On Saturday night, Jan. 25, the community celebrated Mac Neely's 93rd birthday (yes, that's ninety-three years of Mac!) at a fabulous party at the Columbine with WE-4 taking the stage with some fabulous music. The joint was rockin' As to the celebrities in the stretch limo .well, our lips are sealed.

Members-only show

The first show of the new year will open at the Mancos Town Gallery with works by members of the Arts Council. The show will open with an artists' reception on Friday night, Feb. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. Stop by and see what your local artists have been busy producing in the past few months.

Cortez Cultural Center

This is the last week of the exhibit featuring artworks by the students of the Southwest Open School. It closes on Friday, Jan. 31.

There are a couple of special events/workshops in February. Cheri Valle presents a Victorian Fashions and Dressmaking Techniques workshop at the Cortez Cultural Center, Feb. 15, 2014, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch on your own. Members free, $5 all others. Pre-registration requested by calling the Center.

And Jim and Karen Mischke present a program Feb. 19, 2014, 7 p.m. in the Gallery Center. The presentation showcases the Cheetah Conservation fund, a nonprofit in Namibia that is engaged in saving the cheetah. The fee for nonmembers is $5, and members are free.

Durango Arts Center

There is a very interesting show on right now, going until Feb. 1, titled Journey Stories (presented by the 4 Corners Commission and with cooperation of the Animas Museum) This is the first juried show of the year with stories of migration transplantation, moving, searching, choosing a new life. This show also features some of our local Mancos artists - Jan Wright and Janice Reich.

Feb. 8-11 will bring "Sweethearts of the Arts" an appreciation party and celebration of the honorees' contributions and the positive difference they have made in the community, and it has the added benefit of strengthening DAC's arts programs while honoring the Sweethearts for their generosity, talent and vision.

This year's honorees are Carol Salomon, designer and creator of unique and elegant one-of-a-kind jewelry is represented by Sorrel Sky Gallery. Carol is a founding member of New Face Productions, creating cutting-edge events for DAC, such as the upcoming TOP Jewels - National Jewelry Design Exhibition and C. Scott Hagler, accomplished musician and artist, is also the minister of music and arts at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, associate conductor for the Durango Choral Society, creator of 3rd Ave. Arts and visiting instructor in the FLC Department of Music. This is the annual signature fundraiser for the Arts Center.

Then on Feb. 14 and 15, they will present the Members Marketplace.

Members will have the opportunity to set up their own booths and offer artwork for sale.

For more information, contact Mary Puller at [email protected].

They sound pretty busy over there . and the gift shop is full of lots of new stuff from all over the world including Mancos. Two of local artists, Dave Sipe's work are on display as well.

The Mancos common press

You may have noticed some work being done at the old Mancos Times building. It seems that there is one of only a handful of letterpresses left in the country sitting right there.

We are working to get it and the building restored so it can be a center for printing arts - imagine right here is little old Mancos.

More news coming atcha - on this topic and more!

I am always looking for info on your art news, whether it's visual or audio. Let me know - [email protected], and I'll publish!