ascending giants take over montrose!
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Local stories, local photos...
Regional Craft Shows...
Farm Market on the move...
Films Showing locally this week...
Lark & Sparrow Events!
POWER OF THE PEN, POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Legacy of Writer Dalton Trumbo Honored in Big Budget Film
Continued on page 12
By Tanya Ishikawa
GRAND JUNCTION-Information provided a sense of control over events, even when the reality was that not much can be controlled. This idea shared by Nikola “Niki” Trumbo to describe her childhood is often applied to the world in general – information is power or at least provides a sense of power, according to teachers, activists and others throughout the ages. Niki and Melissa “Mitzi” Trumbo are two children of screenwriter Dalton Trumbo, who was born in Montrose, raised in Grand Junction and became one of the “Hollywood Ten” who were investigated, blacklisted and even imprisoned for his allegedly unAmerican political views by a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1940s and ‘50s. The daughters shared
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Bryan Cranston stars as the great American writer and Montrose native Dalton Trumbo in the newly-released film “Trumbo.” Courtesy photo.
ASCENDING GIANTS TAKE OVER MONTROSE!
By Rachel Boschen Art & Sol Rock & Roll Writer MONTROSE-Ascending Giants is slamming the Montrose music scene and surrounding areas with their musical prowess and performances; a band from Montrose, Colorado with encom-passing styles of alternative, classic, and mod-ern rock, they create instrumentally and vocally dynamic music fueled by duo singer songwriters and backed by seasoned musicians playing bass, drums, and keys. They bring a depth and melod-ic style that is organic and versatile. AG hit the Montrose music scene in May of 2015 and have
Ascending Giants will be playing their next show on Friday , Nov. 13 at RnR Sportsbar starting at 9 p.m.
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 2
Art & Sol Staff Report MONTROSE-As temperatures drop and wood stoves and heaters fire up, the Montrose Farmers Market is moving into a new space at 33 South Cascade for the coming weeks, the former Budgetline Fur-niture Building. “We are really excited,” Farmers Market Manager Lois Harvie said. “It’s a temporary deal, through November and early December. We have already put
in new lights, and the floors are gorgeous. We think this is a fabulous space, and we would like to turn it in to a winter wonder-land.” Those who have twinkling lights, gar-lands, wreaths or holiday trees to share as decorations are invited to call, she said. With twenty vendors expected as the market moves into the holiday season, the momentum from this season’s highly suc-cessful summer season should continue. “We have growers, we have baked
goods, and lots of vendors who have food,” Harvie said. “As time goes on, I am hop-ing we can also have burritos and tamales and any kind of breakfast food.” The winter market is now open, and runs on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “We are really focused on supporting small business, and local crafters and grow-ers in a small venue that helps them get known to the community,” Harvie said.
“The City has shared their vision of the Market as a small business incubator, so we can help get our storefronts filled and start revitalizing our community. “We feel fortunate to have this new space, because it is so beautiful,” she said. “We have room for more vendors!” To donate decorations or discuss vendor space, call Lois at the Montrose Farmers Market, 209-8463. www.montroseFarmersmarket.com, or LIKE them on their FACEBOOK page.
From now until the Holidays, the Montrose Farmers Market will take place at 33 South Cascade in Montrose, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
FARMERS MARKET MOVES TO 33 SOUTH CASCADE!
NOV. 19 SHERB TALK: SNOWSHOE
NATURE HIKES ON THE GRAND MESA
Special to Art & Sol RIDGWAY-As winter approaches, join Dr. Bruce A. Bauerle and The Sherbino Thea-ter for a Sherb Talk to learn how to identify animal tracks, plants, and ecologically interesting winter signs so that you can show them to your friends on your next cross country skiing or snow shoe trip. Dr. Bruce Bauerle will help the audi-ence learn to recognize an assortment of animal tracks, animal signs, birds, trees, and other features, while you are out enjoying the beautiful Colorado scenery on where ever your Colorado winter adventure takes you. Dr. Bruce A. Bauerle has Post-Doctoral Work in the areas of marine biology (California and Maine), Rocky Mountain flora, Oregon rainforests, ecology and conservation of marine birds and mammals, and mountaineering. His Marine ecology experience spans across six scientific re-search vessels, and has been a naturalist /lecturer on over thirteen cruise lines. He has had extensive world travel to over thirty countries, including Amazonia, Tasma-nia, Antarctica, New Guinea, and the Galapagos Islands. He holds a Doctorate of Arts, Zoology and Ecology. Doors and cash bar for this Sherb Talk are at 7 pm with a $10 suggested donation at the door.
