Featured Artists April 2022
Yvonne Holland
Yvonne has been passionately involved in the Fine Arts since childhood. Her love of drawing, painting, photography, pottery, music and writing have propelled her through life. She attended both St. Lawrence University, and Arizona State University, where she received her master’s degree. After a career of teaching art in the public schools in Arizona, the beauty of the La Platas and the San Juans beckoned….She enjoys teaching occasional art classes in Durango. Yvonne finds inspiration in the dynamic scenery of Durango and its surrounding areas in her plein air and photographic work. She spends much of her time enjoying the outdoors painting, taking photos, hiking, skiing, and snowshoeing. During the summer, she throws functional pottery and is a participant in the Durango Farmer’s Market, selling her wares. Her work is represented by both private and commercial collections in the Four Corners. Each Sunday afternoon, “Von” along with her husband and fellow musicians , can be found playing Celtic Music at the local session in downtown Durango. They are part of the Irish band, Truckely Howe.
You can view more of Yvonne’s work on her website at
www.yvonneholland.com
Cheryl Roberts Lee
I am a plein air Colorado artist. I enjoy the process of capturing nature as it inspires me each time I set up my easel outdoors. On occasion I work in the studio, but mostly outside enjoying the atmosphere as the impressionists did. I grew up in my mothers art studio and thought all of life began with art, drawing and painting. I began my own art after realizing that it was very satisfying to create your own “statement”. I have studied with teachers that I admire, ones that appreciated my direction in plein air, some of these are Barbara Torke, Meredith Nemirov.
James Lutomski
James Lutomski moved his studio from Detroit, Michigan to Southwestern Colorado in 2015 after retiring from a 42 year college teaching career. His primary work has always been sculptural using a combination of clay, metal, wood, glass and other mixed media materials. He has been exhibiting his work since 1979 and his exhibition record includes solo shows at The Detroit Institute of Art, The Toledo Institute of Art, Cranbrook Art Museum, The Ella Sharp Museum as well as numerous other national and international exhibitions. James was invited to tour, exhibit and demonstrate in South Korea in 2008 as part of an International Ceramic Artist program, It was in S. Korea that he added tea ware to his repertoire. James is represented by Two Old Crows Gallery in Pagosa Springs, the DurangoArt Center, Create Art and Tea, Durango, and Flatlanders Art Gallery in Blissfield, MI. Last year, in addition to his normal studio output, James finished a large commission for the Durango Botanical Society and this year he is currently working on producing the award that will be given out by the Ruby Sisson Library in Pagosa Springs during their fundraising effort titled “The Library Affair” to be awarded in April of this year. “ I love the tactile nature of working with clay whether it be sculptural or utilitarian and the process of treating the surface constantly invites me to experiment with materials, techniques and firing atmospheres.
Tom Klema
Thomas First became fascinated with the power and simplicity of the solo performer / song writer in his early teens. Within a few months of buying his first guitar, he was preforming professionally and writing original material. Early performances included the Golden Bear in Huntington Beach the Lighthouse in San Diego, as well as other folk clubs in Southern California. He has preformed at numerous venues including the Boulder Folk Festival, Grand Opening of the Denver Preforming Arts Complex, University of Utah, University of Wyoming and Adams State College. He was an award-winning guitarist in the finger picking contest at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 1990 an 1991. He has been the opening act for Norman Blake, Rusty Weir, John Stewart, and Chuck Pyle. In 1988 he produced his first album of all original work entitled, Three Days ‘Till Spring, which was reproduced and released in in 2015. He is currently working on a new album of original material to be released in 2022.
First Friday
In support of Old Broads for Wilderness. Great Old Broads for Wilderness is a national grassroots organization, led by women, that engages and inspires activism to preserve and protect wilderness and wild lands.Conceived by older women who love wilderness, Broads gives voice to the millions of Americans who want to protect their public lands as Wilderness for this and future generations.
Writing from: Great Old Broads for Wilderness “About Us ” accessed March, 19, 2022
Find out more about Great Old Broads for Wilderness at https://www.greatoldbroads.org/about-us/