Issue No. 22 | March 30, 2026

Weekly Edition Sponsor

Spring has a way of getting us moving again here in Southwest Colorado—more light, more gatherings, and a renewed energy in our creative spaces. It feels like the right time to welcome back the Arts Perspective print edition, now out in the community and meant to be picked up, shared, and kept close.

We’re also continuing to expand how these stories reach you. The Eye on the Arts Minute brings short, thoughtful episodes to the airwaves each week—another way to stay connected to the artists and ideas shaping our region.

Inside this issue, you’ll find To Be Normal by Erin Riggs, alongside stories that reflect the places and people shaping our creative landscape. ZU Gallery in Cortez continues to create space for artists and community to connect, while The ArtRoom Collective here in Durango invites you into working studios where creativity unfolds in real time.

I hope you’ll take a little time to explore more of these stories online at artsperspectivemag.com—there’s always something new to discover.

With appreciation,

Denise

PS: A visit to the Texas family and came in the path of the Orange Creamsicle Margarita - two of them. :)

PUBLISHER'S NOTE | Denise Leslie sponsored by Ballantine Communications

Something Worth Holding Onto: Arts Perspective Returns in Print

There’s a different kind of connection that comes from turning a page—and Arts Perspective is bringing it back. The return of the Arts & Culture Guide to the Southwest invites readers to slow down and experience the region’s creative spirit in a more tangible way.

CREATIVE VOICES | Denise Leslie
sponsored by KSUT Four Corners Public Radio

Eye on the Arts Minute: Stories in a Moment

What if just a few minutes could reconnect you with the creative pulse of your community? Arts Perspective’s new weekly radio series, EYE ON THE ARTS MINUTE, brings local artists’ stories to life—on air and online—inviting you to pause, listen, and look a little closer.

LITERARY ARTS | POETRY sponsored by Zu Gallery

Where the Poem Stays

A poem read on a summer patio in Cortez doesn’t just disappear into the evening—it finds its way onto a wall, into daily life. ZU Arts Initiative’s Patio Poets is a thoughtful new program that carries the voices of the Four Corners far beyond their beginnings, while supporting artists in real, tangible ways.

LITERARY ARTS | SHORT STORY

To Be Normal by Erin Riggs

Rebecca-Koeppen, Artist | Originally Posted: Issue 33, Summer 2012

Sarah stood barefoot in the cold river and peered farther out into its depths as if she were peering over a cliff. She was completely alone. She took two steps away from the river's edge and felt the icy sting rise to her calves. The deeper water farther out was a magnet that tugged at the edges of her frayed mind. It wanted her. This was as far as she would go. Her legs began to ache from the freezing snow-melt, and she welcomed the pain. Closed her eyes and focused on it. Stood there until her brain felt as numb as her toes—until Jim’s hands and the bruises that purpled her body faded into the distance. For about ten minutes, Sarah was free.

VISUAL ARTS | PAINTING

Welcome Spring at The ArtRoom Collective

Celebrate First Friday in April with a creative evening at the ArtRoom Collective inside the Smiley Building. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., join Emily Lloyd of Violet Mae Upholstery to craft simple, beautiful paper flowers—free to participate (donations appreciated) while supplies last. Wander through open studios, meet local artists, and enjoy a relaxed evening of connection, creativity, and inspiration.

Quote for the Week: “…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?”– Vincent van Gogh

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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, Julie Cooley, Beth Drum, Hilarie Strong, Charles Leslie, Cary Lindley & Ilze Aviks!