ISSUE NO. 33 | JUNE 15, 2026

Publisher’s Note | from Denise Leslie

This past month has been filled with travel, family visits, and the chance to reconnect with a few “old” classmates whose friendships have stood the test of time - photo here is the North Posey High School Class of 1976 - Poseyville, Indiana! While those journeys have been meaningful, they’ve also reminded me how much I appreciate coming home to the Four Corners and the creative spirit that makes this region so special.

As I settle back into the rhythm of our mountain town, I’m excited to continue exploring the artists, musicians, writers, and events that inspire us. In this issue, you’ll find a few opportunities to do some exploring of your own. Take a trip beyond our region through our Beyond Our Corners feature, discover the unique blend of art and history at BurroFest, and meet a different kind of musical ensemble as we explore the growing world of the ukulele orchestra.

We’re also continuing our journey through classic literature with Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s powerful short story, The Yellow Wallpaper—a work that remains as thought-provoking today as when it was first published more than a century ago.

Whether you’re reading from home or planning your next adventure, thank you for spending a little time with us. Here’s to exploring creativity wherever it leads.

Happy reading,

Denise Leslie

Publisher, Arts Perspective Magazine

LITERARY ARTS | SHORT STORIES sponsored by Four Corners Writers

Arts Perspective Classics: The Yellow Wallpaper
by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

This week, we revisit a literary classic that continues to captivate readers more than a century after its publication. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper is a haunting and thought-provoking story that explores creativity, confinement, and the search for one’s own voice. Whether you’re discovering it for the first time or returning to its pages, this influential work remains as compelling and relevant today as when it first appeared in 1892.

PERFORMING ARTS | MUSIC sponsored by Hideaway Ukulele Studio

Four Strings, Many Voices

What if one of Durango's most welcoming musical ensembles is built around an instrument often dismissed as a toy? The Thoughtful Ukulele Orchestra is part of a global movement that has transformed the humble ukulele into a powerful tool for community, creativity, and lifelong learning. Discover how this unique ensemble found a home in Durango, why players of all skill levels are invited to join, and how the spirit of aloha is helping bring people together through music.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT | sponsored by Mancos Creative District

Long Ears, Lasting Inspiration

What happens when artists trade traditional muses for burros? At BurroFest in Mancos, painters, sculptors, and mixed-media artists are paired with real burros months before the festival, creating artwork inspired by the personalities of their long-eared companions. Meet the artists, the burros, and the creative partnerships behind one of the region’s most charming and uniquely Colorado art traditions.

LITERARY ARTS | POETRY | sponsored by Larry Bourland

In Life

“I was handed life,

I’ve given life,

saved life,

I’ve even taken life.”

With honesty, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, Larry Bourland’s poem In Life reflects on the experiences that shape us—the triumphs, stumbles, questions, and memories gathered along the way. Written with the perspective of someone who has fully embraced life’s journey, the poem invites readers to pause, reflect, and consider the moments that define a life well lived.

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

Listening to Clyfford Still

The Clyfford Still Museum’s new exhibition, Still in Sound, pairs iconic abstract paintings with original musical compositions inspired by their color, movement, and emotion. Discover how artists are blurring the boundaries between sight and sound, creating a multi-sensory experience that invites visitors to engage with art in an entirely new way.

→ Read more

A Stage of a Lifetime

In Cartagena, Spain, a visit to an ancient Roman theatre became something far more meaningful—a chance to see history through the eyes of a theatre professional whose passion for the performing arts spans decades. Discover how one remarkable site sparked wonder, reflection, and a deeper connection to the enduring power of storytelling.

→ Read more

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

Looking for a quick way to stay connected to the arts community across the Four Corners? Tune in to the Eye on the Arts Minute on KSUT Public Radio.

Despite its name, the Eye on the Arts Minute is closer to a two-minute journey into the creative life of our region. Each segment highlights artists, performances, exhibitions, literary voices, and cultural happenings that make the Southwest such a vibrant place to live and create. It’s a chance to discover a new musician, learn about an upcoming event, or hear the story behind a local artist—all during your daily routine.

The partnership between Arts Perspective and KSUT reflects a shared commitment to community storytelling. Both organizations believe that the arts matter, not only because they entertain and inspire, but because they connect us to one another and to the places we call home.

Listeners can catch the Eye on the Arts Minute throughout the week on KSUT, including Saturdays at 11:58 a.m., immediately following This American Life, making it an easy addition to your weekend listening routine.

Arts Perspective is grateful to KSUT Public Radio for sponsoring this week’s Eye on the Arts and for their ongoing support of artists, musicians, nonprofits, and cultural organizations throughout the Four Corners region.

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!

Quote for the Week: “No matter what your age or life path, whether making art is your career or your hobby or your dream, it is not too late or too egotistical or too selfish or too silly to work on your creativity.” — Julia Cameron