THE
121 South Tejon Street, Suite 700 Colorado Springs, CO 80903 719-577-6312
https://advisor.morganstanley.com/the-tiemens-group
Vicki
Jonathan
Sam Rankin Wealth Management Associate
Mandy Wade Client Service Associate
Herman
Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region
This fall, our community will celebrate our 10th annual Arts Month! Over the past decade, we’ve built together one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the country. It’s a time when we GET LOUD about the value that the creative sector brings to our region’s life and encourage each other to get out and experience the arts firsthand. There are so many diverse ways to celebrate, as our community usually offers over 300 arts events in the 31 days of October!
Orchestrated annually by the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, Arts Month elevates the visibility of
arts and culture across El Paso and Teller counties. Our local Arts Month initiative coincides with National Arts & Humanities Month, which was established in 1993 and is observed every October throughout the United States. This national program was initiated to encourage Americans to explore new facets of the arts and humanities in their lives and to begin a lifelong habit of participation.
You’ll discover that we’re rolling out a vibrant, exciting new campaign for the 10th anniversary, shouting to local residents and tourists to “Open Your World with the Arts!” The original digital collages by Neon Pig Creative include local art and artists amid an explosion of energy, pattern and passion.
Look for the new campaign across the region this October, on Mountain Metro Transit buses, billboards, and all kinds of advertising, and pick up your own Arts Month merchandise at ArtsOctober.com!
Keep a special lookout for our Spanishlanguage Arts Month ads, the new animated commercial by Twelve Legs Marketing, and delicious Arts Month culinary creations by local restaurants and breweries.
At the heart of this colorful campaign is an arts community that invites you to experience it. Visit ArtsOctober.com to find the full lineup of local events and get out there! You’ll be surprised and impressed with the diversity and strength of our local arts & cultural scene in 2023.
To help you explore the full spectrum of local arts, you’ll see that we dive deeper into different creative categories throughout the month:
WEEK 1: VISUAL & CULINARY ARTS (October 1–7)
WEEK 2: THEATER & FILM (October 8–14)
WEEK 3: POETRY, PROSE & COMEDY (October 15–21)
WEEK 4: MUSIC & DANCE (October 22–28)
But I’ll let you in on a secret that more and more people are realizing … all of this gorgeous creativity is actually happening ALL YEAR LONG . We just shine a spotlight on it each October.
Throughout the year, our local artists, cultural groups, nonprofits, and creative businesses, are busy bringing creativity into the life of the Pikes Peak region. Their work generates important economic activity, cultural tourism, workforce attraction, arts education, positive mental health outcomes, community connection, and a higher quality of life for all of us. The invitation of Arts Month lasts all year. Open your world with the arts — and keep exploring!
We are strongest when we COLLABORATE . We commit to connecting across our communities, sharing resources, and amplifying one another’s creativity.
Artists, creatives, and arts entities deserve the opportunity to thrive and prosper here. We commit to developing diversified FUNDING AND RESOURCE strategies to fortify and embolden our creative lives.
The arts are critical to our region’s identity and authenticity. We commit to promoting our region as an ARTS DESTINATION for both experiencing art and making art.
We are powerful together and our voices matter. We commit to speaking up and wielding our influence
SPONSORED BY
ANGELA SEALS, Executive Director
DYLAN CRADDOCK , Program Manager, Creative Economy
JONATHAN TOMAN, Program Manager, Cultural Promotion & Tourism
JERESNEYKA ROSE , Program Manager, Education
KATE HERTZ , Engagement Coordinator
to CHAMPION CREATIVE INTERESTS in local and regional decisions.
Leadership within our creative community is vital to our survival and growth. We commit to developing and advancing DIVERSE AND EMERGING ARTS LEADERS
SPACES AND VENUES are critical for sharing our creative gifts. We commit to building, expanding, and maintaining accessible, thriving spaces for artistic expression.
The arts foster creativity, innovation, and life skills and are essential to being human. We commit to supporting HIGH-QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION and access to arts experiences for every student across the region.
Arts and culture again take center stage across the Pikes Peak region this October as our creative community celebrates Arts Month 2023! Part of a reimagined campaign to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Arts Month locally, this image designed by Neon Pig Creative encourages you to “Open Your World With the Arts” this October.
RICHARD WILLIAMS, President & COO
JIM BROYLES, Vice President of Sales
TRACI CONRAD, Director of Sales
Arts Vision 2030 is the regional community’s cultural plan. It was developed by, of and for the community, under the stewardship of the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, the Bee Vradenburg Foundation, and a diverse steering committee of 24 local creative leaders.
The process touched 4,500 people and 664 made direct contributions to the plan. It was released during Arts Month 2021 as a living framework to guide collaboration, strategy, investment, vision, and more.
