Photo: Sascha Vaughn
Introducing Mancos, Colorado artist,
Patsy Davis
“Stranger in the House” Bronze L18” x W10” x H12”
828 Main Avenue Durango, CO | www.sorrelsky.com
Celebrate
Karina Silver Oil Pastel, 20½” x 24½” www.karinasilver.com
table of contents 4
Editor’s Note
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Book Review by Mary Helen Klare
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Willowtail Springs Residency by Stew Mosberg
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Beached by Jamie Becktel
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From the Portal to the Page: Getting to the Real Story through Writing and Dreams
by Amy Irvine McHarg
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Art 101 by Denise Leslie
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Les Ballets Trockadero of Monte Carlo
by Indiana Reed
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Artist Listings
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Arts Around the Region
www.ArtsPerspective.com
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The mission of Arts Perspective magazine is to reflect the diversity of arts throughout the Four Corners region.
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
Refecting arts and culture throughout the Four Corners since 2004
Publisher & Editor Denise Leslie denise@ sharedvisiononline.com Art Director & Designer Cindy Coleman Duck Girl Art Advertising Sales Denise Leslie Copy Editor Candace Drummond Contributors Jaime Becktel, Amy Irvine McHarg, Mary Helen Klare, Denise Leslie, Stew Mosberg Subscriptions $30; mail payment to Arts Perspective magazine, P.O. Box 3042 Durango, CO 81302 or call (970) 403-1590. Arts Perspective is an independent magazine published by Shared Vision Publishing, LLC. ISSN#1554-6586. Contents are copyrighted, 2010 by Shared Vision Publishing. All rights reserved. No part of this print or online publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Queries are accepted. Articles and letters are welcome; however the publisher is not responsible for unsolicited materials and will not return materials unless accompanied by sufficient return postage. Materials accepted for publication become the property of Arts Perspective and Shared Vision Publishing, LLC. Artists retain all rights to their work. Arts Perspective is not responsible or liable for any misspellings, incorrect dates or information in its captions, calendar, listings or advertisements. Articles and editorial notes represent the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of Arts Perspective magazine.
February 2014 | Issue 37
Editor’s Note Happy New Year to you all! In 2014, Arts Perspective celebrates our 10th Anniversary! Ten years ago cofounders Heather and Ray Martinez, created a free quarterly black and white publication full of stories about art and artists in the region. Over the years, Arts Perspective has grown into the exclusive arts and culture magazine in our region and is a full color publication distributed 5 times a year throughout the entire Four Corners region. We – Denise and Charles Leslie - purchased the magazine almost four years ago and continue to be inspired by all the art our region has to offer! I recently developed a class through the Durango Chamber of Commerce Leadership La Plata program to showcase and educate attendees about the arts and culture in our county. In this class, students became part of the Interactive Arts Ripple ©. They were asked questions about how arts and culture impact us as individuals and as a community. We found this so enlightening that I felt we should take it to YOU, our readers! In each issue, there will be a question for our readers to respond to and I will share an overview of the responses in the following issue. There is NO wrong answer, so let’s create a ripple of information and expand our knowledge of art in our communities. Please send responses to denise@artsperspective.com. Ripple questions will also be posted on our FaceBook and Twitter pages, so feel free to comment there as well!
*Interactive Arts Ripple ©
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word Arts? Culture?
Come now, don’t be shy and let me hear from you! Sincerely, Denise Leslie Publisher Arts Perspective magazine c/o Letter to Editor P.O. Box 3042 Durango, CO 81302
About the Cover Shared Vision Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 3042 Durango, CO 81302 (970) 403-1590
THE SWAN
Photo: Sascha Vaughn Music by: Camille Saint-Saens Choreography after: Michel Fokine Costume by: Mike Gonzales
Fokine must have had little notion when he created this solo for Anna Pavlova in 1905, that it would become, in later years, her signature dance and perhaps the most famous solo ballet. Les Ballets Trockadero offers its own distinctive interpretation of the terminal fowl. See story on page 8.
