12 minute read
GALLERY SHINES IN OCC’S ART SCENE
Surface Gallery DIGS DEEP
into OCC art scene
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Story and photo by Larry Ferguson
In recent years, the Westside has steadily enhanced its reputation as an important home to art-related businesses. Late this summer it added another art gallery to its lineup: Surface Gallery.
“We were ready to expand,” said founder Valerie Lloyd, describing the gallery’s move to Old Colorado City from downtown Colorado Springs, where it was known as the Machine Shop.
Surface opened two months ago at 2752 W. Colorado Ave., in the building that formerly housed a military surplus store. In the second half of the 19th century, it served as a general store for miners and gold seekers.
Echo Architect +Interiors purchased the building last year and, after an extensive remodeling effort, it was renamed The Sluice, referring to the method of separating and recovering gold from placer gravel by using running water through long, narrow troughs.
“It was a ton of work,” said Lloyd, whose husband, Ryan, is the founder of Echo Architects +Interiors and a principal owner, along with Scott Schuster and Courtney Wilson.
The renovated building also houses the Story Coffee Shop and artist/ business offices, along with Echo Architecture offices.
Valerie Lloyd has an art education degree from Colorado State University. Previously, she taught art at a high school in Washington state and was the managing owner, gallery curator and an artist at the Machine Shop, which
Valerie Lloyd, owner of Surface Gallery, opened the business in Old Colorado City this summer.
opened in 2013 in Colorado Springs.
That connection with the area’s art community has helped to publicize the new gallery.
“We’ve definitely received a lot of support from people who already know what we are about,” she said, “and from people in the neighborhood. We still have a hurdle in getting foot traffic in Old Colorado City to come up this far on the west end, but that’s getting better.
“Just give us a year,” she added with a laugh.
The Surface exhibits have thus far featured artists with whom Lloyd is familiar and who have “more of a fresh perspective and newer type of work,” she said. “But not all of it is modern, not all of it is contemporary. We’ll have some realism, but it will be a little different.”
The gallery is featuring one artist every month, changing on the first Friday. The current exhibit is “Your Family is So Big,” Diane Reeves’ paintings.
Next up: an exhibit titled “Fragments of Eternity” by Lupita Carrasco, whose background
includes an upbringing in San Diego immersed in Mexican culture. The opening reception is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7. “Lupita’s work revolves around survival,” Lloyd wrote on the gallery’s website, “allowing herself to break open in the most vulnerable of places. She explores how trauma affects self-worth, self-care, and the ability to “We’re here for all love and nurture others.” In addition to art, the Surface Gallery also features a variety of kinds of quality handmade goods, ranging people.” from small watercolor sets and sketchbooks to pencil sets and — Valerie Lloyd ceramic mugs. “We’re here for all kinds of people, not just artists,” Lloyd said. “For me, the best thing about operating a gallery is the relationships I have with other people, whether it’s the artists who come by and show me their work or the buyers, who are excited about the art.” The Surface Gallery, 2752 W. Colorado Ave., is open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Information: surfacegallerycos.com or 719-359-6966.
Photo by Rhonda Van Pelt The M is in a wooded area on a hillside northwest of Manitou Springs.
MANITOU/from page 3
The group decided they didn’t want to recruit current student-athletes to help, because they didn’t want to have to obtain parental permission. The site didn’t allow for more than eight people to work at one time; two hours at a time was deemed the maximum anyone should work on it, for their health and safety.
Meury researched the size of the “Hollywood” sign to determine how large the M had to be so it would be visible from 5 miles away. Several volunteers hiked up a few times to scope out the site, clear the area and mark out the M with stakes, spray paint and string, Glass explained.
They re-used the original rocks, most of which had slid (or been pushed) about 25 to 30 yard down the hillside. Smaller rocks were carried up in 5-gallon buckets to fill out the 5-foot-wide “legs” of the letter.
— and love — put into it,” Glass said. “It was not for the faint of heart.” After testing a few techniques to paint the rocks, they found that using a mop and bucket to cover them with whitewash, the method used for the original M, would be the best way. McCumber said that 16 people helped in various ways and the “people hours” on the hillside added up to 67 over six weeks. They’re still discussing who will maintain the M so it’ll be here for generations to come. “Obstacles were continually thrown our way, but There was each time we persevered, managed a ton of labor — and and accomplished it! I am super proud of my team of alumni love — put from various generations who gave into it. up hours of their busy lives to help with this — Angie Glass project,” Glass said. The community is invited to see the results with “The Unveiling of the M” during the Homecoming Parade along Manitou Avenue, starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Angie Glass wanted to extend “huge thanks” to Clara Meury — the project wouldn’t have happened without her — and these entities:
“The MSHS Alumni Group, the city of Manitou Springs, the Public Works Department, the Manitou Springs Fire Department, the Pikes Peak Bulletin and Mr. Walton for their support. In addition, we would like to thank a longtime friend and sponsor of Manitou Springs schools, as well as the Garden of Gods Trading Post, for a wonderful donation for the M. Rafter Three Property Maintenance LLC for providing labor and donating materials. And, finally, to MSSD14 for trusting in us and giving us the autonomy to get the job done.”