If you haven’t explored Arts Vision 2030’s bold vision for creativity in our region, the time is now. It will take the entire regional arts and cultural community, along with cross-sector partners and local leaders, to bring its vision to life. View the entire Arts Vision 2030 ten-year cultural plan for the Pikes Peak region at CulturalOffice.org/ ArtsVision2030/.
Visit ArtsOctober.com for details on experiencing the strength and vitality of our arts community this month and all year-round.
The Cultural Office Local Arts Guide was edited by Jonathan Toman and designed by Gina Pietramale.
NIKKI DIRKS Advertising Sales
TAMMY FOGALL , Advertising Sales
STEFANI RACKLEY, Advertising Sales
KAREN HOGAN, Director of Advertising Operations
GINA PIETRAMALE , Creative Services Lead
ALEXIS SANDS, Graphic Designer
MICHELLE THOMSEN , Graphic Designer
LORI CURRY, Advertising Sales
YVONNE RAMOS, Advertising Sales
SUE WILLIAMS, Advertisng Sales
When you visit a new place, you don’t just want to look. You want to experience. For Diego Arnedo, art is the same. Its creative process is something to share, to feel and be moved, to experience with passion. Together with his wife, Adhya Spencer, the couple is Jaguart, and their art centers around events that feature DJs, dancing, culture and community as Diego paints with bright fluorescent paints made even more vivid under blacklights.
Diego is originally from Argentina, Adhya from Delaware. The couple met in Costa Rica and make their home in Old Colorado City on Colorado Springs’ Westside. “My inspiration is the place I live,” Diego says. “The mountains inspire me each day to be able to paint my art. I paint with acrylics. I paint murals in this city. I organize events to be able to expand the culture here.”
Creative Stays is a digital campaign to attract cultural tourists to the Colorado Springs area during Arts Month, and throughout the year. With content creation by Springs Media and Jason-Fleming.com, the series features 13 weekend getaway itineraries curated by a diverse group of local creatives. Each of these local creatives will share a little about themselves, and recommend some of their favorite lodging accommodations, community attractions, restaurants, entertainment activities, hidden hangouts, and not-tomiss cultural destinations.
Perfect for out-of-town visitors and local residents, Creative Stays offers a whole new way to explore and enjoy some of the wonderful attractions and amenities that the Pikes Peak region has to offer! Check out all the Creative Stays itineraries at cosCreativeStays.com
“Trauma to Triumph”
An Intimate Art Gallery Experience
October 5
Anthem Music Enterprises
Art All Around
October 7 – 8
Various Studio Locations
“Caesura”
Through October 14
Gallery of Contemporary Art inside the Ent Center for the Arts
“Portraits of Manitou” by C.H. Rockey
Through November 3
Manitou Heritage Center
Commonwheel Arts Festival
Labor Day Weekend
Memorial Park in Manitou Springs
Taste of Pikes Peak Park Union
July
Art & Wine Night
Quarterly Ephemera Dinners
BY PATRICK LEE
From the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum’s COS@150 online exhibit
In the 1990s Colorado Springs was facing an urban growth crisis. The city’s geographic expansion was decentralizing the population, leading some to fear a future “Sprawlarodo Springs,” a city of subdivisions connected by nothing but strip malls. This brought about a fear in many that not only would the city’s population lose a sense of community, but also that the regions cultural heritage would soon be nonexistent. Judy Noyes, co-owner of the Chinook Bookshop, spearheaded a plan to address this issue. Noyes wanted to make the downtown area a cultural center, rather than just simply a retail district. The end result of this thinking would be Art on the Streets.
Planning began in 1997 and it would take two years for Art on the Streets to materialize. While residents were in favor of improvements, funding was a constant concern. Noyes, Chair of the Community Ventures Board of the Downtown Partnership, offered a solution. Artists would loan their work to the city for one year and have them displayed downtown. A single piece would be purchased and added to the City’s permanent collection of
outdoor sculpture. This system was very appealing for three reasons. It allowed artists to get their name, and work, displayed to the public, it kept initial investments low, and it guaranteed a steady, if slow, increase in the number of city-owned public artworks. The first year of Art on the Streets, 1999, featured 20 separate sculptures displayed on downtown streets. The winner was Richard Jagoda’s bison, Bison Americanus which still sits in the median of Pikes Peak Avenue.
