A gallery by any other name
Alternative venues help fill artistic void

Fans of caffeine take in the artwork at Steaming Bean Coffee early this week. With fewer than 10 galleries in Durango, coffee shops, churches, restaurants and retailers are helping hang and display Durango’s abundant artistic output./Photo by Stephen Eginoire

by Stew Mosberg

At one time, Durango boasted 18 art galleries. But times have changed. With half that number today and an ever increasing amount of artistic talent in Durango's midst, where else can artists show their work and, likewise, can one see it?

Many artists are uncomfortable promoting themselves, so gaining exposure can be a problem, particularly at private art galleries. Fortunately, business establishments, public spaces and even churches are stepping in and filling the void. These alternative venues have found art to be a great way to support talent while beautifying their walls and creating interest for their patrons.

Exhibit space hasn't yet been fully allocated in the new Durango library, but a plan is in place for the program rooms to display different art for two months at a time. Art also graces the walls at the Pine River Library in Bayfield. Karen Lemke, coordinator of the shows, says the library has been exhibiting art since 2004 and shows are usually changed every 90 days. Any art accepted however, must be appropriate for all ages.

That same criterion is practiced at the Durango Recreation Center, where Heidi Schaiberger, special events supervisor for the Parks and Recreation Department, recently took on the responsibility for exhibiting art.

In addition to these public places, churches also have long been patrons of the arts, so it isn't much of a stretch to understand why Saint Mark's Episcopal Church of Durango created the "Icon - Sacred Arts" show three years ago. Scott Hagler, musician, graphic artist and art facilitator at the church, recently had better lighting installed in the gallery area to enhance any new art show. Hagler said he is excited by the opportunity to give artists a chance to be seen and share their talent. As a result, "Artists of St. Marks" was recently formed by Hagler to help increase the number of shows.

The venues described here do not charge a fee for hanging, nor do they take a percentage, so artists are encouraged to have handouts on site that provide purchase and contact information.

Given these and other options, however, some local artists still complain about a lack of places to show their art or that they can't get representation in a Durango art gallery. As in most business ventures, selling one's art takes more than just having a great product. For example, one bar owner, who asked not to be named, has given up exhibiting altogether. "I offered opportunities to show work free of charge," he lamented, "but often found artists weren't reliable when it came to hanging or picking up their work."

At Maria's Bookshop, co-owner Peter Schertz believes the showing of local artists' work is a service to not just the artists, but also the public. "People take notice," he said. "We select the art we believe will appeal to the community and particularly our customers. We love doing this because it keeps the walls fresh."

Maria's has a standing invitation from the Open Shutter Photography Gallery to show images from its collection, and the store also has a permanent collection of art from the previous owner to add to the mix.

Steaming Bean Coffee's Julie Dunn, who recently sold the business, inherited the showing of art idea when she took over the space 10 years ago from the former owner. Dunn's desire to help artists is as genuine as her altruism toward many nonprofits in town. The "Bean" typically showcases one artist at a time but has also shown as many as three local artists at once. Happily, the new owners, Ivan and Rhonda Unkovskoy, plan to continue the practice.

Ann Morse, co-owner of the Lost Dog, has no formal art training but knows a good thing when she sees it. The Lost Dog has a large enough space in its front room to showcase big canvases and has been showing art throughout the establishment for the past four years. Jodell Murray is currently exhibiting her unique, digitally enhanced photo images there. A customer can walk around, drink in hand, and even study the art while sitting at the tables in the center of the room.

At Pure Soul coffee house, Manager Steve VanBuskirk speaks enthusiastically about their art exhibits. The practice was started a little more than a year ago, and he smiles broadly at the thought, saying, "Artists are doing me a favor, the way I look at it."

Sean Clark, of Steamworks Brewing, notes with a hint of sarcasm, that he has a lot of wall space to fill, but in truth Steamworks has been displaying art for more than 10 years. As a neighbor of the Durango Arts Center, the brew pub/restaurant has also featured spill-over art from DAC's juried shows when it didn't fit the judge's criteria; a sort of "salon d'refuse," says Clark.

One Durango artist who has taken advantage of the unconventional gallery scene is Ebony Ice, a recent graduate of the Fort Lewis College art program. She has work on view at Steaming Bean and is grateful for the opportunity. "I participated in four group shows, two independent shows (in 2008) and have two more upcoming," she said. "Almost all of them were alternative galleries." Noting that her work might have trouble finding representation in Durango, she commented about the chance to show in other places. "I produce modern, urban and racially charged pieces," Ice said. "I feel like the galleries here have an agenda that I do not fit into. There is more freedom in an alternative space."

Originally a potter and then a black-and-white photographer, Murray, whose work is hanging at the Lost Dog, has been working with digitally enhanced photography that maximizes her visual insight. Her work has also been seen at shows around the Four Corners, and she will be part of a group exhibit at the DAC this summer.

To be sure, there are other locations in and around Durango not mentioned here, places where an artist has the chance to display his or her work and gain exposure. Meanwhile, being surrounded by the aroma of freshly brewed java, beer or tasty treats is a delightful way for viewers to casually experience art. So aside from worship, books, beverages and bites to eat, these locales are worth seeking out not just for the delicacies they purvey, but the new and alternative art they serve up. •