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Willowtail Springs Residency
Working studio at Willowtail Springs Education Center in Mancos, Colorado
An Idyllic Retreat By Stew Mosberg
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rtist-in-Residency programs can be fiercely competitive; some limit attendance to locals, others are international in scope. Acceptance into a program often requires reciprocation; a presentation of the work completed or a sharing of knowledge by way of lecture or demonstration. One thing in common however is the opportunity for the accepted artist to work in a unique environment, away from daily distraction, with a chance to focus on nothing but one’s chosen art form. One such locale in southwest Colorado is the serene Willowtail Springs Preserve/Education Center in Mancos. Artist Peggy Cloy and husband Lee, a Tai Chi Master, have been developing 60 acres of property for the past 20 years, steadily turning it into more than a bed and breakfast gem, but also into a premier site for creative inspiration. From the outset, Cloy the artist envisioned Willowtail Springs becoming a retreat that would sooth the soul and provide an 6
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atmosphere for life changing experiences. Understanding what fosters creativity, Cloy created an environment where she says, “Artists and scientists can integrate and renew their work within the beauty of a natural setting.” Award-winning photographer Barbara Grist has visited the site often and taken up temporary residence in one of the beautifully appointed cabins on numerous occasions. For
Peggy Cloy and a dear friend
Grist, Willowtail Springs is an antidote of sorts. “The feeling I get from staying at Willowtail Springs is hard to describe, it’s something you have to feel for yourself. It’s a calm, peaceful feeling that helps me relax and clear my mind so that I can work on my art with an amazing focus and clarity. To be surrounded by such natural beauty and quiet sounds of nature is a real treat, one not to be missed. I am inspired by nature and the beautiful furnishings in the quaint cabins. The distractions of everyday life melt away and creativity takes over once again.” Although Willowtail is open to the public and accepts reservations throughout the year, the Preserve Education Center recently achieved a not-for-profit 501c3 status allowing it to participate in grant and donation funding and to offer artistin-residency programs to institutions and organizations. Visual artists, musicians, writers, and others seeking solace and reenergized creativity and focus will now have access to scholarship programs to subsidize stays from one week to two months. As self-described “conservation junkies,” the Cloys steadfastly cajoled and preserved the surrounding landscape into a rich micro-system; with ponds, nature walks, and sitting areas. Amenities for guests include, full kitchen, Wi-Fi, a well appointed studio space, and lovingly decorated cabins that defy the term rustic, each with a fireplace and library. There is even a gallery space with sliding walls on premises for presentations and a conference table that can seat 12. In a recently announced collaboration, the year 2014 will mark the inauguration of the Durango Arts Center’s first ever artist-in-residence program. Through a private donation the DAC will sponsor two residency opportunities to be hosted at Willowtail Springs. Residencies will be available to DAC members only. For application information go to: durangoarts. org or email to info@wtsnpec.org. P
Artists studio sitting room at Willowtail
View across the pond at Willowtail
Stew Mosberg is a freelance writer and a former arts publisher. He has written two books on design and taught at Parsons School of Design in New York. He is a staff writer for Arts Perspective magazine. wrtrf@aol.com
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Les Ballets Trockadero of Monte Carlo By Indiana Reed
“Wonderfully accomplished dancers who serve up their repertoire with a generous slice of ham.” The Seattle Times
Some may say, ballet is ballet is ballet…that is, until one has experienced the stunningly talented, all-male ballet troupe – Les Ballets Trockadero of Monte Carlo. No matter if one knows nothing about ballet or is a dance aficionado, a performance by the Trocks has its own special blend of classical ballet and its unique touch of comedy.