Art on the Streets has continued every year, consistently exposing Colorado Springs residents to new creative and thought-provoking artworks. Featured artists have come from all over the world, from Italy to South Korea, but also include local artists from all across the Front Range. Sculptures range from pieces inspired by Colorado Springs’ heritage to interpretive metal forms. Art is a central part of a city’s culture. Not only does it serve an aesthetic purpose, beautifying downtown, but it also has a social value. Pieces such as Nikki Pike’s WE or Gregg Deal’s Take Back The Power inspire conversations about topics relevant to the Colorado Springs citizens. Art on the Streets has ensured that downtown Colorado Springs has remained culturally relevant and engaged, now and in the future.
The works in the 25th annual Art on the Streets exhibition were drawn from nearly 100 proposals from artists worldwide. A total of four murals and eight sculptures were selected and will be on display until May 2024. Learn more at downtowncs.com/arts-and-culture/aots/
Artist Carlos Oliva has been a part of the arts scene of Montreal for more than 25 years. Combining hyperrealism and naive art, he adapts to all kinds of technical projects requiring the most advanced criteria. In every project, he strives to create something positive and colorful,
even when it’s a difficult subject. He has worked on a large number of murals, personal projects as well as commissions of various sizes on all kinds of surfaces. This work pays homage to Mary Mashburn, longtime former executive director of the nonprofit organization Imagination Celebration. Mashburn, who was affectionately known as the “Fairy Godmother of the Arts,” died in early 2023.
A 22-foot hammer, a solar powered teahouse, an artsy disc golf course, a giant pigeon, 8 acres of community created craziness, on 1.6 miles of trails … where are we?
Welcome to Concrete Coyote Community Park!
This eight-acre, interactive, beautyfrom-trash community creativity incubation space is the brainchild of Concrete Couch and their thousands of local supporters. The non-profit, informally called “The Couch,” is a bit of a Colorado Springs institution.
Couch staff and community members have created more than 800 weird and wacky projects in town, from the Great Pumpkin sculpture on Nevada to the Penrose Library mural called “This Wall Connects Us All.” They have made bridges and parks and playgrounds and murals and benches and gardens, all under the banner of “building community through creative projects.”
The Couch works with a lot of different groups, and thrives on combining groups. At-risk teens with seniors? YES. Veterans with queer youth? FOR SURE. College kids with houseless folks? CLARO QUE SÍ!
After 15 years of lodging in someone’s garage, they were looking for a permanent office when the Hillside Community Ventures foundation contacted them about selling an unused — and unusual — plot of land: an old concrete dump.
Intrigued, the Couch team visited the site, met with neighbors, and came up with a big “to-do” list: buy it, clean it, make it safe, create and run free programs for kids and adults, provide recreation, job training, create a clean public restroom, and (oh yeah) make it gorgeous.
With the help of a Community Development Block Grant, and an amazing number of volunteers from the neighborhood, local schools, nonprofits, Fort Carson, the Senior Center, Community Centers, and other groups,
they have hosted 3,000 free community classes to co-create the space. And on Saturday, October 7 they will officially open the park with an all-day Grand Opening event! The event is free, and will have something for everyone:
• 10 a.m. Tour and design session, with the president of the Community Built Association.
• 1–4 p.m. Take part in land tours, art workshops, and nature activities for all ages.
• 4–6 p.m. Enjoy a meal while hearing from community leaders.
• 6–7 p.m. Boogie down to the Concrete Couch Jam Band!
For more information, contact oct7@concretecouch.org.
Can’t wait for October 7? To join the creativity, go to their website (concretecouch.org) and click on the events page, where you will find creative and learning-filled experiences. It’s easy to make a new friend, learn something, make something, or share a skill!
You will see why their tagline is
“a place for all to meet & make!”Coucher extraordinaire Christine Flores rides the “Aurora Bearialis.” Photo by Steve Wood.
• ¼ C. sugar
• 1 T. orange blossom water
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, combine the eggs and sugar and beat with a whisk until thick. Add the olive oil and combine well.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, orange juice and zest and vanilla. Stir in well, but do not overwork — a couple small lumps in the batter is ok. Let batter rest for 5 minutes.
4. Prepare a Bundt pan by either spraying or by liberally greasing the pan and coating lightly with flour. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 40 – 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center removes clean. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes and invert onto a flat surface or plate. Drizzle with the honey saffron syrup.
5. To make the syrup — while the cake is baking, add the saffron and hot water to a small saucepan and let sit for 10 minutes. Add the honey, sugar, and orange blossom water and combine over low heat until a syrup is made. Drizzle over the finished cake!
The history of any place is the collective experience of its people. The culture of a city is continually created by the blending of its individuals and groups. And learning about their stories provides a richness and depth that brings a place alive. This itinerary will take you into the tapestry of Colorado Springs to encounter its diverse past and enjoy its vibrant present with personal connection. You’ll visit local spots off the beaten path and encounter art, culture and small businesses owned by people from diverse backgrounds.
