by Stew Mosberg

With more than a dozen eating establishments lining the street, College Drive could easily be called Durango’s restaurant row, but what had been lacking until now was an art gallery. Although it is more akin to a test run, four local artists have just taken over the space at 145 College Drive, formerly occupied by Cargo Home Furnishings. The building’s owner, Maury Framer, happens to be a friend of artist Jeff Madeen. It was during a conversation between the two that Framer suggested using the space as a temporary art gallery. Madeen jumped at the chance, made phone calls to a few friends, and managed to pull the concept together in a matter of days.

Now, along with Elizabeth Somers, Bradley Kachnowicz, Michael Lofton and “Rez Dog” (aka Rod Craig), the group has set up “Gallery 145” and is showcasing 70 pieces of art in diverse styles and mediums. Madeen’s work typically generates controversy, so don’t miss the gallery’s back area referred to as “The Fear Room.” His politically charged messages are delivered in meticulously crafted montages, collages and sculptural pieces.

Kachnowicz is represented at Arroyo gallery on world-famous Canyon Road in Santa Fe; his expressionistic paintings are vivid and frequently incorporate skillfully rendered birds, flora or fauna. Lofton, a Durango marketing guru, has consigned a few original works by well-known artists from his personal collection.

A glimpse inside Gallery 145, which will be open through next week at 145 College Drive./Photo by Stephen Eginoire

Somers’ work is not often seen here and that is a shame. She creates amazing sculptural art from steel wool and other material that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Like Madeen’s art, Somers’ pieces are allegorical and send a powerful message to viewers about society’s foibles.

Rez Dog, whose extraordinary talent has been acknowledged far and wide, is exhibiting his signature realistic renderings along with some newer abstract art.

Hurry in, however. Gallery 145 is destined to pack up Dec. 15, but if this ephemeral venture succeeds it wouldn’t be too surprising if the group seeks a more permanent presence.

Gallery 145 is open seven days a week, noon- 7 p.m.

At the other end of Main, five talented artists have banded together to form “Underground Art Collective,” located at 1021½ Main Ave. And “Underground” is not just a metaphoric description; the gallery is down a flight of stairs leading to a surprisingly attractive basement space. The all-female faction includes Lily Russo, Hannah Burnett, Esther Sullivan, Anneka Herndon and Alexis Mclean, who is arguably the best known of the five, having shown at many venues here including the Lost Dog and the DAC.

Russo (lilymosaics.com) arrived just two months ago but is an accomplished mosaic artist who also teaches her skill in stained glass mosaics, which often combines beads and stone. She plans to hold classes at the gallery, and some of her tile work now decorates the support columns in the gallery.

“My vision,” she says, “is to not only market my mosaics as both fine art and architectural applications, but to begin teaching locals (those) techniques and eventually to create large mosaic murals around town in public spaces.”

McLean (alexis-mclean.com) is originally from Edwards and studied at Fort Lewis. She paints in oil and also watercolor. Her style combines wide swaths of color washes along with frequently intuitive, intricate detail that usually includes figurative elements.

According to Mclean, the objective of the Underground Art Collective is to be more than a gallery, “I wouldn’t exactly call it a gallery,” she says, “we have an area that is a show space, but I see it as a workspace that is available for people to visit anytime. It’s also fun working with a group interested in similar ideals and to try something new.”

Anneka Herndon owns “Recaps,” hats created from thrift shop finds. Formerly of Norwood, as well as Telluride, she studied art at Western Washington University, and received a Sustainable Design Certificate from the Ecosa Institute.

Explaining her novel apparel, Herndon says, “I love textiles and color, so I can find a huge variety of both within fabrics from old clothing.”
Hannah Burnett was born in South Korea and grew up in Colorado and Alaska. She moved to Durango almost 10 years ago and, like some of her colleagues, studied at Fort Lewis College and received a Fine Arts degree.  Her medium is watercolor and pen and ink, and she has her eye on illustrating for magazines and books.

Sullivan (esthersullivan.com), who has been in Durango only eight months, works with a variety of metals, crafting them into unusual pieces of jewelry and tiny sculptures. Explaining her work she says it has, “A more modern edge. I try to bridge the gap between geometric and organic shapes.”

She has already exhibited in seven states around the country. Her rationale for joining such a new venture in this difficult economy reflects the opinion of all the artists at the Underground Art Collective. “I don’t think that it matters for any of us what the economy is like at this point,” she says.”We all just need and want to make art.”

With the emergence of these two art enterprises, plus others in the planning stage, Durango artists are showing the initiative to make art happen on their own terms. Along with the resurgence of the Durango Arts Center, and the opening of a few other galleries in the past two years, Durango may yet become an arts destination.