On Saturday, artists who live and work in Mancos opened their studios to the public for an all-day gallery crawl. The Studio Art Tour, organized by the Mancos Creative District, was the fourth of its kind, and invited Mancos residents to see the artwork being created and sold in and around Mancos.
Stops on the tour included downtown galleries such as The Painted Turtle Studio and Gallery and less traditional galleries like the Olio restaurant. Rena Wilson, who curates the art in the restaurant, displayed works by local sculptors Dale Latta and Nick Blasidell alongside paintings by Susan Reed.
One of the stops on the tour was about 2½ miles east of Mancos, at Steve Williams’ Cowboy Forge Blacksmith School. Williams teaches metalworking in his shop, and students create an array of objects including sculptures and mirror frames, some of which are displayed.
One of Williams’ students, Rob Kovarik, displayed more than 10 products, including weaponry he created based on historical research of medieval swords and shields.
Like Williams, others on the studio tour teach classes to Mancos residents. On Saturday, Marilyn Kroeker opened her studio to guests, some of whom gave her pottery wheel a spin. Others were able to try their hand at cutting copper, and all were welcome to peruse Kroeker’s collection of artworks that fill her small, two-room studio.
The Mancos Studio Art Tour is an annual event, and although the Mancos Creative District missed a few years according to Wilson, who helps run the group, she hopes to see the event return regularly.
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