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Durango, Colo. – Known for outdoor adventures and high altitude thrills, Durango, Colorado has found its niche in the art world. The scenic mountain town nestled in the San Juan Mountains boasts more than 13 galleries along with numerous artists and studios in the county. Come visit and you will learn what the locals already know: Durango has a thriving art community.
Visitors are often surprised by the depth of fine arts available in Durango. “Art offerings and galleries in Durango are incredibly refreshing and feature an impressive selection,” said Mary Albright of Las Vegas, Nevada. “This is a picturesque town nestled in a beautiful setting that has so many places to shop for inspiring art. It is a hidden jewel in the art world!”
Durango galleries carry a diverse selection of mediums and genres in the work of local, regional, national and international artists. Some of these artistic works include:
Ø Contemporary fine art consisting of fused glass, sculpture, jewelry, watercolor, pastel, oil and mixed media paintings,
Ø A fascinating treasury of Indian arts, weavings and southwestern works of museum quality due to their authenticity,
Ø Contemporary western and American Indian artists are represented with sculptures, pottery, baskets and one-of-a-kind home furnishings,
Ø Fine art photography in both color and black and white with galleries presenting photographs from the local four-corner area and around the world,
Ø An allure of gold, silver, precious stones and bronze transformed into sculpture and custom jewelry, and
Ø Antique and modern glass artworks from hot glass fusing to authentic Tiffany stained glass.
Durango’s claim to be an artistically-inspired town was made official after appearing in John Villani’s “100 Best Arts Towns in America.”” The vast range of Durango’s visual arts has been nationally recognized by Villani and the artist community partially due to its influential injection of Hispanic and Native American heritages. Durango is home to a national treasure for Indian studies—Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. The Center was created as a museum and research facility at the college and is open to the public. The Center focuses on the Four Corners region and includes more than 8,000 artifacts, 16,000 volumes and numerous periodicals, and 500 special collections dating from prehistory to the present.
Durango Arts Center (DAC), a non-profit arts association, is an artistic center of influence in the town, offering monthly fine arts exhibits featuring local and regional artists, art classes, juried-exhibits and a newly-opened, hands-on paint bar for children and adults.
Art isn’t only found in Durango galleries—downtown Durango is dotted with numerous displays of public art. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad stables “Whinny and Friends,” a bronze trio of ponies sculpted by Joyce Parkerson. A walk down 2nd Avenue reveals the bronze sculpture work “Puck” by Elizabeth MacQueen and a 20-by-35 foot outdoor mural by Judy Baca–“”La Memoria De Nuestra Tierra.”” Down the street, a visit to the public library reveals Allan Houser’s sculpture “My Children;”” a short cruise down the hill to The Durango Herald and you will find “The Basket Dance” by Glenna Goodacre. Enjoy the Animas River as the backdrop for “Parade Formation” by former Fort Lewis College art professor Mick Reber–a 30–by-10 foot steel abstract depicting three horse riders in Santa Rita Park.
To commemorate the city’s 125th anniversary, the city has commissioned a public art work by La Plata County artist Bryan Saren. The sculpture is made of 125 parts, one for every year the city has been incorporated, and is made of steel and copper. It is placed at the entrance of the Durango City Hall.
The public participates in the artistic spirit of the town when the Gallery Association hosts its quarterly Gallery Walks. The galleries set aside special nights to welcome the public after hours. Locals and visitors enjoy good food and conversation as they stroll the streets and visit the galleries. The next Gallery Walk is Friday, September 22. Artists open their studios for tours during Artist Open Studio on October 21 and 22. The culmination of local artisan works is the Annual Durango Main Avenue Arts Festival held the second weekend in August.
Ask the locals or experience it as our guest–there is plenty of art to enjoy and experience in Durango. The claims are accurate and it’s no longer a secret: Durango is a real art town.
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