Issue No. 11 | January 12, 2026

Weekly Edition Sponsor

PUBLISHER'S NOTE | Denise Leslie, publisher

This isn’t really me — though it’s close enough to feel like my doppelgänger. From modest beginnings growing up in small-town Indiana (go Hoosiers!), I still find it surprising how music and storytelling shaped the life I live today.

That sense of becoming feels especially fitting for this month’s theme, New Voices, Fresh Starts — moments when creativity unfolds, evolves, and invites us to pay attention.

From the quiet depths of Terry Bacon’s ongoing 'Sunny Marshall' series to the thoughtful storytelling unfolding on stage with Merely Players, we’re reminded that beginnings don’t always come with fanfare. They often grow through steady practice, collaboration, and a willingness to try something new.

That same spirit runs through Zu Gallery, where ideas are always evolving, and in the luminous landscapes of Eileen Fjerstad, grounded in place and shaped by a lifetime of looking. We also share a Spark Story from Brad Kachnowicz — a reminder of how personal moments of insight can change creative paths and open unexpected doors.

I hope you’ll take a few moments to read, linger, and explore. These stories reflect the power of new beginnings — and the voices that emerge when we make room to listen.

With gratitude,

Denise

Bradley Kachnowicz: Storyteller in Color

I’m Bradley Kachnowicz, a self-taught artist whose creative journey began in the farmlands and forests of Wisconsin. Those wild places were my first classrooms—fields, streams, and barns full of light and texture. As a kid, I was always making something: sketching deer in the pasture, painting imaginary worlds, or fashioning superhero and holiday costumes from scraps and cardboard. Even though no one else in my family was an artist, I was surrounded by people who encouraged curiosity. Family, friends, and teachers never told me to stop imagining—they told me to keep going.

VISUAL ARTS | sponsored by KSUT PUBLIC RADIO

Eileen E. Fjerstad: Painting the Landscape from Life

Eileen E. Fjerstad is a plein air landscape painter whose work reflects decades of careful observation of the natural environments in the American Southwest. She resides and creates art in Silverton, Colorado, and has been a professional painter since the mid-1980s, gaining recognition as a regional artist through her consistent dedication to painting directly from the land.

LITERARY ARTS sponsored by Hideaway Marketing Agency
Inside the Sonny Marshall Series: author Terry R. Bacon

Terry R. Bacon’s Sonny Marshall series lives where music, mystery, and moral tension collide. Centered on a jazz saxophonist with a restless mind and a personal code that doesn’t always follow the rules, these novels unfold through late-night conversations, hard choices, and moments of quiet reckoning. The result is a suspenseful, character-driven world that lingers long after the last page.

Arts Perspective is launching a call for Short Story Fiction and Artist collaborations! Click Here for More Information

ART HUBS | sponsored by KSJD Community Radio

More Than a Gallery: The Creative Energy of Zu

There’s something undeniably invigorating about the vision behind Zu Gallery in Cortez — even before you step inside. It’s not just another art space. It’s a dream brought to life by someone who personally knew what it felt like to need something hopeful, human, and creative to hold onto. What began as a personal project to highlight positive stories from Montezuma County has blossomed into a vibrant community space where art, people, and imagination come together.

WEEKLY EDITION SPONSOR | Sunflower Theatre

This week, Sunflower Theatre invites audiences to experience Georgia O’Keeffe: the Brightness of Light, a beautifully crafted feature documentary exploring the life and legacy of one of America’s most influential artists. Tracing O’Keeffe’s bold emergence in 1920s New York through her later years in the New Mexico desert, the film offers an intimate portrait of an artist who redefined modernism and became an enduring cultural icon. Featuring narration by Hugh Dancy, Claire Danes as the voice of O’Keeffe, and a rich visual journey through her work, the film screens on Friday, January 16, and is SOLD OUT, due to high demand, adding a showing on February 15 at 7 pm (doors open at 6:30 pm) at the Sunflower Theatre in Cortez.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT | sponsored by Arts Perspective magazine

Silent Sky by Merely Players

Silent Sky by Merely Players comes to Merely Underground in Durango with performances running February 13 - 22 at 2 & 7 pm. Inspired by the true story of astronomer Henrietta Leavitt, this luminous play explores science, persistence, and the quiet discoveries that changed how we understand the universe.

Quote for the Week: "Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone." – "Big Yellow Taxi," Joni Mitchell

Your Eye on the Arts is free to read and share. We believe stories about creativity should be accessible to everyone, which is why there’s no paywall. If you find value in our work, we welcome donations or ongoing support through our Buy Me a Coffee platform — every contribution helps bring more stories to life.

Thank you all, Barbara Grist, Shell Simonson, Heather Freeman, Tad Smith, Moni & Jonas Grushkin, Milt Beens, Aunt Victoria & Jim, Cinda Wassmer, Randy Hays, Patricia Burk, Sharon Abshagen, Mary Zaleski, and Jan Wright!