Christi sits down with Grand Valley artists, Erin Stephens-Marner and Ami Purser, to discuss their art, making a living as an artist, and the growing art scene in Western Colorado!
You can find both of them on Instagram at @esmpotteryfarm and @amipurser
If you like to watch your podcasts, be sure to head over to our YouTube page to see this and all our podcasts! https://www.youtube.com/christireecegroup
Christi sits down with Grand Valley artists, Erin Stephens-Marner and Ami Purser, to discuss their art, making a living as an artist, and the growing art scene in Western Colorado!
You can find both of them on Instagram at @esmpotteryfarm and @amipurser
If you like to watch your podcasts, be sure to head over to our YouTube page to see this and all our podcasts! https://www.youtube.com/christireecegroup
The Full Circle podcast, compelling interviews and incredible tales from Colorado's Western Slope, from the mountains to the desert. Christie Reese and her team here from the Movers Shakers, and characters of the Grand Valley and surrounding mountain towns that make the Western slope the place we all love. You'll learn, you'll laugh, you'll love with the full circle. Hi everyone, and welcome back to the Full Circle podcast. I'm your host Christie Reese, and I'm so excited today to have two of my favorite local artists from the Grand Valley, miss Amy Perr, Mrs. Amy Perr, and Mrs. Aaron Stevens. Marner, welcome.
Speaker 2:Hello. Thank you. Hi,
Speaker 3:You, so much good to be
Speaker 1:Here. I am such a fan of both of your work, and I was just really excited to think about hosting you all and talking about the art scene in the Grand Valley. What's going on now, what you're seeing, how it's improving, what we can still do to make it even better, because I think we have some room for growth there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, there is a lot happening though. Yeah. Um, would you like to talk about that first?
Speaker 2:Well, you just had a show.
Speaker 3:I did. I do. So
Speaker 2:You should, you should talk about, you should talk about it. First one. I,
Speaker 1:Okay. So before you talk about your show, talk a little bit about your background. I wanna know, um, uh, because you're both, you both grew up in Grand Junction. Yes. Uh, I wanna know a little bit about your history and then your art media.
Speaker 3:Okay. Well, yes. I did grow up in Grand Junction, um, with an artist's dad. So I, I guess I've been around art my whole life. And, um, it's in me. I love it. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> and, uh, did get a BFA right here at CM U and that's where I met Erin.
Speaker 2:Yeah. We were in, we were in class together. Yeah. We were, were, which I can't remember which class.<laugh>.<laugh>, but we were in class together.
Speaker 3:Well, I was over in the two-dimensional, um, department, but sometimes I would come over to the 3D side where you were at. Like sometimes
Speaker 2:Would come over to the duty. Every now and again,
Speaker 3:We were destined to be friends. Yeah. So, um, yeah, I got my education here and, um, have done lots of, uh, I guess freelance type work, commission work over the years mm-hmm.<affirmative>, but also taught for 15 years, um, kids and grownups of all ages, starting from two, I think my oldest student was like 88 years old. Wow. And, um, I've done a little bit of adjunct work at the college too, and, um, just kind of floated around. But over the past, um, two or three years, I've really just focused on my artwork. That's what I set out to do originally. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, um, had a couple kids, started another business and got a little sidetracked. Yeah. So, um, now that's where I'm at and it's been great, um, showing around, uh, Colorado right now at this point, um, in town and a little bit out of town. And, um, yeah.
Speaker 1:So will you tell us a little bit about the media that you like to work with?
Speaker 3:Oh, sure. Um, I've dabbled in everything, but right now what I seem to be, um, enjoying the most is, uh, working on paper or, um, wood or canvas. And I use a lot of acrylic paints, but kind of a mixed media technique. I sometimes use some wax. I like using graphite. I like to just kind of mix it up and get in there with my hands almost, um, a sculptural type process. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, even though it's painting. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>,
Speaker 1:It's really beautiful. We have a piece here Thanks. Right here in the office, and we're gonna show you some pictures of that and, and other pictures of Amy's work. So excited about that. Thank
Speaker 3:You,
Speaker 1:<laugh>. All right, Aaron, your turn.<laugh>, tell us a little bit about yourself and, and your artwork.
Speaker 2:Well, I also grew up in the Grand Valley, um, and grew up in a art Yeah. Family as well. My grandfather didn't grow up here in the valley, but grew up in Glenwood Springs and, uh, went away to be a artist in Paris and was part of the w p a arts movement back in the forties. Um, that's so cool. But came back, he was actually the head of the Columbia University Art Department and brought back a bunch of people to Redstone and then just grew up immersed sort of in that, in that art world, which I think when you, I mean, you touched on this, but when you're steeped in art, like you can try to run from it.<laugh>.
Speaker 4:Yes. I had a half<laugh>. I
Speaker 2:Definitely tried to run from it that, uh, wound up back there and, you know, left the valley, but came back to mm-hmm.<affirmative> to work and raise a family here. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> and teach. That's what I originally came back for, but,
Speaker 1:And pottery is, is what you work with mostly
Speaker 2:Pottery and printmaking. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I still do a lot of printmaking. Okay. Um, but sort of the marriage of those two. And that's why I asked. I wasn't sure whether you were in printmaking with me, but, oh,
Speaker 3:I did take that class.
Speaker 4:Yeah. I think we did<laugh>. That was it.<laugh>.
