The subject may be roaches but, if you look closely, you see so much more

My latest piece for Wyofile's Studio Wyoming Review has the header "The subject is roaches," a review of Laramie artist Shelby Shadwell's exhibit at Blue Door Arts in Cheyenne. Pretty good header for an arts review as cockroaches and bugs in general don't come up that often. For good reason -- nobody likes a roach, at least the kind in the animal world (none of the other kind in WYO, at least not legally). I have never seen a roach of any type in WYO. Bugs prefer the hot sweltering climes of the South.

I grew up in the South and have seen hundreds of cockroaches. You turn on the kitchen light at 2 a.m. for a snack, and you hear them skittering back to their hideouts -- you might even catch a quick glimpse of one. You can wake up on a sunny Florida morning and see one staring at you across the pillow. You might be driving along and see one riding shotgun in your rusty 1972 Ford Torino. It's not merely bad housekeeping, although I have been guilty of that. Roaches will inherit the earth. It's not too much to imagine that roaches and their pals in the insect world will be running the show in the year 5020. Of course, we may be living in Kevin Kostner's Waterworld by then. But if I know my roaches, they will find ways to backstroke their way into your giant catamaran or floating fortress or wherever our soggy future relatives live.

Shadwell's show is a small one in a relatively small gallery. The art is big. Blue Door Arts proprietor Terry Kreuzer cracked me up when I asked her how she got a rising star such as Shadwell to show in her gallery in Cheyenne's most famous downtown building that would be deserted if it weren't for the enterprising artists on the ground floor.

"I asked him," she said.

Later, I was puzzled by the fact that the artist has shown rarely in Wyoming. He's been at The Nic in Casper and at the Jackson Art Center. Never in Cheyenne, according to his artist resume. Ironic since I note in my SWR piece that he has received two visual arts fellowships from the Wyoming Arts Council headquartered right here in Capital City. It just shows there are few exhibit spaces for contemporary artists in Cheyenne and Wyoming. You might say that is fitting in a state where artists are more interested in quaking aspen and the Grand Tetons than in abstractions and gigantic roaches. Au contraire, I say. I worked at the Wyoming Arts Council for 25 years and came to know plenty of artists who walk on the wild side in their work. For artists, it makes it tough to survive in an already tough place if there are no places to show your work,

It's not all about artists and galleries. It's never been more important to express yourself. That goes for everybody. Members of the ruling junta, Trump and his cronies, have no aesthetics. Art is just a commodity to them, like a yacht or a 50-room garish Shangri-la on the beach (any roaches at Mar-A-Lago?). It's no accident that Trump wants to review all government architecture, make sure it is "classical" instead of some crazy-quilt modern architecture that doesn't imitate the Parthenon. Trump and his GOP pals are working to defund the arts, humanities, and museums. The creative world is what threatens their destructive impulses. No accident that artists have worked to transform Trump's No Brown People border wall into something artistic. The odds are stacked against them as they are up against the monoliths of power and money. But you gotta try.

Their daily assault on our democracy is also an assault on our senses. It's important to create to counter that. It doesn't have to be a direct blast at No-Nothingness. The creative act itself is a blow against negativity.

Go make something. And vote. Get involved. Participate in your community. Be kind. And get out and view some art. It might inspire you to do all of these other life-affirming acts.

What are pop-up galleries and why do they matter?

My 1,600-word piece on pop-up galleries appears in the summer issue of Artscapes, the magazine of the Wyoming Arts Council. Council staff calls on me occasionally to do some free-lance work for the mag. I worked at the WAC for 25 years so I have some sense of what it takes to put out a statewide publication on a consistent basis. A print publication has appeared in many forms in the WAC's 52-year history. Artscapes is the most recent iteration and the slickest one. In fact, it is what they call in publishing a "slick," featuring a cover in coated stock and lots of color inside, like the fashion and lifestyle mags that still survive in the grocery store check-out aisle.

