What is the impact of your holiday gift? What is the value of giving a beautiful memory or a masterfully crafted object?
The most direct ways we show what we value are through the ways we spend our limited time and hard-earned money. The holidays are about the spirit of giving and having a memorable shared experience with loved ones. We are very fortunate to live in a place filled with talent, creativity and a local focus. Our town offers no short supply of these values. Just at the Durango Arts Center alone there will be 44 local artisans featured the in the gallery and over 50 children from the community taking part in a theatrical version of “Elf the Musical Jr.”
Laugh with your loved ones and reconnect with the holiday spirit by going to see one of the local theater events in town this December. You can choose from classics like “A Christmas Carol,” “The Nutcracker” and a new theatrical version of the beloved film, “Elf.” (And these are just to name a few!)
In DAC’s holiday production of “Elf the Musical Jr.,” Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list, and his stepbrother doesn’t even believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Once you are filled with holiday joy, spread your holiday gift shopping cheer further through the community by purchasing a quality gift crafted by a local artisan, keeping your dollars here in Durango and our community beautifully creative.
Downtown Durango is a cornucopia of locally sourced gift ideas. For example, a signature community event each year is DAC’s Winter Solstice Invitational Artisans’ Market. Come see the Barbara Conrad Gallery transformed into a dynamic artist co-op-style outlet, featuring 44 regional artists selected for their high-quality offerings of original and unique fine arts and crafts. Find the perfect one-of-a-kind holiday gift in this year’s market filled with local ceramics, jewelry, metal, textiles, glass, wood, note cards, ornaments, calendars, photography, paintings and drawings.
As you plan this year’s holiday season, remember to keep it genuine and community-driven. Remember in the weeks ahead that the arts are a way to break from the hustle and bustle of the season. DAC will be filled with local elves in the gallery and on stage!
Peter Hay is the Exhibits director at the Durango Arts Center.
If you go
What:
Winter Solstice Invitational Artisans’ Market.
When:
Opens 10 a.m. Nov. 25, closes at 5 p.m. Dec. 23. Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sundays.
Where:
Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
HHH
What:
“Elf The Musical, Jr.” Book by Thomas Mechan and Bob Martin; music by Matthew Sklar; lyrics by Chad Beguelin; based on the New Line Cinema film written by David Berenbaum.
When:
7 p.m. Dec. 9-10 and 16-17; 1 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17.
Where:
Durango Arts Center, 802 East Second Ave.
Tickets:
$12 DAC members and ages 12 and younger / $15 general. Purchase tickets at www.durangoarts.org or call 259-2606.
