ISSUE NO. 40 | AUGUST 3, 2026

A Note from Denise | Publisher

This week's edition feels especially personal. The Rocky Mountain UkeFest—an event that's close to my heart—is finally here, and I'm delighted to share it as this week's Event Spotlight. I also hope you'll take a few minutes to listen to this week's Eye on the Arts Minute on KSUT Public Radio featuring Denny Finn, then click through to read his full story. There's much more to discover than can fit into a 90-second broadcast.

You'll also notice a new direction in our Healing Arts section as I begin sharing a bit of my own journey through Pause: Fitness & Nutrition. And if you've ever dreamed of seeing your own writing published, be sure to check out the announcement of the inaugural Arts Perspective Short Fiction Award.

As always, I hope you'll wander through the stories, follow your curiosity, and click through to read them in full. You never know which one will stay with you long after you've closed the page...and if a story makes you smile, think, or discover someone new, consider buying us a coffee. It helps keep the stories—and the miles between them—coming.

Have a creative week,

— Denise Leslie

Publisher, Arts Perspective

Photo: Great memory with one of my dear ukulele pals I met along the way - sitting in a classic car in Cuba on a Ukulele Experience!

EVENT SPOTLIGHT | sponsored by ROCKY MOUNTAIN UKEFEST

Rocky Mountain UkeFest Arrives This Weekend!

Sometimes the most meaningful journeys begin with a single unexpected weekend. When a young ukulele player arrived at Rocky Mountain Ukefest with nowhere to stay but his car, he couldn't have imagined how much his life was about to change. Today, he's the festival's organizer, welcoming others into the same community that welcomed him. Discover the remarkable story behind Rocky Mountain Ukefest—and what makes this year's celebration of music, friendship, and belonging so special.

HEALING ARTS | MOVEMENT & MINDFULNESS sponsored by PAUSE FITNESS & NUTRITION

The Art of Becoming Well

What if improving your health wasn't about chasing perfection, but about embracing the process? In a new series for Arts Perspective, publisher Denise Leslie takes the first step on a personal wellness journey with fitness and nutrition coach Jolie Ensign, sharing the victories, setbacks, and discoveries along the way. It's an honest look at change, resilience, and why caring for ourselves may be one of life's most creative acts.

LITERARY ARTS | SHORT STORIES sponsored by Arts Perspective magazine

Flying | by Marcy Cummins

Every child dreams of doing something unforgettable. For one imaginative fourth grader, that dream involved a playground, a seesaw, a slide, and an ambitious plan to become a human cannonball. What follows is a hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt story about childhood courage, friendship, and the longing to be noticed. You'll never look at a playground the same way again.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE | sponsored by HIDEAWAY ARTS MARKETING

Arts Perspective Announces Four Corners Short Fiction Award

Every great story begins with a choice. Arts Perspective is now accepting submissions for the inaugural Four Corners Short Fiction Award, inviting writers from across the region to explore this year's theme, "Where the Roads Divide." With cash prizes, publication, and original commissioned artwork, it's an opportunity for both emerging and established writers to share unforgettable stories. Could your next story be the one that stays with readers long after the final page?

Beyond Our Corners...highlights inspiring stories and ideas from beyond the Four Corners region.

When the Landscape Becomes the Gallery

I've always believed some of the best art experiences happen when we least expect them. A quiet trail, an open vista, or a place where nature becomes part of the creative experience can leave a lasting impression as strong as any museum.

That's the inspiration for the new Ladakh Biennale in northern India, where a 200-kilometer art trail winds through the Himalayan landscape, linking contemporary art to historic villages, monasteries, and breathtaking mountain scenery. It's a reminder that sometimes the gallery doesn't have walls—it has horizons.

→ Read the full story

Where Stories Take a Seat

We often think of public art as sculptures or murals, but sometimes creativity invites us to do something even simpler—just sit for a while.

A community project in Wales is transforming ordinary park benches into spaces where local stories come to life through art, writing, and shared memories. It's a thoughtful reminder that the arts don't always require us to visit a gallery. Sometimes they quietly become part of our everyday lives, waiting to surprise us on an afternoon walk or in a moment of rest.

I love ideas like this because they remind us that every community has stories worth telling—and sometimes all it takes is a bench to bring people together.

→ Read the full story

When the Audience Becomes Part of the Story

What if attending the theatre meant becoming part of the performance itself? That's the idea behind Theater of the Mind, an immersive experience created by musician and artist David Byrne in collaboration with writer and producer Mala Gaonkar. Blending theatre, neuroscience, music, and sensory exploration, the production invites visitors to question how memory, perception, and imagination shape the stories we tell ourselves. It's an intriguing reminder that the stage is continually evolving—and that some of the most memorable performances occur when the audience steps into the experience.

→ Read the full story

And as always, you’ll find the stories unfolding closer to home at artsperspectivemag.com.

Each week, we’ll highlight an episode of the Eye on the Arts Minute. This week, we feature musician and songwriter Denny Finn.

Listen on KSUT Public Radio throughout the week.

Arts Perspective thanks KSUT for sponsoring the series and supporting our region’s creative community.

Please support our sponsors! They help us keep Arts Perspective stories flowing. ♡

Become an Arts Advocate Member today — and keep the stories flowing for $10 per month.

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, Gina Rosato, Candace Leslie, Angie Zbornik, Cindy Schmidt, Nancy Peake, Chandler Strange, Cathryn Bauer, Sydney Cooley, Jennifer Thurston - Project Weaselskin, Megan & Nick Mustoe, Marya Corrigan & JM Jones!