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
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
The Full Circle podcast, compelling interviews
and incredible tales fromColorado's Western Slope, from
the mountains to the desert.
Christie Reese and her team herefrom the Movers Shakers, and
characters of the Grand Valleyand surrounding mountain towns
that make the Western slope theplace we all love.
You'll learn, you'll laugh,you'll love with the full
circle.
Hi everyone, and welcome back tothe Full Circle podcast.
(00:27):
I'm your host Christie Reese,and I'm so excited today to have
two of my favorite local artistsfrom the Grand Valley, miss Amy
Perr, Mrs.
Amy Perr, and Mrs.
Aaron Stevens.
Marner, welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Hello.
Thank you.
Hi,
Speaker 3 (00:40):
You, so much good to be
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Here.
I am such a fan of both of yourwork, and I was just really
excited to think about hostingyou all and talking about the
art scene in the Grand Valley.
What's going on now, what you'reseeing, how it's improving, what
we can still do to make it evenbetter, because I think we have
some room for growth there.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, there is a lot happening though.
Yeah.
Um, would you like to talk aboutthat first?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, you just had a show.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I did.
I do.
So
Speaker 2 (01:06):
You should, you should talk about, you should
talk about it.
First one.
I,
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Okay.
So before you talk about yourshow, talk a little bit about
your background.
I wanna know, um, uh, becauseyou're both, you both grew up in
Grand Junction.
Yes.
Uh, I wanna know a little bitabout your history and then your
art media.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Okay.
Well, yes.
I did grow up in Grand Junction,um, with an artist's dad.
So I, I guess I've been aroundart my whole life.
And, um, it's in me.
I love it.
Mm-hmm.
and, uh, did get aBFA right here at CM U and
that's where I met Erin.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah.
We were in, we were in classtogether.
Yeah.
We were, were, which I can'tremember which class.
.
, but we were in classtogether.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well, I was over in the two-dimensional, um,
department, but sometimes Iwould come over to the 3D side
where you were at.
Like sometimes
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Would come over to the duty.
Every now and again,
Speaker 3 (01:55):
We were destined to be friends.
Yeah.
So, um, yeah, I got my educationhere and, um, have done lots of,
uh, I guess freelance type work,commission work over the years
mm-hmm.
, but also taughtfor 15 years, um, kids and
grownups of all ages, startingfrom two, I think my oldest
student was like 88 years old.
Wow.
And, um, I've done a little bitof adjunct work at the college
(02:16):
too, and, um, just kind offloated around.
But over the past, um, two orthree years, I've really just
focused on my artwork.
That's what I set out to dooriginally.
Mm-hmm.
, um, had a couplekids, started another business
and got a little sidetracked.
Yeah.
So, um, now that's where I'm atand it's been great, um, showing
around, uh, Colorado right nowat this point, um, in town and a
(02:38):
little bit out of town.
And, um, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So will you tell us a little bit about the media that
you like to work with?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
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 acrylicpaints, but kind of a mixed
media technique.
I sometimes use some wax.
I like using graphite.
I like to just kind of mix it upand get in there with my hands
(03:05):
almost, um, a sculptural typeprocess.
Mm-hmm.
, even though it'spainting.
Mm-hmm.
,
Speaker 1 (03:09):
It's really beautiful.
We have a piece here Thanks.
Right here in the office, andwe're gonna show you some
pictures of that and, and otherpictures of Amy's work.
So excited about that.
Thank
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You,
Speaker 1 (03:17):
.
All right, Aaron, your turn.
, tell us a little bitabout yourself and, and your
artwork.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
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 uphere 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 aarts movement back in the
(03:45):
forties.
Um, that's so cool.
But came back, he was actuallythe head of the Columbia
University Art Department andbrought back a bunch of people
to Redstone and then just grewup immersed sort of in that, in
that art world, which I thinkwhen you, I mean, you touched on
this, but when you're steeped inart, like you can try to run
(04:06):
from it.
.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Yes.
I had a half.
I
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Definitely tried to run from it that, uh, wound up
back there and, you know, leftthe valley, but came back to
mm-hmm.
to work and raisea family here.
Mm-hmm.
and teach.
That's what I originally cameback for, but,
Speaker 1 (04:23):
And pottery is, is what you work with mostly
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Pottery and printmaking.
Mm-hmm.
, I still do a lotof printmaking.
Okay.
Um, but sort of the marriage ofthose two.
And that's why I asked.
I wasn't sure whether you werein printmaking with me, but, oh,
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I did take that class.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah.
I think we did.
That was it.
.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
But I mean, I love, I love printmaking and I wanted to
marry those, those two mm-hmm.
mediums.
And I've tried, and I do alittle bit of that in almost
every kiln load.
I do some printmaking on clay,
Speaker 1 (04:56):
So.
Cool.
And we have very cool, so wehave Amy's art on the wall here,
and then we have, um, theselovely mugs, that Erin
made, and also my earrings weremade by Erin.
And, um, love going to yourshows, um, holiday shows and
things like that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah.
Thank you.
Yep.
All great.
You're a great supporter of thearts.
You are.
Well,
Speaker 1 (05:16):
You are.
Keep bringing it,.
Keep bringing it.
So let's go back to your show.
Amy, tell us about the show thatyou have opened and how long it
runs and what people can seethere.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Okay.
Well, this show is out in a newspace called Orbit Art Space,
and it's in Fruit of Colorado.
It's a really nice, kind ofeclectic space.
It's, it's fairly new, like Isaid, I think it's been open
maybe about a year.
And, um, Garrett Day is theowner.
He's already brought in so manydifferent kinds of art and
people that maybe he didn't knowabout, but probably live here.
(05:48):
Mm-hmm.
, because a lot ofartists in Grand Junction kind
of have to be coaxed out.
I've noticed, but thereis some real talent here, Uhhuh
.
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 ofgift items.
I do believe you've got somethings also there for
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Sale.
Yeah.
And you're right, he does coaxout the artists in the Valley
because there is an immenseamount of talent here.
But he absolutely, well, he cameto me and said, I want you in
the gallery.
Mm-hmm.
, Uhhuh.
He was one of, and I said,
Speaker 1 (06:16):
How long's he been open there?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
I think it's been about a year.
I, okay.
I I might be wrong on that, butit hasn't been real long.
But he has also done some prettyinteresting shows.
Like, um, he's had someperformance type things
happening there.
Nice.
Some music and different, um, Ithink some film projections
stuff that I didn't seeunfortunately, but I heard it
was really amazing.
Mm-hmm.
.
So, um, my show right now, uh,runs throughout a, throughout
(06:39):
May, it just opened up.
And a titled past presence kindof deals a lot with, um, time
and just things that I'mthinking about right now.
And it's all painting, it's alltwo-dimensional work.
Mm-hmm.
,
Speaker 1 (06:51):
But the, the one large horizontal piece that had
the birds and the flowersmm-hmm.
, tell us a littlebit about that process.
It was really unique.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Oh, yes.
Thank you.
Um, that's a little bitdifferent than the other pieces
in the show, and it's bigger.
Um, that piece was originallydone to, um, go to the Aspen
City Hall.
They have a new building thatthey constructed a couple of
years ago, and, um, they broughtin 10 different artists to
display work temporarily forabout, um, I think it was a year
and a half.
And so my piece was one ofthose, and I was extra amazing,
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Proud
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Because I was the only one that wasn't from the
Roaring Fork Valley.
Uhhuh.
So they, they brought in aforeigner
Speaker 2 (07:27):
,
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Which felt really good coming from the West Slope
.
Yeah.
And, um, that piece has fourpanels all put together in a
horizontal format, and it has alot of kind of etched in, kind
of goes back to printmaking.
I love, um, back when I used todo that, just the etching into
the plate that you print withmm-hmm.
, I like the plateitself just as much as I like
(07:48):
the print oftentimes.
Yeah.
So that piece has a lot of birdsand flowers kind of etched into
it, and butterflies.
And they represent the migratoryspecies that, um, migrate
between Mexico and ourparticular area of the Western
slope.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Neat.
Well, it's just beautiful.
Oh, thank
Speaker 3 (08:05):
You.
So
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Those of you that are listening or watching, make sure
you get out to orbit art spacein Fruita and see Amy show.
And I was really excited to gothere because, um, I'd, I'd not
known anything about this space.
Yeah.
I knew about the farm as we haveour new office in Fruita and the
farm's right behind us.
And then I was like, oh, it'sjust right here.
It's right off the circle.
Yeah.
And it's a beautiful littlespace.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's really neat.
Mm-hmm.
It's in the historical buildingthat used to be kind of a, um,
next to the bank that was there.
And yeah, it's from the 18hundreds.
It's really neat.
And, um, that whole section ofFruita, well all of Fruita is
really becoming a place that'sworth visiting.
So yeah.
Garrett does hold, um, firstFriday events out there, so
Yeah.
Totally worth the trick.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah.
He does a great job curatingmm-hmm.
what comes intothe gallery and and supporting
the local artists.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Yes.
And I think as artists, we'rejust so happy to have some wall
space.
Yes.
And that is something that'sreally changing too, around the
Grand Valley.
There are more and more placesthat are, um, that are
specifically for artists toshow, which is a new thing.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Well talk about that some more.
Um, Aaron?
Yeah.
You have your own pottery studioI do.
On your property.
And you're teaching classes now?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I am teaching classes, but I'm teaching them
at the farm out in Fruita.
So I'm trekking
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Across
Speaker 2 (09:19):
The valley.
Okay.
I
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
To go to the farm to teach, um, which is a great, I
mean, I wish that every, everytown in the valley had a little,
uh, art center.
Mm-hmm.
, let's hope thatPalisade eventually gets their
own little art center, claycenter as well.
But I am teaching out there andit's great.
It's a great space.
Mm-hmm.
, I'm doing itthrough, um, Ashton means, do
(09:44):
you know Ashton?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Know Ash Ashton means , uh, Ashton means, and Matthew
Jones have a, have a space thatthey've rented.
But the art center, I'm not sureexactly how this works, but the
art Center also books, classesthrough them.
So I'm teaching through the Artcenter, but in their studio
mm-hmm.
.
And so it's been amazing, thelove of Clay.
Yeah.
I mean, people just, that wholebringing people in to work in
(10:10):
clay, it's like they've learnedto play Uhhuh again.
You know, they're just, I'veseen
Speaker 3 (10:16):
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.
.
It is open to everyone.
.
They're
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Discrimination.
