Before they leave
The graduating seniors at Fort Lewis College are about to move on to the next phases in their lives, but before they do, check out their art this weekend at the Graduating Senior Art & Design Majors Exhibition.
Works by 32 students will be hanging from Friday until May 1 in the Art and Exit galleries at FLC. From designing to jurying, the seniors have been involved in every aspect of the show, said Andrea Martens, visiting instructor of art and interim gallery director at FLC.
You won’t get bored with the variety of work, which includes paintings, prints, mixed-media work, fabric pieces and digital works.
“We always have a great turnout for this opening. It’s sad to see them moving on, but we’re so happy to see them moving on to their careers beyond school,” Martens said. The opening reception is from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday.
Durango gets its grass on
The banjo is back. The Durango Bluegrass Meltown truly is a melting pot of great musicians, from here and afar. It’s all about people getting together to celebrate a unique style of music. A total of 27 bluegrass bands will be playing Friday, Saturday and Sunday at venues around town.
Some local acts may be familiar to you, like Running Out of Road, Badly Bent, Six Dollar String Band and Liver Down the River. Others are coming into town with long résumés, including Grammy-award-winning producer Shawn Camp and Haywood, North Carolina’s Balsam Range, which won 2014 entertainer and vocal group of the year from the International Bluegrass Music Association.
The Meltdown is one reason Mark Epstein of Badly Bent moved to Durango in 2001. “For me, the Meltdown is all about camaraderie. It’s about the great jamming. It’s about seeing all of friends and family together,” he said.
For more information, visit www.durangomeltdown.com.
She’s big in Europe
Aino Kajaniemi’s work is coming to Durango from Finland to show her unique tapestry and fiber art at Studio &. Highly regarded in her home country and the rest of Europe, she was named Textile Artist of the Year in 2010. And, she has connections to Southwest Colorado.
Minna Jain, an artist at Studio &, is the daughter of Anita Jain, an art curator from Minneapolis. Kajaniemi exhibited her work in the Twin Cities, and Anita, who is from Helsinki, Finland, thought her show also would do well in Durango.
“She’s just plain fantastic. You have to come take a look,” Anita Jain said.
An opening reception will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Studio &, 1027 Main Ave. The show will be up only through Monday. There will be an artist talk held with Kajaniemi, who will be Skyped in from Finland, and Anita Jain at 11 a.m. Saturday.
From Dublin to Durango
Durango is lucky to have such a diverse music scene. Bluegrass is everywhere this weekend. but on Friday at 7 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the St. Mark’s Recital Series will continue with Gemma Kavanagh (soprano), Mike Hesse (trumpet) and C. Scott Hagler (piano).
They’ll perform the greatest hits from the first nine years of the Recital Series. Kavanagh, who was born in Dublin, is no stranger to the series – this will be her 10th. She began her career with the Dublin Opera and has performed in medieval castles in Ireland.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students and children and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/847853 or by calling (800) 838-3006. Patrons are invited to mingle with the artists at a reception after the concert.
mhayden@durangoherald.com