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COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS...ARTS AND CULTURE
WEEHAWKEN DANCE PRESENTS THE NUTCRACKER AT MONTROSE PAVILION DEC 11 & 12
Special to Art & Sol MONTROSE-Talented local dancers from Ouray County, Montrose, Cedaredge, Paonia and beyond usher in the holiday season at the Montrose Pavilion on Dec. 11 and 12, in Weehawken Dance’s en-chanting annual production of The Nut-cracker. Under the artistic direction of Natasha Pyeatte, Weehawken's shows have be-come an eagerly-anticipated Christmas tradition in the region over the past eight years. Weehawken's Nutcracker presents highlights from Tchaikovsky's traditional Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker, and fea-tures over 135 dancers (ages 2.5 through adult), in a production that is as lavish as Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece, itself. From the Waltz of the Snowflakes to the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, every scene
glitters with its own dreamy radiance, re-flecting Pyeatte’s talent, vision, and boundless energy as a teacher and chore-ographer. Principal student dancers Emma Gould and Mackenzie Gibbs dazzle as the Sugar-Plum Fairy and Spanish Chocolate, respec-tively, while River Manley dons pink ballet slippers to debut in the roll of Clara, part-nered by Nutcracker Prince Morgan Wright. Other lead dancers include Clark Hopgood as Fritz, Tajiana Rueschhoff as the Christmas Tree Angel, Alannah Wister as the Lead Maid, Abby Link as the Rat Queen, Emma Wallin as Russian, Me-gan Kienapfel as Jack in the Box, Willow Krois as the Columbine Doll, Charlotte Lockhart as Dew Drop, and Riley Dickerson will perform the role of The Snow Queen. In addition, this year will feature
the dance talents of Weehawken Dance teaching staff, who will play the role of parents in the party scene. This will be the fifth year of Weehawken Dance offering their fall productions at the Montrose Pavilion, after incredible turn-out of audiences since 2011. “We were thrilled with the experiences we have had at the Montrose Pavilion as they have offered us an opportunity to house more dancers backstage, increase technical ele-ments of the show and also increase the quality and quantity of stage pieces and props. These shifts make the productions all that more enjoyable and enchanting for the audience.” said Ashley King, Executive Director of Weehawken Creative Arts. “In addition, we love the experience that the Pavilion provides with a large stage and backstage which serves to inspire young dancers who get to actually watch as their older peers perform on stage. It’s a great compliment to the very special and inti-mate shows we also do at the Wright Opera House in Ouray each year.” Performances of The Nutcracker are to be held at the Montrose Pavilion on Dec. 11 at 6 pm and December 12 at 2 pm. General Admission tickets go on sale on November 16th at www.weehawkenarts.org and many local outlets. Tickets for general admission are available in Ouray at Mouses Choco-lates; in Ridgway at Cimarron Books and Coffee and Weehawken Ridgway; and in Montrose at The Montrose Pavilion and at Tiffany Etc. General Admission tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for seniors (65+), and $8 for children 12 and under. In addi-tion, reserved section seating is available (front, center rows) through Weehawken Creative Arts in the price range of $23-$26. Patrons can access these reserved section seats through Weehawken only by calling 970-318-0150 after November 15th.
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COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS...ARTS AND CULTURE
OBJECTIVITY - THE MAGICAL WORLD OF MOTION!
Special to Art & Sol RIDGWAY-Join us at the Ridgway Secondary School Gym on Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. for “Objectivity,” a free show featuring danc-ers and performance artists Peter Davison and Jennifer Aiken, as they transform the stage into a magical world of motion. “Objectivity” combines classical and contemporary dance with elements of vaudeville, pantomime, and spoken word in a perfor-mance that is engaging for all ages. No tickets are required for this delightful family-friendly show, but donations are greatly appreciated! Presented by Ouray County Performing Arts Guild, with financial support from the Telluride Foundation. “A stunning display of sheer virtuosity…artistic, seemingly effortless perfection.” —San Francisco Examiner
FINNDERS AND YOUNGBERG AT SHERBINO NOV. 21
Special to Art & Sol RIDGWAY-Finnders and Youngberg are playing at the Sherbino Theater on Satur-day, Nov. 21st. The band’s recently re-leased 2015 album titled Eat The Moon proves that they consistently bring us “a self-assured vision of American mu-sic, rooted in tradition, but pointing to new creative directions that make it vital and relevant in today’s modern world…” Eat The Moon is currently a Top
10 Album on the Folk DJ Charts, with al-bum titled track "She Wants to Eat the Moon" climbing within the Top 20. You can also catch Del McCoury spin-ning the hand- picked album on his Siri-usXM show Bluegrass Junction. Colora-do’s Finnders & Youngberg proudly swim in the deep currents of American music-classic bluegrass, tried-and-true honky tonk, country swing and skillfully spun folk tales. While their sound evokes timeless-
ness, it is decidedly contemporary, well-traveled 21st century sensibility that in-forms their songwriting. Their tunes draw on the bumps, bruises and laugh lines earned when we find ourselves in the “bogs” of back roads, dive bars and long, lonesome nights. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased the night of the show at The Sherbino. Doors and cash bar are at 7 pm with music starting around 7:30 pm.
