SNOW SHOW OPENING RECEPTION & PARTY: Great chow and drinks will feature mightily for this reception, but the real highlight will be the art! This year we have three dozen snow photos, plus several snow sculptures, and paintings. Now that it's warm and sunny (at least for the next several days) and light later, stop by the Mancos Town Gallery (in the Visitor Center on Bauer @ Boyle Park) on Wednesday night between 5 and 7 p.m.

MASKS! MY FAVORITE TOPIC: Opening on March 27 and running through April 30, Durango Arts Center on April 2 and 8 will be showing "Masks - Creativity Festivity." This is an exhibition displaying traditional cultural masks from all over the globe, integrated the last two weeks of the exhibit, with masks created by regional school children. As you may know, masks (of any kind) are an artform that really speaks to me. What can a mask say while hiding the individual face?

THE HERITAGE PROJECT NEWS: The Chuck Pyle concert was a sold-out success. We could not have stuffed another body into the Millwood last Saturday night. Local, but major talent Katya Chorover opened for Chuck Pyle, "The Zen Cowboy" who did two well-received sets. Even though a fierce spring snow was blowing outside, the Mancos community rallied around this fund-raising event. If you couldn't make it to the concert, you can still make a financial contribution to our Mancos "beautification" project by mailing your check (made out to Mancos Valley Resources - Heritage Project) and sending them to MVR, Box 244, Mancos, CO 81328. Donations are tax deductible!

SPRING HOEDOWN: Next up - the Spring Hoedown presented by our own showmeister, Tami Graham. Starting with the "Steers & Queers" event last year, Tami has decided to make this an annual event, supporting her new fund, "Pay It Forward." Every year, she and her gang will donate the proceeds from the spring event towards some community project, group or person who needs that backing. This year the recipient organization is "Montezuma School to Farm Project." "Farm to School" is broadly defined as a program that connects schools (K-12) and local farms with the objectives of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers. Our local project covers the schools in Dolores, Cortez and Mancos! Sustainability, yea!

CALL FOR ENTRIES: The Mancos Town Gallery has three group shows scheduled for 2013. "The "Car Show" will open on May 23. Any medium is welcome, whether 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional, photo, painting, metal, whatever! The next extravaganza will be "The Horse Show" with the same parameters. If you bring it, we will show it. After that, there is an opening for an as-yet-determined show running from Sept. 13 through Oct. 18. The final show of the year will be "The Mask Show" coinciding with the Halloween season, and the annual "Day of the Dead" Arts Council members appreciation party. This show will open on Oct. 25 and run through Dec. 6. We are interested in showing art by as many local artists as possible. If you have an idea for the September/October show, please let me know. Please contact Dian Law if you want to participate in any of these exhibits.

RIMS TO RUINS: A select group of 28 renowned Western Americana artists will capture the light and magic of Mesa Verde National Park this May. Their paintings, depicting the ruins of the Ancestral Puebloans and the spectacular Southwestern landscapes, will be displayed and sold in later fundraising events to benefit the national park. Mesa Verde Foundation (MVF), in conjunction with Mesa Verde National Park, is holding the inaugural Rims to Ruins event May 20, 21 and 22, 2013. Mesa Verde Superintendent Cliff Spencer, says, "One of my goals is to make the park more accessible to visitors and enhance the visitor experience. We are excited to see the visions captured by this stellar group of artists."

The artwork will be for sale during two events. The first happens on May 22 after a 'quick draw' at Wetherill Mesa. Guests can enjoy brunch during an auction of the framed artwork. You can buy tickets for the quick draw, brunch and auction through the Goodnight Trail Gallery in Mancos, CO, 970-533-1177, by email at [email protected] or through MVF, 303-321-3120 or via email [email protected].

The second sale occurs during a special gala reception at the Denver Public Library's Vida Ellison Gallery on Oct. 22, 2013. The paintings created on May 20 and 21 will be offered for sale at that time and then remain on display for two weeks.

Contact Dian & let me me know what's happening in the arts community. I'd love to publish info about your event, show, concert, play, whatever! Call me: 970-533-7536. [email protected].