Your host is Lynne Hastings, an award-winning actor, director, producer and longtime leader in the local theater and arts scene. “With this itinerary, you’re going to experience the diversity that Colorado Springs has to offer,” she says. “A lot of people think there’s not a lot of diversity in this town, but it’s here. You just need to be pointed in the right direction to find it. That’s what I wanted to do: point people in the right direction so they can experience the place that I love so much.”
Creative Stays is a digital campaign to attract cultural tourists to the Colorado Springs area during Arts Month, and throughout the year. With content creation by Springs Media and Jason-Fleming.com, the series features 13 weekend getaway itineraries curated by a diverse group of local creatives. Each of these local creatives will share a little about themselves, and recommend some of their favorite lodging accommodations, community attractions, restaurants, entertainment activities, hidden hangouts, and not-to-miss cultural destinations.
Perfect for out-of-town visitors and local residents, Creative Stays offers a whole new way to explore and enjoy some of the wonderful attractions and amenities that the Pikes Peak region has to offer! Check out all the Creative Stays itineraries at cosCreativeStays.com
Hello, fellow arts lovers! It is with great pride that we congratulate the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region and its staff on the 10th annual Arts Month celebrations this October! Everyone at the Ent Center is thrilled we have an organization like COPPeR that folds all creative organizations into their circle of influence.
Over the years, the Ent Center has partnered with the local creative industry and arts lovers
to enrich the Colorado Springs theatre, dance, music, art, These partnerships, both aided us in establishing monumental state-of-the-art, building on North Nevada celebrating five years of As the Ent Center embarks anniversary season, we invite experience the extraordinary our stages and galleries. and the Galleries of Contemporary the Artist Series and the
student productions of professional quality, and many locally celebrated orchestras, dance companies and more — the Ent Center for the Arts has something for everyone. Since 2018, we have welcomed more than 60,000 patrons like you each season. This number continues to grow, despite world events that could inhibit our success. That’s a testament to the talent on our teams and the value our community places on cultural experiences.
Thanks to the generous support we receive from patrons, donors, and the community at large, we have been able to present thousands of performances. This is no small feat for a non-profit arts venue, whose ability to sustain itself is reliant on its community. Every ticket purchase, donation, and mention of our name has a direct impact on the offerings we can present to you.
Theatreworks will present a series of bigname shows, all starring professional actors living and working in Colorado. Starting off the season on September 21, local favorite Lynne Hastings will direct Steel Magnolias. In November, audiences will get a dose of whimsy with the classic tale, The Little Prince. Theatreworks will continue its legacy of partnerships with local organizations this season as well. Into the Woods in Concert is a musical featuring the Chamber Orchestra of Colorado Springs on stage with the cast.
Springs area through art, and so much more.
both new and existing, our sweeping and state-of-the-art, LEED-certified Nevada Avenue which is now existence.
embarks on its fifth invite you to come extraordinary events coming to From Theatreworks
Contemporary Art (GOCA), Cabaret Series, UCCS
The Ent Center, Theatreworks, and GOCA have thoughtfully curated a celebratory season of blockbuster productions with you in mind as a gesture of our gratitude. So, let’s get into it!
The Ent Center is relaunching our Artist Series and Cabaret Series with two performances in 2023. Mariachi Herencia de México — a Latin Grammy-nominated music group — performed on September 26 for the Artist Series and legendary actress Kim Fields will direct Little Girl Blue, the award-winning Nina Simone musical written by and starring Laiona Michelle, in December for the Cabaret Club. After the new year, these series will bring four more acts to the Shockley-Zalabak stage — a celebrated solo Indian dancer and a Vietnamese jazz trio, among others.
GOCA opened Boulder-based artist Martha Russo’s monumental solo exhibition caesura in late August and for the first time ever, GOCA is presenting a staff exhibition to showcase the talent on the team that makes all other exhibitions possible. The galleries will also participate in Visual AIDS: A Day With(out) Art in December — a film screening as part of a Global Day of Action and awareness for the AIDS crisis coordinated by Visual AIDS. This is just the beginning. The Ent Center for the Arts has programming year-round, whether it is produced in-house or brought to our venue by regional and international artists. Many of the regional acts are celebrated performing arts organizations that you have probably seen or heard in creative spaces across Colorado. Experience them anew at the Ent Center, where you will find such diverse and numerous offerings of performances and exhibitions that you’ll always have an answer to the question, “What should we do tonight?”
