by Stew Mosberg

Whether wielding a brush or blowtorch, Durango artist Miki Harder continues to explore and expand her talent.

 

As local artists go, Harder is one of the most familiar. Her work can be seen on the signs of the Lost Dog, Poppy’s, Nini’s and Gazpacho; inside the Karyn Gabaldon Gallery; as well as in local cartoons and illustrations and in Arts Perspective magazine. Harder is also represented at galleries in Creede and Salida.

 

Although she is probably best known for her raven sculptures, Harder’s work varies in its style and subject matter and might just as easily be painting, drawing, metal sculpture or mosaic tile. Her work is also constantly evolving. As she moves into different artistic arenas, her infatuation with the materials and methods fuels her desire to explore and master them. Motivated by almost everything and everyone around her, the outdoor enthusiast and athlete is something of a perpetual motion machine.

 

The fascination with ravens came while skiing at Purgatory some years ago. “I noticed the ravens in the trees and they really seemed to be laughing at us, just guffawing, you know,” she says. “I loved it, and then I started paying more attention to them. I mean I still don’t have them right! I oscillate betwixt wanting them realistic or super cartoony. I can’t escape the cartoony bit, but I want them to be at least somewhat structurally accurate.”

 

Fresh from involvement with the annual Super Amazing four-woman art show, Harder is about to pursue another passion – scientific field study of environmental elements. Her seemingly disparate interests come from her education in both biology and art and two very encouraging parents.

 

Originally from Sunnyvale, Calif., she graduated from FLC and unhesitatingly decided to live in Durango from that moment on.

 

When asked who inspired her in addition to her family, she mentions Stanton Englehart as an early mentor at FLC and then begins ticking off names of people stopping when she reaches about 20 and saying, “There are so many amazing folks that have supported, cajoled, been patient, held my hand, gave me stuff. I have been carried along by giants. Is that how they say it?”

 

Growing up, she was always drawing and says, “I think my folks saw some aptitude so they encouraged lessons, which I hated because I never liked doing what people (told) me to do even though I am always asking for advice.”      

 

Even at an early age, her somewhat rebellious nature began to surface. “My Dad told me to paint the backgrounds first, which I didn’t like, but I have since figured out that is why I now sculpt, because there is no background!”

 

On one level, combining her scientific interests with art turned out to be an effortless marriage. “Something struck me not long ago,” she explains.

 

“It is the coolest thing in the world to be an artist because I can be (involved in) all the different sciences I love! I can draw skeletons if I want to be a paleontologist. I can paint the galaxy. With ravens, I even get to be an ornithologist! I can put any element into a painting! How cool is that?”

 

Harder’s ultimate transformation from would-be artist to serious professional grew out of her successful application to the Aspen Guard Station and acceptance by the San Juan Mountains Association’s Puma project. “I got accepted by both and panicked. They took me seriously,” she quips.

 

Now she paints in oil and acrylic, sculpts, welds, tiles mosaics, illustrates, and as she notes, “Bends, hammers, tinkers and smooshes.”

 

The variety keeps her from getting bored, but also enhances her evolution as an artist. Experimenting with sculpture eventually led to her highly successful ravens. On the subject of her artistic evolution, she says, “I see more sculpture in the future,” then pauses and adds, “And cartoons.”

 

Making a living in Durango can be challenging for anyone, but particularly for an artist. “I think it’s totally possible,” she muses. “There are many ways to have a hand in art and make it work. Maybe that’s why I work in so many mediums and it’s just fun.”

 

Believing in Durango’s burgeoning art community, Harder remains encouraged and sees it growing exponentially and with broad diversity. “There are amazing art teachers in these schools turning kids onto art,” she says.

 

“The support, ideas, venues and all around love in this town around the arts and artists is fantastic.”

 

One of her more recent discoveries is the nature of fractals, which are found in almost everything in the universe. In fact, she hosted the inaugural residency project at The Discovery Museum featuring an evening program about fractals. “Fractals,” she explains, “are just so appealing to the eye and the being. I envision creating many paintings based on aerial views of rivers – a raven’s eye view so to speak – and trees. The patterning of tree branches and the bark or water spirals, they’re all fractal patterns and brilliant to paint.”

 

Harder’s first attempt at using fractals as a catalyst for sculpture was a welded piece that sold for more than $1,000 at the most recent Furniture as Art auction. But even with all the venues where you can see her art, it’s always interesting to catch a glimpse of Miki’s new work and see where the evolution has taken her.