82717 October/November 2019 by Outliers Creative

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2019

Unexpected STUDIO SESSIONS

ADVOCATE INSPIRE CONNECT

MOTHERS MOONSTONE

MEMORIES + MASTERPIECES

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Audio Production & Recording

Professional Equipment

Mixing, Editing & Mastering

Private Environment

BOOK YOUR SESSION TODAY! (307) 689 - 0772 Lakeway Professional Center STE 412

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Contents

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-C Worldrt A

DECADE DONORS Mayor’s Art Council honors tenured Avenues of Art supporters

12PAINT PARTY

Pick your board and paints bring the wine... Let’s get crazy! (At the florists!)

15 LIBRARY FOUNDATION brings high art to the stacks

22 IN THE STUDIO with “A-Bomb”music producer

We love Pickles

27 ARTISTS’ PROFILES three local artists share their stories

Mixing Music in G-Town

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Maybe it was the polar bears that first caught your eye -

or perhaps one of our U.S. Presidents casually sitting on a bench downtown?

Either way, you’ve probably noticed one of Gillette’s Avenues of Art sculptures. Since 2004, the Avenues of Art program has brought more than 280 pieces of art to our community. Each year, the Mayor’s Art Council works with generous local sponsors who provide artist stipends to bring a new crop of sculptures to town for one year, on an on-loan basis. The Mayor’s Art Council would like to extend a special thank-you to their Decade Donors, a special group of sponsors who have contributed to the Avenues of Art program for 10 or more years!

Avenues of Art Decade Donors Ida Snead State Farm Insurance John & Dara Corkery Thunder Basin Ford Ice Cream Cafe Tasty Kettle Corn Campbell County Health First Interstate Bank M&K Oil The Mayor’s Art Council is currently accepting sponsors for the 2020 Avenues of Art program. For more information about the program or to become a sponsor, call 307.686.5203 or email mayorsartcouncil@gmail.com.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019 Let your agent know you saw it in Homes & More • www.GilletteHomesAndMore.com

PRESIDENT

Erika C. Christensen EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Stephanie L. Scarcliff FEATURES EDITOR

Jennifer C. Kocher DESIGNER

Candice E. Schlautmann PHOTOGRAPHER

Taylor A. Helton ADVERTISING

Mercedes A. Fuller ADMINISTRATION

Lisa A. Shrefler

On the Cover @82717Life

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OUTLIERS CREATIVE, LLC P.O. Box 3825 Gillette, Wyoming 82717 307.686.5121 | 82717@mcllc.net CONTACT US Email 82717@mcllc.net or mail letters and feedback to 82717 Life Editors, Outliers Creative LLC, 518 N. US Hwy. 14-16 Ste. D1, Gillette WY 82718. Include your name, address, and phone number. Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Follow us and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @82717Life. Read online at 82717Life.com and issuu.com. 82801 Life is a publication of Outliers Creative, LLC ÂŠ 2019, all rights reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. This magazine accepts freelance contributions. 82801 Life is not responsible for loss, damage or any other injury to unsolicited manuscript, unsolicited artwork including but not limited to drawings, photographs or transparencies and any other unsolicited materials. Outliers Creative, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MC Aegis, LLC.

October/November 2019 EDITOR’S LETTER

HE THING ABOUT ART is that there’s copious beauty in its subjectivity. It doesn’t need to please everyone. If you call the 82717 home, you’re lucky to pass great art on the regular. It literally lines our streets with culture and history, thanks to the City of Gillette, Mayor’s Art Council and their Avenues of Art program. How rad is it to be a part of a community where public and private donors alike not only support but wholly endorse the arts?! With this issue, we celebrate art. Inside, we challenge local artists and art concierges to define the value of art, its relevance and impact on our community. Among them are AVA’s Quinn Goldhammer and Mary “Jungle Cat” Wilson, a powerhouse duo actively advocating to make the arts accessible to all. Meet arts champions Dara Corkery, Steve Riss and Bob Barlow, who have made it their shared mission to harness the power of original artwork to transform our everyday street corners, storefronts and public libraries into cultural experiences. These creative curators are the driving force connecting art with locals and businesses — and in the process, making Gillette’s public spaces and our entire community a whole lot more inspiring.

Stephanie Scarcliff, Editorial Director

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

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Photos: Taylor Helton

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

HOW IT WORKS

1 Pick your board (choose from 5 pre-made sizes or ask them to custom cut a board to fit your space)

2 Choose your design and the staff will create and print a computerized stencil

3 Channel your inner artist, create memories & a masterpiece!

ever did I imagine that anything I painted myself would ever end up on my wall. I have standards, after all, and my original art work never made the cut, no matter how many group painting sessions I attended or how much wine I drank (though admittedly, it made my droopy blobs of flowers and blurry landscapes seem much more masterful at the time). But having chucked all of those masterpieces in the garbage the next day, I was skeptical when Crazy Daisy Floral owner Janelle Mason invited me to try again. Big sigh, I thought, here we go again as I slumped behind the ever cheerful, energetic owner, feeling slightly guilty that I would soon dampen her spirits with my supreme lack of artistic talent. And, I wasn’t even drinking alcohol. There’s something to be said for unfettered enthusiasm turning a self-defeatist attitude around. Janelle didn’t flinch when I asked for a bird stencil that for whatever reasons I decided would look best in a soft limy green (mistake). Instead, she assured me that there was really no way to screw this up and that it would be relaxing and fun.