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 7
their memories and insights of their father and those difficult times in email interviews, in between traveling between premiers of the new big-budget, star-studded film about Dalton Trumbo this fall. “Trumbo" premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 12, followed by the Los Angeles premiere on Oct. 27 and the New York premiere on Nov. 2. “All this attention has been an extremely bizarre experience for me. I have been deeply missing my brother Chris and my mother Cleo, remembering how remarkable my father was, and wondering what their reactions to this movie would have been,” explained Mitzi. For Niki, the premiers have been like participating in a wonderful celebration, reconnecting with the cast and crew members who she met during the filming and have become like her extended family. The nationwide theatrical release of the film began on Nov. 6 and will be in Colorado theaters on Nov. 20, but Grand Junction will host a special showing of the film this Friday, Nov. 13. At the Avalon Theater, the film will be introduced by special guests Nancy Escher and Dominic Taylor, local members of the Trumbo family, and Larry Ceplair, author of the book on which the film is based. The event was put together by Trumbo family members and The Legends of the Grand Valley, a group originally named “The Dalton Gang” that was responsible for
commissioning a sculpture
honoring the famed screenwriter in 2007 and since has installed historic sculptures throughout downtown Grand Junction. Infotainment has power Packed with popular actors and actresses including Bryan Cranston, Hellen Mirren, Diane Lane, and John Goodman, the movie is sure to draw large audiences to be entertained but also informed about the dark side of U.S. government activities and their impacts. Both Niki and Mitzi hope theater-goers will come away with a greater understanding of that period of American history, free speech and other issues raised by the film. “I hope that people who watch this film learn to think independently and to stand up for their rights and the rights of others,” added Niki. “I hope they can link the anti-communist hysteria of the ‘50s and ‘60s to current political issues like Black Lives Matter and Latino immigration issues and learn to respect and listen to divergent voices like Edward Snowden and other whistleblowers.” Mitzi said that while her parents’ story is a compelling example of what happened, she regrets “that the stories of all the others who suffered can’t be told as well. There were hundreds who lost their livelihoods, careers, marriages, even their lives during this repressive period.” She shared a quote from her father from a partial transcript of a 1959 interview: “The power of the government to assert that it can control the minds of a
man, the writings of a man, his thoughts, his beliefs, his affiliations...it’s power, and that’s the evil…the real problem all over the world, here, there and everywhere, is this immoral assertion of power over the most private thoughts of men, and the assertion by government that it has the power to compel men to tell, to recant, to disgrace themselves, to swear they were idiots, to revoke their past and to spit on their work - this is what government wants in greater or less degree all over the world, and this is what nobody - nobody - can do.” Mitzi recommends the 2007 documentary by Peter Askin, also called “Trumbo", as a great resource for seeing actual events in her father’s life. Her favorite scene in the new narrative film is her father’s testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee, because “it was what really happened, and I find it very powerful. The consequences of those hearings should always remind us of how fragile our freedoms are, and how vigilant we must continue to be to protect them, now and in the future,” she said. Niki, who along with her partner Karen Fite shared ideas and critiques with screenwriter John McNamara as he worked on the script, has many favorite scenes and commented that both McNamara and Cranston, who had the role of Dalton Trumbo, did amazing jobs. “One reviewer somewhere said that his performance was a bit over the top and I wanted to write the reviewer and say. ‘No, Bryan's acting was perfect - that WAS my father,’” she said.
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POWER OF THE PEN, POWER TO THE PEOPLE From pg 1
The Trumbo siblings at the unveiling of the Dalton Trumbo sculpture, above, in Grand Junction in 2007. At left, siblings Niki Trumbo, Mitzi Trum-bo, Christopher Trumbo. Chris passed away in 2011. Courtesy photo by Katherine Lopez.
