ISSUE NO. 37 | JULY 13, 2026

Hello...and bring on the rain!

Like many of you, I've been watching the sky, hoping those clouds finally bring the soaking rain our region needs. Until then, I'm finding inspiration in the artists and stories that continue to remind us of the beauty, resilience, and creativity all around us.

This week, poet Patty Spak shares a deeply personal piece that stayed with me long after I finished reading it. I hope you'll also take a moment to listen to her read the poem in her own voice. We're also spotlighting Fantastic Cat, the talented quartet bringing their unique blend of music, humor, and incredible musicianship to Concert Hall @ The Park, and celebrating the whimsical world of artist Chuck Middlekauff, whose paintings never fail to make me smile.

And don't miss Beyond Our Corners, featuring the remarkable musical genius of Jacob Collier and the enduring story behind John Denver's beloved Take Me Home, Country Roads.

As always, I hope you'll click through and enjoy the full stories. If you like what you read and would like to support independent arts journalism, I'd be grateful if you'd consider Buying Me a Coffee. Every contribution helps keep these stories coming.

Thank you for reading—and here's hoping we all get a little rain this week. Have a wonderfully creative week!

— Denise Leslie

Publisher, Arts Perspective

Painting: Ukulele Rain, Bradley Kachnowicz

VISUAL ARTS | PAINTING sponsored by SORREL SKY GALLERY

Chuck Middlekauff: Where the West Meets Pop Culture

Some paintings capture a place. Chuck Middlekauff captures a feeling. Filled with wit, nostalgia, and unexpected details, his colorful Western scenes invite viewers to smile, linger, and discover something new with every glance. Take a closer look at the artist whose work proves that great art can be both meaningful and wonderfully fun.

PERFORMING ARTS | MUSIC | SONGWRITING sponsored by HIDEAWAY UKULELE STUDIO

A Song Finds Its Way Home | “Country roads, take me home…”

A familiar song, a World Cup celebration, and a room full of ukuleles all have something in common. Discover how John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads continues to unite generations—from campfires and jam sessions in Durango to thousands of soccer fans around the world—and why its timeless message of home still resonates more than 50 years after it was written.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT | sponsored by COMMUNITY CONCERT HALL AT FORT LEWIS COLLEGE

Meet the Cats of Fantastic Cat

What happens when four acclaimed singer-songwriters form a band just for the joy of making music together? You get Fantastic Cat—a wildly entertaining mix of great songs, sharp humor, rotating lead vocals, and unforgettable live energy. Before they take the stage at Buckley Park, meet the four musicians behind the cat masks and discover why this free summer concert is one you won't want to miss.

LITERARY ARTS | POETRY sponsored by LARRY BOURLAND POETRY

Patty Spak: Writing Between the Journey and the Healing

Travel, healing, and quiet moments of reflection come together in the poetry of Patty Spak. From working on farms across eight countries to finding inspiration in the mountains near Durango, her poems explore resilience, nature, and the beauty found in life's in-between spaces. Read her story—and listen to her read "Candles & Boxes" in her own voice.

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

Inside Frank Gehry's Creative World

What happens before an iconic building takes shape? A new exhibition in Porto, Portugal, pulls back the curtain on architect Frank Gehry's creative process, featuring sketches, models, and the ideas behind some of the world's most recognizable buildings. It's a reminder that every masterpiece begins with curiosity and the courage to imagine.

→ Read more

Feeling It, Instead of Fighting It

What if emotional sobriety isn't about avoiding difficult feelings, but learning to move through them with honesty and resilience? This thoughtful read explores how acknowledging our emotions—rather than numbing or suppressing them—can lead to healthier relationships, greater self-awareness, and a more grounded life.

→Read more

A Message for All of Us

Musician, composer, and seven-time Grammy Award winner Jacob Collier is known for pushing the boundaries of creativity and collaboration. In his 2026 Berklee commencement address, he shares a message that reaches far beyond music: stay curious, keep learning, celebrate one another, and trust that growth rarely follows a straight line. His words are an inspiring reminder for artists—and all of us.

→Read more

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

Some of the best concerts don't happen in theaters—they happen in living rooms.

Hideaway House Concerts brings exceptional touring and regional artists into intimate spaces across the Four Corners, creating unforgettable evenings where music, stories, and community come together.

Join our email list for early invitations to upcoming concerts. Have a great space? We'd love to help you host a house concert and share live music with friends and neighbors.

Join the mailing list or learn more about hosting at HideawayMarketing.com.

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

Each two-minute feature spotlights local artists, performances, exhibitions, literary voices, and cultural happenings throughout the region. Listen throughout the week on KSUT, including Saturdays at 11:58 a.m., immediately following This American Life.

Arts Perspective thanks KSUT Public Radio⁠ for sponsoring this week’s Eye on the Arts and for its continued support of artists and arts organizations across the Four Corners.

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!

Quote for the Week: “Rain is nature’s art; umbrella is man’s art. When you walk with your umbrella on a rainy day, you walk with a super art which is a combination of two different arts!”― Mehmet Murat ildan