She was right. Within seconds of slathering my first coat of gray across the entire board (again, no judgements), I was engaged and having fun as I bantered with the friendly, chipper Crazy Daisy staff surrounded by a roomful of beautiful flowers and fun gifts. When I peeled off the stencil after stippling between the pattern lines, I was amazed to see that Janelle was right; it’s more or less impossible to screw this up and even I walked out an artist. Now, I will be returning with friends in tow for another session (this time involving wine – you can bring in your own drinks and food, and they even have plug-ins for crockpots!). It’s perfect for team building with co-workers, bonding with friends, birthday or bachelorette parties, showers of all kinds and just having fun with your people. They can accommodate up to 40, and they even clean up all the mess!

Jen Kocher

Select your colors from more than 20 varieties of chalk paint with fun colors like green sprout, farmhouse and tidal pond

4 Coat your board with your base color, then hang out for 15 minutes (and drink!) while it dries (perfect time for snacks, too)

5 Position your stencil on the board and paint the pattern

6 Remove the stencil and admire your masterpiece

7 Hang it for all to see!

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

THOUGHTS

Sadly, 82717 Life Magazine is no longer being inserted in the Gillette News Record. As always, you can pick up a copy at various rack locations throughout northeast Wyoming. We value your readership and are pleased to now offer an annual mailed subscription to our monthly publication. Subscribe now by phone, mail or online.

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Outliers Creative, LLC P.O. Box 3825 Gillette, WY 82717

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

The Collection Campbell County Library Foundation Brings WorldClass Art to Community

JEN KOCHER

PHOTOS: TAYLOR HELTON

ore than two decades ago, Terri Lesley was drawn to the art hanging on the walls in the Campbell County Library. So much so, in fact, that it made her want to work there. One painting in particular, “Geese in Yellowstone” by Len Chmiel, really struck her. Today, it’s hanging on a wall in her office. As the library's executive director, Lesley said it’s a daily reminder that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. “It’s just so peaceful,” she smiled, looking up at the two geese floating serendipitously on a glossy blue pond next to a bed of reeds. The public library’s collection was initiated in the early 1970s by Gillette native and painter Bob Barlow, whose love of art prompted him to initiate a world-class collection in his hometown. As a boy, he found the bare library walls desolate, and made it one of his life’s missions to fill those walls. According to local artist and former Library Foundation Chairman Steve Riss and long-time Library Foundation member Dara Corkery, Barlow was a driving factor in getting the collection started and using his vast connections within the art world to bring in world-class works.

Ryder, Gerard Delano, Hans Kleiber and Hollis Williford. Many of these artists also have work on display in renowned museums across the state and nation. Recently, the library added a painting by watercolorist, Charles Reid, who passed away this June. His work has won numerous awards, including the Childe Hassam Purchase Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the National Academy of Design and the American Watercolor Society, and has a place in many private and public collections, including Smith College, Yellowstone Art Center, Brigham Young University and the National Academy of Design among many others. And though many Gillette residents perusing the stacks at the Campbell County Public Library may be impervious to the impressive paintings and sculptures adorning its many nooks and walls, many visitors come with the sole aim of seeing the art. Lesley said it’s not uncommon to see visitors from Denver and beyond come to Campbell County just to view the art collection curated by library staff, the Library Foundation and members.

“His passion is contagious,” Riss said.

"It’s well known in art circles,” she said.

Many of the oil and watercolor paintings and sculptures in the growing collection were made by notable Western artists, many from Wyoming. The collection spans the coasts and world, including works by Edgar Payne, Chauncey

Last spring, Corkery and Riss led 82717 staff on a tour of the vast and impressive collection. Here are some of the highlights from that visit, though this is a cursory sampling, and we strongly recommend you see the collection for yourselves. OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

"Chief Washakie" Bronze sculpture by Dave McGary

Until you’ve seen Chief Washakie up close, it’s hard to have a true appreciation of the meticulous detail and skillfulness in craftsmanship evident in this work by McGary, from the beads on the moccasins to the feathers on his spear. Considered to be the master of realism depicting Native American Indians, McGary is one of the few artists to cross cultural divides and earn the trust of the families and ancestors of his subjects. His work was born from close interactions with the Native American communities he exemplifies, as well as the countless hours of research he’s committed a lifetime to mastering and understanding. At age 12, the Cody-born artist was one of only four people in the world to be awarded a grant to study anatomy and the bronze-making process with artist Harry Jackson and other master craftsmen in Italy, where he further honed his craft. Today, McGary’s sculptures are widely exhibited, from the American Indian Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C., the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, the Wyoming State Capital Building in Cheyenne, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (formerly the Buffalo Bill Historical Center) at the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody among others. Before his death in 2013, McGary wrote on his website that he wanted to be known “for having documented, with respect, the culture of Native American people. For being innovative and establishing my own techniques and style of work” and having changed the way people look at bronze sculpture, and “showing that there really are no limits in what is possible in bronze, that we can capture an amazing amount of detail and depth of color for another level of realism.” And, like Chief Washakie, Riss said McGary’s also known for personalizing his sculptures with a single, iconic thumbprint.

Bernard Thomas was quoted as saying that he doesn’t just paint pretty pictures, but rather he strives to pay homage to history through his work. Drawing upon his childhood in Sheridan, Thomas captured the essence of the West that he felt other painters not from the area missed.