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 8
For her, one of the most powerful scenes is when Trumbo is being inducted into prison. The sight of him naked and being told by a guard to open his mouth is such a shock when we are used to seeing him invincible, dapper and almost unassailable, she explained. The strength of family In addition to what is shown in the movie, the family shared in many hardships due to prejudice and fear generated by the committee’s accusations. “My father was attacked and beat up at the front steps of the house late one evening, I was publicly humiliated by a history teacher who I had thought was sympathetic, my brother was thrown into a furnace by other children, my sister was also singled out at her school, we lived with the threat of wire-tapped rooms both at home and when visiting friends, and with the ongoing threat of FBI surveillance, and we carried many secrets we had to hold on to,” Niki recalled. She and her sister and brother appear in the film many times, performed by several actors since it covered 13 years of their lives as growing children, “but it is Trumbo's relationship with Niki that serves to illustrate Trumbo's single-minded focus on his work and on breaking the blacklist. Niki is portrayed throughout the film as being like him – political and outspoken. I was like that and had many arguments with him during my adolescence while, not surprisingly, at the same time I felt very close to him,” she said. The sisters agreed that their father was a great, loving presence in their lives, though he was very passionate about his work and left family matters mostly to his wife, Cleo. They also concurred that the blacklisting and prison experience directed even more of his energy to his work, standing up for his beliefs and earning an income to survive. Their parents talked to them about what was happening, and explained why they had to be secretive about her father’s work when he was writing under a pseudonym. “We were well informed, and
I think that is why we were able to handle it as well as we did,” Niki said. The experience, though difficult, made them a stronger, closer family. Mitzi revealed, “I have no regrets, and enormous respect for the hard decisions that my father and mother had to make during those years. I wouldn’t want it to have been any other way. I am enormously proud of them and their decisions. I only wish they were here to see the accolades.” Niki added, “It’s a wonderful gift that this film has been made about my father. To us he was always a hero, but to much of the rest of the country he was a traitor. Things have now come full circle and he can become known to the rest of the country as the hero he truly was. It is important to me to have him seen as a model of courage that others can aspire to, because this film portrays him so well as one human being with flaws and strengths who stood up for his beliefs.” A strong foundation Both women grew up in California, except for a couple years spent in Mexico after Trumbo was released from prison. Though their father spoke about Grand Junction and his two years at the University of Colorado in Boulder, his children never made it to Grand Junction until recent years during his sculpture unveiling and other events celebrating and remembering him. Niki, a CU graduate, said she loved wandering around the town and seeing places where her father must have gone. Mitzi remembered emotional moments during her first visit in 2004, “stepping off the airplane, taking a long moment to breathe in the the clean, crisp air, seeing for the first time the beautiful Grand Mesa that my father had so often described, and stopping in my tracks, thinking of my father’s deep connection to this town,” she said. She believes Grand Junction formed her father’s his independent spirit, as well as his love of freedom and open spaces. “He often talked about his heritage – his grandparents, his beloved aunts, his
father’s garden, his paper route. Grand Junction meant a great deal to him. His experience at Grand Junction High School made him encourage all three of us kids to join debate teams in high school, which he said was the most valuable skill he had ever learned,” she recalled. She visited again in 2007 to celebrate the unveiling of her father’s sculpture in front of the Avalon Theater and the republishing of her father’s first novel, “Eclipse”, which is about a town called “Shale City” that is very much like Grand Junction. She revealed that on this second visit, “I drove back to the theater at dawn the next morning before I left town, to see the sculpture one more time and to put a flower in the cup my father was holding. It was hard leaving him alone there in the cold, but I knew it was the perfect place for him to be.” Trumbo (124 min., Rated R) at the Avalon Theater in Grand Junction on Friday, Nov. 13 For tickets and information on the special showing, go to www.MonumentalEvents.com or call 970-812-1292.
Trumbo’s first novel “Eclipse,” which is about a town called “Shale City” that resembles Grand Junction. Courtesy photo.
POWER OF THE PEN, POWER TO THE PEOPLE From pg 7
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OTHER FILMS SHOWING LOCALLY THIS WEEK...
Compiled by Tanya Ishikawa
“Jumbo Wild” Thursday, November 12, Sherbino Theater, Ridgway (Doors open at 7 p.m./movie starts at 7:30 p.m./ $5 admission)
The ski film, Jumbo Wild, is a ski film, but also highlights development issues in the Purcell Mountains of British Columbia. The film
mixes breath-taking scenery with the story of the decades-long fight by First Nations, conservationists, backcountry skiers and
snowboarders against a proposed large-scale ski resort. More info: www.sherbinotheater.com
“This Changes Everything”, 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14, Sherbino Theater, Ridgway (donation requested)
Co-presented by Transition Ourway, this documentary is an epic attempt to re-imagine the vast challenge of climate change. In-
spired by Naomi Klein’s international non-fiction bestseller, it was filmed over 211 shoot days in nine countries and five continents
over four years. More info: www.sherbinotheater.com
Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour, 7 p.m., Friday & Saturday, Nov. 13 & 14, Montrose Pavilion, Montrose (free, plus a limited num-
ber of reserved VIP seats for $20)
Presented by local nonprofits Community Options and Uncompahgre Valley Association, 12 film shorts will show on Nov. 13, and
film short “Denali” and the full-length documentary “Unbranded” will show on Nov. 14. More info: www.mountainfilm.org
The Great Divide, 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, Delta Center for the Performing Arts, Delta (free)
The Conservation Center in partnership with the Colorado River District and the Delta Conservation District offer this film illus-
trating the timeless connection between people and water, as it reveals today's critical need to cross "the great divide" and re-
place conflict with cooperation. More info: www.deltacd.net/events
5th Annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, Saturday, Nov. 14, Paradise Theater, Paonia ($15 in advance; $20 the day of)
Explore films that hula-hoop on mountaintops, visit the Colorado River Delta, soak in firefly-filled nights, and explore Western
lands so vast and inspiring that they'll take our breath away. More info: www.theconservationcenter.org.