Speaker 2:But I mean, I love, I love printmaking and I wanted to marry those, those two mm-hmm.<affirmative> mediums. And I've tried, and I do a little bit of that in almost every kiln load. I do some printmaking on clay,
Speaker 1:So. Cool. And we have very cool, so we have Amy's art on the wall here, and then we have, um, these lovely mugs,<laugh> that Erin made, and also my earrings were made by Erin. And, um, love going to your shows, um, holiday shows and things like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Thank you. Yep. All great. You're a great supporter of the arts. You are. Well,
Speaker 1:You are. Keep bringing it,<laugh>. Keep bringing it. So let's go back to your show. Amy, tell us about the show that you have opened and how long it runs and what people can see there.
Speaker 3:Okay. Well, this show is out in a new space called Orbit Art Space, and it's in Fruit of Colorado. It's a really nice, kind of eclectic space. It's, it's fairly new, like I said, I think it's been open maybe about a year. And, um, Garrett Day is the owner. He's already brought in so many different kinds of art and people that maybe he didn't know about, but probably live here. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, because a lot of artists in Grand Junction kind of have to be coaxed out. I've noticed<laugh>, but there is some real talent here, Uhhuh<affirmative>. And, um, it's been really, really fun to just kind of see what he's been doing. Um, he's also got some kind of gift items. I do believe you've got some things also there for
Speaker 2:Sale. Yeah. And you're right, he does coax out the artists in the Valley because there is an immense amount of talent here. But he absolutely, well, he came to me and said, I want you in the gallery. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, Uhhuh<affirmative>. He was one of, and I said,
Speaker 1:How long's he been open there?
Speaker 3:I think it's been about a year. I, okay. I I might be wrong on that, but it hasn't been real long. But he has also done some pretty interesting shows. Like, um, he's had some performance type things happening there. Nice. Some music and different, um, I think some film projections stuff that I didn't see unfortunately, but I heard it was really amazing. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So, um, my show right now, uh, runs throughout a, throughout May, it just opened up. And a titled past presence kind of deals a lot with, um, time and just things that I'm thinking about right now. And it's all painting, it's all two-dimensional work. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>,
Speaker 1:But the, the one large horizontal piece that had the birds and the flowers mm-hmm.<affirmative>, tell us a little bit about that process. It was really unique.
Speaker 3:Oh, yes. Thank you. Um, that's a little bit different than the other pieces in the show, and it's bigger. Um, that piece was originally done to, um, go to the Aspen City Hall. They have a new building that they constructed a couple of years ago, and, um, they brought in 10 different artists to display work temporarily for about, um, I think it was a year and a half. And so my piece was one of those, and I was extra amazing,
Speaker 1:Proud
Speaker 3:Because I was the only one that wasn't from the Roaring Fork Valley. Uhhuh<affirmative>. So they, they brought in a foreigner<laugh>
Speaker 2:<laugh>,
Speaker 3:Which felt really good coming from the West Slope<laugh>. Yeah. And, um, that piece has four panels all put together in a horizontal format, and it has a lot of kind of etched in, kind of goes back to printmaking. I love, um, back when I used to do that, just the etching into the plate that you print with mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I like the plate itself just as much as I like the print oftentimes. Yeah. So that piece has a lot of birds and flowers kind of etched into it, and butterflies. And they represent the migratory species that, um, migrate between Mexico and our particular area of the Western slope.
Speaker 1:Neat. Well, it's just beautiful. Oh, thank
Speaker 3:You. So
Speaker 1:Those of you that are listening or watching, make sure you get out to orbit art space in Fruita and see Amy show. And I was really excited to go there because, um, I'd, I'd not known anything about this space. Yeah. I knew about the farm as we have our new office in Fruita and the farm's right behind us. And then I was like, oh, it's just right here. It's right off the circle. Yeah. And it's a beautiful little space.
Speaker 3:It's really neat. Mm-hmm. It's in the historical building that used to be kind of a, um, next to the bank that was there. And yeah, it's from the 18 hundreds. It's really neat. And, um, that whole section of Fruita, well all of Fruita is really becoming a place that's worth visiting. So yeah. Garrett does hold, um, first Friday events out there, so Yeah. Totally worth the trick.
Speaker 2:Yeah. He does a great job curating mm-hmm.<affirmative> what comes into the gallery and and supporting the local artists.
Speaker 3:Yes. And I think as artists, we're just so happy to have some wall space. Yes. And that is something that's really changing too, around the Grand Valley. There are more and more places that are, um, that are specifically for artists to show, which is a new thing.
Speaker 1:Well talk about that some more. Um, Aaron? Yeah. You have your own pottery studio I do. On your property. And you're teaching classes now?
Speaker 2:I am teaching classes, but I'm teaching them at the farm out in Fruita. So I'm trekking
Speaker 3:Across
Speaker 2:The valley. Okay. I
Speaker 1:Didn't realize that.
Speaker 2:To go to the farm to teach, um, which is a great, I mean, I wish that every, every town in the valley had a little, uh, art center. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, let's hope that Palisade eventually gets their own little art center, clay center as well. But I am teaching out there and it's great. It's a great space. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I'm doing it through, um, Ashton means, do you know Ashton?
