PUEBLO, Colo.—April 16, 2013—The Pueblo Creative Corridor’s First Friday Art Walk kicks off the summer season early with Boating, Biking and Walking Tour Day at 5 p.m. on May 3. This day also marks the 13th Annual Riverwalk Boat Opening at the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo (HARP), which boasts a variety of entertainment, refreshments and celebratory boat ride specials. In addition to the Boat Opening, visitors can bike or walk their way around the Corridor Loop. Many galleries, cafes and shops will be exhibiting newly hung shows, serving refreshments and hosting live music and entertainment. All activities associated with Pueblo’s First Friday Art Walk are free.

On First Friday Art Walk, visitors can create their own free walking tour of a variety of locations by starting at one gallery, picking up a Creative Corridor Explorer’s Guide, and traveling on to another destination after mingling with the artists. Pueblo’s First Friday Art Walk offers visitors more than paintings, photography, fiber arts, sculpture, glass and pottery. Many galleries and shops have special demonstrations of “live art activities.”

The Guide is available in all galleries and participating businesses and includes a plan of activities and a map. More information can be found by visiting www.PuebloPAG.org or follow on www.facebook.com/PuebloPAG. For information on the Pueblo Creative Corridor, call 855-543-2430 or find at www.facebook.com/PuebloCreativeCorridor. For more information on HARP, visit www.puebloharp.com.

Mesa Junction Area:

Cup & Bowl Studio & Gallery, 116 Midway Ave. “School Days” with featured student artists Lori Gregory, Georgia Micchied and Jennifer Rivas . ForeCastle Rum Tasting. Raku firing.

Cycle of Life, 111 E. Abriendo Ave., will be displaying paintings, drawing, and artistic woodcraft by Stevo, Nancy Saathoff, John O., Alberto P., Mike S., Anthony V. and Larry V. In addition, there will be “objects de art” made from bike parts and other scraps and “'yarn bombed” bikes and murals.

Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. “Reclamation: Photographic Works of Kellie Cason O’Connor.”

Union Avenue Historic District:

Books Again, 622 S. Union Ave., Start First Friday with a free paperback novel of your choice between
4 and 8 p.m. with any purchase.

Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, HARP Channel: 101 S. Union Ave., celebrates 13th Annual Boat Opening featuring Pueblo class rock band Gypsy Groove, mascot Bandit the Beaver, food specials and complimentary drinks from Pepsi and Budweiser.

Steel City Art Works Gallery, 216 S. Union Ave., hosting Annual Photography Show, with artists from all over Southern Colorado. Bryan Kelsen, staff photographer for The Pueblo Chieftain, is this year’s juror. Featured artists are Shirley Knight, Sharon Orman and Kathy Chavez.

Also performing on Union Avenue and C St.: Premiere Ballet, Wendy Keller and Dream Dancers.

Downtown Area/Main Street:

Kadoya Gallery, 119 Central Plaza. Abstract Luminance (Upper Gallery); Digital Paintings by Nicki Hart; Southern Colorado Watercolor Society (Lower Gallery); Signature Show. Also, the guardian of Central Plaza, Lady Tutt, by artist Mike Strescino, is now available for viewing. She is illuminated on the second floor of the Gallery in her receiving parlor and visible through the windows from the Plaza and as far as 1st Street. Also performing at Central Plaza is Ado Hernandez.

SAGE Art Academy, 203 N. Main St., Opening Reception for Student Art Show. ARTtable for all to get creative.

Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, Hoag Gallery, 201 N. Santa Fe Ave. “Circle of Light Photo Project.”

The sponsors for the 2013 First Friday Art Walk activities are Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority, Global Spectrum, Pueblo Community Garden, Kadoya Gallery, Legacy Bank, Colorado Creative Industries and National Endowment for the Arts.

The Pueblo Performing Arts Guild promotes the production, enjoyment and collaboration of the arts for the purposes of economic development and an enriched quality of life in Pueblo.

PUEBLO, Colo.—April 1, 2013—Six students have received scholarships to attend all the activities and seminars at the state’s annual Creative Industries Summit in Pueblo, April 11 to 12. They will also share their experiences of the Summit on April 17 at the Rawlings Library.

Says Susan Fries, executive director, Pueblo Performing Arts Guild (PPAG), “Having such a collaborative arts event open to our local high school students is such a great opportunity to reward their passion for the arts and the thoughtful essays they provided.”

Adds Bonnie Norton, fine arts and gifted and talented specialist, Pueblo City Schools, "The opportunity for our outstanding high school fine arts students to learn from and interact with professional artists and musicians from across the state is invaluable."

Students were asked to write an essay on their vision of art in their lives. Winners of the scholarships are:

Alexis Stalcar, Centennial High School
Alisa Proffer, Pueblo County High School

Cayla Peaslee, Central High School
Samantha Boies, South High School

Sarah Wood, East High School

Scarlett Latka, Pueblo West High School

 

The students will highlight their experiences on April 17, in an “After Hours with the Artists,” 5:30 p.m., at the Info Zone News Museum at the Rawlings Library. The first public screening of the Pueblo Art Video – a new video on the arts in the Pueblo Creative Corridor – will coincide with this event.