Theatreworks’ “Steel Magnolias”
Through October 15
Ent Center for the Arts
Springs Ensemble Theatre’s “Midge & The Butcher”
Through October 15
The Fifty-Niner Speakeasy
Rocky Mountain
Women’s Film Festival
October 20–22
Colorado College
“Rocky Horror Picture Show”
October 20–28
Iron Springs Chateau
Fine Arts Center Theatre Company’s “Misery”
October 12–29
Colorado Springs Fine Arts
Center at Colorado College
YEAR-ROUND
Impossible Things
Year-round
Cosmo’s Magic Theatre
Indie Spirit Film Festival
Summer Ivywild School
Pikes Peak Docufest
September
ICON Cinema
When you explore a new place — or even new places in your hometown — it should be filled with wonder and fun. There definitely should be a lot of laughter, especially when you travel with kids in Colorado Springs — or staycation. Enter stage left Jim Jackson and Birgitta De Pree, owners and founders of the Millibo Art Theatre and one of the leading couples in Colorado Springs theater.
“Why grow up?” could easily be their mantra. While original productions at the Millibo cover a full spectrum of genres and emotions, the theater is well known for its whimsical children’s shows, circus acts, comedies and cabaret that delight kids of all ages. Birgitta and Jim are well known for their signature characters, Babette Matdiva and Art Guffaw the clown. So when it came time to share a getaway itinerary of their favorite spots in Colorado Springs, of course the couple presented their entire Creative Stay in character — full character.
Creative Stays is a digital campaign to attract cultural tourists to the Colorado Springs area during Arts Month, and throughout the year. With content creation by Springs Media and Jason-Fleming.com, the series features 13 weekend getaway itineraries curated by a diverse group of local creatives. Each of these local creatives will share a little about themselves, and recommend some of their favorite lodging accommodations, community attractions, restaurants, entertainment activities, hidden hangouts, and not-to-miss cultural destinations. Perfect for out-of-town visitors and local residents, Creative Stays offers a whole new way to explore and enjoy some of the wonderful attractions and amenities that the Pikes Peak region has to offer! Check out all the Creative Stays itineraries at cosCreativeStays.com
workshops range from beginning to advanced levels.
BY KIM OLGREN President | Pikes Peak Writers
Pikes Peak Writers began as a conference in 1993 by author Jimmie Butler under the auspices and sponsorship of the Friends of Pikes Peak Library. The inaugural conference centered on “Useful Tips for Writing Commercial Fiction,” and enjoyed sponsorship by the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District and The Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration. Since then, the conference has achieved a top ten ranking among U.S. writers’ conferences by Writer’s Digest Magazine, offering a wide range of nearly one hundred writing workshops over a full weekend at the foot of picturesque Pikes Peak. These
Keynote speakers have included New York Times bestselling authors such as Robert Crais, author of the Elvis Cole and Joe Pike thrillers, Rachel Howzell Hall, author of What Never Happened, John Gilstrap, author of the Jonathan Graves thrillers, Nora Roberts, author of over 225 romance novels, and Laurell K. Hamilton, romance/fantasy author of a number of series including the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series and the Meredith Gentry: Fairy Princess/Private. Pikes Peak Writers Conference is also considered the friendliest conference in the country by many in the industry and by attendees.
After several years of successful conferences, a core group of conference directors and volunteers formed the parent organization, Pikes Peak Writers, as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality education, outreach, and community for writers year-round. PPW is an organization for any writer — from cozy mysteries to thrillers, comedy to horror, and just about anything in between.
Since Pikes Peak Writers’ founding as a non-profit organization in 2001, both conference and non-conference events have blossomed. Non-conference events have grown to more than 40 free and low-cost events, including monthly Write Brain sessions, writing workshops, social gatherings, and a host of other fun and educational meetings and events.
Like a lot of organizations, the pandemic provided the unexpected boon of the ability to hold more events online, and suddenly we had access to presenters worldwide. PPW has taken full advantage of this. Some recent workshops include Writing the Perfect Fight Scene with AJ Metzger and Bowen Gillings, Stop Procrastinating with Deb Courtney, Marketing in 2023 (and Beyond): Leverage Your Assets with Nick Thacker, and Query Letter Bootcamp with Angie Hodapp.
The PPW blog provides educational articles for writers, by writers. Some of the most recent posts include a fourpart series on Marketing for Introverts, Five Tools for Your Writer Toolbox, and chats with authors like award-winning
middle-grade author and PPW member, Fleur Bradley.
PPW is also proud to have published three outstanding anthologies featuring stories by our members. Each anthology highlights the best writing from talented writers such as local authors Bowen Gillings, C.S. Simpson, and Steven Anderson. These are only a few of the nearly 80 authors who have been featured in the anthologies. Fresh Starts, Dream, and Journeys into Possibility, with another coming in 2025, are all available through local and national outlets.