“It’s parody, that is true,” says Charles Leslie, Fort Lewis College Community Concert Hall director, “but there is nothing comical about the talent these dancers possess. They are true artistic athletes. The Trocks has been called a phenomenon in the dance world. I’d agree with that. We’re really looking forward to this show.” Since 1974 the Trocks have been wooing audiences with an impeccable comic approach to ballet, while demonstrating that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without tumbling to the ground. The original concept of the troupe has not changed over the years. Male dancers perform the full range of ballet and modern dance repertoire. Comedy is achieved by incorporating and exaggerating the foibles and accidents of serious dance. The troupe’s numerous tours around the world have been both popular and critical successes, including 39 countries and 600 cities. In the USA they have become a regular part of the college and university circuit, in addition to regular dance presentations in 49 states. The Trocks have appeared on a variety of television features and performed on shows hosted by everyone from Shirley MacLaine to the Muppet’s Kermit and Miss Piggy. N
Photo: Sascha Vaughn
Indiana Reed is an award-winning journalist, freelance writer and marketing communications specialist. She resides in Durango, Colorado and is a staff writer for Arts Perspective magazine. indiana@indianareed.com
Les Ballets Trockadero of Monte Carlo Mar 12, 7:30 p.m. | Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College Tickets are available on-line at www.durangoconcerts.com or by calling (970) 247-7656 or visit the ticket office inside the Welcome Center at 8th St. and Main Ave. in Downtown Durango.
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A rt i st L i st i n g s
Artist Listings are $50 and include 25 words with contact information, a description and photo. Contact us at denise@sharedvisiononline.com or call (970) 403-1590.
Cindy Coleman
Patsy Davis
Duck Girl Art
www.pdavissculpture.com pdavismhr@frontier.net
(970) 946-7660 www.duckgirlart.com cindy@duckgirlart.com Graphic Design & Illustration to quack about
Bronze…the Ultimate Tribute. Specializing in canine sculpture.
Barbara Grist
Heather Narwid
Artist • Educator • Photographer
Style Consultant
Creative images for stock, websites, publication, events, portraiture and fine art. One on one or group classes in the arts or photography.
Stylist Services: closet consults, wardrobe refinements, event and wedding concepts Costume concept and design Interior ReDesign: artwork, decor and furniture styling for home or business
(970) 560-2767 www.barbaragristphotography.com www.fineartamerica.com/barbaragrist
(970) 739-4646 | hrn13@myway.com
Lorraine Trenholm
Beth Wheeler
(970) 769-2248
Calligrapher
pastel artist
(970) 533-7943 Taking your favorite poem, song lyric, quotation, etc. and turning it into a work of art. Professional hand lettering and picture framing. Custom Calligraphy and Frame, est. 1991.
Affordable Apple® service and training in your home or office 970.903.8511 / macworksconsulting.com
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Arts Around the Region
Durango Film – an Independent Film Festival February 26 – March 2 | Durango, CO
Durango Film – an independent film festival will showcase a diverse menu of more than 80 films – including narratives, documentaries, family, Native American and more – plus panels and workshops. Actor and filmmaker, Wes Studi will be the featured guest for this year’s festival and a screening of his 2009 film, “The Only Good Indian” is scheduled on Saturday, March 1 at 12:00 p.m. The movie is set in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian “training” school to assimilate into white society. When he escapes to return to his family, Sam Franklin (Wes Studi), a bounty hunter of Cherokee descent, is hired to find and return him. Franklin has renounced his Native heritage and believes the white man’s way of life is
Wes Studi, The Only Good Indian Special Screening Gaslight Theatre 2 | March 1, 12:00 p.m.
the only way for Indians to survive. Along the way, a tragic incident spurs Franklin’s longtime nemesis to pursue both Franklin and the boy. Studi’s film credits include “Dances with Wolves,” “The Last of the Mohicans,” “Geronimo: An American Legend,” and “Heat,” as well as James Cameron’s “Avatar” and Paul Weitz’s “Being Flynn.” He has also worked as a language consultant on several films, including “Avatar” and the PBS documentary “We Shall Remain”. Studi is active in encouraging the next generation of filmmakers and performers and will be on hand to participate in workshops and panels. For tickets and show information, go to www.durangofilm.org
Carlos Nunez San Juan College – Henderson Fine Arts Center (Farmington, NM) Thursday, Feb 27, 7:00 p.m. Carlos Nunez is Spain’s most revered artist and is undisputed as tradition’s greatest piper. A true rock star on his signature instrument of the Galician bagpipes, he also shows off his talents on the pennywhistle ocarina, Jew’s harp, tin whistle and flute. He has sold over a million albums and played on Irish group’s CDs including Treasure Island, The Long Black Veil, the Grammy-winning Santiago (inspired by Galician music), Mexican project San Patricio, and their latest release, Voice of Ages. He is already known in Irish music thanks to his early “adoption” by The Chieftains dubbed as “The Seventh Chieftain”. For more tickets and more information, go to www.sanjuancollege.edu/silhouette
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Papadosio March 4, 8:00 p.m. | Animas City Theatre (Durango, CO)
Revolutionary technology meets a revolutionary message in Papadosio. Melding progressive rock with psychedelia, folk with electronica, and dance music with jam, this musical group has amassed a dedicated following of thousands of likeminded individuals sowing the seeds of unity and spreading the sounds of exaltation. Singer-songwriter Anthony Thogmartin’s visionary lyrics, eclectic production and signature guitar work is anchored by the rock solid battery of drummer Mike Healy and bassist Rob McConnell. Billy and Sam Brouse’s virtuosic two-headed keyboard, synth, and programming attack give the band its unmistakable complexity and intensity.