Speaker 3:I
Speaker 2:Know Ash Ashton means, uh, Ashton means, and Matthew Jones have a, have a space that they've rented. But the art center, I'm not sure exactly how this works, but the art Center also books, classes through them. So I'm teaching through the Art center, but in their studio mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And so it's been amazing, the love of Clay. Yeah. I mean, people just, that whole bringing people in to work in clay, it's like they've learned to play Uhhuh again. You know, they're just, I've seen
Speaker 3:Some of the pictures of your ladies, mostly women I think in the group at this point. Women, yeah. It's open to everyone. I'm sure.<laugh>. It is open to everyone.<laugh>. They're
Speaker 1:Discrimination. It just
Speaker 3:Looks like so much fun. I mean, there's smiles on their faces and that's something that I think would be a, a really fun and kind of a safe place to try it out too.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. And I mean, it really is, I think the people that are coming in to take it, they're getting outta their comfort zone. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. It's not, I mean, creating art is always, I don't know, we learn that at a young age. Right, right.
Speaker 1:But like they say, what, what age is it when people start saying they're not artists anymore? Like, children will say they are artists until
Speaker 2:They hit teenage of 20, teenager
Speaker 1:About middle school years, and you start being self-conscious about your abilities. Yeah. And then you, people say, I'm not creative. I'm not an artist. And
Speaker 2:There's something messy enough about clay that I think it, it, I don't know, it unlocks something mm-hmm.<affirmative> for people that it's like, oh, I am my hands<laugh> stuck into a mud pie. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, then I'm gonna turn into, I'm gonna turn beautiful.
Speaker 3:You can't be too uptight or precious about
Speaker 2:It. You can't, cannot be precious.<laugh>
Speaker 3:Your people cannot be precious about it. Forget the manicure. Yeah.<laugh>.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Forget the manicure. But there's a lot of sci. I mean, you, you know, there's a lot of science behind the clay piece of it too. I mean, I love
Speaker 1:The, it's not as much multi stuff. You can't just like throw it in a regular oven and no think it's gonna come out.
Speaker 2:No. And I think, I mean, this goes back to my, you know, being raised in the valley, but my dad was a science teacher. He was a geology Oh, okay. Teacher. And so that marriage of the art and the science piece of it is, yeah. I love it. That's so perfect for you. Yeah. It's, it's,
Speaker 1:So Erin, um, talk a little bit about the Palisade art scene, cuz you live in Palisade and, um, I know there's been some changes with Blue Pig Gallery and what do you see happening there,<laugh> in the art scene?
Speaker 2:Well, I don't know what is happening right now. I don't really know
Speaker 1:Details,
Speaker 2:Details that
Speaker 1:We're the ones to, to unfold that. Not here, but like in general,
Speaker 2:I mean, Palisade has a huge thriving art scene. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I'm part of the, we don't call ourselves a board because we're not elected, but the council that brings in the sculptures that are on Main Street mm-hmm.<affirmative>, and I mean, we get people, we try to limit it just to a regional, uh, artist, but we get, we get entries from all over America. Cool. And so I love that Palisade really has grabbed onto this whole thing of making space, right? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, like they are, they're all about creating this town that you visit that isn't just, you know, agriculture, but it's also art and wine and all of that. Yeah. And I mean, we're thriving. Yeah. Which is terrific. And I think that, I think Palisade is, you know, everyone is growing. We're Covid. I mean, I think Covid had that whole thing where people decided, oh, we can work wherever we, we wanna work. Let's, we're go to Western,
Speaker 1:Let's Western Colorado
Speaker 2:Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, let's go to Western Colorado. And I think, you know, I mean, it's a gym. It is. I mean, it's part of why I came back here. I left and moved away and lived everywhere. Yeah. I possibly could<laugh> and then I realized, yeah, the Valley is, I mean, we are really fortunate mm-hmm.<affirmative> to have what we have here in the valley. And I mean, yeah. I think Palisade is really, that main street is thriving. There's a couple of different spaces, Harlow, that has my mm-hmm.<affirmative> earrings and then, um, the Atrium. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, have you been to the Atrium? I have. You've been to the Atrium? Not yet. It's beautiful. Yeah. It's gorgeous. Nice. And that's Sage creation. Organic Farm is, that's who owns the atrium. So they have Okay. All their plants and all of that stuff. Have I missed that to get out there? And they have really good sardines. Okay.<laugh>. Ooh, that's
Speaker 1:I mean, secret
Speaker 2:Right there. If you're a sucker for good olive oil and sardines, which I am<laugh>, that's where you go.
Speaker 1:So we've talked a little bit about Palisade, a little bit about Fruita. Amy, what's going on in Grand Junction?
Speaker 3:Well, there's some really cool stuff on the horizon in Grand Junction that I'm really excited about. Um, I'll backtrack a little bit to something that's, that happened pre Covid and then now is kind of coming back again. But, um, a good friend, Joseph Gonzalez does kind of a pop-up type, um, experience, I guess you could call it. And that's at the Omnia Gallery, which, um, isn't always a gallery, but for these Friday Night adventures, he mm-hmm.<affirmative>, he does this huge pop-up thing, and it's so cool. It's right next to the Avalon Theater on Main Street. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So it's a great place to hang out. And whenever he puts together a show, I, again, people come, say's Outta the
Speaker 2:Woodwork's, say it's insane.
