October was a very special month here at the Cortez Cultural Center. On the plaza we hosted the Pumpkin Festival and earlier in the month we enjoyed special food and brightly outfitted dancers as part of our Hispanic culture celebration. In the gallery, we showed the wacky metal sculpture of Cortez artist Tom Walters and right now we are displaying our annual juried show. Our weekly life-drawing class has continued to produce good work. With our Wednesday evening presenters we have walked through Old Cortez, re-excavated ancient local artifacts and traveled the Silk Road in Central Asia. We also got outdoors to do a little birding and visit Hawkins Preserve right here in town.
On Oct. 17, we had our re-dedication celebration! Our proclamation from the city of Cortez called out the many excellent programs we offer that enrich our community and re-stated our ongoing contribution to the local economy both in serving tourism and contributing to the livelihood of local performers and artisans.
Around town, you will see messages inviting everyone to visit us and join us. This campaign has a twofold message: Visit us is a reminder to please attend an event or a one-hour Wednesday gallery talk and to take a look inside our gift shop when buying local. Join us asks you to please remember us in your end-of-year giving. If you are already a member, consider making an additional donation and becoming a Far View Friend. Go to cortezculturalcenter.org and go to the Support US page. It’s so easy! Remember, 73 percent of our operating funds come from people like you! And, 85 cents of every dollar contributed goes towards the programs we offer! Finally, I’d like to add a note about us: Our wonderful community is made up of people from different places and different backgrounds who have come here for different reasons - but who continue to love to live here and call our little corners of the world home. Join us!
Donna Steward, Cortez Cultural Center
Cortez