In addition to headlining more than 100 shows in every region of the country each year, their high-energy, technologically perplexing, and utterly engaging stage show has made this group a staple on the festival circuit, with scene-stealing sets at Summer Camp, Wakarusa, Sonic Bloom, Electric Forest, Oregon Country Fair, Camp Bisco, Bear Creek, and their own annual event, Rootwire, an inspirational confluence of music, art, science, and spirituality. For more information, go to www.animascitytheatre.com
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Arts Around the Region continued Durango Celtic Festival March 6 – 9 Strater Hotel & Irish Embassy Pub (Durango, CO)
Just one week prior to the great spring celebration of St. Patrick’s Day – Durango will host its second annual Celtic Festival. Three days of traditional and modern Celtic music, covering the sounds of Ireland, Scotland, the Hebrides, and Cape Breton, along with original blends. Performances by Colcannon, Tramor, Willson & McKee, The Kitchen Jam Band, Mad Haggis, Giant’s Dance, Gypsyfire, Big’Ns, Patrick Crossing and other regional favorites. There will be several workshops available for festival attendees taught by various members of our featured bands. Workshops include Irish flute; Irish fiddle, mandolin, guitar; singing; Irish step dance; Ceilidh dance; and Bodhran. Come and join us in a town that is famous for its majestic pine and aspen covered mountains, roaring rivers, ski resorts, biking and hiking trails, exceptional restaurants, and of course...incredible Celtic music!
For tickets and show information, go to www.durangocelticfestival.com
Willson & McKee to perform and host a workshop at the 2nd Annual Durango Celtic Festival.
Durango Ragtime & Early Jazz Festival March 14 – 16 | Strater Hotel (Durango, CO)
What better place to have the second annual Durango Ragtime & Early Jazz festival than in the heart of the Old West where the cowboys still amble about, saloon girls melt hearts, and the ragtime and jazz can be heard out onto the streets of the old mining town of Durango, Colorado—known as one of the most scenic and diverse places in the world. For three days, the historic Strater Hotel will be filled with the sounds of old ragtime tunes and the beginning of early jazz entertainment. As one of Durango’s premiere and most beloved landmarks, the Strater offers a beautiful setting for the Festival; taking place throughout the hotel’s variety of unique establishments including the world famous Henry Strater Theatre and the popular Diamond Belle Saloon where Louis L’Amour wrote his celebrated Sackett Series. Festival goers will be entertained by an assorted group of the best ragtime entertainers in the world—from young to seasoned and swanky to feisty, including Adam Swanson, Bill Edwards, Frederick Hodges, Max Keenlyside, and Bob Seeley. Those in attendance will also enjoy informative and fun education sessions given by the entertainers, dance lessons, silent movies accompanied by live ragtime music, dueling pianos, after hours parties, food and festivities, and more, including a Farewell Sunday Brunch in the Diamond Belle Saloon. For tickets and show information, go to www.durangoragtimefestival.com
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Book Review Benediction
By Mary Helen Klare Award winning Colorado native, Kent Haruf, returns to his fictional town of Holt, Colorado, in Benediction, where, against the small town’s setting of wide soap weed and buffalo grass pastures, he tells, in his signature clean prose, Dad Lewis’s story. An upright, good-hearted man, if a bit severe, Dad Lewis, 77, owns a hardware store in town and at summer’s beginning is diagnosed with terminal cancer. His wife Mary calls their daughter Lorraine in Denver and tells her it’s time to come home to help and be there for her father’s last days. It is clear the three deeply care for each other, Mary, sleeping next to Dad up to the end, while holding his hand, and Lorraine, leaving her Denver life, such as it is, to come home to help and be with her “Daddy.” The only family member missing is Frank, the gay brother, who has been alienated from the family for years due to his father’s inability to come to terms with his