“Powder River Country” Oil on canvas by Bernard P. Thomas

“I’m the one who believes the artist who has lived ‘it’ is the one who can put the right feel in his work,” he wrote in his bio on the Meadowlark Gallery in Joliet, Montana, one of the many galleries to carry his work. “Nothing gripes me more than a Western illustration done by an Eastern illustrator who doesn’t know the straight up about the West.” The West was imprinted on him at a young age, both in his art and in his life. As a child, Thomas lived in close proximity to his inspiration Bill Gollings, who had worked as a ranch hand and cowboy, before opening a studio in Sheridan in 1909. Like Gollings, Thomas spent his lucrative career capturing everyday life on the Wyoming range in his work, a theme he carried throughout his life up until his death in 1994. His landscapes encapsulated the world he knew well with vivid details about the inhabitants that populated his memories and existence. He was a guy who never considered a painting finished, according to Steve Riss, who said Thomas would regularly come in after a painting had been varnished just to add an additional brushstroke or two. Along with studying art both Woodbury, Thomas also served as a sergeant in World War II. After which, General Patton sent him to the Ecole de Beaux Arts in Paris to learn mural painting. Among his most monumental works is a 10 x 200-foot mural in the South Dakota Fine Arts Center in Rapid City, along with his 80-foot Western mural in a Rapid City bank, and his enormous three-dimensional mural at the Autorama Museum in Palm Beach, Florida. His work is displayed in many public and private collections, books and magazines, including Royal Hassrick’s Western Painting and Western Horseman Magazine among others.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

CAMPBELL COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION BOARD MEMBERS Dave Ebertz, President Tom Murphy, Vice-Chairperson Jenny Sorenson, Secretary Allen Strait, Treasurer Cheryl Ballard, Member Dara Corkery, Member

“Rosie Walking Bear” Pastel by Winold Reiss

Best known as a portrait artist, Winold Reiss was also a muralist and interior architect. Originally from Karlsruhe, Germany, Reiss studied the Jugendstil art (a German derivative of Art Nouveau) in Munich, and is credited for introducing the art deco style to the United States. Reiss was profoundly touched by his travels though the German countryside with his father, a painter, whose work revolved around painting portraits of peasants. As a child, he was filled with a romantic idealism regarding Native Americans and the Plains Indians and the wild, untamed American West which he read about in story books. This fascination drove him to leave his home country for America in 1913, making his first visit to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana in 1919.

“Fred Lujan-Taos Pueblo” Oil on canvas by Ramon Kelley

It’s the bold colors and expression on the face of the woman in this painting that instantly draws you into the densely layered portrait. Originally from Cheyenne and now living in Denver, Ramon Kelley is known for the spontaneity of his alla prima paintings and for his experimentation in a variety of media, including painting, printmaking and sculpture. Kelley began his career as an illustrator. After four years in the Navy, he received a scholarship to The Art Institute of Colorado, where he studied under Charlie Dye, one of the founders of the Cowboy Artists of America. After school, Kelley worked full time illustrating catalogs and painted at night until a gallery in Taos began carrying his work, officially launching his career in 1963. As one of 10 children in a Mexican-American family, Kelley was heavily influenced by the work of artists Nicolai Fechi, John Singer Sargent and Giovanni Boldini, which is evident in his portraits, still lifes and landscape paintings. Throughout his career, he has fostered an esteemed reputation in various media, including oil, acrylic, watercolor, charcoal, Conté crayon, pastel and sculpture. Along with being a member of the American Watercolor Society, Kelley also belongs to the Allied Artists of America, National Academy of Western Art, Knickerbocker Artists and Oil Painters of America, Representational and the Pastel Society of America, who designated him a Master Pastelist in 1986.

He brings such intimacy to the faces through their features, Corkery noted, which is owing to his personal connection with his subjects. His sympathy for their plight led to the sensitivity in his depictions of a people with whom he had great respect and a desire to capture the individual traits that rendered his subjects with human dignity. His sympathies transcended to everyday workers and revolutionaries in Mexico, where he traveled in 1920 to capture anonymous, multicultural portraits of travelers, workers and builders. Always the theme of the quiet heroism of the everyday worker permeated his works. His art is featured in many public and private collections, including the Brinton Museum in Big Horn, the Burlington Northern Railroad Western Art Collection, the Denver Art Museum and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. Among his most notable works is his 1933 mosaic mural design on the rotunda of the Cincinnati Union Terminal, which he completed in 1933.

"The Citadel" Oil on Canvas by Mel Fillerup

Lovell native Mel Fillerup was a lawyer by profession, one who painted in his spare time, ultimately leaving his Cody-based law practice in 1975 to paint full time. Fillerup trained in watercolor, gouache and oils but he credits his friendship with Conrad Schwiering and their shared love of painting outdoors in the Tetons and Yellowstone Park as his greatest education. His work has been featured in Southwest Art and American Artist magazines, the Buffalo Bill Art Show and Sale, and the Audubon Wildlife Art Show among many others, and he was one of the first artists to be represented by the Big Horn Galleries in Cody. Fillerup was known for his dynamic landscapes and works that reflected his interest in the wildlife and people of the West and capturing the grandeur, beauty and serenity of the landscape. Research provided by the Campbell County Library Foundation

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

October is Breast Cancer

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Awareness Month Prevention and early detection through cancer

Prevention and earlyare detection cancer screenings the keythrough to reducing the burden of screeningscancer are theinkey to reducing the burden of Cancer Wyoming and the Wyoming cancer in Wyoming andProgram the Wyoming Cancer can help! Program can help! Who is eligible?

Who is eligible?  Women aged 40 years or older  Women aged 40 years or older  Anyone withdiagnosis a previous of breast cancer  Anyone with a previous of diagnosis breast cancer With: With:  A income household at or below 250% of the Federal  A household at orincome below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines Poverty Guidelines Medicare A or no insurance  MedicarePart A or noPart insurance

more information, theCancer Wyoming Cancer For moreFor information, contact thecontact Wyoming Resources Services Region III Region Coordinator at Resources Services III Coordinator at 1.888.684.4550 or email kim.nelson@wcrs3.org. 1.888.684.4550 or email kim.nelson@wcrs3.org.