Speaker 3:He has, I think single-handedly, um, changed things around here mm-hmm.<affirmative>, because I mean, we have the art center and that's an awesome thing. And it, and it really, and I wanna talk
Speaker 1:About that some more too. Yeah. Okay.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Well, that really suits the needs of people. And it's been here since, I mean, I was a little tiny kid going to the art center, you know, so it's something that we count on and we need here. But Joseph has kind of opened our eyes to a more contemporary, sort of modern and younger set of artists that mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I guess I'm old enough, I didn't even know existed<laugh>. But it's so cool because, um, it's really brought out a lot of variety and, um, these shows tend to sell a lot of pieces too. The prices are right. Um, the gathering is always huge. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, he's got a really narrow space mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So even with 10 people, and it feels fun and lively. He has great food and
Speaker 1:It means that there's a lot of people milling outside and it gets other people excited and Absolutely.
Speaker 2:And that's enriching for the downtown because everyone, every time that he has one of those shows, it seems like, I mean, you walk downtown and someone, I mean, there's people that are waiting to get in that are going to have dinner or they're gonna go have drinks or mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:<affirmative> and, and I, and I mentioned young artists, but really there's a wide range. I show there sometimes. You've shown there, haven't you?
Speaker 2:I have not. She
Speaker 3:Will be showing that<laugh>,
Speaker 2:It's not important. He's, talk to me about it. Yeah.<laugh>, if I would stop making mugs and start making, I mean, not to say that mugs are not, but, you know,
Speaker 3:A different kind different utilitarian d different, but, but very appreciated. Um, well, yeah, he gets all different ages in there, all different kinds of artwork. It's just been really fun and it has opened my eyes, but also, um, you know, I grew up here mm-hmm.<affirmative>, my dad was one of the founders of Art in the Corner. I knew that set of artists, you know, and then, you know,<laugh> in between those older guys, there've been a few different movements Yeah. Here and there. You know, there was, um, kale Lowry who had the Planet Earth and the Four Directions Gallery, and she kind of helped to spark some things. And there've always been the ongoing brush and palette clubs and those things that are kind of staples here. But Joseph, I think is the one who's kind of, um, brought us into the next century mm-hmm.<affirmative>, you know mm-hmm.<affirmative> and, and it's really, really great. So I'm happy for him. He also, uh, was was one that kind of nagged me into showing again, so he kind of helped me break the ice and just get back out there. But anyway, so he's back up and running. He took some time off with Covid. It was just impossible. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So he's back up now, so he'll be watching for shows from him. Great. And then, um, also the thing that I'm working on right now with a group, um, is called The Terminal Project. It doesn't sound very good, but it's<laugh>. It's the old bus station. The terminal. Yes.
Speaker 1:Yes. Tell us a little what you know about that.
Speaker 3:Okay. Well, I've been on a committee of about, oh, I don't know, maybe 10 to 15 people right now that, um, have put together a survey. Um, it was given out to as many people in Grand Junction in the valley that we could get. Um, and that survey, uh, basically was asking people what kind of an art experience or housing maybe for artists, spaces for artists, just in general. What do we need here to, what are
Speaker 1:We lacking? What are we
Speaker 3:Lacking? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Yep. For creative people to thrive mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And so it was really amazing and interesting and very eye-opening what came back on that survey. We do need more studio spaces. We do need more afford affordable housing, like apartments mm-hmm.<affirmative> for, um, creative people. Um, I would like to see different things come in, like, um, bringing in artists from different areas to do maybe temporary stays at this place, you know? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, it's gonna be really cool. So the terminal itself is the old bus station? Yeah. They're
Speaker 1:Keeping the empty downtown is like fifth and Yeah.
Speaker 3:Is that
Speaker 1:You fifth and you town? Yeah,
Speaker 3:There's a design firm that, um, the town is working with. So Gig Creates is really a big part of this downtown. The city of Grand Junction, um, is working with a design company in Aspen to kind of renovate that old bus station. And the bottom level is still kind of in flux right now, the design. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. But what I've seen, the renderings are amazing. The bottom level still looks like the original bus station. It'll keep that kind of thirties or forties charm that it has. Yeah. Brick, brick, exterior. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, it's, yeah. With some glass wraparound windows. And it's really a neat space. But then kind of added on to that and kind of behind it will be like, I think a nine story, nine to 11 story building tough apartment spaces now that is subject to change, but that's what's being talked about or not great now. Yeah. That's cool. And then, um, on the bottom level there will be, um, retail type spaces. We're looking especially at food, um, coffee shops, that type of thing. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> bringing people in for that kind of entertainment and food is always a good thing to bring people in. And then up above that, probably a exhibition type gallery space and some art studios.
Speaker 1:Fantastic. So
Speaker 3:This is, this is amazing. So what's
Speaker 2:The, what's the time,
Speaker 3:The timeline on that? Well, we've gone through a lot of it already, so, so just bringing in that, um, company that helped us do the surveys and they've developed lots of things around, um, Colorado, but really around the us Um, you know, there's a process to this, but we're hoping within a couple of years, and again, don't quote me on that cuz you know how building projects go, but
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 3:But it's, it's a couple of projects,
Speaker 1:But what a great vision. Yeah. Yeah. It's
Speaker 3:Huge. It's amazing. And
Speaker 1:Who was kind of leading the charge on that? Like, looked at it and said, old bus station, we need to do something artistic with it.