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COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS… ARTS AND CULTURE
Special to Art & Sol REGIONAL-In honor of Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, Nov. 19, HopeWest is encouraging community mem-bers across western Colorado to wear blue to demonstrate support for children and teens who have lost someone they love. “Children’s Grief Awareness Day is focused on bringing to mind the children all around us who have experienced the death of a loved one - children who typically feel very alone in the journey of grief they travel,” said Cathy DiPaola, Director of HopeWest Kids, a child and teen grief support program at HopeWest. The day is an opportunity to let grieving children know that they’re not forgotten in the midst of their grief. According to ChildrensGriefAwarenessDay.com, there are more grieving children than most realize—one out of 20 children will experience the death of a parent before graduating from high school, while one out of every -five children will face the death of someone close to them. Many people don’t realize it takes most children much longer to deal with their grief than com-munity members expect, and that the amount of inner turmoil, invisible to most, is much more intense than what would be expected. Below is a list of things community members should know about grief in order to better understand and support grieving children and teens in the community: Grief is a natural and normal response to death. Every person’s grief is unique. Grief is not a disease. Grief is a lifelong process that changes with time. Children grieve differently than adults. Children of different ages grieve differently. Many adults who had lost a parent when they were young de-scribe the death as the defining moment of their lives. Grieving children and adults need support. We grieve because we love. Grieving children and adults don’t “just get over it” but they can learn to integrate the death (the absence of the one they love) into their lives. HopeWest is raising awareness in order to help people learn ways they might help a grieving child they happen to know, now or in the future. For more resources on how to help a grieving child please contact HopeWest Kids at (970) 254-5377 or visit HopeWestCO.org.
National Children’s Grief Awareness Day
Highlights Need to Support Grieving Youth
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In the recent past there have been discus-
sions on both opera and the art of listen-ing. We will now bring both of these to-gether and the reader will be provided with information on where to hear opera and where to watch a live HD perfor-mance in a local theatre. The opportunity to see world class opera is at a minimum 240 miles away. In our community we may not have access to live performances but we do have access to the radio and from the radio comes weekly performances from one of the world’s greatest opera houses, the Metro-politan Opera in New York City. Beginning on Saturday Dec. 5, 2015, locals who are interested may tune into CPR 103.3FM to hear live broadcasts of matinee perfor-mances from the Met. This season, the listener is afforded the opportunity to hear some of the classics from the opera repertoire. Many of these performances will be an excellent oppor-tunity to introduce oneself to the world of opera with works that are not too lengthy
and not too abstract. The added bonus with these radio broadcasts is that you are able to hear the production as it is hap-pening with the applause of audience in the background and the element of the unknown that comes with a live produc-tion. As a listener, you will greatly benefit from the commentary provided prior to each broadcast, between acts, during in-termissions, and at the conclusion of the performance. This commentary provides interesting background on the story, the composer, and the performers who are on stage for that performance. In addition, there are special intermission features such as interviews with the performers, and my personal favorite, the Met Opera quiz and/or discussion roundtable. These intermission features are not only highly entertaining but they offer the listener an easy and quick way to learn more about the world of opera. In any given opera, there are highlights that can and should be listened to on their own. These highlights are often the over-
ture or an aria, duet, trio, or quartet that occurs within the opera. As we have dis-cussed before, the chorus often offers the listener moments that are highly emotion-al and work as stand alone pieces of mu-sic. With this said, listening to an opera straight through from beginning to end is very important and offers the listener a broad view of the specific opera as well as the genre as a whole. Most often the lis-tening commitment is less than three hours. Be warned, some operas by Rich-ard Wagner will go well past the five-hour mark. Not for amateurs and not recom-mended as a first listening experience. The Saturday broadcasts on 103.3FM are simply highly recommended and can be-come something to look forward to each week and year after year. Included are two links, one for the radio broadcast schedule, and one for the LIVE in HD per-formances at the Michael D. Palm Theatre in Telluride, Colorado. http://www.metopera.org/Season/Radio/Saturday-Matinee-Broadcasts/ http://telluridepalm.com
OPERA, THE ART OF LISTENING, AND WHERE TO HEAR IT LIVE!