son’s homosexuality. As in Eventide and National Book Award Finalist, Plainsong, we meet an ensemble of characters with their own stories to tell (though I did not find Benediction’s individuals to be as compelling as those in the two novels above). There is next-door-neighbor, Berta May and her eight-year old granddaughter, Alice, whom she’s raising; Willa Johnson and her elderly daughter Alene who looks back with bitterness at having lost in love; Rob Lyle the tormented preacher, his wife and his troubled son; and Bob and Rudy, longtime loyal employees at Dad’s hardware store. All care about Dad and want to help as they watch him die bit by bit. Yet in Haruf ’s hands, this is not another overly sentimental cancer story. We know Dad Lewis is dying but in entering the lives of the other people in his immediate circle, this fact quietly remains in the background. Haruf ’s use of dialogue in Benediction, as in his previous Holt novels, is pitch-perfect. Scenes are masterfully created, and his description of place and characters is beautifully detailed. No chapter goes by without reference made to the weather, the landscape, or people’s surroundings. This is a quiet book whose story moves along as unhurriedly as the summer in its pages. Could there be a fourth novel in the works where we learn what happens to Frank, Rob Lyle and Alice? I hope so. U
Mary Helen Klare is a freelance musician and a writer of prose, poetry, music, art and book reviews. Her writing has been published in The Blue Mesa Review, Entorno, a literary publication in Mexico, Southwest BookViews, The Los Alamos Monitor, The Santa Fe New Mexican and The El Paso Times.
Supporting independent bookstores throughout Arts Perspective magazine’s distribution area! Back Country Navigator Lake City, Colorado
The Book Lady Salida, Colorado
Buckskin Booksellers Ouray, Colorado
Sonflower Books Buena Vista, Colorado
Back of Beyond Books Moab, Utah
Book Mine Leadville, Colorado
Maria’s Bookshop Durango, Colorado
Townie Books Crested Butte, Colorado
Between the Covers Telluride, Colorado
Bookworm Gunnison, Colorado
Moby Dickens Bookshop Taos, New Mexico
Y.E.S.S. the Book Hutch Durango, Colorado
The Book Haven Salida, Colorado
Bookmans Entertainment Exchange Flagstaff, Arizona
Moonlight Books & Gallery Pagosa Springs, Colorado www.ArtsPerspective.com
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f i ct i o n 16
Beached
By Jamie Becktel | Illustration by Jason Boblitt I feel like a beached whale, and I’m not referring to the medieval tightness of my wetsuit or the Christmas cookies I’ve been housing like oxygen. I’m referring to being beached – literally - like a whale. Unable to move. Immobilized. Stuck. I’m in Hawaii on the island of Oahu, traveling alone in paradise in an effort to heal the raw little hole punched into my heart as a result of a breakup breakdown. I’m hoping the waters of the Pacific will purify me and that Pehle’s fiery spirit will deliver me back to myself. I’m also hell bent on swimming with a sea turtle. For years I seethed with jealousy when listening to friends gush over their experiences of swimming with sea turtles. If foolish enough to boast about frolicking with dolphins, they would find themselves mysteriously deleted from my inner sanctum. What can I say? I love turtles and dolphins. Non-negotiable Hawaii goal: Swim with a sea turtle. End of story. I pay $15 to snorkel in Haunama Bay, a marine sanctuary teeming with aquatic wonderment. It’s 7am, and I’m delighted to note that nary a soul has arrived at this early hour to infringe upon my adventures. A park ranger at the cliff ’s edge points out a tiny puff of spray toward the outer fringes of the reef. It’s an orphaned humpback whale, a newborn calf most