6101 Yellowstone Rd. Suite 510 ∙ Cheyenne, WY 82002 ∙ 1.800.264.1296 6101 Yellowstone Rd. ∙Suite 510 ∙ Cheyenne, WY 82002 ∙ 1.800.264.1296 wdh.cancerservices@wyo.gov www.health.wyo.gov/cancer

wdh.cancerservices@wyo.gov ∙ www.health.wyo.gov/cancer

October is Breast Cancer October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Awareness Month

Prevention and early detection through cancer early detection through screeningsPrevention are the keyand to reducing the burden of cancer screenings are the key to reducing the cancer in Wyoming and the Wyoming Cancer burden of cancer in Wyoming and the Wyoming Cancer Program can help!

Program can help! #ENGAGEMENTSEASON

Who is eligible?

 WomenWho aged is 40eligible? years or older  Anyone with a previous  Women ageddiagnosis 40 yearsoforbreast older cancer

With:  Anyone with a previous diagnosis of breast cancer  A household With:income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines  A household income at or below 250% of the Federal  Medicare Part A or no insurance Poverty Guidelines

 Medicare Part A or no For more information, contact theinsurance Wyoming Cancer Resources Services Region III Coordinator at For more information, contact the Wyoming Cancer 1.888.684.4550 or email kim.nelson@wcrs3.org.

is coming...

Resources Services Region III Coordinator at 1.888.684.4550 or email kim.nelson@wcrs3.org.

6101 Yellowstone Rd. Suite 510 ∙ Cheyenne, WY 82002 ∙ 1.800.264.1296 wdh.cancerservices@wyo.gov ∙ www.health.wyo.gov/cancer

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Your personal local jeweler. Erica Kissack Owner Graduate Gemologist EK JEWELERS 217 S. Gillette Ave. | Gillette, WY 82716 307.636.4010 | elegantkreations.com

MOTHERS MOONSTONE Custom 14x10mm rainbow moonstone Mothers Necklace in sterling silver with the genuine round blue topaz and aquamarine birthstones of the mother’s two daughters in celebration of the family’s shared love of horses. Starting around $1,500, depending on metal, center and side stone selection and sizes.

ROSE WEDDING BAND Custom wedding band in 14k rose gold with cubic zirconia. Inspired by the groom’s desire for a unique band to compliment his bride’s engagement ring. Starting at around $1,000, depending on gold purity, diamond size and weight.

Anatomy of Design

he best part of Erica Kissack’s job is the look on a client’s face when they watch their custom design transform from an idea to reality. “I love to see their excitement,” she said. “It’s so fun to make something that is unique and tells their story.” Sometimes this means repurposing a stone from a mom or grandmother’s wedding ring, creating the ring they’ve dreamed of their entire life or designing a one-of-a-kind pendant or bracelet that captures their personality. “I put a lot of time into each piece and getting every fine detail just right,” she said. Erica’s been designing jewelry for more than a decade, studying art, jewelry design and

metalsmithing at University of North Dakota, and later, earning a certificate in gemology from The Gemological Institute of America while also learning goldsmithing with future plans to continue honing her skills. After a decade in retail jewelry stores, last spring she launched her own brand, spending months of the tradeshow circuit as well as marketing on social media. Now, she plans to open her own store in downtown Gillette at the end of October, where she’ll sell her own custom and made-to-order designs and will also feature designer jewelry and pieces by other local artists along with other hand-made products.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

ATOMIC STUDIO SESSIONS: THE CITY’S HOTTEST DJ-TURNED PROFESSIONAL MUSIC PRODUCER IS MIXING IT UP & BREAKING IT DOWN AT GILLETTE’S A-BOMB STUDIOS

dam Fulller’s life has revolved around music for about as long as he can remember. With a mom who was the lead vocalist in a rock band, The Bump’n Uglies, it came as no surprise when he decided to join a band, Black Pajent, at age 14. The band went on to sign with a Canadian label and tour Wyoming and the country performing at popular music venues and festivals. Although, at the time, the music scene was more or less a summer gig for Adam, as the band’s lead bassist, he took to the stage and discovered he enjoyed the spotlight. Adam recalls his first experience center stage at a big show. “It was invigorating,” he said. “In that moment, I knew I wanted to make a career helping other artists ignite and explode.” But the bills needed paid and, for a time, Adam redirected his musical trajectory, turning his love of euphonious sounds into a one-man DJing business, mixing and MCing at weddings, private events and local nightlife establishments including a multi-year residency at Boot Hill. Last year, he opened a recording studio — A-Bomb Studios. Its success just keeps building.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

“He has an excellent ear for music,” said Gillette rapper Tyrell Shae, whose upcoming album was produced in-house at A-Bomb. Mixing tracks for both emerging and established bands and vocalists is all in a day’s work for Adam, who said he enjoys guiding artists throughout the creative process. “Anyone can come into the studio and book a recording session. It’s a place for artists to create and work their projects with access to topnotch production equipment and on-hand talent". Surrounded by a wall filled with guitars and basses on display, each with its own catchy nickname like “Razorback” and “Les Paul,” the 31-year-old DJturned record producer and entrepreneur reflects on how lucky he feels to be helping other artists bring their dreams to fruition. “From writing and arranging to producing and recording, remixing and engineering, it’s the behind-the-scenes work that adds such incredible value to an artist's music or album. It’s the lifeblood of our industry,” he said. Adam looked around his studio space at the business he’s created. From behind the microphone, where he typically records his Round Table Podcasts, including shared stories with artists and other musical insights, he can’t help but smile.

