “Bye Bye Birdie,” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18-19, 25-26 and Sept. 1-2; 2 p.m. Aug. 20, 27 and Sept. 3. Tickets $25/$15.
- Member’s Art Exhibit in Barbara Conrad Gallery: Free.
- Call to Artists for the “That’s So Durango!” art exhibit in August, submit online.
- Shop the Artisan’s Market: Noon-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.
- Adult and youth art and theater classes offered year round, see website for catalog and registration.
- Save the date! 29th Annual Durango Autumn Arts Festival: Sept. 16-17. Enjoy shopping outdoors from 100 juried artists from across the country, along East Second Avenue.
Email info@durangoarts.org Buy tickets, donate, become a member, register for classes, and keep in touch at DurangoArts.org.
Brenda Macon has been executive director of Durango Arts Center since 2018.
