Welcome to the CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER |
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS |
Amy Grogan / Wise Owl Handprints
Amy says that the response she typically gets when people view her block prints is the shock from the richness of the colors. The public is amazed at the density of color that is achieved from the antiquated slow process of analog historic printing. She tells them that if they were to look at the hand-pulled prints with a magnifying lens it would show a dense color field, not a field of digital dots (like four-color process printing). It is a concept that most people have trouble imagining or maybe even do not care about. But why is it important? Because sometimes the original technology is better. You do not need a machine (generated by power) to get exceptional results. Her work is totally hand powered and a relic of a bygone era. To find our more, visit her website: https://www.wizeowlhandprints.com/
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Following graduation with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the school of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1988, Amy moved to the Four Corners region. Since then her art work has reflected the vast southwest landscape, including its native plants and wildlife species found in the West. She is an avid backcountry explorer where she finds inspiration for her fine block prints.Christopher Vest / Part Painting, Part Photography
Chris now lives in Dolores Colorado with his partner Cathy and 25 companion animals on a small farm. Together they are restoring the land. They also operate a small animal shelter, rescuing and fostering animals from across the Four Corners area. All sales of his work go to benefit this effort. Last year saw the publication of an acclaimed Conservation Field Guide by the American Bird Conservancy for which Chris had provided the complex and ornithological illustrations and habitat vistas. Visit: https://r-christopher-vest.pixels.com/
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Christopher Vest has a 25-year background in traditional painting mediums, but more recently has developed a way to merge painting and photography in the digital medium. In the tradition of Alfred Stieglitz’s “Photo-Secessionist” movement, photographic images are transformed by painterly manipulation to bridge the unique properties of photography and painting. His prints and photographs are mainstays of the Center Gift Shop and Gallery. He also provided all of the photos for the Birding Festival Calendar as a fundraiser for the Cultural Center.Marcie Ryan Designs
She started making jewelry in 2010 and has since concentrated on beaded creations. In 2019, she was introduced to two-holed Czech glass beads at a local yard sale and they changed her work from then on. She found these to be so versatile in creating a myriad of unique patterns by using the different shapes together, so she bought boxes and boxes of incredible beads, jewelry tools, findings and jewelry displays. Using YouTube, she learned how to weave these beads onto leather for making wrap bracelets, and the rest is history! Visit her website: https://marcieryandesigns.com/
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Marcie lives in a rural part of Montezuma County in Southwest Colorado, located within easy access to high mountains and intriguing desert landscapes. She is a retired geologist and archeologist, and as such, utilizes the palette of Southwest colors that surrounds her in much of her jewelry design.Reyes Marie Madelena / Southwest Native American Pueblo Pottery
Reyes is a world-renowned potter utilizing the venerable “hand coiled” method (without a wheel). The pots are painted with traditional symbols and hand polished with a priceless burnishing stone passed down through generations. Reyes was six years old when she became interested in the tradition of pottery making. Learning from her mother who mastered the form from her grandmother, this tradition has been repeated through the family descendants. Reyes began many years ago to incorporate the corn stalk symbol with her signature on her pottery as she belongs to the Corn Stalk Clan, her mother’s ancestral line. As an indigenous and staple crop for the people of the Americas, corn holds very high respect among native peoples. The Smithsonian Institute has acquired several pieces of Reyes Madalena’s pottery. She feels honored that her work has received a considerable number of awards from many prestigious art shows, galleries, universities and museums throughout the country.  |
Born in the late 1930’s in a small Native American village known as Jemez Pueblo New Mexico, Reyes Madelena began her journey. “Walatowa” is the ancestral name of this village and today, it is the home of many of her relatives, the last Towa speaking people in the world. This tiny enclave serves as a timeless memorial to the strength, tenacity and knowledge passed on by the “Ancient Ones,” the Anasazi. Mary Kurt Mason / Mesa Canyon Arts
As a long-time weaver and quilter, Mary uses her experience with color, pattern, and line, and adds the brilliant luminosity of glass. Her work is inspired by her love of water and light. It’s marked by rich hues, shining iridescence. and brilliant transparency. Her creations are striking examples of art that is both beautiful and functional. |
Mary Kurt-Mason loves her third career as sole proprietor, artistic director, and chief bottle washer of Mesa Canyon Art. After many wonderful years as an educator in Alaska and Colorado, Mary’s second career took her to Wyoming as the Granny-nanny for her twin granddaughters. It was while she was in Wyoming that Mary was introduced to glassmaking and a great passion was born.Bobbe Jones / Jones Family Art
Her paintings reflect rural living in Southwest Colorado and include local birds, abandoned trucks, farm buildings, regional landmarks and glimpses into ranch life. Each subject has a story and reflects her personality. A Colorado-based artist with a lifetime of experience including: formal art classes, independent study, experience in varied media (pottery, knitting design, fabric art, illustrating, writing a children’s book, magazine editor). She became a full-time artist in 2021 realizing her dream come true. |
Bobbe’s artwork is her journey, one that she loves. Oil is her favorite medium with a preference for strong brushworks and a vibrant color palette, governed by her mood and the intended atmosphere of each painting.J. Milton “Milt” Beens
Milt received his undergraduate degree from Weber State College, Utah, with an emphasis in painting and printmaking. After a brief stint as a commercial artist and three years with the U.S. Forest Service as an exhibit specialist, Milt attended graduate school at the University of Montana. There he set up a graphic arts department for the University Center. It was during this time that he became fascinated with ceramics. Milt and his wife now live in Durango, Colorado and he is a full-time studio artist and an avid outdoorsman, enjoying archery and fly fishing. Each work of art by Milt reflects his love of the outdoors and the special environment which is his American Southwest. |
Milt is an acclaimed artist in several media. His background is one of outstanding dedication to his art and his home, the American Southwest. Milt’s pottery and painting are shown in regional and national exhibits. His works are represented in many private, institutional and commercial collections in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, California, Minnesota and New York.