ADAM FULLER, PRODUCER A-BOMB STUDIOS

Q: ADAM, WHAT FIRST DREW YOU TO MUSIC? MY GRANDPA PLAYING POLKA ON HIS ACCORDION WHEN I WAS JUST A KID. I STILL REMEMBER THAT FEELING OF BEING AWESTRUCK LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY. Q: WHAT MUSIC MOVES YOU? HEAVY METAL. THINK: SLIPKNOT, VOLBEAT. I’M PRETTY INDISCRIMINATE, THOUGH, AND I LIKE THE CHALLENGE OF MIXING GENRES FOR NEW AND UNEXPECTED BLENDS AND SOUNDS. AT ITS CORE, MUSIC IS A FORM OF EXPRESSION, AN EXTENSION OF THE ARTIST OR ARTISTS WHO CREATE IT. THERE’S BEAUTY IN THE STRUCTURE AND FORM OF A PIECE. THAT’S WHAT GETS ME. IT DOESN’T REALLY MATTER WHAT GENRE. IT’S THAT MOMENT, THE RESONANCE, WHEN AN ARTIST BUILDS A BRIDGE WITH MUSIC TO CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE. THAT’S SOMETHING. Q: ALL-TIME FAVORITE SONG? MUSICIAN? FAVORITE SONG? THERE ARE TOO MANY TO CHOOSE. ANYTHING BY JOHNNY CASH. “PEOPLE ARE STRANGE,” BY THE DOORS. MUSICIAN: JIM MORRISON IN THE EARLY DAYS OR DAVE GROHL FROM THE FOO FIGHTERS, FORMERLY NIRVANA. Q: FIRST CDS? RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS’ “BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIC” AND SUGAR RAY “14:59.” OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

SCHECTER

IBANZE

JOHNSON

Q: WHAT FUELS YOUR PASSION FOR MUSIC? MY MOM, HELEN. SHE’S AN INSPIRATION. SHE MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO PURSUE MY DREAMS BY MODELING ACHIEVEMENT. BACK IN THE DAY, SHE WAS THE LEAD SINGER IN A ROCK BAND. I’M PROUD OF HER FOR THAT. TODAY, SHE OWNS A FEW BUSINESSES, WHICH SHE OPERATES WITH INTEGRITY. I’M PROUD OF THAT, TOO. AND SHE’S A STAND-UP PERSON AND PARENT. IF I WIND UP LIKE HER, I’M GOOD WITH THAT. Q: WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN MUSIC AND BUSINESS? MUSIC IN GENERAL CONSISTS OF A LOT OF MOVING PIECES. MANAGING THE PROFITABLE BUSINESS SIDE OF IT IS SOMETHING I’M STILL LEARNING. BUT TO BE A HALF-DECENT PRODUCER, YOU NEED A GOOD EAR AND THE ABILITY TO LEAD PEOPLE AND THEIR MUSIC IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. MUSIC INDUSTRY CHOPS AND A BASE-LEVEL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONSUMER MARKET ALSO HELP. PRINCIPLED ETHICS AND DECISIONMAKING SKILLS DON’T HURT, AND EPIC EQUIPMENT IS ALWAYS A PLUS. Q: TELL US ABOUT YOUR PODCAST! A-BOMB’S ROUND TABLE, CHECK IT OUT! I TALK WITH LOCAL AND TRAVELING ARTISTS. THE IDEA BEHIND IT IS TO SHARE THOSE CONVERSATIONS. WE HAVE FRESH, LOCAL TALENT IN GILLETTE. I’M STRIKING UP A DIALOGUE ABOUT RELEVANT MUSIC AND INTRODUCING AN ONLINE AUDIENCE TO ACTS THEY MAY NOT OTHERWISE MEET. OUR FIRST EPISODE WITH SKATTERBRAIN, WHICH AIRED IN JULY, ALREADY HAS SOMETHING LIKE 300 YOUTUBE VIEWS. BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT THAT, IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ARTISTS AND THEIR MUSIC. I JUST INTERVIEWED GREG HUBBARD, HE’S THE KEYBOARDIST OF SAWYER BROWN. SUBSCRIBE TO A-BOMBS STUDIOS TO CATCH THAT WHEN IT DROPS.

Q: IF YOU WEREN’T PRODUCING MUSIC, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? CARPENTRY? BEFORE OPENING THE STUDIO, I WORKED MAINTENANCE FOR MY MOM AT WE’LL CLEAN IT UP. I’VE ALWAYS ENJOYED BUILDING THINGS. IT’S AN ART IN ITSELF. IT ALSO TRANSFERS TO THE STUDIO. YOU COULD SAY I’M BUILDING THINGS AS A PRODUCER: MUSIC, ALBUMS, MUSICIANS’ SOUNDS. Q: BEST PART OF THE GIG? DEFINITELY SEEING THE LOOK ON AN ARTIST’S FACE WHEN THEY HEAR THEIR MUSIC PRODUCED TO A NEW, ELEVATED LEVEL. I LIKE MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY AND I THINK GOOD PRODUCTION VALUE CAN DO THAT.

Q: ANY ADVICE? MY ADVICE TO ANYONE WHO IS STARTING A NEW BUSINESS: STUDY UP. START NOW. OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

LES PAUL

YAMAHA

RAZORBACK

Q: COOLEST THING IN STUDIO? I HAVE A JIM MORRISON MUGSHOT THAT MY MOM BOUGHT ME WHILE ON VACATION IN PARIS. IF THE STUDIO CAUGHT FIRE, THAT’D PROBABLY BE THE FIRST MATERIAL THING I’D LOOK TO SAVE. Q: WHAT CHALLENGES YOU? I’M CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING MYSELF TO DO BETTER, BE BETTER. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I CAN BE MY OWN WORST ENEMY AND CRITIC, NIT-PICKING MYSELF AND MY WORK TO DEATH. BUT I’VE ALSO FOUND THAT FOCUS AND SELF-AWARENESS CAN WORK TO MY CLIENT'S ADVANTAGE, RESULTING IN GREAT MUSIC. Q: WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU KNEW EARLIER? THERE’S A LOT OF WORK INVOLVED IN OWNING A BUSINESS. IT CAN BE TIME CONSUMING. IN THE BEGINNING, I DIDN’T KNOW JUST HOW MUCH OF MY TIME IT WOULD DEMAND. WOULD IT HAVE STOPPED ME FROM OPENING THE STUDIO? NO, I DON’T THINK SO. BUT A MORE REALISTIC OUTLOOK FROM DAY ONE MAY HAVE HELPED ME FIND A HEALTHY WORK-LIFE BALANCE SOONER. MUSIC PRODUCTION, NOT UNLIKE ANY OTHER STARTUP, REQUIRES A LOT OF HARD WORK.