Members also have the opportunity to share their success via the Sweet Success section of our website, which is also broadcast on our social media outlets. The latest editions to Sweet Success include Scott Brendel, Clifton Brown (aka CB Arnold), J.D.R . Hawkins, Trista Herring Baughman, and Darby Karchut. PPW proudly celebrates the success of our members and is happy to support them in their continued growth.
Learn more about Pikes Peak Writers at pikespeakwriters.org.
1. Last time I played golf I almost got a hole-in-one! I missed it by 7 strokes… dang windmills and dinosaurs!
2. I joined Weight Watchers where all the food you eat has different point values and you try to stay below a certain total number. I’ve been on it for a week and I’ve already set a high score!
3. My doctor says I need to work out more. I told him I work out almost every day. I mean I almost worked out on Monday. I almost worked out on Tuesday. I almost worked out on Wednesday …
4. My doctor recommended I try some lunges. “With my sedentary lifestyle,” I said, “that’ll be a big step forward!”
5. My New Year’s resolution was to lose 15 pounds this year. It’s October and I have 25 to go.
6. I named my dog “Five Miles” and tell people I walk five miles every day.
7. I renamed my toilet from John to Jim. It sounds way more impressive when I say I’m going.
8. I began reading for pleasure last week and read “War and Peace.” I know it’s only 3 words, but it’s a start.
9. I have a dog to show me unconditional love. I have a cat to remind me I don’t deserve it.
10. I got an MRI to see if I’m claustrophobic. Turns out those things are pretty accurate!
11. During a job interview I was asked to describe myself in 3 words. I said “efficient.”
12. I was playing Hide & Seek with some buddies. It went on for hours, because good friends are hard to find!
13. Signing someone’s cast is the easiest way to add insult to injury.
14. Your future depends on your dreams. Don’t waste any time and start sleeping in!
Poetry Heals is a home-grown project that brings therapeutic poetry writing to people. Started in 2016, Poetry Heals has focused its efforts on unhoused people, at risk youth, and veterans. Our funding began with a $1,500 matching grant from the Bee Vradenburg Foundation, and we have grown from there. Poetry Heals has a part time executive director and 13 trained writing mentors who are also part time. By the end of August, we will have held 127 workshops and events and had 1,580 participants. And the year isn’t over! Expressive writing, including poetry, as a tool for healing has had over 300 studies and articles written about it. We know that expressive writing improves people’s physical and mental health. Poetry Heals mentors use evidencebased methods in their workshops to teach this tool and to give the participants the experience of processing some of their trauma and feeling better. The pandemic showed us all the importance
of good mental health and brought to the fore the impact the arts have on fostering good mental health. Poetry Heals builds on these experiences.
Most of our work is done through partnerships with organizations that serve our target populations — we go where our audiences already trust
to go. Our workshops are warmly welcomed by hosting groups and receive very positive feedback from participants of all ages. Our evaluations show that 90 percent of participants feel “good” or “great” after a workshop. We teach weekly workshops at Springs Rescue Mission and The Place, and conduct semi-monthly workshops at Inside Out Youth Services, Peak View Behavioral Health, and Hillside Community Center’s after school programs. Once a month, we bring workshops to Fostering Hope, which supports youth adults leaving the foster system. We also work with school kids at Manitou Springs Elementary School, the Flying Pig Farm in Manitou Springs, and the expedition charter school in Pueblo, Villa Bella, comes to us. Other partners have included The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College, The Colorado Springs Conservatory, Crawford House, and Pikes Peak Library District.
Every summer since 2016, Poetry Heals has partnered with Mark Wong, potter and community builder, to offer
Poetry and Pottery in Soda Springs Park in Manitou Springs. This free-for-allages-and-abilities event teaches pottery making, hand building with clay, glazing, and we even have a kiln there. We also have poetry prompts, poetry games, and fill-in-the-blank poems. Healthy soup is served for those who are hungry. Each Tuesday afternoon in June and July, we bring together locals, tourists, and street folks from to create and get to know each other, build community, feel better, and have some fun. We see up to 80 people each week.
Thanks to the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region, Poetry Heals is part of Military Arts Connection. Through this program, we can offer free writing workshops to veterans and their families in groups and one-on-one. We are honored to be able to support the families of veterans, especially Gold Star families.
Nancy Norton
October 6 & 7
Loonees Comedy Corner
Pikes Peak Zine Fest
October 7
The Hall at PPLD
Improv Colorado
October 21
Yoga Studio Satya
Poetry719 Poetry Festival
Multiple events throughout October
Multiple venues
Pikes Punks Stand-Up Comedy
Last Saturday of every month
Public House at the Alexander
We also offer free, online resources for everyone at poetryheals.org. Who hasn’t had a difficult time in the past three years? You will find writing prompts, do-it-yourself materials, a special section for caregivers, and more information about Poetry Heals.