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likely separated from its mother in a recent storm. A bizarre flaring of maternal fire suddenly blazes within me and I suppress the urge to somehow rescue the baby. Seeing the crazed look in my eye, the ranger powers down my emotions with the warning, “Swimmers aren’t allowed beyond the edge of the reef. It’s too dangerous out there with the tiger sharks.” Sharks - Second only to snakes in the hall of fame of my least favorite animals. Hate sharks. My visions of cradling a newborn humpback in my arms and whispering comforting words into its earhole are thankfully diffused. I return my attention to Operation Sea Turtle, excitement building as I descend the cliffs to the beach below. I’m standing at the water’s edge when my cocky attitude suddenly flips a switch. I find myself very much alone, willing to give anything for the company of a previously abhorrent tourist. It’s windy, cold and expansively open and I shiver from a jolt of fear as I swim toward the reef. Kicking my dorky flippers and bobbing over rainbow fish and coral, it’s beautiful in an otherworldly way. The reef is not unlike an underwater metropolis, with stores and high-rise apartment structures, neon lights, luxury hotels and zipping traffic, it reminds me of Times Square. There are alleys and streets; avenues and boulevards; super highways and terraced parking structures. There are eccentric personalities, colorful characters,
cloistered beauties and crotchety old codgers. I’m hypnotized. My pupils are dilated wide to take in the hustle and bustle of the domestic reef-scape when in the distance I see something large and flat. I stalk it and almost faint. Really, for realsies, for sure….there’s a giant Green Sea Turtle in my masked scope. Like a floating dinosaur with a soul as old as the sea, we make eye contact and I blush. He’s gorgeous. Variegated shades of emerald and sage, rust and umber. I have the distinct recognition that I am somehow in the presence of a petite, elderly British man. He gives me a painfully bored glance, as if to say in a droll, British accent, “Oh. It’s you. I suppose you’re going to follow me about and be a terrible bother.” Turns out, sea turtles are a cantankerous lot. Elitists, they can’t be suffered the inconvenience of a bobbleheaded humanoid. I notice his disinterest in my presence, yet flipper on like a boneheaded puppy or an obnoxious younger sibling. Through the submarine byways he munches algae and occasionally glances back in my direction with utter indifference. The water grows shallow over the reef, but I follow the little British turtle ever farther out to sea. Suddenly, he turns to me and winks before flying like a glider through a corridor of water too shallow for me to pass. “So long sucka!” he quips as the tide withdraws her gauzy skirt, leaving me squarely beached atop the coral reef of Haunama Bay. On all sides the water has retreated to the exact level of the reef surface and I sit atop, like a rubbery baby whale. The polyp colony of a coral reef is extremely delicate, and is illegal to harm in any way. Walking across it is strictly forbidden and to the naked foot it’s as sharp as fresh glass. So I
wait. An answer will surely come. I gaze up at the cliffs and am deflated to notice the barricade overlooking the bay is now teeming with Japanese tourists awaiting their shuttle to the beach. They enjoy a front row seat to watch the American girl flounder atop the reef like an idiot. Tiny waves roll in every few minutes and I realize that if timed appropriately, I can use their buoyancy to move an inch or two across the reef toward the edge. Like a walrus lumbering on dry land, I worm about for an hour, finally discovering a crack large enough to slip down into the water.
No telling where the crack will lead, but I decide to follow its underwater highway. It’s my only option. Narrow and sharp, the crack slices and dices my hands and shreds my wetsuit while the deceptively forceful tide knocks me about like a toy. I squirm, I wriggle and flipper, pulling myself along the corridor wall before finally snaking my way into open water where I can freely swim once again. By the time I return to the beach I’m bloody with gashes and scrapes, bruised from sharp corners and coral knobs. I look like a defeated boxer. I walk past the Baywatch-grade lifeguard, all bronzed skin and snow-white smiles and ask if he caught any of the action. “Sure did. My buddies and I saw the whole thing and we were wondering how long it would take you to get off that reef.” Great. I’m happy you all enjoyed the show. Shoulders hunched, leaving a trail of blood in the sand as I depart toward the cliff trail, I reflect on a morning well spent.