Speaker 3:Oh, there's a really great guy named Adam Roy, and he lives in Aspen, but he grew up in Grand Junction. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So, um, he's there now, but he just really firmly believes in kind of renovating these spaces and uh, and making things that are more useful for the whole entire community. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> that'll just kind of enrich the area. And he's got a heart for Grand Junction. Yay. So, so he's in that. But then Gig creates as also, you know, know David Go that works with Gig Creates is a big part of this. And his team there too. I'm not good at naming all the names, but, um, yeah. They know who they are and they're, yeah. Yeah, it's been really, really interesting being a part of the committee and just kind of learning about these steps. It's totally different than anything I've ever done, but, um, to get in on the ground level and kind of, kind of see what people want out there. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> has just been so encouraging to me.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Wonderful. Erin, um, let's talk about the art center a little bit and Yeah. What, what your involvement has been with mi Know my kids did classes. Yeah. Summer classes at the art center, which was just absolutely wonderful. And Rachel is still there teaching those. Yeah. Um, they've expanded their gallery space, which is really nice to see because it's not a huge, um, building, but they have some really nice rooms. Um, how do we get more people involved with the art center? Oh
Speaker 2:My gosh, that's a hard question. I mean, because I feel like there is an, there is definitely a niche group Yeah. That's there all the time. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I think their classes fill up all the time. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, they can't keep enough instructors in there. I, I love that. What they're doing with this whole teaching away, having that satellite mm-hmm.<affirmative> where they're teaching in a little bit different community. Um, you know, and Terry Shepherd has been huge with them for years teaching their clay program and Robbie bro. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, she's been great. Which I was, I kind of thought maybe she was involved in that. She wasn't she. Yes. I was gonna say, so
Speaker 3:Robbie bro is also on that, uh, committee for the bus terminal. Okay. Yeah. And she's kind of a good bridge between the art center and the terminal. And I wouldn't doubt it if they do some
Speaker 2:Collaboration too. I think that they would collaborate with that. I mean, you know, she is such a strong force. She was looking at the old beat factory. Oh yeah. Because she's such a
Speaker 1:Great building.
Speaker 2:<laugh>
Speaker 3:No, I know. Which, I dunno
Speaker 2:Who got that. That's such a great building. But you know, they were really hoping to get that, the art center wanted that to sort of just have another space mm-hmm.<affirmative> because we are growing mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I mean, there's a lot. I'm really glad the terminal is Well, and
Speaker 1:Then Art center space is a little constrained, you know, it is. Parking lot is not huge. Yeah. And they really don't have any room to grow there.
Speaker 2:They're definitely outgrowing. So I think satellite mm-hmm.<affirmative> Places would be huge. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I mean, if they're able to do something, you know, with collaborative with the terminal. And I really would love to see a out in Palisade<laugh>. Yeah. I know. That's, you know, it makes sense. I'm partial. Yeah. But that's my hometown. Yeah. I grew up there. I'd love to see, and really we are thriving, but yeah, the art center is still thriving. It just, it's over. I mean, it really,
Speaker 3:In my life here, I think, and you, you probably can remember too. Yeah. I think it's gone through two or three transformations. Yeah. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I mean, they just have to keep adding on, but they can only go so far in that space where they are in the corner. Yeah. Um, and I think even though it's a little bit off the beaten path when you're thinking about the Main Street, you know, like a gallery night when there's so many things to see down on Main Street, but people still manage to get their selves, get themselves over there and go to whatever's happening. I know they just had a fundraiser every year. They have a fun one. They're
Speaker 2:Auctions. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3:So I know, you know, they, they do keep up and there's so many supporters here, but of course there can always be more.
Speaker 1:Yes. And so that begs the question, so if you're new to Grand Junction or someone like me who's, uh, appreciative of the arts, but busy and not always looking at calendars and things like that, how do you get plugged into the art scene here? So you know what's going on? What's the best way to do that?
Speaker 3:Well these days, I mean, social media. Social media. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Yeah. That's probably the best way. I love Instagram because for artists it's just such a great way to, to get the word out about things. Um, looking up things like downtown G Gig creates, um, the art center, they're always posting all the events mm-hmm.<affirmative> and probably the paper and everything, you know. But
Speaker 2:I think, I mean, I think going out to the first Fridays is huge. Yeah. Because you're meeting the people Yeah. That are behind the art, right? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, all those shows are great because you're actually, and, and you can ask the people, you can ask the artists. Yes. When, you know, where are you? Do you have your own studio? Are you working? Who are you working with? What galleries do you show at? Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:<affirmative>. And occasionally too the, um, different groups will put on, um, open studio tours too. You're probably a part of that in Palisade. I know they did the Chocolate Walk a couple years ago.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I've done, yeah, I did couple, all of those. But it means I have to clean my studio.<laugh>.
Speaker 3:Oh. So Erin not participating.<laugh>
Speaker 1:Another good reason for satellite,
Speaker 2:Right? That's right.
Speaker 1:I, sorry, I'll just step in this, this space over here.
Speaker 3:I'm not really an expert on how people find out about stuff.
Speaker 2:I mean, I think social media, but I do think, cuz I think what happens is we get lo like, especially people that are moving here, this is what I've heard is people get lonely in this valley because it's hard to make those mm-hmm.<affirmative>, you know mm-hmm.<affirmative>, yeah. Acquaintances. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Yeah. So I think making sure that you're going to a first Friday event. Yeah. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, you know, and just one of those could plug you into a whole community Right. Of people and setting up for classes.