It just
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Looks like so much fun.
I mean, there's smiles on theirfaces and that's something that
I think would be a, a really funand kind of a safe place to try
it out too.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Oh, absolutely.
And I mean, it really is, Ithink the people that are coming
in to take it, they're gettingoutta their comfort zone.
Mm-hmm.
.
It's not, I mean, creating artis always, I don't know, we
learn that at a young age.
Right, right.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
But like they say, what, what age is it when people
start saying they're not artistsanymore?
Like, children will say they areartists until
Speaker 2 (10:52):
They hit teenage of 20, teenager
Speaker 1 (10:53):
About middle school years, and you start being
self-conscious about yourabilities.
Yeah.
And then you, people say, I'mnot creative.
I'm not an artist.
And
Speaker 2 (11:00):
There's something messy enough about clay that I
think it, it, I don't know, itunlocks something mm-hmm.
for people thatit's like, oh, I am my hands
stuck into a mud pie.
Mm-hmm.
, then I'm gonnaturn into, I'm gonna turn
beautiful.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You can't be too uptight or precious about
Speaker 2 (11:18):
It.
You can't, cannot be precious.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Your people cannot be precious about it.
Forget the manicure.
Yeah.
.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah.
Forget the manicure.
But there's a lot of sci.
I mean, you, you know, there's alot of science behind the clay
piece of it too.
I mean, I love
Speaker 1 (11:32):
The, it's not as much multi stuff.
You can't just like throw it ina regular oven and no think it's
gonna come out.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
No.
And I think, I mean, this goesback to my, you know, being
raised in the valley, but my dadwas a science teacher.
He was a geology Oh, okay.
Teacher.
And so that marriage of the artand the science piece of it is,
yeah.
I love it.
That's so perfect for you.
Yeah.
It's, it's,
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So Erin, um, talk a little bit about the Palisade
art scene, cuz you live inPalisade and, um, I know there's
been some changes with Blue PigGallery and what do you see
happening there, in theart scene?
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Well, I don't know what is happening right now.
I don't really know
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Details,
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Details that
Speaker 1 (12:11):
We're the ones to, to unfold that.
Not here, but like in general,
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I mean, Palisade has a huge thriving art scene.
Mm-hmm.
, I'm part of the,we don't call ourselves a board
because we're not elected, butthe council that brings in the
sculptures that are on MainStreet mm-hmm.
, and I mean, weget people, we try to limit it
just to a regional, uh, artist,but we get, we get entries from
(12:40):
all over America.
Cool.
And so I love that Palisadereally has grabbed onto this
whole thing of making space,right?
Mm-hmm.
, like they are,they're all about creating this
town that you visit that isn'tjust, you know, agriculture, but
it's also art and wine and allof that.
(13:01):
Yeah.
And I mean, we're thriving.
Yeah.
Which is terrific.
And I think that, I thinkPalisade is, you know, everyone
is growing.
We're Covid.
I mean, I think Covid had thatwhole thing where people
decided, oh, we can workwherever we, we wanna work.
Let's, we're go to Western,
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Let's Western Colorado
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Mm-hmm.
, let's go toWestern Colorado.
And I think, you know, I mean,it's a gym.
It is.
I mean, it's part of why I cameback here.
I left and moved away and livedeverywhere.
Yeah.
I possibly could and thenI realized, yeah, the Valley is,
I mean, we are really fortunatemm-hmm.
to have what wehave here in the valley.
(13:39):
And I mean, yeah.
I think Palisade is really, thatmain street is thriving.
There's a couple of differentspaces, Harlow, that has my
mm-hmm.
earrings and then,um, the Atrium.
Mm-hmm.
, have you been tothe 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 ownsthe atrium.
(14:01):
So they have Okay.
All their plants and all of thatstuff.
Have I missed that to get outthere?
And they have really goodsardines.
Okay.
.
Ooh, that's
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I mean, secret
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Right there.
If you're a sucker for goodolive oil and sardines, which I
am, that's where you go.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
So we've talked a little bit about Palisade, a
little bit about Fruita.
Amy, what's going on in GrandJunction?
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Well, there's some really cool stuff on the horizon
in Grand Junction that I'mreally excited about.
Um, I'll backtrack a little bitto something that's, that
happened pre Covid and then nowis kind of coming back again.
But, um, a good friend, JosephGonzalez does kind of a pop-up
type, um, experience, I guessyou could call it.
And that's at the Omnia Gallery,which, um, isn't always a
(14:48):
gallery, but for these FridayNight adventures, he mm-hmm.
, he does this hugepop-up thing, and it's so cool.
It's right next to the AvalonTheater on Main Street.
Mm-hmm.
.
So it's a great place to hangout.
And whenever he puts together ashow, I, again, people come,
say's Outta the
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Woodwork's, say it's insane.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
He has, I think single-handedly, um, changed
things around here mm-hmm.
, because I mean,we have the art center and
that's an awesome thing.
And it, and it really, and Iwanna talk
Speaker 1 (15:11):
About that some more too.
Yeah.
Okay.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yeah.
Well, that really suits theneeds of people.
And it's been here since, Imean, I was a little tiny kid
going to the art center, youknow, so it's something that we
count on and we need here.
But Joseph has kind of openedour eyes to a more contemporary,
sort of modern and younger setof artists that mm-hmm.
, I guess I'm oldenough, I didn't even know
existed.
But it's so cool because, um,it's really brought out a lot of
(15:35):
variety and, um, these showstend to sell a lot of pieces
too.
The prices are right.
Um, the gathering is alwayshuge.
Mm-hmm.
, he's got a reallynarrow space mm-hmm.
.
So even with 10 people, and itfeels fun and lively.
He has great food and
Speaker 1 (15:48):
It means that there's a lot of people milling outside
and it gets other people excitedand Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And that's enriching for the downtown because
everyone, every time that he hasone of those shows, it seems
like, I mean, you walk downtownand someone, I mean, there's
people that are waiting to getin that are going to have dinner
or they're gonna go have drinksor mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
and,
and I, and I mentioned young
artists, but really there's awide range.
I show there sometimes.
You've shown there, haven't you?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I have not.
She
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Will be showing that,
Speaker 2 (16:18):
It's not important.
He's, talk to me about it.
Yeah.
, if I would stop makingmugs and start making, I mean,
not to say that mugs are not,but, you know,
Speaker 3 (16:25):
A different kind different utilitarian d
different, but, but veryappreciated.
Um, well, yeah, he gets alldifferent ages in there, all
different kinds of artwork.
It's just been really fun and ithas opened my eyes, but also,
um, you know, I grew up heremm-hmm.
, my dad was one ofthe founders of Art in the
Corner.
I knew that set of artists, youknow, and then, you know,
(16:47):
in between those older guys,there've been a few different
movements Yeah.
Here and there.
You know, there was, um, kaleLowry who had the Planet Earth
and the Four Directions Gallery,and she kind of helped to spark
some things.
And there've always been theongoing brush and palette clubs
and those things that are kindof staples here.
But Joseph, I think is the onewho's kind of, um, brought us
into the next century mm-hmm.
(17:08):
, you know mm-hmm.
and, and it'sreally, really great.
So I'm happy for him.
He also, uh, was was one thatkind of nagged me into showing
again, so he kind of helped mebreak the ice and just get back
out there.
But anyway, so he's back up andrunning.
He took some time off withCovid.
It was just impossible.
Mm-hmm.
.
So he's back up now, so he'll bewatching for shows from him.
Great.
And then, um, also the thingthat I'm working on right now
(17:30):
with a group, um, is called TheTerminal Project.
It doesn't sound very good, butit's.
It's the old bus station.
The terminal.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Yes.
Tell us a little what you knowabout that.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Okay.
Well, I've been on a committeeof about, oh, I don't know,
maybe 10 to 15 people right nowthat, um, have put together a
survey.
Um, it was given out to as manypeople 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 orhousing maybe for artists,
(18:01):
spaces for artists, just ingeneral.
What do we need here to, whatare
Speaker 1 (18:05):
We lacking?
What are we
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Lacking?
Mm-hmm.
.
Yep.
For creative people to thrivemm-hmm.
.
And so it was really amazing andinteresting and very eye-opening
what came back on that survey.
We do need more studio spaces.
We do need more affordaffordable housing, like
apartments mm-hmm.
for, um, creativepeople.
Um, I would like to seedifferent things come in, like,
um, bringing in artists fromdifferent areas to do maybe
(18:27):
temporary stays at this place,you know?
Mm-hmm.
, it's gonna bereally cool.
So the terminal itself is theold bus station?
Yeah.
They're
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Keeping the empty downtown is like fifth and Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Is that
Speaker 1 (18:38):
You fifth and you town?
Yeah,
Speaker 3 (18:39):
There's a design firm that, um, the town is working
with.
So Gig Creates is really a bigpart of this downtown.
The city of Grand Junction, um,is working with a design company
in Aspen to kind of renovatethat old bus station.
And the bottom level is stillkind of in flux right now, the
design.
Mm-hmm.
.
But what I've seen, therenderings are amazing.
The bottom level still lookslike the original bus station.
(19:02):
It'll keep that kind of thirtiesor forties charm that it has.
Yeah.
Brick, brick, exterior.
Mm-hmm.
, it's, yeah.
With some glass wraparoundwindows.
And it's really a neat space.
But then kind of added on tothat and kind of behind it will
be like, I think a nine story,nine to 11 story building tough
apartment spaces now that issubject to change, but that's
(19:23):
what's being talked about or notgreat now.
Yeah.
That's cool.
And then, um, on the bottomlevel there will be, um, retail
type spaces.
We're looking especially at food, um, coffee shops, that type of
thing.
Mm-hmm.
bringing people infor that kind of entertainment
and food is always a good thingto bring people in.
And then up above that, probablya exhibition type gallery space
(19:46):
and some art studios.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Fantastic.
So
Speaker 3 (19:48):
This is, this is amazing.
So what's
Speaker 2 (19:50):
The, what's the time,
Speaker 3 (19:52):
The timeline on that?
Well, we've gone through a lotof it already, so, so just
bringing in that, um, companythat helped us do the surveys
and they've developed lots ofthings around, um, Colorado, but
really around the us Um, youknow, there's a process to this,
but we're hoping within a coupleof years, and again, don't quote
me on that cuz you know howbuilding projects go, but
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
But it's, it's a couple of projects,
Speaker 1 (20:15):
But what a great vision.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Huge.
It's amazing.
And
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Who was kind of leading the charge on that?