Q: FAVORITE SPOT ON STAGE? (BIG SMILE) FRONT AND CENTER. BUT AS MUCH AS I LOVE BEING CENTER STAGE, HELPING OTHER ARTISTS HARNESS AND HONE THEIR CRAFT IS MY CALLING. IT’S KINDA MY THING. SO, FOR NOW, I THINK THE PRODUCER’S CHAIR IS REALLY WHERE I COME ALIVE AND WHERE I BELONG. Q: WHY A-BOMB? MY FRIENDS STARTED CALLING ME THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED OUT AS A DJ. MY NAME’S ADAM, AND IT’S A PLAY ON THE ATOMIC BOMB — WHICH BLOWS THINGS UP. I LIKED IT. IT STUCK. Q: WHO DO YOU WORK WITH IN THE STUDIO? MAINLY RAPPERS, SO FAR. SOME ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYERS AND SINGER-SONGWRITERS. BUT I’D LIKE TO SEE THAT BASE EXPAND TO INCLUDE A WIDER VARIETY OF VOCALISTS AND MUSICIANS, MAYBE FIND A WAY TO INCORPORATE THE PERFORMING ARTS, NEW MEDIA ART, TELEVISION AND RADIO OR PROFESSIONAL VOICEOVER WORK.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

AVA Community Art Center Celebrates 18 Years of Art & Advocacy followed by formal dinner the following night with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme.

Along with arts advocating through a variety of workshops and artistic activities, AVA is also revamping its ceramics studio into an open workspace for experienced potters and those wishing to learn. They’ve increased their activities and workshop offerings over the past year as well to include offering more gallery space to more area and regional artists, providing them with ample space to sell and market their arts and crafts in AVA’s in-house artisan market.

The two-night fundraiser begins on Friday, Jan. 24, with a pre-gala art reception in the gallery from 6 – 8 p.m., including drinks and light appetizers. A formal dinner at the Gillette College Tech Center follows on Saturday evening with a silent and live auction alongside a catered dinner with cash bar.

Art Matters

All of this takes money to support, and their annual fundraiser fuels the financial engine to make this all possible. This year marks the 18th year for the “Art Matters” fundraiser with a twonight event geared to entertaining all facets of the community with a casual night in the gallery,

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

“We want to advocate for all arts and to inspire artists of all ages and skill levels and help connect them with opportunities to learn, grow and market their art within the community and beyond,” Goldhammer said.

The fundraiser also features a juried art auction with up to $10,000 in cash awards. Judging this year will be renowned Swedish artist Benjamin Björklund. The deadline for entries is Nov. 1. For more information and submission guidelines, visit avacenter.org.

Ceramics Studio Expansion

Community Partnerships

Summer Art Academy

One of their primary projects currently under way is turning their ceramics studio into a public working space for artists. Over the years, the studio has ebbed and flowed, according to Goldhammer, and she’d like to see more of the community utilize the space.

Wilson has had a busy year, actively working to grow AVA’s programs and workshops. One of her favorite additions has been the community partnership with YES House that launched last spring.

One of Wilson’s other ideas was the summer art academy, offering week-long programs to students in a variety of areas like advanced drawing and ceramics. She teaches the programs to help students with some of the more advanced skills that they might not get in regular art classes. Much like the community partnerships, the success of last year’s program has prompted them to add more subjects and sessions next summer.

With three kilns, seven potter’s wheels and a large workspace with drying areas, the studio is big enough to accommodate individuals or small workshops and offers a vital asset to anyone wishing to expand their ceramics skills.

Open Studio Saturdays The AVA staff heard from a lot of local artists about how inspiring it was to visit the studio, so it made sense to open up it up for an hour on Saturday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. to give working artists a place to meet and create.

In the ensuing months, Wilson has worked with teens in a variety of activities, from making batik bandanas, bead animal keychains, ceramic masks and Sharpie paintings with more activities planned this fall. From her viewpoint, the program has been a huge success and one she thoroughly enjoys. “It’s great to be able to inspire them and help them see how much they are capable of making,” she said. “They come alive and glow with positivity because they’ve just made something beautiful they didn’t know they were capable of making.”

“It provides an opportunity for students who are serious about their art to advance their skills during the summer,” Wilson said. True to AVA’s mission, any student who wishes to take the course will be given the opportunity. “No one who wants to learn is turned away,” she said.

Other community partnerships include classes and activities involving Campbell County Suicide Prevention, Climb Wyoming, BOCES and Gillette College.

“It’s been a big hit,” Goldhammer said. “People like that they can work or even study somebody else’s work on the wall or in the market to learn more about their technique.” Artists of all genres are invited to attend these weekly open studio sessions, she added, to enjoy, participate and appreciate the work and camaraderie of other local and regional artists. workshops and offers a vital asset to anyone wishing to expand their ceramics skills.

