Bryan Kyle's class at Southwest Colorado Community College is more than full (19 students) with everyone from high school students getting advanced placement credits to a few nontraditional folks retraining.

The college staff and faculty are very encouraging and helpful and appear eager to see the art program continue to grow. Upcoming is the first annual spring student art show.

Bryan is a very talented with a great sprinkling of humor. I'm sure he will grow the arts program at SWCC!

First show of the year

"Members Only" a show of the Arts Council members will open at the Mancos Town Hall.

There are some familiar faces, but some real surprises as well! The show will open with an artists' reception on Friday night, Feb. 7 from 5 - 7 p.m. Stop by and see what your local artists have been busy producing in the past few months.

Annual birding festival takes wing

The Cortez Cultural Center is seeking "bird art" for a show in the gallery before and during the 10th annual Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival. Art in any medium is welcome. Pieces need to be delivered to the gallery on April 18, 2014, and picked up on May 12, 2014, between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 25 N. Market St. For more info, contact [email protected]. The opening reception will be held on April 25, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with other receptions for birding festival participants held during the festival, May 7-11, 2014.

Local artist speads her wings

Janice Reich received this letter from the Aha School of Art (in Telluride):

"Dear Janice, Congratulations! Your piece 'Sky Watcher' has been accepted into our NEW WORK by Regional Artists Exhibition, which opens next week. Juror Amy Kimberly had a very difficult time, as the work was so good and very diverse. In the end, she selected 59 pieces from a field of over 170 submissions. We were thrilled at the turnout for this exhibition and we plan to host a regional juried show every other year."

These six artists were also accepted into the show: Betty Kilpatrick, Deborah Sussex, Maureen May, Vanessa Boyd, Gardner Catsman. They are all from our region. This exhibit open on Feb. 5 and will be up until Monday March 3. An artist reception will be on Thursday, Feb. 6 during ARTWALK night.

Speaking of art walks

This Thursday, over in Durango, they are holding the first ArtWalk of the year on Feb. 6. If the snow is too bad, take a walk over there.

More news coming atcha! I am always looking for information on art news. Let me know - [email protected].