Like, looked at it and said, oldbus station, we need to do
something artistic with it.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Oh, there's a really great guy named Adam Roy, and he
lives in Aspen, but he grew upin Grand Junction.
Mm-hmm.
.
So, um, he's there now, but hejust really firmly believes in
kind of renovating these spacesand uh, and making things that
are more useful for the wholeentire community.
Mm-hmm.
that'll just kindof enrich the area.
And he's got a heart for GrandJunction.
Yay.
So, so he's in that.
(20:44):
But then Gig creates as also,you know, know David Go that
works with Gig Creates is a bigpart of this.
And his team there too.
I'm not good at naming all thenames, but, um, yeah.
They know who they are andthey're, yeah.
Yeah, it's been really, reallyinteresting being a part of the
committee and just kind oflearning about these steps.
It's totally different thananything I've ever done, but,
um, to get in on the groundlevel and kind of, kind of see
(21:06):
what people want out there.
Mm-hmm.
has just been soencouraging to me.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Yeah.
Wonderful.
Erin, um, let's talk about theart center a little bit and Yeah
.
What, what your involvement hasbeen with mi Know my kids did
classes.
Yeah.
Summer classes at the artcenter, which was just
absolutely wonderful.
And Rachel is still thereteaching those.
Yeah.
Um, they've expanded theirgallery space, which is really
(21:30):
nice to see because it's not ahuge, um, building, but they
have some really nice rooms.
Um, how do we get more peopleinvolved with the art center?
Oh
Speaker 2 (21:41):
My gosh, that's a hard question.
I mean, because I feel likethere is an, there is definitely
a niche group Yeah.
That's there all the time.
Mm-hmm.
, I think theirclasses fill up all the time.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, they can't keep enoughinstructors in there.
I, I love that.
What they're doing with thiswhole teaching away, having that
(22:02):
satellite mm-hmm.
where they'reteaching in a little bit
different community.
Um, you know, and Terry Shepherdhas been huge with them for
years teaching their clayprogram and Robbie bro.
Mm-hmm.
, she's been great.
Which I was, I kind of thoughtmaybe she was involved in that.
She wasn't she.
Yes.
I was gonna say, so
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Robbie bro is also on that, uh, committee for the bus
terminal.
Okay.
Yeah.
And she's kind of a good bridgebetween the art center and the
terminal.
And I wouldn't doubt it if theydo some
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Collaboration too.
I think that they wouldcollaborate with that.
I mean, you know, she is such astrong force.
She was looking at the old beatfactory.
Oh yeah.
Because she's such a
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Great building.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Speaker 3 (22:40):
No, I know.
Which, I dunno
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Who got that.
That's such a great building.
But you know, they were reallyhoping to get that, the art
center wanted that to sort ofjust have another space mm-hmm.
because we aregrowing mm-hmm.
, I mean, there's alot.
I'm really glad the terminal isWell, and
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Then Art center space is a little constrained, you
know, it is.
Parking lot is not huge.
Yeah.
And they really don't have anyroom to grow there.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
They're definitely outgrowing.
So I think satellite mm-hmm.
Places would behuge.
Mm-hmm.
, I mean, ifthey're able to do something,
you know, with collaborativewith the terminal.
And I really would love to see aout in Palisade.
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 weare thriving, but yeah, the art
(23:25):
center is still thriving.
It just, it's over.
I mean, it really,
Speaker 3 (23:31):
In my life here, I think, and you, you probably can
remember too.
Yeah.
I think it's gone through two orthree transformations.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
, I mean, they justhave to keep adding on, but they
can only go so far in that spacewhere they are in the corner.
Yeah.
Um, and I think even though it'sa little bit off the beaten path
when you're thinking about theMain Street, you know, like a
gallery night when there's somany things to see down on Main
(23:52):
Street, but people still manageto get their selves, get
themselves over there and go towhatever's happening.
I know they just had afundraiser every year.
They have a fun one.
They're
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Auctions.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
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 (24:08):
Yes.
And so that begs the question,so if you're new to Grand
Junction or someone like mewho's, uh, appreciative of the
arts, but busy and not alwayslooking at calendars and things
like that, how do you getplugged into the art scene here?
So you know what's going on?
What's the best way to do that?
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Well these days, I mean, social media.
Social media.
Mm-hmm.
.
Yeah.
That's probably the best way.
I love Instagram because forartists it's just such a great
way to, to get the word outabout things.
Um, looking up things likedowntown G Gig creates, um, the
art center, they're alwaysposting all the events mm-hmm.
and probably thepaper and everything, you know.
(24:48):
But
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I think, I mean, I think going out to the first
Fridays is huge.
Yeah.
Because you're meeting thepeople Yeah.
That are behind the art, right?
Mm-hmm.
, all those showsare great because you're
actually, and, and you can askthe 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?
(25:08):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
.
And occasionally too the, um,different groups will put on,
um, open studio tours too.
You're probably a part of thatin Palisade.
I know they did the ChocolateWalk a couple years ago.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Yeah.
I've done, yeah, I did couple,all of those.
But it means I have to clean mystudio.
.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Oh.
So Erin not participating.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Another good reason for satellite,
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Right?
That's right.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I, sorry, I'll just step in this, this space over
here.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
I'm not really an expert on how people find out
about stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I mean, I think social media, but I do think,
cuz I think what happens is weget lo like, especially people
that are moving here, this iswhat I've heard is people get
lonely in this valley becauseit's hard to make those mm-hmm.
, you know mm-hmm.
, yeah.
Acquaintances.
Mm-hmm.
.
Yeah.
So I think making sure thatyou're going to a first Friday
event.
(25:58):
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
, you know, andjust one of those could plug you
into a whole community Right.
Of people and setting up forclasses.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Right.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Take classes.
Yeah, that's true.
Meet
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Class, take a few new people, take class, lead you to
something else.
But getting involved in the artcommunity, um, Suzanne took a
cooking class the other nightthat she really loved and yeah.
She said it was not only greatand creative, but she met all
kinds of people she didn't knowbefore.
And,
Speaker 3 (26:21):
You know, that's something we maybe wanna touch
on a little bit here because Ihave heard that, I wouldn't say
this part, but that GrandJunction is a little bit on the
closed side.
You know, we all have our littlegroups or our families here.
Like if we've been raised here,we've got our Sunday night
dinner with mom and dad orwhatever.
It's kind of hard for someone tostep into that sometimes.
But I have noticed at the artshows, it's really easy to talk
to people and the people arereally receptive to to mm-hmm.
(26:43):
the conversations.
Mm-hmm.
, you know.
Yeah.
It's not that hard to exexchange information and meet up
at the next one or whatever.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Agree.
I mean, I keep thinking, oh, I'mgonna make it to such and such
and then it goes by and I didn'tmake edit.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Just,
Speaker 1 (26:57):
I wanna do more.
I was really glad I got to go toyour show.
Oh,
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Me too.
I can't believe you fit.
That's awesome.
Been
Speaker 1 (27:02):
There very long.
But um, what's next foryou, Amy?
Like, are there any, any kind oftechniques or things that you're
interested in trying that youhaven't done yet?
You see, you wanna go to Aaron'spottery classes?
I should.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Pottery was the one class that I'm just so terribly
my husband Can
Speaker 2 (27:22):
You teach me?
You teach me.
You.
I'll do a piece.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
Hey.
Okay.
Collaboration.
Okay.
I think I know which one of usis gonna do better than the
other one.
, my husband, when Ifirst met him, he was making
these beautiful clay teapots andI, and I just, I couldn't never
get the wheel down, so
Speaker 2 (27:39):
That's right.
Yeah.
You guys went on the bronze tripto Santa Fe.
We did.
Yeah.
That's right.
A fateful trip because we pouryou Did you pour
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Brawns?
I didn't, well I was in the, Iwas in a mold making class.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Okay.
.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah.
This is so romantic sounding.
We, we met in mold making, but yeah.
But I was always hanging aroundand doing stuff over there.
So Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
We should say that your husband is a creative Yes.
Also and that you all ownvintage overland trailers.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Yes.
And
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Produce those.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
That's right.
And, um, luck.
Luckily for me, I have hisexpert skills to build a last
minute frame, which is exactlywhat he did for my last show.
wonderful.
And I didn't have time to ordertwo frames.
He got down there in the shopand did it.
So yeah.
We collaborate a lot on thingsactually.
Mm-hmm.
and I'm constantlydown in his studio working and
Yeah.
And he gets in my way too.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
So.
Are there any materials thatyou're gonna try out next?
Go around or, yes.
You know, what's, what's on thehorizon for
Speaker 3 (28:34):
You?
Oh, I'm really excited becausenow that I'm finally really back
in it, like I just, my onlyfrustration is time.
You know, I've got, well I won'ttell you how old I'm gonna be
this year,, but I have alot to do.
So I'm really excited about it.
I'm right now, um, I'm kind ofgetting into some wood sculpture
and woodworking, which I havealways really liked.
I liked the chisel and themallet and yeah.
(28:56):
And it's just kind of a funprocess.
So I'm hoping to do some kind oftwo dimensional wall sculptures.
Um, I'd also like to do somehanging pieces, kind of, um,
kinetic type artwork.
Um, still keep up with thepainting.
Mm-hmm.
, I, I'll enjoythat forever, I think.
I can't imagine not doing that.
Yeah.
But probably with a little bitdifferent materials.
I'm looking at concrete rightnow and, um, as kind of a
(29:17):
surface to work on.
And yeah.
Just every day I have a newidea, so it's just a matter of
pacing myself.
Mm-hmm.
and keeping at it.
But
Speaker 1 (29:26):
You're, you, you have shown, not just here, but you've
had some other shows up in themountains
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Too, so.
Yeah.
Um, mostly in Aspen.
Um, uh, a lot of the listenersmight 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.
.
And it's turned into an artcenter now.
It's just a beautiful space.
And so I've done, um, groupshows there, uh, and also like a
large group show and then acouple of small group shows.
I'll have another one in July.
(29:54):
Um, it'll be me and then threeother artists.
And it's an abstract show, sothat'll be fun to see too.
Awesome.
Love
Speaker 2 (29:59):
It.
What about you Aaron?
My gosh.
What are you excited about mydoing next?
Um, there's a lot.
.
There's a lot.
Um, so Verne Mosher, uh, who wasmy, one of my mentors mm-hmm.
, my main mentor inClay.
Uh, I had him build a kiln forme, like the structure, but I
(30:21):
have to put all the brick in itand brick it up.
