|
| Issue No. 13 | January 26, 2026 | | | | |
PUBLISHER'S NOTE | Denise Leslie, publisher
This week feels like one of those perfect reminders of why we do this work. I had the joy of sitting down with my friend Margy Dudley on the Four Corners Arts Forum to talk about Arts Perspective's journey, our 'Eye on the Arts' newsletter, and the creative spirit that runs through Southwest Colorado.
At the same time, we’re sharing a beautiful conversation with songwriter Emily Scott Robinson, a new Spark Story featuring Julia Anderson, and a short piece of fiction you won’t want to miss — David Feela’s The Notorious Pilot Car of Calaveras County. Music, personal story, and a touch of literary mischief all in one place — I hope you’ll click through and spend some time with these voices.
With gratitude,
Denise
| | |
PERFORMING ARTS | MUSIC sponsored by Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College
Finding Her People: The Quiet Power of Emily Scott Robinson
At the Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans this week, I had the joy of sitting down with songwriter Emily Scott Robinson — who now calls Ouray home — and let’s just say, I left feeling like I’d made a new friend (and possibly adopted a daughter).
Her songs are quiet, observant, and deeply human, the kind that make a room lean in and listen. We talked about finding your people, following the call to music, and the stories that shape a life — themes that echo beautifully in her new album "Appalachia," releasing on January 30th - take a listen below! She’ll also be performing in our region soon, and you’ll definitely want to know when and where.
Read More
| |
LITERARY ARTS | SHORT STORIES |sponsored by Hideaway Marketing Agency
The Notorious Pilot Car of Calaveras County
Author, David Feela | Illustrated by Cindy Coleman
A steep Highway 49 weaves snakelike through the dry, tawny hills of the Golden State as it crosses into Calaveras County. I pulled up beside a road worker holding his traffic sign. I had been warned, over five miles back, that road construction was underway, that I should be prepared to stop. There might be delays. I watched the car in front of me accelerate and latch onto the end of a string of travelers being tugged along like a choo-choo train by the flashing lights of a pilot car. The road worker simply shrugged and waved him through.
Read more
| | | | |
SPARK STORY | JULIA ANDERSON sponsored by Arts Perspective Magazine
Growing up, my mother knew I had energy that needed to be focused — either with my feet or my mind. Honestly, I’m still like that. When I was 9 years old, I took an art class at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center. I made a painting of a small vase of flowers, and my family encouraged me from that day forward.
Read More
| |
|
EVENT SPOTLIGHT | sponsored by Mancos Creative District
Mixed in Mancos 2026
Mixed in Mancos is a relatively new tradition that feels timeless. The event first came together in 2024 through the vision of the Mancos Creative District, built around a simple but powerful idea: original regional music deserves not only a stage, but a record of its existence. Rather than letting performances disappear into memory, organizers chose to capture the night live — turning a concert into a lasting creative artifact.
Read More
| | Quote for the Week: "Snow. It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow." — Bing Crosby, "Snow" from White Christmas | | |
|
WEEKLY EDITION SPONSOR | Ballantine Communications, Inc.
Arts Perspective Magazine returns in 2026 as an annual print publication, supported by artsperspectivemag.com and the weekly Eye on the Arts newsletter. After ten years away, the once-a-year edition reemerges as a gathering place for artists, audiences, and stories that matter. Advertising information and deadlines for the 2026 print issue are now available.
Read More
| |
|
Your Eye on the Arts is free to read and share. We believe stories about creativity should be accessible to everyone, which is why there’s no paywall. If you find value in our work, we welcome donations or ongoing support through our Buy Me a Coffee platform — every contribution helps bring more stories to life.
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!
| | | | |
Published weekly by Arts Perspective | Bayfield–Durango, CO | © 2025 All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy |
| | | |