Speaker 1:Right. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Take classes. Yeah, that's true. Meet
Speaker 1:Class, take a few new people, take class, lead you to something else. But getting involved in the art community, um, Suzanne took a cooking class the other night that she really loved and yeah. She said it was not only great and creative, but she met all kinds of people she didn't know before. And,
Speaker 3:You know, that's something we maybe wanna touch on a little bit here because I have heard that, I wouldn't say this part, but that Grand Junction is a little bit on the closed side. You know, we all have our little groups or our families here. Like if we've been raised here, we've got our Sunday night dinner with mom and dad or whatever. It's kind of hard for someone to step into that sometimes. But I have noticed at the art shows, it's really easy to talk to people and the people are really receptive to to mm-hmm.<affirmative> the conversations. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, you know. Yeah. It's not that hard to ex exchange information and meet up at the next one or whatever.
Speaker 1:Agree. I mean, I keep thinking, oh, I'm gonna make it to such and such and then it goes by and I didn't make edit. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Just,
Speaker 1:I wanna do more. I was really glad I got to go to your show. Oh,
Speaker 3:Me too. I can't believe you fit. That's awesome. Been
Speaker 1:There very long. But<laugh> um, what's next for you, Amy? Like, are there any, any kind of techniques or things that you're interested in trying that you haven't done yet? You see, you wanna go to Aaron's pottery classes? I should.
Speaker 3:Pottery was the one class that I'm just so terribly my husband Can
Speaker 2:You teach me? You teach me. You. I'll do a piece.
Speaker 3:Hey. Okay. Collaboration. Okay. I think I know which one of us is gonna do better than the other one.<laugh>, my husband, when I first met him, he was making these beautiful clay teapots and I, and I just, I couldn't never get the wheel down, so
Speaker 2:That's right. Yeah. You guys went on the bronze trip to Santa Fe. We did. Yeah. That's right. A fateful trip because we pour you Did you pour
Speaker 3:Brawns? I didn't, well I was in the, I was in a mold making class.
Speaker 2:Okay.<laugh>.
Speaker 3:Yeah. This is so romantic sounding<laugh>. We, we met in mold making<laugh>, but yeah. But I was always hanging around and doing stuff over there. So Yeah.
Speaker 1:We should say that your husband is a creative Yes. Also and that you all own vintage overland trailers.
Speaker 3:Yes. And
Speaker 1:Produce those.
Speaker 3:That's right. And, um, luck. Luckily for me, I have his expert skills to build a last minute frame, which is exactly what he did for my last show.<laugh> wonderful. And I didn't have time to order two frames. He got down there in the shop and did it. So yeah. We collaborate a lot on things actually. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> and I'm constantly down in his studio working and Yeah. And he gets in my way too.
Speaker 1:So. Are there any materials that you're gonna try out next? Go around or, yes. You know, what's, what's on the horizon for
Speaker 3:You? Oh, I'm really excited because now that I'm finally really back in it, like I just, my only frustration is time. You know, I've got, well I won't tell you how old I'm gonna be this year,<laugh>, but I have a lot to do. So I'm really excited about it. I'm right now, um, I'm kind of getting into some wood sculpture and woodworking, which I have always really liked. I liked the chisel and the mallet and yeah. And it's just kind of a fun process. So I'm hoping to do some kind of two dimensional wall sculptures. Um, I'd also like to do some hanging pieces, kind of, um, kinetic type artwork. Um, still keep up with the painting. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, I, I'll enjoy that forever, I think. I can't imagine not doing that. Yeah. But probably with a little bit different materials. I'm looking at concrete right now and, um, as kind of a surface to work on. And yeah. Just every day I have a new idea, so it's just a matter of pacing myself. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> and keeping at it. But
Speaker 1:You're, you, you have shown, not just here, but you've had some other shows up in the mountains
Speaker 3:Too, so. Yeah. Um, mostly in Aspen. Um, uh, a lot of the listeners might know of a place called the Red Brick Center and that's, that's a really neat place. It used to be a school. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And it's turned into an art center now. It's just a beautiful space. And so I've done, um, group shows there, uh, and also like a large group show and then a couple of small group shows. I'll have another one in July. Um, it'll be me and then three other artists. And it's an abstract show, so that'll be fun to see too. Awesome. Love
Speaker 2:It. What about you Aaron? My gosh. What are you excited about my doing next? Um, there's a lot.<laugh><laugh>. There's a lot. Um, so Verne Mosher, uh, who was my, one of my mentors mm-hmm.<affirmative>, my main mentor in Clay. Uh, I had him build a kiln for me, like the structure, but I have to put all the brick in it and brick it up. So that is on the top of the list. Yeah. Because a new kil, you know, a new kiln that is a high fire kiln, which that's what I learned to fire in, was a reduction fire kiln. Um, which is really exciting, but also really intimidating Uhhuh<affirmative> because you have to babysit those puppies all the time. Um, so that is on the list. And then my daughter challenged me to make sculptures cuz I said I haven't done sculptures and I have some my bronze work in the house in some of my clay sculptures in the house. And she said, mom, you need to do this. You need to go back and do some of your sculptures this year. Oh wow. I challenge you cuz she's entering high school. That's good. Uhhuh<affirmative> in this, she'll be a freshman. Um, cuz she's getting ready to graduate. And she said my freshman year, you
Speaker 3:Can't say no
Speaker 2:Anything for the kids. I know. Anything. So I need to, I need to do some of that and I'd
Speaker 3:Like to see that. I don't think I've ever seen any of your sculpture. Maybe I have. Really? I need to see more.