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ASCENDING GIANTS TAKE OVER MONTROSE! From pg 1
since played live shows at the Mont-rose Summer Music Series at Black Canyon Golf Course, Horsefly Brewing Company, Ridgway Area Trails (RAT) Festival and Oktoberfest in Montrose along with a couple private parties. They are packing a punch with their first album hitting the web after only being a band since late April 2015. They are steam-rolling ahead for mini Colorado tours and offer fan gear and a fully-functioning and interactive website. On their site, fans can read member bios and the band bio, listen to their music, view pictures, watch live videos and support the band by buying their album. AG gains influence from many bands and genres including: The Dave Mathews Band, Phish, Incubus, The Eagles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dash-board Confessional and Brand New, according to one of their lead singer songwriters, Heath Jensen, and their drummer, Daniel Ray. With a broad array of influences, they land in a unique category; the audience finds deep jams, funk beats, classic-guitar riffs, catchy lyrics, upbeat organ and piano solos and striking drum rhythms
and solos. The aggressive and funky bass, and a percussive section incor-porating jazz and rock, create a full and fun listening experience for the audience. As soon as the first notes are played, people are hooked. The versatility of the band makes them able to entertain large audienc-es or serenade small venues; they en-capsulate modern rock for young peo-ple and classic rock for those of us stuck in the 70’s. They offer something for everyone who feels the need to hear a band in which every song doesn’t sound the same. Their focus is playing all original music and per-fecting live shows; with a full three hours of originals, they are perfect for the job. Their live music is just as good as the recorded versions, a rarity in America’s high maintenance, pop-centered, and auto-tuning music sce-ne. Heath Jensen and Randy Arndt on lead vocals and guitar, Josh Fabian on Bass, Shawn Cooper on Keys and vo-cals and Daniel Ray on drums make up the Ascending Giants. The members all have a unique musical background and experience, with many of them having been in multiple bands prior to this one. Their future goal is to create an inde-pendent label, and they have the ex-perience for it. Josh Fabian, the bass, is the owner and creator of Dynamic Integration in Montrose CO. Daniel Burris, the percussion, is Project Man-agement Certified and soon to have his BS in Marketing Management. Randy Arndt, the soulful guitarist and lead singer, owns and manages real
estate, along with his day job, in Montrose. Randy owned and operated a recording studio in Montana for many years and he has been playing and recording music for close to 25 years, which makes him entirely quali-fied and ready to handle all of the re-cording and mixing of their albums, saving the band money and giving them full control over their recorded sound. They run the band in a 360 de-gree management structure with eve-ryone’s input as equal as the next, ac-cording to Daniel. This group is dy-namically set up to act as an Indie Band, recording their own albums and handling their own marketing and booking. Ascending Giants will be playing their next show on Friday November 13 at RnR Sportsbar starting at 9 p.m. with opener South Sixth Street Collabora-tion starting at eight that evening. This gives out of towners a chance to hear them and locals a chance to show off Montrose’s blossoming music scene to their visiting families. AG is currently releasing tracks on various platforms such as Sound Cloud, Reverb Nation, and Band Camp. Listeners can stream their tracks and choose to buy the al-bum for $5 on the website, ascending-giants.com. You can also catch videos of them performing live on YouTube and keep up with the fast paced band on their Facebook page where they post up-dates about the website, album re-lease, and upcoming shows. It’s no mystery that these guys are going to climb mountains, let’s just try to keep up!
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REGIONAL CRAFT SHOWS OFFER
HANDMADE GIFTS FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS, SELF
By Caitlin Switzer REGIONAL-It came to light in a basement 41 years ago, and ever since, Montrose’s Basement Boutique Craft Show has been bringing locals together with beautiful, handcrafted Holiday gifts chosen through a juried selection process. Whether you are seeking stoneware pottery, jewelry, quilts, hats, scarves or handcrafted jams and jellies, you’ll find them here. You’ll also find balsamic vinegars, hand sewn and crocheted items, glass ornaments, baskets, fine woodwork, beeswax can-dles and tole painting. Handmade soaps and salsa also make creative, local gifts.
“I truly think this is one of the classiest shows in West-ern Colorado,” Cedar Mesa potter Lori Sullivan said, “and because it is a juried, everything is handcrafted and of high quality. I feel that buying a gift at a high-quality craft show is nicer than something impersonal from a big box store. We have a central cash register so you can pick up at any table, and everything is wrapped in tissue paper on
the way out. “We will be there smiling at you, because we are very grateful!” she said.
This year’s Basement Boutique will fea-ture the work of more than 25 local arti-sans, be held at the Montrose Pavilion just after Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27-28. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Basement Boutique was formed in 1974. by a group of artisans who originally held the show in one of the member's basements. When they outgrew that space they eventually moved the show to the Montrose Pavilion, but the name "Basement Boutique" stuck. For those who want to get an early start, Ouray County Fairgrounds will host Hand-
made for the Holidays, a “pop-up Holiday Shop” on Nov. 21. Among the organiza-tions participating is Weehawken Creative Arts, Weehawken Director Ashley King said.
“Head on over to the Ouray County Non-Profits' Holiday Bazaar on No-vember 21st from 10 am until 3 pm and check out the amazing table of goods available from Weehawken!” King said. Weehawken will bring more than 80 items that have been donated by artists and craftsmen available for pur-chase. “This table acts as a benefit for Weehawken Creative Arts,” King said. “Many other organizations will be pre-sent as well -- including Second Chance Humane Society, which will be offering Photos with Santa for your Pets! “Weehawken will also be offering a craft table where participants will be painting and embellishing wooden ornaments which will then be given to the Ouray Community Christmas tree,” she said. “Come create with us and help beautify the community tree.” Handmade for the Holidays takes place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ouray County 4H Events Center.