In honor of SUNWATER SPA’s SEVEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ WEEKEND, In honor of SUNWATER SPA’s SEVEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ WEEKEND, In honor of SUNWATER SPA’s SEVEN-YEAR ANNIVERSARY and INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ WEEKEND, WE would like to offer FREE SOAKING FOR ALL FIRST NATION PEOPLE on Sunday, October 9th from 8am to 9:30pm and on OCTOBER 10th from 1am to 8pm WE would like to offer FREE SOAKING FOR ALL FIRST NATION PEOPLE on Sunday, October 9th from 8am to 9:30pm and on OCTOBER 10th from 1am to 8pm We also will be donating proceeds from the entire month of October to the WE would like to offer FREE SOAKING FOR ALL FIRST NATION PEOPLE on Sunday, October 9th from 8am to 9:30pm and on OCTOBER 10th from 1am to 8pm Art Empowers Camp program on the Uintah and Ouray reservation as well as We also will be donating proceeds from the entire month of October to the We also will be donating proceeds from the entire month of October to the our local One Nation Walking organization.Art Empowers Camp program on the Uintah and Ouray reservation as well as Art Empowers Camp program on the Uintah and Ouray reservation as well asour local One Nation Walking organization. our local One Nation Walking organization.
514 El Paso Boulevard
sunwaterspa.com
sunwaterspa.com sunwaterspa.com
MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO 514 El Paso Boulevard(719) 695-7007514 El Paso Boulevard MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO
MANITOU SPRINGS, COLORADO (719) 695-7007 (719) 695-7007
10 Pikes Peak Bulletin
September 29, 2022 Big win could set tone for remaining football games
Story and photo by Daniel Mohrmann
The score of the Manitou Springs football team’s 43-32 win over Prospect Ridge Academy is slightly deceptive.
To say the Mustangs were a better team on Sept. 24 is quite the understatement. They were dominant in the first half as Tyler Maloney found the end zone multiple times and put the game well out of reach.
The Miners fought their way back in the second half, but not because the Mustangs (3-1 overall) lost focus, but because coach Stu Jeck emptied the bench to get younger players on the field for some valuable game experience.
The Miners kept battling to close that gap a little tighter than anyone in green and gold would have preferred.
Being on the positive side of a blowout win hasn’t been the norm for the Mustangs in a while. In fact, Manitou hasn’t even won three games in a row in a fall season since 2016.
But this is an obvious sign of progress for the program.
The players are clearly confident in the game plan, evidenced in the way Nate Gentzel commands the offense and gets the ball to his playmakers. Maloney, Evan Scherr and Donovan Ornelas all have a way of making good things happen when the offense is running the way it’s designed to.
He scored three rushing touchdowns and a receiving touchdown; Ornelas also had a receiving touchdown.
The Mustangs return home this week for the first time since the season opener against Rye. Woodland Park rolls into town Friday, Sept. 30, to try to spoil Homecoming Week for Manitou. Although the parade and pep rallies can always provide a distraction, Jeck doesn’t see this team getting away from the routine that has produced a winning formula for the past three weeks.
This week will also be the league opener for the Mustangs, so every game from here on out has much more weight to it. If they can beat the Panthers on Friday, it could set the tone for what they can accomplish the rest of the season.
Manitou Springs receiver Evan Scherr hauls in a catch in the first quarter of the Mustangs’ win over Prospect Ridge Academy.
Soccer team beats out CSCS in second overtime
By Daniel Mohrmann
Rivalry games tend to bring out the best in competitors. That held true as the Manitou Springs boys soccer team had to battle to a 3-2 double-overtime win against Colorado Springs Christian School on Sept. 22.
Each team scored a goal in each half to end the 80-minute regulation block in a 2-2 tie. Gavin Kopp and Bowman Hall scored for the Mustangs (5-2-1 overall) before Lukas Merz hit the game-winner in the second overtime period.
The win snaps the Mustangs’ three-game winless streak, which includes losses to Vanguard and Thomas McLaren and a tie with Bayfield.
Manitou scored three goals in that three-game stretch, making the scoring effort against CSCS a much-needed burst of offense for the team.
The Mustangs play a non-league game against Ellicott on Thursday, Sept. 29, before jumping into Tri-Peaks play. Five of the last six games of the year are league games with a non-league contest against Pagosa Springs in between.
The Mustangs have now outscored
Photo by Bryan Oller Graham Beckum fends off a Colorado Springs Christian School player during their match.
their opponents 25-9 on the season and would love to see that dominance hold up. Manitou has just about a month left in the regular season and currently sits at No. 17 in the CHSAA selection and seeding index.
Clifford punches his ticket to state golf tournament
By Daniel Mohrmann
If there is any athlete in the Manitou Springs High School building that can handle the mental rigors of qualifying for state golf, it might just be the one who qualified for state golf.
Jack Clifford saw Common Ground Golf Course for the first time on Oct. 21 and shot an 11-over-par 82 to punch his ticket to the Class 3A state tournament at Pinehurst Country Club in Denver. Perhaps the most impressive part of his round is that he was 5-over through four holes and didn’t let himself get discouraged.
Clifford shot 44 on the front nine before making the turn and playing the back in just 3-over. He finished in a tie for 12th.
The state field takes the top two teams from each region along with the 13 top individuals who aren’t on one of those teams. Clifford was safely inside the cutline.
Now he has the task of taking on Pinehurst, another course he has never played, and trying to replicate that effort.
“We’ll go over what to expect up there,” Vecchio said.
Clifford will compete at the 3A state tournament on Oct. 3 and 4 at Pinehurst Country Club.