So that is on the top of thelist.
Yeah.
Because a new kil, you know, anew kiln that is a high fire
kiln, which that's what Ilearned to fire in, was a
reduction fire kiln.
Um, which is really exciting,but also really intimidating
Uhhuh because youhave to babysit those puppies
(30:42):
all the time.
Um, so that is on the list.
And then my daughter challengedme to make sculptures cuz I said
I haven't done sculptures and Ihave some my bronze work in the
house in some of my claysculptures in the house.
And she said, mom, you need todo this.
You need to go back and do someof your sculptures this year.
Oh wow.
I challenge you cuz she'sentering high school.
(31:05):
That's good.
Uhhuh in this,she'll be a freshman.
Um, cuz she's getting ready tograduate.
And she said my freshman year,you
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Can't say no
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Anything for the kids.
I know.
Anything.
So I need to, I need to do someof that and I'd
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Like to see that.
I don't think I've ever seen anyof your sculpture.
Maybe I have.
Really?
I need to see more.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
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, collike, cuz there was a lot of
talent when we were in school.
I would love to put together ashow of some of the really great
top.
I mean, it would be so much fun.
It would be,
Speaker 3 (31:42):
We're all more mature now.
We're all
Speaker 2 (31:43):
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 athread through the tunnel.
Love it.
of, of like raising yourchildren and your family and all
of that stuff.
And not let, trying to keep upwith your artwork.
(32:04):
Trying to keep up with yourartwork and not let dap fall
away from you.
Mm-hmm.
.
So I would love to get a grouptogether mm-hmm.
, uh, that we wentto school with and just put a
show together.
That would be great.
Yeah.
Joseph,
Speaker 3 (32:15):
That would be so, that's
Speaker 2 (32:16):
So neat.
We, Joseph,
Speaker 3 (32:17):
We went to school with us too.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
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.
.
And he had a business in Veilfor years where he did, I did
not know that.
Yeah.
But now he drives trains.
Mm-hmm.
.
So I keep trying to get him todo PE cuz he does, he makes
(32:39):
beautiful spoons mm-hmm.
.
And I'm like, you should makethe spoons and I'll put'em in
the salad bowl.
Kind
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Of goes with what you do
Speaker 2 (32:47):
.
He's like, you're insane.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
In his free time.
In his
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Free time.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Yeah.
Both of you.
Yeah.
, what advice would youhave, Aaron, for someone looking
to make a career in the arts?
I mean, it's not an easy way tosupport yourself or your family.
If you gotta, you gotta love it.
I mean,
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I especially for, I mean my, my mind goes
specifically to clay workbecause there's so many stages
of it.
Mm-hmm.
and it has takenme a lifetime of collecting
, the pieces mm-hmm.
to put ittogether.
So I've never lost the vision ofit, but patience, I would say be
(33:26):
patient with yourself, um, andyou know, in your, do what you
can do.
Mm-hmm.
, do what you cando in your life when you, you
know, if you get a minute, ifyou can steal a minute away just
to, just to sketch.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Don't put it off.
Right.
Don't put it off before you knowit.
You're in your fifties, right?
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
No,
absolutely what you
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Like.
There's so many more things Iwant to do.
Absolutely.
So, and I wish I hadn't wastedso much time when I was younger.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
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 skillgoing.
I feel like you can't justdefinitely not to say that you
lose it, it's more like runninga marathon.
It is more like running amarathon.
You just have to keep going.
And some days are trudging.
I mean, I'm just gonna say it,some days are not pretty,
(34:14):
, you know, andespecially, I mean, with clay
work, there's so much failure.
I mean there, it really is alesson.
Really.
It is a lesson.
This is when I'm teaching mystudents, um, I'm like, this is
a lesson and letting go becauseif you love something, it's
gonna blah, blah.
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Yeah.
That's right.
How many, how many batches?
Like one outta 10, just likecomplete fails?
Speaker 2 (34:36):
Oh gosh.
Well, I mean, what's, what'sinteresting is, so when you're
working with clay, you're always, you always have some piece
that is, cuz they mine, youknow, when I make the, cuz I mix
all my glazes, right?
Mm-hmm.
.
So they mine all those, allthose different things from
different parts of the world.
So let's say you get an elementfrom a different, a different
mine.
All of a sudden you're lazedthat has worked
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Different properties.
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Yeah.
It doesn't, it doesn't workbecause 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'tknow, you just, out of all the
batches, I would say, you know,you just, you just lose, you
just have to be ready to losesome of the pieces.
It kind of teaches you to beflexible.
(35:20):
It, it teaches you to beflexible.
I mean, all my life lessons havebeen learned Totally.
Through guiding, through being ariver guide.
Um, flipping RAsunexpectedly, and clay.
Because it just, yeah.
You can't, you can't really hangon to
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Impermanence you.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Yeah, absolutely.
You have a vision.
You think you're headed onedirection and then you're
actually not
Speaker 1 (35:43):
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 littlebit of creativity in there and
then I, I get lost in the how amI gonna get there?
So I just never do it.
So, kudos to you.
You offer No, I actually do
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Doing it.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
what advice
would you have, Amy, for someone
that wants to have a career inthe arts?
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Well, I would say if it is in you, you'll know it
because it will na at you andyou will not be able to escape
it.
Mm-hmm.
, um, when Istarted college and I told my
dad, who also has a degree inart and, and he was a, you know,
professional artist, a seriousartist for years and years.
Um, he was like, are you surethat's what you wanna do because
(36:21):
you don't have to mm-hmm.
, you could dosomething else.
You know, I, I know it was hardfor 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, Iwould kind of do a little bit
here and there just enough tokeep my feet wet or to keep that
muscle strength or whatever, youknow.
Cause it is like an exercise.
(36:41):
But, um, it was a frustration tonot be doing it full-time like I
wanted to.
Mm-hmm.
.
Um, and of course I wanted to bea mom and I wanted to do all
these other things too.
Yeah.
And that's, that is kind of whatwomen have to contend with.
And dads too.
But I think women have aneven, um, a bigger
responsibility in thatparenthood thing when it comes
to art versus parenting.
(37:04):
Um, anyway, it, it just, it kepteating at me.
Yeah.
And, um, it was a happy person,but I was a slightly frustrated
person until I got back into itagain.
And then I just, uh, I kind ofwent at it and I had a different
approach to it.
And that was to allow myself tomake mistakes.
So I would definitely say tosomebody, you know, if you're
gonna choose this path, if itreally is who you are, and you
(37:26):
can do it for fun, but if youwant it as a career, uh, give
yourself some leeway to makesome mistakes and to realize too
that it takes a long time.
Mm-hmm.
It's not something, unless youknow, you're just a really lucky
person or a genius.
It's not something that you justpick 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'tlet your plan B take precedence
(37:48):
over the plan A, make sureyou're absolutely, absolutely.
Like what you said, Erin, makesure you're still doing
something.
Always.
Even if it's small, even
Speaker 2 (37:54):
If it's not your, I mean, I've been watching again
with social media, but thiswoman that, because she doesn't
have a big printing press, butshe takes, um, beer cans or soda
cans, and she itches into'em.
Wow.
And actually prints that metalfrom that.
Wow.
And I thought, what a geniusway.
Yeah.
To recycle your recycling.
(38:16):
It's cheap, cheap.
And you're, and you're stilldoing what you love, even though
you don't have the studio space.
Mm-hmm.
.
So, you know, if you don't havethe studio space, you know, get
creative.
Get creative, creative.
That's what, that's what reallyart is about anyway.
Right.
It's like thinking completelyout of it.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
And, and that's it.
If you're a person who wants todo this as a career, you're a
creative person already.
And that is gonna save yourlife.
You're gonna have to becreative.
I've pieced jobs together, youknow?
Right.
But I promised myself that Iwould always do something that
was in the art world, whether itwas teaching or, you know,
working for an art productioncompany or whatever it was.
Um, it always had to do withart.
So try to stay in there somehow.
(38:52):
Well, when you
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Really are your own standalone, I mean, you have,
because we both come from alegacy of art, Uhhuh
, which is cool,but you have created your, like
your own thing, which I love.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Oh, thank you.
You too.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Both
Speaker 2 (39:08):
Of you.
Well, I didn't go in, I mean,one of the reasons that I did
not go into 2D is because therewas no way in I was gonna
attempt because I was reallyintimidated by my grandfather's
artwork, you know?
Oh
Speaker 3 (39:20):
Yeah.
And he is a famous artist.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
He has a famous artist.
.
So cool.
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
So Aaron, if people wanna know more about how to buy
what you create or take yourclasses, how do they find out
about them?
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Um, so you can go to my website, esm Pottery Farm.
Um, you can follow me onInstagram.
That's the most current,although Love your videos by the
way.
Oh, thank you.
Mm-hmm.
.
Um, Instagram, I try to keep itreally current even with my
class schedule because you know,it's hard to, it's hard to, you
know, reach out to every singleperson that says, I wanted to
(39:55):
send me a, send me a link.
Just follow me.
Yeah.
, just follow me onInstagram.
Um, yeah.
And, you know, or stop by thefarm too.
The farm.
Go check the farm out.
Yeah.
If you have not been to thefarm, you have to go check the
farm out cuz it's a reallyamazing space.
Super cool.
And that's Allegheny Meadows.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Allegheny Meadows and Gavin.
And
Speaker 2 (40:16):
Gavin Brooks.
And it's just, I mean, it's a,that is also, it's a treasure
for the Valley.
Mm-hmm.
.
It was really, that's a gift forthe Valley for sure.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
So excited about that.
And Amy, where do people findmore about your work?
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Well, the best place is also Instagram and it's just
Amy Perr on Instagram.
A m i p u r s e r.
Um, I am currently building anew website and so, um, but I'll
have links to that on Instagramand everything too, or whatever.
You can find me through that.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Awesome.
Well, before we, uh, close upfor the day, I know when we
first got here, we were talkingabout, you know, that PBS
interview, Turn, SaturdayNight Live.
We're having fun with that.
So we're not going to talk aboutSweaty Balls,
Speaker 2 (41:02):
But
Speaker 1 (41:04):
We could, I'd, I'd throw it in there.
Shoes.
Mine
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Are the best.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Yours are the best.
I cherish them.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Guys are awesome.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Well, thanks everybody for watching and
listening.
Please support the arts in ourcommunity.
Um, follow these ladies, uh, ontheir Instagram and that will
lead you to follow other artistsas well, because I know that you
all follow other artists intown.