Poetry Heals is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. We have been able to enjoy the support of local and state foundations and government programs. Individuals, institutions, and corporations also have made it possible for us to reach out the some of the most vulnerable members of our community to bring them an affordable, accessible, and portable tool for processing the trauma in their lives. A list of our supporters is on our website.
To find out more about Poetry Heals, contact Sara Gallagher, executive director, at sara@poetryheals.org.
Comedy Open Mic Night
Wednesday evenings
Lulu’s Upstairs
Pikes Peak Poetry Summit
April
Pikes Peak Library District
Pikes Peak Writers: Write Drunk, Edit Sober
Year-round Virtual
… AND MUCH MORE AT:
So you like a little luxury when you travel — or a lot? Want to experience elevated culture? But still keep things real with an authentic sense of the Colorado spirit and a touch of local history? This Creative Stay has you covered, thanks to your host Nathan Newbrough, President and CEO of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic.
“It’s about all of it, from the luxurious, gracious welcome at The Broadmoor to the contemplation and captivation you’ll find at the Colorado Springs Philharmonic to the outrageous Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to the dining, the nightlife, the local adventures, all of these wonderful experiences put together. This is my creative stay in Colorado Springs.”
As a bonus, this itinerary includes some favorite local traditions and celebrations if your stay coincides with the holiday season.
Creative Stays is a digital campaign to attract cultural tourists to the Colorado Springs area during Arts Month, and throughout the year. With content creation by Springs Media and Jason-Fleming.com, the series features 13 weekend getaway itineraries curated by a diverse group of local creatives. Each of these local creatives will share a little about themselves, and recommend some of their favorite lodging accommodations, community attractions, restaurants, entertainment activities, hidden hangouts, and not-to-miss cultural destinations. Perfect for out-of-town visitors and local residents, Creative Stays offers a whole new way to explore and enjoy some of the wonderful attractions and amenities that the Pikes Peak region has to offer! Check out all the Creative Stays itineraries at cosCreativeStays.com
Owner | The Black Sheep and Vultures
If you were to walk into the Black Sheep in the middle of the day, the first thing you would notice is … not much. No one has ever accused our space of being frilly or overly extravagant. Other than a sprinkling of art on the walls and the photo booth, there is not much to look at.
But if you walked in to see one of the 200 shows that are hosted there every year it quickly becomes clear why The Black Sheep is one of the longest tenured music venues Colorado Springs has ever seen.
What appears to be a large empty floor, a stage and a bar comes to life at every show at The Black Sheep, and the results are phenomenal. The artists range from up-and-coming country acts to dubstep DJs and some of the biggest names in pop, rock and rap.
Often, The Black Sheep will be one of the smallest venues on a tour, allowing for an intimate experience that can make you feel like you stumbled into a band practice. The sound is world class, the lights are incredible, the acoustics are dialed in. The stage is just the right height to make performers visible from anywhere in the room. The bar is situated to flow quickly while being positioned in a way that’s not distracting while you take in the show. Artists’ merchandise lines the walls and happy couples pop into the photo booth.
But of course, what really makes The Black Sheep special is the people. It’s easy to see that this is a venue that was opened by music lovers and has been run by music lovers in all its 18 years of existence. In a field famously run by the cranky and crazy, The Black Sheep has always prided itself on having one the friendliest and most professional staffs in the industry.
They recognize that for many this is an escape, and they want everyone who walks in the door to feel welcome
and safe. Greeting artists with a smile at the beginning of the day and sending them off with a smile of their own at the end of the night. Giving patrons the best night of their week, year, even life is the goal each and every night.
Besides a love for music, they also share a love for the community, and have gone out of their way to host local flea markets, charity shows, and even activist meetings. In a high turnover business, it’s evident right away that some of the staff at the Black Sheep have been there since it first opened in 2005.
This mindset and some of these same people are also at the heart of Vultures, which opened its doors in October of 2021. Just a half block down the street, Vultures is an attempt to both feed from and compliment the energy of The Black Sheep. It was conceived and designed to be the perfect place to pop into before or after a show, collect yourself, recap your night with friends, and just generally enjoy a slightly slower paced atmosphere. However, in its short lifespan Vultures has already become so much more than a neighborhood corner bar next to the city’s busiest concert venue.
Vultures fills its small stage almost every night of the week. It hosts concerts with a focus on local artists as well as up and coming touring artists of every genre. They also branch out even more than The Black Sheep, with a steady stream of comedy, drag shows, open mic nights, karaoke and even a ping pong tournament sometimes for a little extra fun.