This year, AVA celebrates 18 years of supporting arts in the community with its “Art Matters” fundraiser in January. The two-night event features a casual pre-gala reception in the gallery Friday night, Jan. 24, followed by a formal dinner on Saturday with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. The annual fundraiser fuels their programs throughout the year and helps them connect artists of all levels with opportunities to learn and grow. OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Classes & Workshops Outside of the gallery and market, AVA’s in-house craft, workshops, and activities are a big part of their aim in advocating for the arts. Wilson spearheads many of these workshops, from making natural soap with essential oils to ceramics and painting, while other local artists also step in to help teach a particular skill or craft for a nominal fee that includes both instruction and materials. This month, Cindy Wageman teaches barn quilt basics, while Edie Reno will teach the finer points of learning to draw from music, followed later in November by Wilson’s workshop on making ceramic jewelry dishes. These workshops are posted on AVA’s website, and they are always looking for teachers. Anyone interested can submit class ideas online or stop by in person. “People have all kinds of skills to share,” Goldhammer said.

Studio Space & Artist Receptions Every month, AVA invites local and regional artists to showcase their work in the gallery, which includes an artist reception on the second Thursday of every month from 6 – 8 p.m. Typically, there is a theme with an open call for artists to submit online. Other times the artists collaborate to put together a themed group exhibit. October’s show is the “Neon” exhibit, featuring local artists Blanche Guernsey, Nancy Brown and Angeli Coover, which will hang in the gallery through the end of the month. Upcoming exhibits include “A Celebration of Photography” with Everybody’s Photography Club in November and the “Functional 3D Art for Everyday Life,” which is taking entries until Nov. 1. The gallery space is just another way to make art accessible to the community, Goldhammer said, while providing exhibit space to the artist.

Artisan Market One of Goldhammer’s favorite offerings is the in-house Artisan Market, which has retail space for AVA members where they can sell their art and crafts and also learn to professionally market their work. For a commission, artists throughout the county and surrounding areas can showcase their art for up to three months. Currently, there are about 100 different pieces, including paintings, jewelry, hand-dyed scarves, hand-painted coasters with Lego men and origami cranes for as low as $4. “There are a lot of people making things and this is the place to grow and sell their work,” Goldhammer said. She plans to create an online store for the market by early next year.

Community Pop-Ups Getting out into the community to advocate and engage residents in the arts is paramount to AVA’s mission. Throughout the year, Goldhammer and Wilson participate in a myriad of pop-up events throughout the community. Along with hosting bi-monthly events with students at Gillette College, AVA has a booth at prominent events and festivities, like Donkey Creek and the Downtown Summer Festival among others, with fun events and activities, like a slime booth and craft fun, for making art and engaging the community.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

Life in Color

Nancy Brown

82717 Artist Proﬁles

Making the arts accessible to the Gillette community is something that new AVA Community Art Center Executive Director Quinn Goldhammer takes seriously. With the help of Program Director Mary Wilson, the Advocacy for the Visual Arts community center strengthens its mission to build a better community by enriching lives through art. Along with arts advocating through a variety of workshops and artistic activities, AVA is also revamping its ceramics studio into an open workspace for experienced potters and those wishing to learn. They’ve increased their activities and workshop offerings over the past year as well to include offering more gallery space to more area and regional artists, providing them with ample space to sell and market their arts and crafts in AVA’s in-house artisan market. All of this takes money to support, and their annual fundraiser fuels the financial engine to make this all possible. This year marks the 18th year for the “Art Matters” fundraiser with a two-night event geared to entertaining all facets of the community with a casual night in the gallery,

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

In eighth grade, Joan Sowada’s home-ec teacher sent her home with leftover scraps from a sewing project. What on earth was she going to do with those? Her mother, an elementary art teacher, suggested she make something artistic. She did, turning the bits and pieces into quiltlike cartoon strips, which over the years morphed into abstracts and photorealistic commentaries on modern life.

Joan Sowada

82717 Artist Proﬁles

Today, more than 50 years later, Joan continues to turn fabric canvases into contemporary works of artistic expression.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

“Fabric just worked for me,” she said with a smile. “It was clean and it didn’t smell — like my mother’s oil paints.” Standing in the middle of her spacious downstairs studio behind a ping-pong size table with tidy stations for thread, fabric and her sewing needles, Joan stared down at her latest piece, a dreamy blue abstract quilt titled “lullaby,” which was inspired by her 3-month-old granddaughter. On the wall behind her, standing in direct contrast to the loose patterns of her current work, is a graphic representation of a photorealistic group of people in a park taking photos and selfies with their phones, ignorant of the all the other people surrounding them. Above their heads, a cluster of neon pink, blue and green squares float like clouds across the quilt. Other than one out-of-place Victorian woman with her parasol that appears to have just stepped out of a painting by George Seurat, the scene could take place on any modern Saturday, which is precisely the commentary she is attempting to impart, mainly our lifelines to devices. “It drives me crazy,” she said, “to see people so glued to their phones and completely unaware of their surroundings.” This is the one time that the otherwise serene artist with the easy smile gets a little fiery, which is consistent with her views on the current digital culture, which she is not shy to call out. Apart from the inherent message, she pointed out the seemingly banal details in the quilt that give her delight, little things like a backpack on a man or the woman bent on one knee holding a water bottle. These details matter and add to the realistic quality of her graphic work, which she replicates from photos – yes, she cringes, some taken on her phone. Recently, she’s been commissioned for several pieces that will hang in the new Wyoming State Hospital in Evanston once it’s built. She also regularly displays her quilts in Gillette City Hall as well as having work in numerous local and regional shows. In the past year, she’s also started helping the AVA staff curate and exhibit their shows, which is something she loves doing, along with tending to their flower gardens.