Operation Sea Turtle = Complete. I also reflect on the ocean; how she has the power to school the bravest heart and sink the most impenetrable ship. The ocean is not to be trifled with and high-fives to her for maintaining the upper hand over the immortal delusions of our species. She can deliver an ass-kicking like none other, and all of her creatures play on the same team in that endeavor. The sea turtle is her secret agent. Dolphins are her spies. Stingrays and jellyfish are her snipers and sharks….in their refusal to go extinct for over 300 million years are her assassins. But man, is she pretty! 3 Jaime Becktel is an artist, singer and writer originally from California. She is the illustrator of two award winning children’s books and has been published in numerous publications. She currently occupies her time as a freelance writer in Mancos, where she owns a small bed and breakfast and enjoys exploring the surrounding mountains and desert with her dog, Bryn and her horse, Harley. Jaime.Becktel@gmail.com
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From the Portal to the Page:
Getting to the Real Story through Writing and Dreams By Amy Irvine McHarg Paintings by Karla Van Vliet
Joy Acrylic on canvas 16” x 20”
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hen writing my last book, which began as a rant at the perceived destroyers of my beloved Utah desert homelands, I had this dream: I am with several prominent environmentalists. There are black widow spiders on the wall. Angrily, I try to smash them. The spiders spring back to life, larger than before. The environmentalists say the exterminator has already tried to get rid of them, but there is no hope.
Hawkgirl Tempera on paper 12” x 14”
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I worked this dream in a session with Marc Bregman, founder of Archetypal Dreamwork. He did not interpret the dream as most Jungian analysts would, but rather had me explore the feelings that arose when I stayed with the images. I came to understand the spiders as representations of the venom that lives in me, which I project out onto surfaces beyond my own skin. Simply put, the dream was showing me that, by blaming others in righteous indignation, I was perpetuating the hopeless antagonistic dynamic of Self vs. Other. Before that dream, I lived life with my fist raised and shaking. Against oil companies and off-road vehicles. At Republicans and GMO (genetically modified organism) foods. Subsequent dreams helped me see how I also kept my fist raised in my marriage. Then they dared take on the sacred cow of motherhood—helping me see the destructive way I fought for my daughter’s well-being when she was diagnosed with a chronic illness.
Photo: Susie Grant
With the help of Marc and other Archetypal Dreamwork teachers, the dreams showed me how my warrior ways kept me from the intimacy of both human and divine relationships. Facing into the darkness within, I arrived at an opening through which came a kind of fierce and loving guidance—which I could not have possibly conjured on my own. I rewrote that second book with an eye on my own part in a culture deeply divided over how to use its beautiful desert landscapes. I also looked at my part in a deeply damaged marriage, stepping toward the love both internal and external that I had spent my life avoiding. Instead of a rant, the book became an act of restoration. As I have become a very different writer with the help of my dreams, so have I become a very different teacher of writing. The story that wants to be told is often lying in wait beneath the surface of our familiar patterns, our finely crafted personas and our well-informed politics. It is through our dreams that the real story can be unleashed, with its rich imagery and sensuality and feeling, into our hearts, into the world. 1 Amy Irvine McHarg is an Archetypal Dreamwork student analyst and member of North of Eden. She has won the Orion Book Award and the Colorado Book Award and is a Faculty Fellow in Southern New Hampshire University’s MFA in Fiction & Nonfiction Program. She is currently at work on a book about her journey in dreamwork, to be published by Counterpoint Press. For more information on Amy and her work, visit www.northofeden.com.