Speaker 2:I know there was, I mean, I'm surprised, but I have But it was a long time ago. It was a long time ago. Yeah, it was for sure. And I would love to get, uh, col like, cuz there was a lot of talent when we were in school. I would love to put together a show of some of the really great top. I mean, it would be so much fun. It would be,
Speaker 3:We're all more mature now. We're all
Speaker 2:More love to see where people are. Cuz there's been so many, especially, I mean, all the women artists that I've known, it's been this big, like hanging on. It's like you're pulling a thread through the tunnel. Love it.<laugh> of, of like raising your children and your family and all of that stuff. And not let, trying to keep up with your artwork. Trying to keep up with your artwork and not let dap fall away from you. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So I would love to get a group together mm-hmm.<affirmative>, uh, that we went to school with and just put a show together. That would be great. Yeah. Joseph,
Speaker 3:That would be so, that's
Speaker 2:So neat. We, Joseph,
Speaker 3:We went to school with us too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he did. He's on my photography class. Is your husband creative? Well, Joel is a trim carpenter, so he's an amazing woodworker. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And he had a business in Veil for years where he did, I did not know that. Yeah. But now he drives trains. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So I keep trying to get him to do PE cuz he does, he makes beautiful spoons mm-hmm.<affirmative>. And I'm like, you should make the spoons and I'll put'em in the salad bowl. Kind
Speaker 1:Of goes with what you do
Speaker 2:<laugh>. He's like, you're insane.<laugh>
Speaker 1:In his free time. In his
Speaker 2:Free time.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Both of you. Yeah.<laugh>, what advice would you have, Aaron, for someone looking to make a career in the arts? I mean, it's not an easy way to support yourself or your family. If you gotta, you gotta love it. I mean,
Speaker 2:I especially for, I mean my, my mind goes specifically to clay work because there's so many stages of it. Mm-hmm.<affirmative> and it has taken me a lifetime of collecting<laugh>, the pieces mm-hmm.<affirmative> to put it together. So I've never lost the vision of it, but patience, I would say be patient with yourself, um, and you know, in your, do what you can do. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, do what you can do in your life when you, you know, if you get a minute, if you can steal a minute away just to, just to sketch. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Don't put it off. Right. Don't put it off before you know it. You're in your fifties, right? Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:<affirmative> No, absolutely what you
Speaker 1:Like. There's so many more things I want to do. Absolutely. So, and I wish I hadn't wasted so much time when I was younger. Yes.
Speaker 2:And it, and it's one of those things that it's not, it's not like riding a bike. You have to keep the skill going. I feel like you can't just definitely not to say that you lose it, it's more like running a marathon. It is more like running a marathon. You just have to keep going. And some days are trudging. I mean, I'm just gonna say it, some days are not pretty<laugh>,<laugh>, you know, and especially, I mean, with clay work, there's so much failure. I mean there, it really is a lesson. Really. It is a lesson. This is when I'm teaching my students, um, I'm like, this is a lesson and letting go because if you love something, it's gonna blah, blah<laugh>.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That's right. How many, how many batches? Like one outta 10, just like complete fails?
Speaker 2:Oh gosh. Well, I mean, what's, what's interesting is, so when you're working with clay, you're always, you always have some piece that is, cuz they mine, you know, when I make the, cuz I mix all my glazes, right? Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So they mine all those, all those different things from different parts of the world. So let's say you get an element from a different, a different mine. All of a sudden you're lazed that has worked
Speaker 1:Different properties. Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah. It doesn't, it doesn't work because there's something off in it. So then you're, you know, constantly problem solving that. Interesting. You know, so I, I mean, I don't know, you just, out of all the batches, I would say, you know, you just, you just lose, you just have to be ready to lose some of the pieces. It kind of teaches you to be flexible. It, it teaches you to be flexible. I mean, all my life lessons have been learned<laugh> Totally. Through guiding, through being a river guide. Um, flipping RAs<laugh> unexpectedly, and clay. Because it just, yeah. You can't, you can't really hang on to
Speaker 1:Impermanence you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, absolutely. You have a vision. You think you're headed one direction and then you're actually not
Speaker 1:That, you know, my issue is I have a vision and I have no idea how to get there. Like, I think I have a little bit of creativity in there and then I, I get lost in the how am I gonna get there? So I just never do it. So, kudos to you. You offer No, I actually do
Speaker 2:Doing it.
Speaker 1:<laugh> what advice would you have, Amy, for someone that wants to have a career in the arts?