The scholarships were sponsored by Alpha Mu Delta, Security Service Investment Group and PPAG.

PPAG promotes the production, enjoyment and collaboration of the arts for the purposes of economic development and an enriched quality of life in Pueblo. For more information, visit www.PuebloPAG.org.

PUEBLO, Colo.—March 27, 2013—The Pueblo Creative Corridor will host a 2nd Thursday Art Crawl on Thursday, April 11, 5 to 8 p.m., to celebrate and thank the community of Pueblo for its help in the city’s receipt of the Governor’s Arts Award. This event coincides with the Creative Industries Summit – more than 350 artists and creative arts businesses will be visiting Pueblo to learn from the success of its Creative Corridor.

Pueblo will receive the award on April 12. Aaron Kennedy, founder of Noodles & Company, and the current Chief Marketing Officer for the State of Colorado, will be representing Gov. Hickenlooper and distributing awards at the Awards ceremony. The Haunted Windchimes will perform and the new Pueblo Creative Corridor video will be unveiled. For those interested in signing up for the Summit, visit http://www.regonline.com/ccisummit.

“Colorado creatives work tirelessly to support, promote and grow Colorado as a premier creative hub,” says Christy Costello, project coordinator, Colorado Creative Industries. “The annual Creative Industries Summit celebrates these efforts, perpetuating creative engagement and furthering economic progress through the synergies of professional development, creative networking and community building."

During 2nd Thursday Art Crawl, galleries will host special activities. The Creative Corridor is focused around the three historic city centers of Pueblo – Downtown Main Street, Union Avenue Historic District and the Mesa Junction – with many events connected to each other for one Creative Corridor party. Visitors can create their own free walking tour of a variety of locations by starting at one gallery and traveling on to another destination after mingling with the artists. Pueblo’s Creative Corridor Explorer’s Guide is available in all galleries and participating businesses, and there will be Newsies (courtesy of Steel City Theatre Company) on the streets to inform everyone of the night’s activities. The Guide includes a plan of activities and a map.

 

“The Art Crawl is, in essence, a party for the community,” says Susan Fries, executive director, Pueblo Performing Arts Guild (PPAG). “Everyone in Pueblo has worked enthusiastically to boost art activities, whether galleries, local shops and other businesses. In addition, volunteers have worked tirelessly, donating their time to set up many events, all with a common goal of making the Creative Corridor a bona fide arts district. And we’re proud of that fact.”

Mesa Junction

 

Broadway Cup ‘n Cork, 100 Broadway Ave., music in the front parking lot from Deep Shelter, Desert Moon, The Monsters of Analog and the Blue Pepper Trio. Featured artist is Rayann Orr. Also, enjoy specialty drinks or food, like their famous Italian Slopper.

Cup & Bowl Ceramic Art Studio and Gallery, 116 Midway Ave., “Yard Art,” with featured artists Maureen Keenan-Mason and the Crazy Ladies. Live demos and Raku firings.

 

Cycle of Life, 111 E. Abriendo Ave., hosting artwork by Stevo; Kandie Colors (edible candy-based paints) paintings and kits for the do-it-yourselfer by Nancy Saathoff; landscapes by Mike "Shrek" Sharek; paintings by Anthony Vargas; and drawings by John O., along with eclectic art pieces constructed from scraps by Cycle of Life staff.

Sundance Cycles, 113 E. Abriendo Ave., will host art from Gabe Pacheco and Brian Spellman and music from Tyler.

The Pueblo City County Library Rawlings, 100 E. Abriendo Ave. Poetry reading by Juliana Aragon Fatula and Juan Morales, local poets, who will speak to the identities of Chicana and Latino. Info Zone News Museum will host an opening reception for “Reclamation: Photographic Works of Kellie Cason O’Connor.” Also, Ballet Folklorico will perform outside the Library.

There will be a variety of Pop-up Galleries around the district, featuring local artists and Pueblo Community College art students at the Rawlings Library. One in particular, The Mesa Junction Gallery, 121 Abriendo Bellezza Design Boutique, will host “Past. Present. Future of the Junction on the Hill.” Classical guitarist Ben Johnson will provide the music. The “present” will be: “Clad in Color: the Creative Corridor,” with photography, prints and notecards by Linda Cates. “Future” images provided by artist Mark Monack.

Also participating: Taffy’s, Tony and Joes and Open Yoga Studio. Watch for Central High School Art Club students creating art using sidewalk chalk.

Union Avenue Historic District

 

Steel City Art Works, 216 S. Union Ave., ceramicist Tracy Jensen; photographer Louisa Hansen; jeweler Sandy Lasher; live music with band Fireweed.

 

Also, local performers, including CSU-Pueblo String Quartet (5 to 6 p.m.), Dream Dancers (5 to 7 p.m.) and L.C. Houston (8 to 9 p.m.), will entertain at Union Avenue and C Street. Other participants: Artcorps, Turf Exchange Visual Art Center, John Deaux Art Gallery, Prairie Rose Olde Tyme Photography, Books Again and Union Toy Stop.

