(TOP) “EYEVAN.” (ABOVE) “EARTH, WIND & FIRE.” (RIGHT) “DRAGON DOJO AERIALISTS” AT CARDANGO
This year, taking some responsibility off the shoulders of Wood and Palmer, a board and a committee were formed to help with the festivities and their preparation. Palmer is helping with preparations for Cardango, the variety show on Saturday night. Described as a “dance party circus,” Cardango is all about presenting the interesting, unusual and entertaining oddities to keep people entertained. Additionally, Palmer, a quilter, gathered 27 community members to decorate a car for last year’s parade called Dia de los Muertos. Fabric artists, a tattoo artist (who painted on fiber) and others created patches with pockets in the back for strong magnets that keep the fabric on the car. Since there is only one driver, the other artists wore white outfits with flowers in their hair and walked alongside the car. “Having everyone participate and being inclusive is very important,” Palmer says. The spirit of inclusion is taken to a new level by drivers of about 15 to 20 cars who take them to those who can’t make the parade. The Friday before the parade, these volunteers take the cars to coloradocountrylife.coop
schools, nursing homes, the hospital and the local Trinidad Correctional Facility. (See website for more information on TCF’s involvement.) “The cars have such amazing details,” Wood says.” You really have to see them up close. You also have to see the characters who drive the cars. Normal people don’t do this. We want to tell everyone about the quirky little world we have going on here.” That’s why, after the parade, the cars park along Main Street. That gives everyone an opportunity to get up close to these works of art and admire them and their fun-loving drivers from every angle. Malia Durbano is a freelance writer who taught and worked in many places before finding a new home base in Durango where she works.
September 9 & 10 in Trinidad. Visit artocade.com for more information. SEPTEMBER 2016
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