Though tourist season has subsided, there are still plenty of events to enjoy at the Cortez Cultural Center in the fall and winter. This year, the center is partnering with Susies Hallmark for the Halloween Costume Contest, Downtown Treat Parade and Pumpkin Festival on Saturday. Starting at 9:30 a.m., kiddos and families are invited to the Cultural Center for the fun. At noon, storyteller Don Kirk offers Stories you can sink your teeth into: Ghosts, Goblins, and Vampires. The center will also feature Don at 6 p.m. for seasonal storytelling geared for adults, though kids are welcome. Admission to the evening show is free for adults in costume, or a $5 donation to the center for adults not in costume. Call the center at 565-1151 or come by 25 N. Market St. for details on the fun.
The center offers a class in Needle Felting, taught by local sculptor Jay Whitewolf, on Wednesdays Nov. 2, 9 and 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. or Thursdays, Nov. 3, 10 and 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. Supplies are available for $15. Class size is limited, so preregistration is necessary. Call Jay for more information at 564-9653. Students will be felting on an 18- by 18-inch square of fabric that can be made into a pillow, bag, apron or wall hanging or squares of felt for gift card holders perfect for the rapidly approaching holiday season.
The Cortez Cultural Center is host to the 2011 Juried Art Show through the month of October, so there is still time to enjoy the show. This years show was judged by Barbara Stewart-Hager and Marilyn Kroeker; both judges are professional artists from the Mancos area. The criteria for judging the show included presentation, impact, light and shadow, and composition of the piece. Stewart-Hagers background is in music and photography. She began her professional photography career in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2001, where she photographed dogs for Bow Wow Blues, a dog boutique. She moved to Mancos in 2007 and has been involved in photographing the desert and the mountains. She is affiliated with Raven House Gallery in Mancos and Local Color Gallery in Chama. Kroeker began her art career 20 years ago as a potter. More recently she has expanded her art into watercolors, oil and copper enamel. She is the owner of Raven House Gallery in Mancos. She can be seen and heard regularly at Gallery Walk Nights in Mancos and local Farmers Markets.
The center congratulates the winners of the Juried Art Show: Best of Show and Honorable Mention both went to Carole Seibel, and a there was a tie for Peoples Choice: Melissa McIntyres Village and John Mumaws Desert Cathedral. Winners in specific genre are 3-D, first place, Nancy Bush Vision Quest, second place, Jack Stillinger Walnut Bowl; 2-D Pro, first place, Anna Bousquet Weber Mtn. Fall, second place, Saralynn Risenhover, Shiny Difference; 2-D Amateur, first place, Jan Heyl Morning Reflections.
Shawn Collins is executive director of the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market. She can be reached at 565-1151.