It’s safe to say that east Platte isn’t filled to the brim with a million bustling businesses (yet), but what comes to life on our little block between The Black Sheep and Vultures is nothing but impressive. Spaces created out of the love of music and the belief that everyone should have a safe space to enjoy seeing their favorite artist or discovering a new one.
The City Dog & The Prairie Dog
An interactive family musical with Creede Repertory Theatre
The RiP Comedy Improv
Whimsical sketches with unscripted laughs
An Evening of Music & Magic
The Cory McDaniel Duo partners with ace magician Byron Grey
Playing For Ukraine
Music, Circus, and Song in support of frontline charity Ukraine Power MilliBoo at The Millibo
Not too scary magic and treats for ghosts and ghouls of all ages
The Belle of Amherst
The poetry and life of Emily Dickinson with the incomparable Jessica Roblee
BobThe Extremely
Large Pigeon
World-class puppetry for the whole family with Paul Mesner
Modbo Ho Ho
Adult laughs in a musical satire of all things Holiday
Santa's Elves
Annual Talent Show
Big laughs for all ages with Songs, Circus, and Silliness
Yule Be Naughty...
One More Time
Our evening Cabaret hugs the Holidays with Song, Circus, and Comedy
The Big Bubble Circus
Jim Jackson and friends celebrate New Year's Eve with Bubbles for all ages
BY LEONOR GONZALES Director | Ballet Folklórico de Barajas
Leonor Gonzales remembers dancing to the music played by her parents, Mary and Joe Barajas, since she was a young child. During her childhood, she spent a great deal of time with her siblings, parents, and extended families. Her parents owned a bar, and she can recall the sounds of English and Spanish music with countless patrons dancing to the rhythmic beats. Watching others on the dance floor, Leonor would tirelessly work to imitate their moves and fell in love with dance.
While attending high school in Colorado Springs, Leonor learned traditional Mexican Folklórico dance, a genre that included sounds and moves familiar to those from her childhood. It was a pivotal moment that moved her love for dance and her familial heritage into an ongoing journey of learning and teaching Folklórico dance. Traditional Mexican Folklórico dance is a style that traces back to people of indigenous ancestry throughout Mexico. The music, movements, and regalia for each region vary, representing the unique and diverse cultures of each.
Meanwhile, in San Antonio, Texas, Conrad Santos Gonzales remembers hurrying from school to attend Folklórico class with his brother and friends. It was the perfect activity to keep him occupied in pro-social activities once the school day ended. Conrad has been an advanced Folklórico performer and instructor for several decades. Folklórico runs strong in his family as his brother, Bruce Gonzales, is the director of one of the largest and most well-known Folklórico groups in Texas.
ARTS MONTH
Will Hoge and William Elliot Whitmore
October 7
Lulu’s Downstairs
Derek Hough: Symphony of Dance Tour
October 12
Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts
Zepparella
October 28
Stargazers Theatre & Event Center
Halloween Battle of the Bands
October 27–29
Crystola Roadhouse
In the early 1990s, Conrad’s enlistment into the army brought him to Fort Carson. One weekend while he was out dancing with some friends, he met a lovely lady named Leonor. The two shared interests, and upon realizing they both danced Folklórico they began testing each other’s foot work intricacies. Leonor had recently started teaching her two daughters and youth at a local community center. The moment Leonor realized Conrad’s superb skills in Folklórico, she knew instantly that she had found the perfect dance partner!
They were married several years later, and together operated a dance group throughout the ’90s. In 2018, Leonor was now a grandmother of three littles ones and eager to begin teaching Folklórico to her grandchildren and others. Ballet Folklórico de Barajas was born.
Ballet Folklórico de Barajas is a 501(c) (3) and practices primarily out of the Hillside Community Center. Leonor and Conrad pride themselves on teaching complex steps, movements and choreography. They share a love for their heritage, culture and this art. Therefore, they hold the dances they teach to a high caliber of excellence — every detail of performance regalia is selected to ensure the performers properly and boldly represent each region of dance. Current regions performed include Polkas, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Veracruz, and Michoacan. They have a fully enrolled program and teach four classes per week, with students as young as six.
For Leonor and Conrad, this rare performing art is a means of preserving and sharing their culture throughout the region for generations to come. Follow Ballet Folklórico de Barajas on Facebook and at balletfolkloricodebarajas.com to see where they may be performing next.
YEAR-ROUND
Black Rose Acoustic Society Shows
Year-round
Black Forest Community Center
Meadowgrass Music Festival
Memorial Day Weekend
La Foret Retreat Center
Social Swing Dances and Square Dancing
Year-round
International Dance Club
