Union Avenue Historic District

Art Walk Schedule

First Friday Art Walk continued from page 15 dustrial variety from Summit Brick Company, located on 13th Street, she can adjust the color, consistency and, most importantly, dry time. Once she was confident of the consistency, she and her son set to fill around 30 large, commercial buckets of wet clay in their driveway the Saturday before the exhibition opens.

4-6 p.m. Sangre de Cristos Arts and Conference Center, 210 N. Union Ave.

4-7 p.m. El Pueblo History Museum, 302 N. Union Ave.

5-7 p.m. Liminal Space Gallery, 107 S. Grand Ave.

Mud cracks are a process of desiccation and “only form where wet sediment is exposed to air” and typically form patterns of polygons, according to the Geological Society of America. This unique effect is an important part in determining the presence of water on Mars.

“I find these patterns so beautiful,” Dunn said. “They mark the passage of time and the interplay of earth and water. Insects leave their footprints.”

Dunn says her goal in this exhibit, and in most of her art, is to create an “immersive” experience and create a change in physical sensations by incorporating the elements. For example, she often hangs her art from the ceiling to conjure thoughts of air and flow. Though, she explains that she is most personally connected with water.

“We’re water, carbon, heat and air,” Dunn said. “But predominantly we are water.”

In a way, Dunn said she feels that this art is how she processes the reality that “we have less water and that the earth is warming.” She explained that this art is a process of grief.

“The Earth will adapt and survive, and we might not,” Dunn said, with hurt in her voice.

She said she is experiencing “solastalgia” which is a way to describe a form of grief for changes in environment or home. She described her heart as being “full of tears” at the thought of losing humanity by means of our own destruction. Dunn said she hopes that as she processes this grief via her art, it will help others grieve as well.

“I’m not some special being,” Dunn said. “Traditional views of the artist have them being gifted or blessed with special skills—or more, cursed—to have empathy… I need to somehow make a change… It would be a lot easier not to do this… Maybe this is the best I can do—this is my offering.”

She also draws inspiration from an “important dream” she had. She said felt she was inexplicably rising into the sky but was tethered by children clutching onto her. This dream inspired the figure in her mural.

Dunn moved to Pueblo West from Colorado Springs with her husband Jimmie, a famous rock climber, and their 17-year-old son in 2019. Prior to having their son, the couple lived in a Volkswagen van from 1997, the year they met, until 2004 when they learned of her pregnancy.

She taught kindergarten through eighth grade, eventually stepping away for her mental health. She said she needed to focus on her passion.

“I’m a very empathetic person,” Dunn said. “I became like their earth mother. But I started getting sick.”

Dunn’s “original love,” as she calls it, is carving stone. A large Carrara marble statue sits under a gantry hoist. Dunn says that the piece should go for over $100,000 to the right buyer which depicts her interpretation of the tantric heart, or the eastern practice of the “divine embrace.” She was 17 years old when she started carving stone which she described as “life-changing.” Dunn turned to pottery as it was a more efficient way to make money from her skills and fund her more close-to-heart projects.

Dunn has performed at Blo Back Gallery before, where she used the opportunity to protest the repeal of Roe v. Wade via her art.

Dunn would like to thank Mark Jesik at Summit Bricks; her family, Jimmie and CJ; Bob Marsh, Matte Refic and Julie Kim at #SCAPE, the Spontaneous Combustion Arts Performance Ensemble; and the School of Creativity and Practice at Colorado State University Pueblo. Dunn has a performance art show for the 2023 faculty art exhibition at 6 p.m. on March 10 in Gallery 101 in the Art Building on the Colorado State University Pueblo campus.

Art Events

Arts & Chats with Kimberly Sewell

4 p.m. Sundays, at the ArtHub at Pueblo Arts Alliance, 107 S. Grand Ave.

Info: kimberly@puebloarts.org

Art History for Kiddos

1 p.m. every other Sunday, Pueblo Arts Alliance, 107 S. Grand Ave.

Info: 602-281-5558

Performing Arts

“The Addams Family: A Musical Comedy”

7-9 p.m. March 9-11, 2-4 p.m. 12, Pueblo County High School, 1050 35th Lane

“Bye Bye Birdie”

7 p.m. March 15-17, Pueblo West High School, 661 W. Capistrano Ave.

Music

Line Dancing

EZ 4 p.m., Country/Classic

6-7 p.m.

Wednesdays, Eagleridge Event Center, 805 Eagleridge Blvd., Suite 170

Info: facebook.com/PuebloDanceCompany

Cocktail Hour with Live Music

7-9 p.m., Analogue Bar, 222 N. Main St.

Info: facebook.com/AnalogueSolar

Open Mic at Blue Cactus

6-9 p.m. Thursdays, El Nopal’s Blue Cactus Room, 1435 E. Evans Ave. Info: 719-564-9784

Karaoke Night at The Fallout with KJ Mikey D.

9-11 p.m. Fridays, 1227 S. Prairie Ave.

Info: facebook.com/PuebloFallout

March

March 3 - Friday

The Treasure of Art Show

5-8 p.m., Steel City Art Works, 216 S. Union Ave.

March 4 - Saturday

Donate to Skate

1:30-3:30 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St. Info: blobackgallery.com

Morgan J. Cox and Ashlynn

Young perfom

7 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St. Info: blobackgallery.com

March 8 - Wednesday

“Legally Blonde: The Musical”

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place

Info: $42-$90, pueblomemorialhall.com

March 9 - Thursday

Mary Shelley Chautauqua

6-9 p.m., Pueblo Community College, Hoag Theater, 900 W. Orman Ave.

Mar 10 - Friday

FlowRate performance art

6-7 p.m., CSU Pueblo, Gallery 101, Art Building, 2200 Bonforte Blvd.

March 11 - Saturday

World Ballet Series: Cinderella

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Hall Place Info: $35-$95. pueblomemorialhall.com

Metal Show

7-9 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St. info: $10, blobackgallery.com

March 12 - Sunday

A Synesthete’s Atlas

6:30-8 p.m., Blo Back Gallery, 131 Spring St. info: $5-10 suggested donation, flashing lights warning; blobackgallery.com

March 17 - Friday

Benise - Fiesta!

7 p.m., Memorial Hall, 1 City Place Info: pueblomemorialhall.com