We
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Have a few.
Yeah.
Oh
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Yeah, absolutely.
And so yes,
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Go down the rabbit hole, right?
Like go down fun, the rabbithole.
Yeah.
Set a day aside a week.
Right.
Find the artists in this town.
Follow them, support them.
Um, that's what one of thethings that makes a beautiful,
thriving community is the artscene.
And I think we can never havetoo much of it here.
So let's keep going.
Yes, absolutely.
Thank you all for cheers to thatcreative work and cheering your
(41:54):
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 theFull Circle podcast.
Bye.
Thanks for listening.
This is Christie Reese signingout from the Full Circle
Podcast.
The Full Circle podcast, compelling interviews
and incredible tales fromColorado's Western Slope, from
the mountains to the desert.
Christie Reese and her team herefrom the Movers Shakers, and
characters of the Grand Valleyand surrounding mountain towns
that make the Western slope theplace we all love.
You'll learn, you'll laugh,you'll love with the full
circle.
Hi everyone, and welcome back tothe Full Circle podcast.
(00:27):
I'm your host Christie Reese,and I'm so excited today to have
two of my favorite local artistsfrom the Grand Valley, miss Amy
Perr, Mrs.
Amy Perr, and Mrs.
Aaron Stevens.
Marner, welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Hello.
Thank you.
Hi,
Speaker 3 (00:40):
You, so much good to be
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Here.
I am such a fan of both of yourwork, and I was just really
excited to think about hostingyou all and talking about the
art scene in the Grand Valley.
What's going on now, what you'reseeing, how it's improving, what
we can still do to make it evenbetter, because I think we have
some room for growth there.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Yeah, there is a lot happening though.
Yeah.
Um, would you like to talk aboutthat first?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Well, you just had a show.
Speaker 3 (01:05):
I did.
I do.
So
Speaker 2 (01:06):
You should, you should talk about, you should
talk about it.
First one.
I,
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Okay.
So before you talk about yourshow, talk a little bit about
your background.
I wanna know, um, uh, becauseyou're both, you both grew up in
Grand Junction.
Yes.
Uh, I wanna know a little bitabout your history and then your
art media.
Speaker 3 (01:23):
Okay.
Well, yes.
I did grow up in Grand Junction,um, with an artist's dad.
So I, I guess I've been aroundart my whole life.
And, um, it's in me.
I love it.
Mm-hmm.
that's where I met Erin.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Yeah.
We were in, we were in classtogether.
Yeah.
We were, were, which I can'tremember which class.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Well, I was over in the two-dimensional, um,
department, but sometimes Iwould come over to the 3D side
where you were at.
Like sometimes
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Would come over to the duty.
Every now and again,
Speaker 3 (01:55):
We were destined to be friends.
Yeah.
So, um, yeah, I got my educationhere and, um, have done lots of,
uh, I guess freelance type work,commission work over the years
mm-hmm.
grownups of all ages, startingfrom two, I think my oldest
student was like 88 years old.
Wow.
And, um, I've done a little bitof adjunct work at the college
(02:16):
too, and, um, just kind offloated around.
But over the past, um, two orthree years, I've really just
focused on my artwork.
That's what I set out to dooriginally.
Mm-hmm.
and got a little sidetracked.
Yeah.
So, um, now that's where I'm atand it's been great, um, showing
around, uh, Colorado right nowat this point, um, in town and a
(02:38):
little bit out of town.
And, um, yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
So will you tell us a little bit about the media that
you like to work with?
Speaker 3 (02:44):
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 acrylicpaints, but kind of a mixed
media technique.
I sometimes use some wax.
I like using graphite.
I like to just kind of mix it upand get in there with my hands
(03:05):
almost, um, a sculptural typeprocess.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
It's really beautiful.
We have a piece here Thanks.
Right here in the office, andwe're gonna show you some
pictures of that and, and otherpictures of Amy's work.
So excited about that.
Thank
Speaker 3 (03:17):
You,
Speaker 1 (03:17):
All right, Aaron, your turn.
artwork.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
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 uphere 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 aarts movement back in the
(03:45):
forties.
Um, that's so cool.
But came back, he was actuallythe head of the Columbia
University Art Department andbrought back a bunch of people
to Redstone and then just grewup immersed sort of in that, in
that art world, which I thinkwhen you, I mean, you touched on
this, but when you're steeped inart, like you can try to run
(04:06):
from it.
Speaker 4 (04:07):
Yes.
I had a half
I
Speaker 2 (04:09):
Definitely tried to run from it that, uh, wound up
back there and, you know, leftthe valley, but came back to
mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
That's what I originally cameback for, but,
Speaker 1 (04:23):
And pottery is, is what you work with mostly
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Pottery and printmaking.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Um, but sort of the marriage ofthose two.
And that's why I asked.
I wasn't sure whether you werein printmaking with me, but, oh,
Speaker 3 (04:36):
I did take that class.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
Yeah.
I think we did
That was it.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
But I mean, I love, I love printmaking and I wanted to
marry those, those two mm-hmm.
And I've tried, and I do alittle bit of that in almost
every kiln load.
I do some printmaking on clay,
Speaker 1 (04:56):
So.
Cool.
And we have very cool, so wehave Amy's art on the wall here,
and then we have, um, theselovely mugs,
made, and also my earrings weremade by Erin.
And, um, love going to yourshows, um, holiday shows and
things like that.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Yeah.
Thank you.
Yep.
All great.
You're a great supporter of thearts.
You are.
Well,
Speaker 1 (05:16):
You are.
Keep bringing it,
Keep bringing it.
So let's go back to your show.
Amy, tell us about the show thatyou have opened and how long it
runs and what people can seethere.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Okay.
Well, this show is out in a newspace called Orbit Art Space,
and it's in Fruit of Colorado.
It's a really nice, kind ofeclectic space.
It's, it's fairly new, like Isaid, I think it's been open
maybe about a year.
And, um, Garrett Day is theowner.
He's already brought in so manydifferent kinds of art and
people that maybe he didn't knowabout, but probably live here.
(05:48):
Mm-hmm.
of have to be coaxed out.
I've noticed
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 ofgift items.
I do believe you've got somethings also there for
Speaker 2 (06:03):
Sale.
Yeah.
And you're right, he does coaxout the artists in the Valley
because there is an immenseamount of talent here.
But he absolutely, well, he cameto me and said, I want you in
the gallery.
Mm-hmm.
He was one of, and I said,
Speaker 1 (06:16):
How long's he been open there?
Speaker 3 (06:18):
I think it's been about a year.
I, okay.
I I might be wrong on that, butit hasn't been real long.
But he has also done some prettyinteresting shows.
Like, um, he's had someperformance type things
happening there.
Nice.
Some music and different, um, Ithink some film projections
stuff that I didn't seeunfortunately, but I heard it
was really amazing.
Mm-hmm.
So, um, my show right now, uh,runs throughout a, throughout
(06:39):
May, it just opened up.
And a titled past presence kindof deals a lot with, um, time
and just things that I'mthinking about right now.
And it's all painting, it's alltwo-dimensional work.
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
But the, the one large horizontal piece that had
the birds and the flowersmm-hmm.
It was really unique.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Oh, yes.
Thank you.
Um, that's a little bitdifferent than the other pieces
in the show, and it's bigger.
Um, that piece was originallydone to, um, go to the Aspen
City Hall.
They have a new building thatthey constructed a couple of
years ago, and, um, they broughtin 10 different artists to
display work temporarily forabout, um, I think it was a year
and a half.
And so my piece was one ofthose, and I was extra amazing,
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Proud
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Because I was the only one that wasn't from the
Roaring Fork Valley.
Uhhuh
So they, they brought in aforeigner
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Which felt really good coming from the West Slope
Yeah.
And, um, that piece has fourpanels all put together in a
horizontal format, and it has alot of kind of etched in, kind
of goes back to printmaking.
I love, um, back when I used todo that, just the etching into
the plate that you print withmm-hmm.
(07:48):
the print oftentimes.
Yeah.
So that piece has a lot of birdsand flowers kind of etched into
it, and butterflies.
And they represent the migratoryspecies that, um, migrate
between Mexico and ourparticular area of the Western
slope.
Speaker 1 (08:03):
Neat.
Well, it's just beautiful.
Oh, thank
Speaker 3 (08:05):
You.
So
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Those of you that are listening or watching, make sure
you get out to orbit art spacein Fruita and see Amy show.
And I was really excited to gothere because, um, I'd, I'd not
known anything about this space.
Yeah.
I knew about the farm as we haveour new office in Fruita and the
farm's right behind us.
And then I was like, oh, it'sjust right here.
It's right off the circle.
Yeah.
And it's a beautiful littlespace.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
It's really neat.
Mm-hmm.
It's in the historical buildingthat used to be kind of a, um,
next to the bank that was there.
And yeah, it's from the 18hundreds.
It's really neat.
And, um, that whole section ofFruita, well all of Fruita is
really becoming a place that'sworth visiting.
So yeah.
Garrett does hold, um, firstFriday events out there, so
Yeah.
Totally worth the trick.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Yeah.
He does a great job curatingmm-hmm.
the local artists.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
Yes.
And I think as artists, we'rejust so happy to have some wall
space.
Yes.
And that is something that'sreally changing too, around the
Grand Valley.
There are more and more placesthat are, um, that are
specifically for artists toshow, which is a new thing.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Well talk about that some more.
Um, Aaron?
Yeah.
You have your own pottery studioI do.
On your property.
And you're teaching classes now?
Speaker 2 (09:14):
I am teaching classes, but I'm teaching them
at the farm out in Fruita.
So I'm trekking
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Across
Speaker 2 (09:19):
The valley.
Okay.
I
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
To go to the farm to teach, um, which is a great, I
mean, I wish that every, everytown in the valley had a little,
uh, art center.
Mm-hmm.
own little art center, claycenter as well.
But I am teaching out there andit's great.
It's a great space.
Mm-hmm.
(09:44):
you know Ashton?
Speaker 3 (09:46):
I
Speaker 2 (09:46):
Know Ash Ashton means , uh, Ashton means, and Matthew
Jones have a, have a space thatthey've rented.
But the art center, I'm not sureexactly how this works, but the
art Center also books, classesthrough them.
So I'm teaching through the Artcenter, but in their studio
mm-hmm.
And so it's been amazing, thelove of Clay.
Yeah.
I mean, people just, that wholebringing people in to work in
(10:10):
clay, it's like they've learnedto play Uhhuh again.