Vendor Kathie Johnson at the 2014 Basement Boutique Craft Show. Johnson sells handmade beeswax candles of all kinds and other gift items. Mirror file photo.
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 15
COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS...ARTS AND CULTURE
FINAL SHERB SUNDAY CINEMA TO FEATURE THE FILM, “MUSCLE SHOALS”
Special to Art & Sol RIDGWAY-Nov. 22nd will mark the last Sherb Sunday Cinema and will feature “Muscle Shoals.” In collaboration with CBFF Sherb Sunday Cinema has featured a variety of high quality films over the past year. What a great way to end the series with a film like “Muscle Shoals.” Beer, wine, and movie snacks will be available for purchase through the film. Doors and cash bar are at 7 pm with $7. About the film: Located alongside the Tennessee River, Muscle Shoals, Alabama has helped create some of the most im-portant and resonant songs of all time. Overcoming crushing poverty and staggering tragedies, Rick Hall brought black and white together to create music for the generations. He is responsible for creating the “Muscle Shoals sound” and The Swampers, the house band at FAME Studios that eventually left to start its own successful studio known as Muscle Shoals Sound. Gregg Allman and others bear witness to Muscle Shoals’ magnetism, mystery and why it remains influential today.
FREE COLORADO OUTDOORS SUBSCRIPTION WITH
ONLINE PURCHASE OF ANNUAL STATE PARKS PASS OR GIFT CERTIFICATE’
Special to Art & Sol DENVER - Get a jump on the holidays and relax by providing loved ones with the gift of access to 42 state parks that can be enjoyed year round. As a bonus, you’ll get a year’s subscription to Colorado Out-doors magazine, the official publication of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the only magazine dedicated to Colorado’s wildlife and conservation. CPW's 2015 holiday incentive of a free Colorado Outdoors subscription with online purchase of an annual parks pass or $70 gift certificate, is underway now through Dec. 24. The holidays are a busy time for every-one, purchasing online has lots of time-saving benefits. This holiday incentive is sure to be appreciated throughout the year by friends and family as they connect and enjoy the outdoors, said CPW Spokesman, Matt Robbins. CPW offers family-friendly activities, fun-filled adventures and opportunities to learn and try new things at state parks. Check out all there is to do at http://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Calendar.aspx. Colorado Outdoors magazine at http://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/ColoradoOutdoors.aspx. Check out http://cpw.state.co.us/Pages/Holiday.aspx to review all the holiday options. Purchases can be made online today at http://wildlifestore.state.co.us or by calling 1-800-417-8986.
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 16
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 17
BENEATH BLUE MESA:
THE GUNNISON RIVER BEFORE THE BLUE MESA RESERVOIR
COMMUNITY NEWS BRIEFS...ARTS AND CULTURE
Special to Art & Sol MONTROSE-A slide show by David Primus of the Gunnison River Valley before Blue Mesa Reservoir was completed in 1965 will be shown at 7 p.m. Nov. 18 at First United Methodist Church in Montrose. You will see fishing resorts; ranches, towns, and the narrow gauge railroad that now lie beneath the reservoir as remem-
bered by local residents. Primus has lived in Gunnison since 1978. As a third genera-tion Coloradoan, he has researched the history of the American West throughout his life. He is the chairperson of the Gun-nison County Historic Preservation Com-mission and on the board of the Denver, South Park, and Pacific Historical Society. Free to the Public.
Photos Courtesy Delta County Museum, above, “Three Rivers.” Photo at right courtesy of Denver Public Library Western History Collection, Primus presentation photo.