Pop-up businesses have been around for awhile. A clothing boutique takes over a busy downtown storefront during a summer festival. A toy store takes over a vacated mall space for Christmas. They set up, exist for a few days or a few weeks, and then disappear. It cuts down on the heavy overhead costs of a physical site. This is a real bonus in this day of failing brick-and-mortar stores. A pop-up can generate some visual excitement in a formerly empty space. And it can take advantage of increased traffic brought in by a festival or holiday.

Cheyenne is investing in a pop-up gallery trial run in its downtown. Instead of writing a whole new paragraph, here's a short explanation from my story:

May's exhibit at the Fill the Space Gallery is the first outing in a pop-up pilot program, a collaboration among local artists, the Downtown Development Association, the Cheyenne Artwalk, and Arts Cheyenne. The five-month program will feature a different theme and different artists each month. Steve Knox and his partners hope that this effort not only promotes artists but brings some after-hours life to downtown. Get more info on upcoming pop-ups on the Cheyenne Artwalk and DDA Facebook pages. 

The article goes on to profile the pop-up project at Cheyenne's Blue Door Arts and the Pop-up Artwalk scheduled each September in Laramie.

Read the rest in the print magazine or on the WAC web site.

Next Cheyenne Artwalk is set for Thursday, Aug. 8, 5-8 p.m.

Artists go where the cautious fear to tread

People who open businesses in downtown Cheyenne are cockeyed optimists, to steal a line from Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific."

The failure rate is sobering. Rents are high. The consumer's taste is fickle. Parking is a problem, Cheyenne is just short of the population base needed for a thriving downtown. Sometimes, it's just too damn cold to venture downtown.

And the booming cities of the Colorado Front Range are just down the road.

Still, they persevere. New restaurants are opening in Cheyenne almost as fast as others go out of business. Downtown residences are being built and people explore ways they can live in those second stories that sit empty in almost every building.

Artists are busy occupying empty spaces. I recently wrote an article for Wyofile about artists invading the Hynds Building at Capitol and Lincolnway. See my commentary and get a Wyofile link here. I just wrote an article for WAC Artscapes about pop-up galleries in Cheyenne and Laramie. That appears in the summer issue.

The Hynds is a big block of a building. Its main claim to fame was that it was built by Harry Hynds, an early settler in Cheyenne. It's been empty for decades. Next door is the infamous "Hole." Nothing says downtown redevelopment like a gaping hole on your main drag. Like a black hole, it has threatened to suck the entire downtown into oblivion.

Then came the artists. Still, they persevere.

A group of artists has moved into the Hynds, encouraged by building owner and Cheyenne native David Hatch. Arts @ the Hynds features work by Mitch Guthrie, Mike McIntosh, Kevin Robinett and Greg Fladager. Next door is Blue Doors Arts, a space occupied by Terry Kreuzer and Georgia Rowswell. On the building's east side is Three Crows Gallery & Gifts. This triumvirate gives the Hynds that live/work look, even though the artists don't live in the building. One of the many plans floated for the structure was a live/work facility by ArtSpace, a Minneapolis-based non-profit property manager. ArtSpace promoters envisioned living spaces on the upper floors and a gallery and some retail spaces on the main level. This would liven up this part of downtown. As it is now, the Cheyenne Artwalk is the best time to visit these spaces. It's held the second Thursday of each month.  Get more info at http://www.cheyenneartwalk.com/

One of the most interesting downtown exhibits is "The Hidden Language of Horses" at Clay Paper Scissors Gallery, 1513 Carey Ave. Here's a short description:

For the July Artwalk, Clay Paper Scissors will feature artwork that showcases the beauty and utility of horses. A variety of paintings, prints and mixed media will be on display from John Giarrizzo, Mark Ritchie, Lynn Newman, David Klarén and Eric Lee. The horse represents freedom, energy, strength, endurance, stamina, and power. Don’t miss this creative interpretation of one of our state and nation’s enduring symbols!

Part of Artwalk is Fill the Space Gallery. The 17th Street storefront has been the site, so far, for two versions of a pop-up gallery. Artist and art teacher Steve Knox is the catalyst for this project, supported by a collaboration among local artists, the DDA, the Cheyenne Artwalk, and Arts Cheyenne. Go see the next pop-up during the July 11 Artwalk, 5-8 p.m. Go here for the list of artists.