You know, they're just, I'veseen
Speaker 3 (10:16):
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.
It is open to everyone.
They're
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Discrimination.
It just
Speaker 3 (10:25):
Looks like so much fun.
I mean, there's smiles on theirfaces and that's something that
I think would be a, a really funand kind of a safe place to try
it out too.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Oh, absolutely.
And I mean, it really is, Ithink the people that are coming
in to take it, they're gettingoutta their comfort zone.
Mm-hmm.
It's not, I mean, creating artis always, I don't know, we
learn that at a young age.
Right, right.
Speaker 1 (10:46):
But like they say, what, what age is it when people
start saying they're not artistsanymore?
Like, children will say they areartists until
Speaker 2 (10:52):
They hit teenage of 20, teenager
Speaker 1 (10:53):
About middle school years, and you start being
self-conscious about yourabilities.
Yeah.
And then you, people say, I'mnot creative.
I'm not an artist.
And
Speaker 2 (11:00):
There's something messy enough about clay that I
think it, it, I don't know, itunlocks something mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
beautiful.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
You can't be too uptight or precious about
Speaker 2 (11:18):
It.
You can't, cannot be precious.
Speaker 3 (11:20):
Your people cannot be precious about it.
Forget the manicure.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
Yeah.
Forget the manicure.
But there's a lot of sci.
I mean, you, you know, there's alot of science behind the clay
piece of it too.
I mean, I love
Speaker 1 (11:32):
The, it's not as much multi stuff.
You can't just like throw it ina regular oven and no think it's
gonna come out.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
No.
And I think, I mean, this goesback to my, you know, being
raised in the valley, but my dadwas a science teacher.
He was a geology Oh, okay.
Teacher.
And so that marriage of the artand the science piece of it is,
yeah.
I love it.
That's so perfect for you.
Yeah.
It's, it's,
Speaker 1 (11:56):
So Erin, um, talk a little bit about the Palisade
art scene, cuz you live inPalisade and, um, I know there's
been some changes with Blue PigGallery and what do you see
happening there,
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Well, I don't know what is happening right now.
I don't really know
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Details,
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Details that
Speaker 1 (12:11):
We're the ones to, to unfold that.
Not here, but like in general,
Speaker 2 (12:16):
I mean, Palisade has a huge thriving art scene.
Mm-hmm.
because we're not elected, butthe council that brings in the
sculptures that are on MainStreet mm-hmm.
just to a regional, uh, artist,but we get, we get entries from
(12:40):
all over America.
Cool.
And so I love that Palisadereally has grabbed onto this
whole thing of making space,right?
Mm-hmm.
town that you visit that isn'tjust, you know, agriculture, but
it's also art and wine and allof that.
(13:01):
Yeah.
And I mean, we're thriving.
Yeah.
Which is terrific.
And I think that, I thinkPalisade is, you know, everyone
is growing.
We're Covid.
I mean, I think Covid had thatwhole thing where people
decided, oh, we can workwherever we, we wanna work.
Let's, we're go to Western,
Speaker 1 (13:18):
Let's Western Colorado
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Mm-hmm.
And I think, you know, I mean,it's a gym.
It is.
I mean, it's part of why I cameback here.
I left and moved away and livedeverywhere.
Yeah.
I possibly could
I mean, we are really fortunatemm-hmm.
(13:39):
And I mean, yeah.
I think Palisade is really, thatmain street is thriving.
There's a couple of differentspaces, Harlow, that has my
mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
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 ownsthe atrium.
(14:01):
So they have Okay.
All their plants and all of thatstuff.
Have I missed that to get outthere?
And they have really goodsardines.
Okay.
Ooh, that's
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I mean, secret
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Right there.
If you're a sucker for goodolive oil and sardines, which I
am
Speaker 1 (14:22):
So we've talked a little bit about Palisade, a
little bit about Fruita.
Amy, what's going on in GrandJunction?
Speaker 3 (14:27):
Well, there's some really cool stuff on the horizon
in Grand Junction that I'mreally excited about.
Um, I'll backtrack a little bitto something that's, that
happened pre Covid and then nowis kind of coming back again.
But, um, a good friend, JosephGonzalez does kind of a pop-up
type, um, experience, I guessyou could call it.
And that's at the Omnia Gallery,which, um, isn't always a
(14:48):
gallery, but for these FridayNight adventures, he mm-hmm.
It's right next to the AvalonTheater on Main Street.
Mm-hmm.
So it's a great place to hangout.
And whenever he puts together ashow, I, again, people come,
say's Outta the
Speaker 2 (15:01):
Woodwork's, say it's insane.
Speaker 3 (15:02):
He has, I think single-handedly, um, changed
things around here mm-hmm.
that's an awesome thing.
And it, and it really, and Iwanna talk
Speaker 1 (15:11):
About that some more too.
Yeah.
Okay.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
Yeah.
Well, that really suits theneeds of people.
And it's been here since, Imean, I was a little tiny kid
going to the art center, youknow, so it's something that we
count on and we need here.
But Joseph has kind of openedour eyes to a more contemporary,
sort of modern and younger setof artists that mm-hmm.
existed
But it's so cool because, um,it's really brought out a lot of
(15:35):
variety and, um, these showstend to sell a lot of pieces
too.
The prices are right.
Um, the gathering is alwayshuge.
Mm-hmm.
So even with 10 people, and itfeels fun and lively.
He has great food and
Speaker 1 (15:48):
It means that there's a lot of people milling outside
and it gets other people excitedand Absolutely.
Speaker 2 (15:53):
And that's enriching for the downtown because
everyone, every time that he hasone of those shows, it seems
like, I mean, you walk downtownand someone, I mean, there's
people that are waiting to getin that are going to have dinner
or they're gonna go have drinksor mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
artists, but really there's awide range.
I show there sometimes.
You've shown there, haven't you?
Speaker 2 (16:15):
I have not.
She
Speaker 3 (16:16):
Will be showing that
Speaker 2 (16:18):
It's not important.
He's, talk to me about it.
Yeah.
not to say that mugs are not,but, you know,
Speaker 3 (16:25):
A different kind different utilitarian d
different, but, but veryappreciated.
Um, well, yeah, he gets alldifferent ages in there, all
different kinds of artwork.
It's just been really fun and ithas opened my eyes, but also,
um, you know, I grew up heremm-hmm.
Corner.
I knew that set of artists, youknow, and then, you know,
(16:47):
in between those older guys,there've been a few different
movements Yeah.
Here and there.
You know, there was, um, kaleLowry who had the Planet Earth
and the Four Directions Gallery,and she kind of helped to spark
some things.
And there've always been theongoing brush and palette clubs
and those things that are kindof staples here.
But Joseph, I think is the onewho's kind of, um, brought us
into the next century mm-hmm.
(17:08):
So I'm happy for him.
He also, uh, was was one thatkind of nagged me into showing
again, so he kind of helped mebreak the ice and just get back
out there.
But anyway, so he's back up andrunning.
He took some time off withCovid.
It was just impossible.
Mm-hmm.
So he's back up now, so he'll bewatching for shows from him.
Great.
And then, um, also the thingthat I'm working on right now
(17:30):
with a group, um, is called TheTerminal Project.
It doesn't sound very good, butit's
It's the old bus station.
The terminal.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (17:38):
Yes.
Tell us a little what you knowabout that.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
Okay.
Well, I've been on a committeeof about, oh, I don't know,
maybe 10 to 15 people right nowthat, um, have put together a
survey.
Um, it was given out to as manypeople 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 orhousing maybe for artists,
(18:01):
spaces for artists, just ingeneral.
What do we need here to, whatare
Speaker 1 (18:05):
We lacking?
What are we
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Lacking?
Mm-hmm.
Yep.
For creative people to thrivemm-hmm.
And so it was really amazing andinteresting and very eye-opening
what came back on that survey.
We do need more studio spaces.
We do need more affordaffordable housing, like
apartments mm-hmm.
Um, I would like to seedifferent things come in, like,
um, bringing in artists fromdifferent areas to do maybe
(18:27):
temporary stays at this place,you know?
Mm-hmm.
So the terminal itself is theold bus station?
Yeah.
They're
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Keeping the empty downtown is like fifth and Yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
Is that
Speaker 1 (18:38):
You fifth and you town?
Yeah,
Speaker 3 (18:39):
There's a design firm that, um, the town is working
with.
So Gig Creates is really a bigpart of this downtown.
The city of Grand Junction, um,is working with a design company
in Aspen to kind of renovatethat old bus station.
And the bottom level is stillkind of in flux right now, the
design.
Mm-hmm.
But what I've seen, therenderings are amazing.
The bottom level still lookslike the original bus station.
(19:02):
It'll keep that kind of thirtiesor forties charm that it has.
Yeah.
Brick, brick, exterior.
Mm-hmm.
With some glass wraparoundwindows.
And it's really a neat space.
But then kind of added on tothat and kind of behind it will
be like, I think a nine story,nine to 11 story building tough
apartment spaces now that issubject to change, but that's
(19:23):
what's being talked about or notgreat now.
Yeah.
That's cool.
And then, um, on the bottomlevel there will be, um, retail
type spaces.
We're looking especially at food, um, coffee shops, that type of
thing.
Mm-hmm.
and food is always a good thingto bring people in.
And then up above that, probablya exhibition type gallery space
(19:46):
and some art studios.
Speaker 1 (19:47):
Fantastic.
So
Speaker 3 (19:48):
This is, this is amazing.
So what's
Speaker 2 (19:50):
The, what's the time,
Speaker 3 (19:52):
The timeline on that?
Well, we've gone through a lotof it already, so, so just
bringing in that, um, companythat helped us do the surveys
and they've developed lots ofthings around, um, Colorado, but
really around the us Um, youknow, there's a process to this,
but we're hoping within a coupleof years, and again, don't quote
me on that cuz you know howbuilding projects go, but
Speaker 1 (20:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (20:14):
But it's, it's a couple of projects,
Speaker 1 (20:15):
But what a great vision.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's
Speaker 3 (20:17):
Huge.
It's amazing.
And
Speaker 1 (20:18):
Who was kind of leading the charge on that?
Like, looked at it and said, oldbus station, we need to do
something artistic with it.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Oh, there's a really great guy named Adam Roy, and he
lives in Aspen, but he grew upin Grand Junction.
Mm-hmm.
So, um, he's there now, but hejust really firmly believes in
kind of renovating these spacesand uh, and making things that
are more useful for the wholeentire community.