Let us When she was a little girl, Tricia Scheele’s parents refused to buy her a pony, so she had to draw her own. Where this passion for horses came from is anyone’s guess, given that Scheele grew up in suburban Boise, Idaho, miles away from the nearest ranch. Nonetheless, she can’t remember a time when horses haven’t been a part of her life, both as an artist and professional rider.

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Tricia Scheele

82717 Artist Proﬁles

“When a passion is so ingrained in your soul,” she said, “you have no choice.” She remembers being a toddler and hounding her aunt to take her horseback riding. Her aunt, who found the relentless requests annoying, finally decided to break her young niece of her newfound interest by scaring the living daylights out of her. So, with Scheele on the saddle behind her, her aunt tore off in broke-neck speed and jumped half a dozen hay bales. “I just screamed and told her to go faster,” Scheele laughed. “That kinda just sealed the deal.” In high school, she started working professionally as an exercise rider at a horse racing, where a family friend finally broke down and bought Scheele her first thoroughbred for her 16th birthday. And though she thought maybe she’d go on to become a jockey, Scheele ultimately walked away from that lifestyle when a jockey friend was killed while racing. Instead, she decided to leave that competitive life behind when she went off to college at Utah State, where she studied art and kept riding, bringing her horse with her. Part of her passion for drawing and painting horses comes from seeing the work of other painters who don’t seem to get horses quite right. “When I looked at other drawings and paintings of horses, I’d think that they were all wrong,” she said. “I think you just have to know horses. You need to understand the animal’s movements and what it feels like to ride one.” Along with making a career as an art teacher and professional artist with work in eight galleries throughout the country and world, Scheele has also worked as a professional ranch hand in Logan, Utah, and currently works as a conductor on the BNSF Railroad, a job that in many ways appeals to her restless spirit.

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“I’m always on-the-go,” she said, “and get to see a lot of places.”

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October / November

Events & Adventures Oct. 15

Oktoberfest Celebrate fall and do a little networking over food and drinks at the Chamber’s monthly Business After Hours mixer. The two-hour event kicks off at 5 p.m. at Hand Therapy of Wyoming at 1211 S. Douglas Highway. The event is free to the public and everyone is welocome. For more information, visit gillettechamber.com. Oct 17

“West Side Story” School Edition The Powder River Playhouse presents their own take on the classic favorite and one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time. Come see this amazing musical for three performances Oct 17-19, in the Campbell County High School Auditorium, beginning at 7 p.m. beginning for three nigh. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students, which can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce during normal business hours (cash or checks only) or at the Powder River Playhouse at 111 E. 2nd St. For more information, call (307) 696-8777 or (307) 689-4444. Oct. 18

Bike Night Hogtoberfest Fire up your Hogs for Deluxe Harley-Davidson’s Bike Night on Friday night, Oct. 18, beginning at 6 p.m. Along with an in-store poker run and cash bar, there will also be fire pits, plenty of beer brats to eat and non-stop shopping till 8 p.m. at their location on 3300 Conestoga Dr. For more information, visit their website at chuckdeluxe.com. Oct. 19

DLUX Puppets- Alice in Wonderland Alice journeys though the marvelous world of the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, Caterpillar, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum and the Queen of Hearts in the form of life-size, hand-built puppets in this visually engaging, musical

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019

adaptation for the whole family. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Cam-plex Wyoming Center Frontier Hall. For prices and to order tickets, visit cam-plex.com. Oct. 24

Reading by Award-Winning Children’s Author Roland Smith Everybody loves a great story, and awardwinning children’s author Roland Smith will be entertaining readers of all ages on Thursday, Oct. 25 at the Campbell County Public Library. The reading begins at 7 p.m. The free event is open to the public. For more information, visit ccpls.org or call (307) 687-0009. Oct. 26

34th Annual Charity Chili Cook Off Channel your inner Bobby Flay and put your chili, salsa and guacamole recipes to test by competing against other local businesses and individuals for bragging rights. Or, just come out to enjoy sampling all the great food and cast your vote for people’s choice! Along with the eats, children can compete in the costume contest and enjoy games, pumpkin carving, and more! Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. All proceeds go to helping local organizations, including the Council of Community Services and the YES House. The event runs from 2:30 to 8 p.m. in the Cam-Plex Multi-Events building. For more information, contact Kay Praska at (307) 689-3538 or kay.praska@wyo.gov.

lunch break, author talks from 1 – 2 p.m., and an author fair from 2 – 4 p.m. with more than 25 regional writers. The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact visit ccpls.org or call (307) 687-0009. Nov. 11

Wartime Radio Revue Step back in time to the days of World War II for a live rendition of a U.S.O. show. Producer Pete Jacobs combines music and history for a nostalgic musical experience that’s both entertaining and fun. The show begins at 7 p.m. at the Cam-Plex Wyoming Center. Tickets are $9 for adult and $6 for youth and seniors. Admission is free for Veterans and active military personnel. For more information and to purchase tickets go to cam-plex.com. Nov. 17

Recluse Community Harvest Dinner Meet new friends or celebrate an early Thanksgiving with neighbor’s at Recluse’s community-wide dinner with turkey, ham, dressing, rolls, drinks and dessert. The meal begins on Sunday at 5 p.m. at Recluse Community Trust at 110 Greenough Rd. in Recluse. The dinner is free with the contribution of a side dish or dessert.

Nov. 2

Regional Author Fair Meet your favorite local and regional authors and purchase books at Campbell County Library’s Regional Author Fair. The day-long event includes workshops and author talks with C.M. Wendelboe and Megan Gebhart. Aspiring writers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate. The two-hour writers workshop begins at 10 a.m., followed by a

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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2019