Issue No. 15 | February 9, 2026

Weekly Edition Sponsor

PUBLISHER'S NOTE | Denise Leslie

Looking at this photo — making music with friends, shoulder to shoulder, no spotlight, just shared rhythm — reminds me how good it feels to create together. There’s something grounding about voices blending, a drum keeping time, a ukulele ringing out against wooden walls. It’s simple. It’s human. And it’s why I keep coming back to this work.

That same spirit of connection threads through this week’s 'Eye on the Arts'. From the rooted story of Ranch 84 and the way land shapes identity, to Joe Schaefer’s evolving artistic practice, and the thoughtful presence of Down to Earth, we see creativity showing up in different forms — steady, courageous, and deeply personal.

There’s also a special performance coming in a few weeks to be held in remembrance of my friend Armida — a gathering of music and community that feels both tender and strong. It’s a reminder that art doesn’t just entertain us; it holds us.

I hope you’ll take a moment to read, reflect, and perhaps gather with someone you care about. Art has a way of keeping time for us — and carrying us forward together.

With gratitude,

Denise

P.S. Take a moment to click Read More and wander a bit — there’s always something extra waiting.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT | MUSIC sponsored by Durango Arts Center

"The Ballad" for Armida: Music, Story & Community

A love story set in 1940s New York. A one-night gathering in Durango. On March 1, Rachel Garlin brings her narrated concert The Ballad to the Durango Arts Center — an evening of music and storytelling benefiting the Armida Huerta Adventure Fund and honoring a spirit of courage, adventure, and community.

VISUAL ARTS|PHOTOGRAPHY |sponsored by Arts Perspective Magazine

Joe Schaefer: Where Metal Becomes Sky

There’s something quietly grounding about running into Joe Schafer in the halls of the Smiley Building. Maybe it’s the way he moves — unhurried, observant — or maybe it’s knowing that just a few doors away, sheets of metal are transforming into skies.

HEALING ARTS | NATURE & WELLNESS sponsored by Hideaway Marketing Agency

Down to Earth Counseling: Understanding What Therapy Can Look Like

In a place like Durango, strength is often worn like a badge. We climb mountains. We build businesses. We show up for our families. We weather snowstorms, droughts, market swings, and long winters.

We are good at holding it together. What we don’t always talk about is what it takes to hold it together.

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

SPARK STORY | CALL TO CREATIVES! sponsored by Arts Perspective Magazine

The Spark That Started It All

Every creative journey begins with a spark — that first moment of inspiration that set your path in motion.

As part of our relaunch, Arts Perspective is inviting regional creatives to share a 150-word reflection about the moment that ignited their creative life — along with one early photo or image from that time.

Selected stories will appear in our online editions, and some may be featured in our special Arts Perspective | Arts & Culture Guide to Southwest Colorado - an annual print publication produced with Ballantine Communications in Spring 2026.

PUBLISHER'S FEATURE | sponsored by Arts Perspective Magazine

Ranch 84: Designing a Life from the Ground Up

In Southwest Colorado, reinvention is nearly a cultural tradition.

For Brian Wattier, that reinvention took the form of open pasture, living soil, and a wide horizon. At Ranch 84 in Pagosa Springs, he has built more than just a ranch. He has crafted a system — a philosophy — and a life created with intention. When I spoke with Brian, what struck me most was that this wasn’t an impulsive escape from corporate life. It was a thoughtful redesign.

Quote for the Week: "Art is for healing ourselves, and everybody needs their own personal art to heal up their problems." Linda Ronstadt

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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, Jan Wright, Charles Shaw, Linda Barnes & Juleskool!