Mm-hmm.
And he's got a heart for GrandJunction.
Yay.
So, so he's in that.
(20:44):
But then Gig creates as also,you know, know David Go that
works with Gig Creates is a bigpart of this.
And his team there too.
I'm not good at naming all thenames, but, um, yeah.
They know who they are andthey're, yeah.
Yeah, it's been really, reallyinteresting being a part of the
committee and just kind oflearning about these steps.
It's totally different thananything I've ever done, but,
um, to get in on the groundlevel and kind of, kind of see
(21:06):
what people want out there.
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (21:09):
Yeah.
Wonderful.
Erin, um, let's talk about theart center a little bit and Yeah
.
What, what your involvement hasbeen with mi Know my kids did
classes.
Yeah.
Summer classes at the artcenter, which was just
absolutely wonderful.
And Rachel is still thereteaching those.
Yeah.
Um, they've expanded theirgallery space, which is really
(21:30):
nice to see because it's not ahuge, um, building, but they
have some really nice rooms.
Um, how do we get more peopleinvolved with the art center?
Oh
Speaker 2 (21:41):
My gosh, that's a hard question.
I mean, because I feel likethere is an, there is definitely
a niche group Yeah.
That's there all the time.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, they can't keep enoughinstructors in there.
I, I love that.
What they're doing with thiswhole teaching away, having that
(22:02):
satellite mm-hmm.
different community.
Um, you know, and Terry Shepherdhas been huge with them for
years teaching their clayprogram and Robbie bro.
Mm-hmm.
Which I was, I kind of thoughtmaybe she was involved in that.
She wasn't she.
Yes.
I was gonna say, so
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Robbie bro is also on that, uh, committee for the bus
terminal.
Okay.
Yeah.
And she's kind of a good bridgebetween the art center and the
terminal.
And I wouldn't doubt it if theydo some
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Collaboration too.
I think that they wouldcollaborate with that.
I mean, you know, she is such astrong force.
She was looking at the old beatfactory.
Oh yeah.
Because she's such a
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Great building.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
Speaker 3 (22:40):
No, I know.
Which, I dunno
Speaker 2 (22:41):
Who got that.
That's such a great building.
But you know, they were reallyhoping to get that, the art
center wanted that to sort ofjust have another space mm-hmm.
I'm really glad the terminal isWell, and
Speaker 1 (22:56):
Then Art center space is a little constrained, you
know, it is.
Parking lot is not huge.
Yeah.
And they really don't have anyroom to grow there.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
They're definitely outgrowing.
So I think satellite mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
you know, with collaborativewith the terminal.
And I really would love to see aout in Palisade
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 weare thriving, but yeah, the art
(23:25):
center is still thriving.
It just, it's over.
I mean, it really,
Speaker 3 (23:31):
In my life here, I think, and you, you probably can
remember too.
Yeah.
I think it's gone through two orthree transformations.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
can only go so far in that spacewhere they are in the corner.
Yeah.
Um, and I think even though it'sa little bit off the beaten path
when you're thinking about theMain Street, you know, like a
gallery night when there's somany things to see down on Main
(23:52):
Street, but people still manageto get their selves, get
themselves over there and go towhatever's happening.
I know they just had afundraiser every year.
They have a fun one.
They're
Speaker 2 (24:01):
Auctions.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
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 (24:08):
Yes.
And so that begs the question,so if you're new to Grand
Junction or someone like mewho's, uh, appreciative of the
arts, but busy and not alwayslooking at calendars and things
like that, how do you getplugged into the art scene here?
So you know what's going on?
What's the best way to do that?
Speaker 3 (24:27):
Well these days, I mean, social media.
Social media.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
That's probably the best way.
I love Instagram because forartists it's just such a great
way to, to get the word outabout things.
Um, looking up things likedowntown G Gig creates, um, the
art center, they're alwaysposting all the events mm-hmm.
(24:48):
But
Speaker 2 (24:48):
I think, I mean, I think going out to the first
Fridays is huge.
Yeah.
Because you're meeting thepeople Yeah.
That are behind the art, right?
Mm-hmm.
actually, and, and you can askthe 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?
(25:08):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
And occasionally too the, um,different groups will put on,
um, open studio tours too.
You're probably a part of thatin Palisade.
I know they did the ChocolateWalk a couple years ago.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
Yeah.
I've done, yeah, I did couple,all of those.
But it means I have to clean mystudio.
Speaker 3 (25:24):
Oh.
So Erin not participating.
Speaker 1 (25:27):
Another good reason for satellite,
Speaker 2 (25:29):
Right?
That's right.
Speaker 1 (25:30):
I, sorry, I'll just step in this, this space over
here.
Speaker 3 (25:34):
I'm not really an expert on how people find out
about stuff.
Speaker 2 (25:38):
I mean, I think social media, but I do think,
cuz I think what happens is weget lo like, especially people
that are moving here, this iswhat I've heard is people get
lonely in this valley becauseit's hard to make those mm-hmm.
Acquaintances.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
So I think making sure thatyou're going to a first Friday
event.
(25:58):
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
into a whole community Right.
Of people and setting up forclasses.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Right.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:06):
Take classes.
Yeah, that's true.
Meet
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Class, take a few new people, take class, lead you to
something else.
But getting involved in the artcommunity, um, Suzanne took a
cooking class the other nightthat she really loved and yeah.
She said it was not only greatand creative, but she met all
kinds of people she didn't knowbefore.
And,
Speaker 3 (26:21):
You know, that's something we maybe wanna touch
on a little bit here because Ihave heard that, I wouldn't say
this part, but that GrandJunction is a little bit on the
closed side.
You know, we all have our littlegroups or our families here.
Like if we've been raised here,we've got our Sunday night
dinner with mom and dad orwhatever.
It's kind of hard for someone tostep into that sometimes.
But I have noticed at the artshows, it's really easy to talk
to people and the people arereally receptive to to mm-hmm.
(26:43):
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
It's not that hard to exexchange information and meet up
at the next one or whatever.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
Agree.
I mean, I keep thinking, oh, I'mgonna make it to such and such
and then it goes by and I didn'tmake edit.
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
Just,
Speaker 1 (26:57):
I wanna do more.
I was really glad I got to go toyour show.
Oh,
Speaker 3 (26:59):
Me too.
I can't believe you fit.
That's awesome.
Been
Speaker 1 (27:02):
There very long.
But
Like, are there any, any kind oftechniques or things that you're
interested in trying that youhaven't done yet?
You see, you wanna go to Aaron'spottery classes?
I should.
Speaker 3 (27:17):
Pottery was the one class that I'm just so terribly
my husband Can
Speaker 2 (27:22):
You teach me?
You teach me.
You.
I'll do a piece.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
Hey.
Okay.
Collaboration.
Okay.
I think I know which one of usis gonna do better than the
other one.
these beautiful clay teapots andI, and I just, I couldn't never
get the wheel down, so
Speaker 2 (27:39):
That's right.
Yeah.
You guys went on the bronze tripto Santa Fe.
We did.
Yeah.
That's right.
A fateful trip because we pouryou Did you pour
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Brawns?
I didn't, well I was in the, Iwas in a mold making class.
Speaker 2 (27:50):
Okay.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah.
This is so romantic sounding
We, we met in mold making
But I was always hanging aroundand doing stuff over there.
So Yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
We should say that your husband is a creative Yes.
Also and that you all ownvintage overland trailers.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
Yes.
And
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Produce those.
Speaker 3 (28:06):
That's right.
And, um, luck.
Luckily for me, I have hisexpert skills to build a last
minute frame, which is exactlywhat he did for my last show.
And I didn't have time to ordertwo frames.
He got down there in the shopand did it.
So yeah.
We collaborate a lot on thingsactually.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
And he gets in my way too.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
So.
Are there any materials thatyou're gonna try out next?
Go around or, yes.
You know, what's, what's on thehorizon for
Speaker 3 (28:34):
You?
Oh, I'm really excited becausenow that I'm finally really back
in it, like I just, my onlyfrustration is time.
You know, I've got, well I won'ttell you how old I'm gonna be
this year,
So I'm really excited about it.
I'm right now, um, I'm kind ofgetting into some wood sculpture
and woodworking, which I havealways really liked.
I liked the chisel and themallet and yeah.
(28:56):
And it's just kind of a funprocess.
So I'm hoping to do some kind oftwo dimensional wall sculptures.
Um, I'd also like to do somehanging pieces, kind of, um,
kinetic type artwork.
Um, still keep up with thepainting.
Mm-hmm.
I can't imagine not doing that.
Yeah.
But probably with a little bitdifferent materials.
I'm looking at concrete rightnow and, um, as kind of a
(29:17):
surface to work on.
And yeah.
Just every day I have a newidea, so it's just a matter of
pacing myself.
Mm-hmm.
But
Speaker 1 (29:26):
You're, you, you have shown, not just here, but you've
had some other shows up in themountains
Speaker 3 (29:31):
Too, so.
Yeah.
Um, mostly in Aspen.
Um, uh, a lot of the listenersmight 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.
And it's turned into an artcenter now.
It's just a beautiful space.
And so I've done, um, groupshows there, uh, and also like a
large group show and then acouple of small group shows.
I'll have another one in July.
(29:54):
Um, it'll be me and then threeother artists.
And it's an abstract show, sothat'll be fun to see too.
Awesome.
Love
Speaker 2 (29:59):
It.
What about you Aaron?
My gosh.
What are you excited about mydoing next?
Um, there's a lot.
There's a lot.
Um, so Verne Mosher, uh, who wasmy, one of my mentors mm-hmm.
Uh, I had him build a kiln forme, like the structure, but I
(30:21):
have to put all the brick in itand brick it up.
So that is on the top of thelist.
Yeah.
Because a new kil, you know, anew kiln that is a high fire
kiln, which that's what Ilearned to fire in, was a
reduction fire kiln.
Um, which is really exciting,but also really intimidating
Uhhuh
(30:42):
all the time.
Um, so that is on the list.
And then my daughter challengedme to make sculptures cuz I said
I haven't done sculptures and Ihave some my bronze work in the
house in some of my claysculptures in the house.
And she said, mom, you need todo this.
You need to go back and do someof your sculptures this year.
Oh wow.
I challenge you cuz she'sentering high school.
(31:05):
That's good.
Uhhuh
Um, cuz she's getting ready tograduate.
And she said my freshman year,you
Speaker 3 (31:12):
Can't say no
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Anything for the kids.
I know.
Anything.