Art Design and Dine lights up Cheyenne on Aug. 8

Art Design and Dine gets cranking this Thursday, Aug. 8, 5-8 p.m. Fine art to peruse all around town. Down on 15th Street, within spitting distance of the railroad tracks, is Clay Paper Scissors Studio and Gallery. Featured artist is Luke Anderson -- get a peek at his artwork above.

And remember that the Ancient Sage at 18th and Capitol is now the Art Corner Co-op. Drop by and see the array of work by co-op members.

Get more info at http://artdesigndine.org.

This struggling stick figure artist is impressed with local talent

I am continually amazed by the artistic talents of my fellow human beings. Writers can string words and phrases together to create something intelligible that might be fun and/or informative to read. But when it comes to creating a physical object, I am inept. That probably describes a lot of us, although it shouldn't prevent us from trying. It didn't seem to phase my son and daughter that their father's stick figures were terrible. They just liked it that I spent hours drawing with them on snowy days.

Art Design & Dine is on the schedule this Thursday, June 13, 5-8 p.m. A few years ago, local artist Georgia Rowswell got the ball rolling for "Cheyenne's in-town art tour." It's still going strong and always boasts something new and interesting. This time, Georgia's Artful Hand Gallery is featuring the work of her husband Dave, an artist and arts educator. His rawhide jewelry will be on display (and for sale) at Artful Hand for one night only (see image).

You can also view Georgia's mixed-media landscape art. Her work is also part of the Governor's Capitol Art Exhibition on the ground floor of the Barrett Building which also houses the Wyoming State Museum. Reception for the GCAE will be on June 21 starting at 5 p.m. Come on our for art and music and refreshments. I've seen the exhibit twice now, and I could go back for more -- and will.

All of this work is offered for sale. Support your local artists! They are crucial to a healthy cultureshed.

Suite 1901 returns to Cheyenne's Art Design & Dine this evening

Suite 1901 in Cheyenne did a terrific job hosting the Democratic Party's election night bash on Tuesday. In case you didn't know, Suite 1901 is under new management and the food and drinks are fabulous. This evening, the downtown bar/restaurant will be participating in the Art Design & Dine art walk for the second time. Welcome back to AD&D! Featured artists in the downstairs exhibition space include Seth Ledger, Heather Johns, Kristine Frankler, and Charles Johns. Suite 1901 is also one of the featured restaurants on the art tour. It's offering 10% off your order and the coupon is good till the end of December. The restaurant is located on the corner of Central and 19th Street. Note to craft beer fans: the bar has New Belgium's Prickly Passion on tap. Locate all of the other AD&D locations by going here.

Cody's Steve Schrepferman brings his quirky ceramics to Cheyenne's Art Design and Dine

From my arts pal and fellow arts worker, Camellia El-Antably:

This month we are featuring Steve Schrepferman, a Cody ceramicist, at Clay Paper Scissors in honor of National Crafts Month. Steve is a highly versatile potter with work from the gorgeously functional (drinking from one of his cups is lovely experience in balance and texture) to quirky functional to large scale urns and vases and wall hangings. The work is often thrown and then modified and always glazed with rich, deep colors. Some of the pieces in the gallery now have an almost African sense to them. You can get a taste of his work at his website, http://www.steveschrepferman.com/, where he says:

My visual sensibility is rooted in the colors, textures, and rugged forms in the landscape of the American West. I am in awe of the immense vistas and canyons and feel a strong connection to the great physical and spiritual energy of this land. These are the energies I strive to capture in my work.

Art Design & Dine will be tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 11, from 5-8 p.m. Clay Paper Scissors is located at 1506 Thomes, Ste B, at the southeast corner of the building facing the tracks. Steve's work will be up through November.

Also during ADD: Mark Vinich, a studio artist, has artwork in the Teacher Show at the Civic Center; Mark and Camellia El-Antably's show, "Memories & Curious Conversations," continues at the Hynds Building at the corner of 16th and Capitol.

Studio Space is available! Please come talk to us about it.