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Fine Arts in Durango
And the Four Corners
You wouldn't think a smaller town like Durango would be a mecca of fine arts, but it is. Where we lived in Minnesota, in the Twin Cities, the arts were highly regarded, but I didn't realize just how important they were to the Durango area until we moved out.Now, everywhere I go I find more Colorado art, from galleries to shows to Music in the Mountains. And dance is so popular, there's even a wonderful sculpture of a dancer up on Second Avenue. Let's check out a few of the venues, shall we?
Colorado Music
From early in school onwards, there are music opportunities all over the area. Durango itself boasts a great group called Durango Performing Arts, where kids from kindergarten on do song and dance routines, and shortened versions of musical plays. Durango High School is well known for it's musical theater every fall. And I've seen Bayfield High School doing a superb job, too, with a musical play each spring. And let's not forget Fort Lewis College, whose music department has had some excellent teachers and whose bands and choirs are a joy to hear perform. Downtown, there's often a melodrama or other play during the summer months, to entertain and delight the tourists. And Durango Arts Center hosts a wide range of plays, music and dance performances.
There's even a bagpipe band that plays many local and more distant events. My brother and his wife are a part of this. There's nothing more liable to raise goosebumps on me than a good bagpipe rendition of Amazing Grace.Next time you're in town, check some of these fine arts events out. And I'll try to get all these great performers to give me a heads up to put their entertainment on an events calendar, right here on the website.
Art in Colorado
Art has been in the southwest Colorado area for centuries. The Anasazi created pottery, jewelry and cliff art that they left behind when they abandoned the area due to drought, or other hostile forces. Today, we have lots of Native American art work to see in galleries, and sometimes in murals on building walls. From jewelry to sculpture to paintings and weaving, we're lucky to have such a rich diversity of fine arts right here.
Durango has a number of Colorado art galleries, featuring local artists and their work. The surrounding towns often have their own galleries, featuring groups of local artisans who've banded together to show their work.For instance, tiny Ignacio has its own artists' co-op at Dancing Spirit Gallery, right on their main road in town. It's definitely worth the side trip to see this collection of artwork. Next time you're in town, I recommend checking out some of
these local shops and bringing home a one-of-a-kind Durango souvenir. And don't forget if you have a hankering to join these creative types that you have some nice places to get art supplies in Colorado, too. From beads and wire for jewelry, to paints, brushes, drawing supplies and crafts, you're all set. When your piece is done, if it needs framing, I know of a VERY reasonable framing shop that does an excellent job. Come be creative with fine arts along with us in southwest Colorado!
Colorado Dance
I haven't taken a count of the dance studios and additional venues for dance and music, but I do know the ones I've met have been very welcoming to all their students. And the kids have a blast! Monday evenings in the summer, Durango Performing Arts has three groups that perform song and dance routines at 6:00 pm in the sitting area outside Coldstone Creamery at College and
Main Avenue. If you happen to be in town for one of these evenings, don't miss it!
Then there are the traditional tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop and breakdance classes (you should see those youngest students dance!), but we also have teachers who know swing, salsa, Lindy Hop, ballroom and more. Add to that the belly dancing, highland dancing, and occasional treats like African dance classes, and you have pretty much all the dance you could ever want to learn or watch.So what are you waiting for? Get in the rhythm and dance out your heart in Durango Colorado. Or paint, or sculpt. Or sing and play. Come have fun with fine arts in the Four Corners. See you at the show!
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