So I need to, I need to do someof that and I'd
Speaker 3 (31:17):
Like to see that.
I don't think I've ever seen anyof your sculpture.
Maybe I have.
Really?
I need to see more.
Speaker 2 (31:22):
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, collike, cuz there was a lot of
talent when we were in school.
I would love to put together ashow of some of the really great
top.
I mean, it would be so much fun.
It would be,
Speaker 3 (31:42):
We're all more mature now.
We're all
Speaker 2 (31:43):
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 athread through the tunnel.
Love it.
of that stuff.
And not let, trying to keep upwith your artwork.
(32:04):
Trying to keep up with yourartwork and not let dap fall
away from you.
Mm-hmm.
So I would love to get a grouptogether mm-hmm.
show together.
That would be great.
Yeah.
Joseph,
Speaker 3 (32:15):
That would be so, that's
Speaker 2 (32:16):
So neat.
We, Joseph,
Speaker 3 (32:17):
We went to school with us too.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
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.
And he had a business in Veilfor years where he did, I did
not know that.
Yeah.
But now he drives trains.
Mm-hmm.
So I keep trying to get him todo PE cuz he does, he makes
(32:39):
beautiful spoons mm-hmm.
And I'm like, you should makethe spoons and I'll put'em in
the salad bowl.
Kind
Speaker 1 (32:45):
Of goes with what you do
Speaker 2 (32:47):
He's like, you're insane.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
In his free time.
In his
Speaker 2 (32:51):
Free time.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Yeah.
Both of you.
Yeah.
to make a career in the arts?
I mean, it's not an easy way tosupport yourself or your family.
If you gotta, you gotta love it.
I mean,
Speaker 2 (33:06):
I especially for, I mean my, my mind goes
specifically to clay workbecause there's so many stages
of it.
Mm-hmm.
So I've never lost the vision ofit, but patience, I would say be
(33:26):
patient with yourself, um, andyou know, in your, do what you
can do.
Mm-hmm.
know, if you get a minute, ifyou can steal a minute away just
to, just to sketch.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
Don't put it off.
Right.
Don't put it off before you knowit.
You're in your fifties, right?
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
Speaker 1 (33:45):
Like.
There's so many more things Iwant to do.
Absolutely.
So, and I wish I hadn't wastedso much time when I was younger.
Yes.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
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 skillgoing.
I feel like you can't justdefinitely not to say that you
lose it, it's more like runninga marathon.
It is more like running amarathon.
You just have to keep going.
And some days are trudging.
I mean, I'm just gonna say it,some days are not pretty
(34:14):
work, there's so much failure.
I mean there, it really is alesson.
Really.
It is a lesson.
This is when I'm teaching mystudents, um, I'm like, this is
a lesson and letting go becauseif you love something, it's
gonna blah, blah
Speaker 1 (34:30):
Yeah.
That's right.
How many, how many batches?
Like one outta 10, just likecomplete fails?
Speaker 2 (34:36):
Oh gosh.
Well, I mean, what's, what'sinteresting is, so when you're
working with clay, you're always, you always have some piece
that is, cuz they mine, youknow, when I make the, cuz I mix
all my glazes, right?
Mm-hmm.
So they mine all those, allthose different things from
different parts of the world.
So let's say you get an elementfrom a different, a different
mine.
All of a sudden you're lazedthat has worked
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Different properties.
Oh yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Yeah.
It doesn't, it doesn't workbecause 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'tknow, you just, out of all the
batches, I would say, you know,you just, you just lose, you
just have to be ready to losesome of the pieces.
It kind of teaches you to beflexible.
(35:20):
It, it teaches you to beflexible.
I mean, all my life lessons havebeen learned
Through guiding, through being ariver guide.
Um, flipping RAs
Because it just, yeah.
You can't, you can't really hangon to
Speaker 1 (35:36):
Impermanence you.
Speaker 2 (35:37):
Yeah, absolutely.
You have a vision.
You think you're headed onedirection and then you're
actually not
Speaker 1 (35:43):
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 littlebit of creativity in there and
then I, I get lost in the how amI gonna get there?
So I just never do it.
So, kudos to you.
You offer No, I actually do
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Doing it.
Speaker 1 (35:56):
that wants to have a career inthe arts?
Speaker 3 (36:00):
Well, I would say if it is in you, you'll know it
because it will na at you andyou will not be able to escape
it.
Mm-hmm.
dad, who also has a degree inart and, and he was a, you know,
professional artist, a seriousartist for years and years.
Um, he was like, are you surethat's what you wanna do because
(36:21):
you don't have to mm-hmm.
You know, I, I know it was hardfor 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, Iwould kind of do a little bit
here and there just enough tokeep my feet wet or to keep that
muscle strength or whatever, youknow.
Cause it is like an exercise.
(36:41):
But, um, it was a frustration tonot be doing it full-time like I
wanted to.
Mm-hmm.
Um, and of course I wanted to bea mom and I wanted to do all
these other things too.
Yeah.
And that's, that is kind of whatwomen have to contend with.
And dads too.
But I think women have
responsibility in thatparenthood thing when it comes
to art versus parenting.
(37:04):
Um, anyway, it, it just, it kepteating at me.
Yeah.
And, um, it was a happy person,but I was a slightly frustrated
person until I got back into itagain.
And then I just, uh, I kind ofwent at it and I had a different
approach to it.
And that was to allow myself tomake mistakes.
So I would definitely say tosomebody, you know, if you're
gonna choose this path, if itreally is who you are, and you
(37:26):
can do it for fun, but if youwant it as a career, uh, give
yourself some leeway to makesome mistakes and to realize too
that it takes a long time.
Mm-hmm.
It's not something, unless youknow, you're just a really lucky
person or a genius.
It's not something that you justpick 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'tlet your plan B take precedence
(37:48):
over the plan A, make sureyou're absolutely, absolutely.
Like what you said, Erin, makesure you're still doing
something.
Always.
Even if it's small, even
Speaker 2 (37:54):
If it's not your, I mean, I've been watching again
with social media, but thiswoman that, because she doesn't
have a big printing press, butshe takes, um, beer cans or soda
cans, and she itches into'em.
Wow.
And actually prints that metalfrom that.
Wow.
And I thought, what a geniusway.
Yeah.
To recycle your recycling.
(38:16):
It's cheap, cheap.
And you're, and you're stilldoing what you love, even though
you don't have the studio space.
Mm-hmm.
So, you know, if you don't havethe studio space, you know, get
creative.
Get creative, creative.
That's what, that's what reallyart is about anyway.
Right.
It's like thinking completelyout of it.
Speaker 3 (38:31):
And, and that's it.
If you're a person who wants todo this as a career, you're a
creative person already.
And that is gonna save yourlife.
You're gonna have to becreative.
I've pieced jobs together, youknow?
Right.
But I promised myself that Iwould always do something that
was in the art world, whether itwas teaching or, you know,
working for an art productioncompany or whatever it was.
Um, it always had to do withart.
So try to stay in there somehow.
(38:52):
Well, when you
Speaker 2 (38:53):
Really are your own standalone, I mean, you have,
because we both come from alegacy of art, Uhhuh
your own thing, which I love.
Speaker 3 (39:06):
Oh, thank you.
You too.
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Both
Speaker 2 (39:08):
Of you.
Well, I didn't go in, I mean,one of the reasons that I did
not go into 2D is because therewas no way in
attempt because I was reallyintimidated by my grandfather's
artwork, you know?
Oh
Speaker 3 (39:20):
Yeah.
And he is a famous artist.
Speaker 2 (39:22):
He has a famous artist.
So cool.
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (39:26):
So Aaron, if people wanna know more about how to buy
what you create or take yourclasses, how do they find out
about them?
Speaker 2 (39:35):
Um, so you can go to my website, esm Pottery Farm.
Um, you can follow me onInstagram.
That's the most current,although Love your videos by the
way.
Oh, thank you.
Mm-hmm.
Um, Instagram, I try to keep itreally current even with my
class schedule because you know,it's hard to, it's hard to, you
know, reach out to every singleperson that says, I wanted to
(39:55):
send me a, send me a link.
Just follow me.
Yeah.
Um, yeah.
And, you know, or stop by thefarm too.
The farm.
Go check the farm out.
Yeah.
If you have not been to thefarm, you have to go check the
farm out cuz it's a reallyamazing space.
Super cool.
And that's Allegheny Meadows.
Speaker 3 (40:13):
Allegheny Meadows and Gavin.
And
Speaker 2 (40:16):
Gavin Brooks.
And it's just, I mean, it's a,that is also, it's a treasure
for the Valley.
Mm-hmm.
It was really, that's a gift forthe Valley for sure.
Speaker 1 (40:25):
So excited about that.
And Amy, where do people findmore about your work?
Speaker 3 (40:30):
Well, the best place is also Instagram and it's just
Amy Perr on Instagram.
A m i p u r s e r
Um, I am currently building anew website and so, um, but I'll
have links to that on Instagramand everything too, or whatever.
You can find me through that.
Speaker 1 (40:46):
Awesome.
Well, before we, uh, close upfor the day, I know when we
first got here, we were talkingabout, you know, that PBS
interview,
We're having fun with that.
So we're not going to talk aboutSweaty Balls
Speaker 2 (41:02):
But
Speaker 1 (41:04):
We could, I'd, I'd throw it in there.
Shoes.
Mine
Speaker 2 (41:06):
Are the best.
Speaker 3 (41:08):
Yours are the best.
I cherish them.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
Speaker 3 (41:12):
Guys are awesome.
Speaker 1 (41:17):
Well, thanks everybody for watching and
listening.
Please support the arts in ourcommunity.
Um, follow these ladies, uh, ontheir Instagram and that will
lead you to follow other artistsas well, because I know that you
all follow other artists intown.
We
Speaker 2 (41:30):
Have a few.
Yeah.
Oh
Speaker 3 (41:30):
Yeah, absolutely.
And so yes,
Speaker 1 (41:32):
Go down the rabbit hole, right?
Like go down fun, the rabbithole.
Yeah.
Set a day aside a week
Right.
Find the artists in this town.
Follow them, support them.
Um, that's what one of thethings that makes a beautiful,
thriving community is the artscene.
And I think we can never havetoo much of it here.
So let's keep going.
Yes, absolutely.
Thank you all for cheers to thatcreative work and cheering your
(41:54):
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 theFull Circle podcast.
Bye.
Thanks for listening.
This is Christie Reese signingout from the Full Circle
Podcast.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.