Downtown Area/Main Street

 

El Pueblo History Museum, 301 N. Union Ave., will host art demonstrations from members of the Pride City Quilt Guild and the Handweavers Guild of Pueblo, in conjunction with the Pride City Quilt Show and its exhibition on the “Sisters of Loretto: 200 Years Working for Peace, Acting for Justice.”

Kadoya Gallery, 115 Central Plaza, hosting “Bent’s Old Fort: A View into the Past” photography show by Robert Gaines. Also, Gaines’ Renz Prison series.

SAGE Art Academy, 203 N. Main St., reception of "Surfacing,” landscapes by Kim Faiella-Furrh. Breckenridge Distillery Tasting. Live music. 

Sangre de Cristo Arts Center, 201 N. Santa Fe Ave. “Circle of Light Photo

Project,” “Living in Fiber Art by Klaus Anselm,” and “Under Western Skies: Works from the King Collection.” Performing at the Arts Center from 7:30 to 9 p.m. will be Circle Square Circus.

 

Solar Roast Coffee, 226 N. Main St., featuring Colorado Acoustic Rock: Andrew Wynne.

 

At 5 to 8 p.m., enjoy performer Adrien Hernandez on Main Street. Also participating in the night’s festivities: Bingo Burger, 5th & Main Espresso Bar and Art Gallery, Franco’s Restaurant and Legacy Bank.

In addition, look for SAGE Art Academy and CSU-Pueblo student artists during the “Urban Plein Air” event, specifically near El Pueblo History Museum and around SAGE Art Academy. There will also be a Moving Wall project on the "Blue Sky" building across form SAGE Art Academy and the alley wall by Kadoya Gallery.

There will be variety of transportation options during 2nd Thursday Art Crawl, from 5 to 8 p.m., such as: G & F Carriage Rides, available on Union Avenue, $5 per person; Riverwalk Boat Taxi, which is a free shuttle for the public, leaving every 10 minutes between Gateway Plaza and Union Avenue with entertainment provided by the Steel City Players.

 

Also, introducing the Van Go Art Shuttle, which is a free shuttle that runs around the Creative Corridor loop and is available every 10 minutes. The Pueblo Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a step-on, step-off shuttle with 10 stops along a loop route of the one mile stretch of the Creative Corridor. Young actors playing the part of Newsies will be available at each stop to provide information about activities in the vicinity. Also, interpretive guides on the shuttles will introduce the many features and sites of the Creative Corridor.

 

Adds Fries, “There are myraid transportation options for all. Or, you can explore the Creative Corridor at a personal pace on foot, hop on and off the shuttle, catch the boat taxi and/or ride the carriage – just don’t forget the art, food and drinks. Being creative is what it’s all about.”

More information can be found by visiting www.PuebloPAG.org or follow on www.facebook.com/PuebloPAG. For information on the Pueblo Creative Corridor, call 855-543-2430 or find at www.facebook.com/PuebloCreativeCorridor.

 

The sponsors for the 2013 2nd Thursday Art Crawl are Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado Tourism, Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce, National Endowment for the Arts, Pueblo Creative Corridor and Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority.

PPAG promotes the production, enjoyment and collaboration of the arts for the purposes of economic development and an enriched quality of life in Pueblo.

 

PUEBLO, Colo.—March 25, 2013—The Pueblo Creative Corridor announces auditions on Saturday, April 20, for artists interested in participating in this summer’s Street Beat Arts Festivities. Auditions will be held from 12 to 4 p.m. at the Riverwalk, Security Service Investment Group Flood Wall. Performers and visual artists of all types are needed: classical, jazz, country, bluegrass, pop, musicians and bands, dancers, actors, comedians, jugglers, magicians, painters, caricature drawers, face painters, weavers, cowboy poets – you name it, come audition!

Selected artists will be paid during scheduled times (and will need a performance license). Performers submitting auditions forms before April 8 will be guaranteed an audition spot. Walk-in auditions may be available only if time allows. Last year, 17 acts auditioned and 10 performers were selected and scheduled for more than 158 total hours of performances.

The Street Beats Arts Festivities will take place all summer long in the Creative Corridor, June to September. Street performances will be scheduled through the weekdays and weekends to transform the Creative Corridor’s three districts – Mesa Junction, Union Avenue Historic and Main Street – into an outdoor performing and visual arts scene, as in past years.

For more information about auditions, visit www.PuebloPAG.org and link to “auditions” for an audition form and to schedule an audition time.

Street Beat Arts Festivities is sponsored by the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority, Pueblo Creative Corridor, Legacy Bank, K. R. Swerdfeger Construction, Pueblo Bank and Trust, All Star Exteriors and R. Peter Sonntag DDS.

 

The Pueblo Performing Arts Guild promotes the production, enjoyment and collaboration of the arts for the purposes of economic development and an enriched quality of life in Pueblo.