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 18
Hold the Date! Upcoming Cultural Events
ONGOING- THE OURAY COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM has begun fall hours. The museum will be open to the public Thursday through Satur-day until Saturday, Nov. 14. Following Nov. 14, the museum will be closed for the season and will reopen in April, 2016. Hours are 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Admission, $6 per adult, $1 for children ages 6-12, free for children under 6. The museum is located at 420 Sixth Avenue in Ouray. For more information, call (970) 325-4576. THE ALPINE PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB meets every second Tuesday at St Mary's Catholic Church in the St Paul Room, 1855 St Mary’s Drive, Montrose. The Public is welcome to attend. For more information, email [email protected]. FREE JAM SESSION AND SING ALONG, Mondays from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Montrose Pavilion Senior Center. MONTROSE FARMERS MARKET– Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 33 South Cascade FIRST FRIDAY STROLLS MONTROSE DOWNTOWN —Monthly from 5:30 p.m.-8p.m. Artist Demonstrations, Free Wine Tastings, and in-store promotional events! MONTROSE HISTORICAL MUSEUM-“Montrose County Historical Society Presents” is held at 7 pm on the first Wednesday of each month in the Pioneer Room of Friendship Hall, 1001 N. 2nd St. The public is invited to free programs based on topics of regional history. For more information please call 249-2085. MONTROSE STAMP (PHILATELIC) CLUB meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 420 Alta Lakes Dr. from 7-8pm. For Be-ginners to Pros! Please contact Brenda Moureaux at 970-765-6948 for more information. TAIZE-STYLE SERVICES OF MUSIC, PRAYER AND MEDITATION on Scripture are offered on the first Thursday of the month, except June, July and August, at 7 p.m. in the Sanctuary. All are welcome. Montrose United Methodist Church. MONTHLY- Nov. 10:--Centennial Middle School's 20th annual assembly starts at 9:00 a.m. in the Centennial Middle School Gym (1105 South 5th Street). Honoring all who served in times of war – in times of peace. The guest speaker is Chief Paul Jocelyn, US Na-vy. Performances by the Centennial Middle School choir and band, and a flag presenting ceremony by the Montrose Navel Jr. ROTC. Nov. 10-Montrose Library Tech petting Zoo for Children and Families, 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Children’s Room. Nov. 10-Community Tap Night at Horsefly Brewing Co., 6 to 9 p.m. Benefit for Community Heart & Hands Foundation. Nov. 11: Montrose High School's Veteran’s Day assembly starts at 9:50 a.m. in the Lloyd McMillan Gym (600 South Selig Ave-nue). The guest speaker is Gary R Gratton. Gary is a Vietnam War Veteran and is currently the Commander of the Disabled Ameri-can Veterans and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Montrose High School band and choir are performing American the Beautiful. At the end of the assembly the band is performing the Armed Force Salute. Nov. 11: --Olathe Middle/High School's assembly starts at 9 a.m. in the Olathe Middle School Gym (410 Highway 50). With Re-spect, Honor and Gratitude, Thank you Veterans. The guest speaker is U.S. Navy Commander Steve Stevenson. The Olathe High School band is performing the Star Spangled Banner, The Legacy of Heroes and Star & Stripes. The Olathe High School choir will perform In Flanders Field. At the end of the assembly the band is performing the Armed Forces March. Nov. 13-14-Telluride Mountain Film on Tour at the Montriose Pavilion, presented by Uncompahgre Valley Association and Commu-nity Options. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show begins at 6:30 p.m. Free admission; Donations gratefully accepted. Nov. 13-15-"Mary Poppins" brings to the Magic Circle Theatre stage the magic and music of the Walt Disney film that is based on the stories of P. L. Travers. Ticket information: 249-7838, or online at www.magiccircleplayers.com or visit the box office at 420 S. 12th St., Montrose, Tuesdays through Thursdays, 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows are 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinee is 2 p.m. Nov. 13-Bunco Madness! Holiday Inn Express, 6 to 9:30 p.m. Benefit for Innovation After School. Call 249-9639 for info, tickets are $20. Nov. 14-from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be the United Methodist Women’s Down Home Country Craft Bazaar! This event will be all over the building on 19. S Park Ave. Nov. 14-Songwriter Series at Lark and Sparrow, 511 East Main, with singer/songwriter Gabrielle Louise. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. 870-615-7277 or www.thelarknsparrow.com. Nov. 15-will be a special day for families — Ouray County Performing Arts Guild presents the 3rd of a series of events for young families and funded through a grant from the Telluride Foundation. “Objectivity” : A unique mix of dance, theater and object ma-nipulation——transforming the stage into a magical world of motion. Our human experience is intertwined with the objects around us. Movement artists Jennifer Aiken and Peter Davison reveal shared aspects of life through virtuosic interactions with objects, and each other. “Objectivity" combines classical and contemporary dance with elements of vaudeville, pantomime, and spoken word in a performance that is engaging for all ages. The afternoon begins at 2:00 at the Ridgway Secondary School gym and there is no ad-mission charge, although donations will be gratefully received. For more information see www.ocpag.org or call 970-626-2970. Nov. 20-22-"Mary Poppins" brings to the Magic Circle Theatre stage the magic and music of the Walt Disney film that is based on the stories of P. L. Travers. Ticket information: 249-7838, or online at www.magiccircleplayers.com or visit the box office at 420 S. 12th St., Montrose, Tuesdays through Thursdays, 2 to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday shows are 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinee is 2 p.m. Nov. 21-San Juan Weavers Guild 38th Annual Show and Sale, Holiday Inn Express Montrose. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, and the public is cordially invited. For information, call (970) 249-2981 or e-mail [email protected].
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 19
Art & Sol | November 9, 2015 Page 20
Contact Art & Sol@ Mirror Publishing Group
Post Office Box 3244 Montrose, CO 81402
970-275-0646
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Fall color in Montrose on a cold day.