Fall Reflected Acrylic on canvas, 24” x 30”
Verticality: Dropping Into the Dream Through Writing Thursday, February 20 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Ah-Haa School for the Arts Telluride, CO www.ahhaa.org Some of the greatest literary works, as well as some of the bestselling genre writing, have been inspired by the authors’ dreams: Jane Eyre, Kubla Khan, Stuart Little, Frankenstein, Jekyll & Hyde– as well as Twilight and Misery. Taught by award-winning author Amy Irvine McHarg, this workshop will help participants deepen their experience with dreamwork through the process of creative writing – both poetry and prose. In turn, participants will learn how deepening our connection to the dream serves the creative process. Through guided writing exercises, the exploration of gnostic writing, shared work, and lively discussion, participants will learn to cultivate on the page stronger imagery, intensified feeling, and heightened sensuality, using images/sensations from each writer’s dreams. For more information about the Weekend Archetypal Dreamwork Retreat, February 20-23 in Telluride, CO, visit www.northofeden.com.
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Art 101
nities to opportu ssions g in r lo Exp our pa ct with he reconne s as we travel t r t r he a s e li h b pu in t rs with e n e r o li s C e eL Four r, Denis o it d e d an
Denise performs at iAM Music Institute’s year-end Winter Student Showcase in Durango.
Anyone who knows me, or is a friend of mine on Facebook, is quite familiar with my obsession. Yes, I have two ukuleles and I play every morning and as many evenings possible. I can’t really explain what it is about this tiny stringed instrument that has me completely enamored but it does and the love of performing music has reappeared. On a quest to brush up on performance techniques, songwriting skills and basic stage presence, I decided to find someone to help me achieve my goal – to become a small venue and house concert musician/singer. And so, my tale begins. I contacted two young musicians who agreed to take me on as a student at the iAM Music Institute in Durango, Colorado. Jesse Ogle and Ashley Edwards started the iAM Music Institute in 2013 where they provide private and group music lessons and artist workshops and they work in the schools as part of their community outreach program. In addition to teaching, both perform around the region as founding members of the bands, Hello DollFace, and as the acoustic duo of Ace Rebel. On my first day of class I arrived with my ukulele, thinking we would strum, but we spent most of the time learning the mathematics of a chord. I loathe math, but I listened intensely as Jesse explained the different types of chords and sketched out their structure on a white board. At our next lesson, I played and sang songs with Jesse accompanying me on both his guitar and stand up bass. This was exactly what I was looking for in a music lesson! The next week I met with Ashley and we began working my vocal technique and performance skills. She showed me how to phrase the lyrics in a song and advised me to look up from the words and uke chords once in a while. And then she said the most terrifying thing, “Denise, you need to memorize your music.” Sirens went off and I saw red lights flashing and I began to panic! I had never been able to memorize music. She must have sensed my mood because she followed with the most comforting words, “Well, at least you need to try.” I breathed much easier. During our next session we plugged the uke in to an amplifier and placed me in front of a microphone. It was time to be heard and the sounds were quite frightening as you can hear EVERY little mistake.
About iAM Music Institute
Each lesson taught me more about playing and performing music. Then, one day I received a phone call from Jesse telling me that I was scheduled to play in an upcoming student recital. Now all I had learned would be put to the test! I was the oldest student they had, so I started practicing like a crazy person. Those youngsters would not show me up! The night of the big performance came and I was full of jitters. Yet I understood this was all still part of the lessons for me to learn: performance. I was last on the list since the order was determined by age and I was hoping that the younger audience would be headed home long before I came on stage. My turn came and I took my place alongside Jesse on bass with Ashley standing close cheering me on. It was invigorating and of course I made some mistakes, but had a grand time. We all laughed and it was then I decided that should I EVER perform in public, it should be a comedic experience for all. One should never think it is too late to find or renew your creative outlet. We have amazing places to learn in our communities and if music is your thing contact iAM Music Institute in Durango. Get out there. Buy a ukulele! Let’s start a band…call me! b Denise Leslie is owner of Shared Vision Publishing – publishers of Arts Perspective magazine and Southwest Arts Programs. denise@sharedvisiononline.com
The iAM Music Institute is located at 1315 Main Avenue in Durango, CO. Jesse Ogle and Ashley Edwards have developed a conscious, creative, community-based music education program. Private, group and individual music lessons are available and offered to all ages. Find out more at FaceBook.com/iAMMusicInstitute or call (970) 799-7450. 22
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