Speaker 3:Well, I would say if it is in you, you'll know it because it will na at you and you will not be able to escape it. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>, um, when I started college and I told my dad, who also has a degree in art and, and he was a, you know, professional artist, a serious artist for years and years. Um, he was like, are you sure that's what you wanna do because you don't have to mm-hmm.<affirmative>, you could do something else. You know, I, I know it was hard for him to see me go into that. Um, but if it's who you are and, you know, I tried to take years off, you know, like I said, I would kind of do a little bit here and there just enough to keep my feet wet or to keep that muscle strength or whatever, you know. Cause it is like an exercise. But, um, it was a frustration to not be doing it full-time like I wanted to. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Um, and of course I wanted to be a mom and I wanted to do all these other things too. Yeah. And that's, that is kind of what women have to contend with. And dads too. But I think women have<laugh> an even, um, a bigger responsibility in that parenthood thing when it comes to art versus parenting. Um, anyway, it, it just, it kept eating at me. Yeah. And, um, it was a happy person, but I was a slightly frustrated person until I got back into it again. And then I just, uh, I kind of went at it and I had a different approach to it. And that was to allow myself to make mistakes. So I would definitely say to somebody, you know, if you're gonna choose this path, if it really is who you are, and you can do it for fun, but if you want it as a career, uh, give yourself some leeway to make some mistakes and to realize too that it takes a long time. Mm-hmm. It's not something, unless you know, you're just a really lucky person or a genius. It's not something that you just pick up and you get into a gallery and then boom. Your set. Right. You may never have that. So kind of be prepared. You can have a plan B, but don't let your plan B take precedence over the plan A, make sure you're absolutely, absolutely. Like what you said, Erin, make sure you're still doing something. Always. Even if it's small, even
Speaker 2:If it's not your, I mean, I've been watching again with social media, but this woman that, because she doesn't have a big printing press, but she takes, um, beer cans or soda cans, and she itches into'em. Wow. And actually prints that metal from that. Wow. And I thought, what a genius way. Yeah. To recycle your recycling. It's cheap, cheap. And you're, and you're still doing what you love, even though you don't have the studio space. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So, you know, if you don't have the studio space, you know, get creative. Get creative, creative. That's what, that's what really art is about anyway. Right. It's like thinking completely out of it.
Speaker 3:And, and that's it. If you're a person who wants to do this as a career, you're a creative person already. And that is gonna save your life. You're gonna have to be creative. I've pieced jobs together, you know? Right. But I promised myself that I would always do something that was in the art world, whether it was teaching or, you know, working for an art production company or whatever it was. Um, it always had to do with art. So try to stay in there somehow. Well, when you
Speaker 2:Really are your own standalone, I mean, you have, because we both come from a legacy of art, Uhhuh<affirmative>, which is cool, but you have created your, like your own thing, which I love.
Speaker 3:Oh, thank you. You too. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Both
Speaker 2:Of you. Well, I didn't go in, I mean, one of the reasons that I did not go into 2D is because there was no way in<laugh> I was gonna attempt because I was really intimidated by my grandfather's artwork, you know? Oh
Speaker 3:Yeah. And he is a famous artist.
Speaker 2:He has a famous artist.<laugh>. So cool. So yeah.
Speaker 1:So Aaron, if people wanna know more about how to buy what you create or take your classes, how do they find out about them?
Speaker 2:Um, so you can go to my website, esm Pottery Farm. Um, you can follow me on Instagram. That's the most current, although Love your videos by the way. Oh, thank you. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Um, Instagram, I try to keep it really current even with my class schedule because you know, it's hard to, it's hard to, you know, reach out to every single person that says, I wanted to send me a, send me a link. Just follow me. Yeah.<laugh>, just follow me on Instagram. Um, yeah. And, you know, or stop by the farm too. The farm. Go check the farm out. Yeah. If you have not been to the farm, you have to go check the farm out cuz it's a really amazing space. Super cool. And that's Allegheny Meadows.
Speaker 3:Allegheny Meadows and Gavin. And
Speaker 2:Gavin Brooks. And it's just, I mean, it's a, that is also, it's a treasure for the Valley. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. It was really, that's a gift for the Valley for sure.
Speaker 1:So excited about that. And Amy, where do people find more about your work?
Speaker 3:Well, the best place is also Instagram and it's just Amy Perr on Instagram. A m i p u r s e r<laugh>. Um, I am currently building a new website and so, um, but I'll have links to that on Instagram and everything too, or whatever. You can find me through that.
Speaker 1:Awesome. Well, before we, uh, close up for the day, I know when we first got here, we were talking about, you know, that PBS interview,<laugh> Turn, Saturday Night Live. We're having fun with that. So we're not going to talk about Sweaty Balls<laugh>,
Speaker 2:But
Speaker 1:We could, I'd, I'd throw it in there. Shoes. Mine
Speaker 2:Are the best.
Speaker 3:Yours are the best. I cherish them.
Speaker 2:<laugh>
Speaker 3:Guys are awesome.
Speaker 1:Well, thanks everybody for watching and listening. Please support the arts in our community. Um, follow these ladies, uh, on their Instagram and that will lead you to follow other artists as well, because I know that you all follow other artists in town. We
Speaker 2:Have a few. Yeah. Oh
Speaker 3:Yeah, absolutely. And so yes,
Speaker 1:Go down the rabbit hole, right? Like go down fun, the rabbit hole. Yeah. Set a day aside a week<laugh>. Right. Find the artists in this town. Follow them, support them. Um, that's what one of the things that makes a beautiful, thriving community is the art scene. And I think we can never have too much of it here. So let's keep going. Yes, absolutely. Thank you all for cheers to that creative work and cheering your time with us today. Oh, thank you Christy. Such a pleasure. Cheers. Cheers. Cheers. Don't break my mug. Right. We'll see you next time on the Full Circle podcast. Bye. Thanks for listening. This is Christie Reese signing out from the Full Circle Podcast.