April 26, 2007 Columns » IQ

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State of the arts 

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State of the arts

The huge influx of people and money into Colorado over the past two decades hasn't translated into a boom in the arts. The typical Coloradan is far more into skiing than theater, the Broncos more than Bach and mountain biking more than museums.

click to enlarge Jay Woodard - Broadmoor area Assistant high school principal - Characterize the arts in Colorado. I wouldn't - say they're exactly thriving or have widespread funding - support, but there's a few cultural havens like Colorado - College and the Fine Arts Center. - - Which mode of art do you prefer? Music, - especially dance music. Theater is close behind, and I - regularly attend art openings. - - Which art genre do you wish would take off locally? - Theater. I enjoy the intimate connection during - live performance between actors and audience. - - If you could turn pro, which art form would you do it - in? I'd love to be a novelist. I can write basic reports - and such, but I'm not a storyteller. I like language; I like - story.
  • Jay Woodard
    Broadmoor area
    Assistant high school principal

    Characterize the arts in Colorado. I wouldn't say they're exactly thriving or have widespread funding support, but there's a few cultural havens like Colorado College and the Fine Arts Center.

    Which mode of art do you prefer? Music, especially dance music. Theater is close behind, and I regularly attend art openings.

    Which art genre do you wish would take off locally? Theater. I enjoy the intimate connection during live performance between actors and audience.

    If you could turn pro, which art form would you do it in? I'd love to be a novelist. I can write basic reports and such, but I'm not a storyteller. I like language; I like story.

click to enlarge Vicky Gregor - Manitou Springs Radio station music director and DJ - Assess the state of the arts in Colorado. It's - easy, sometimes, to get discouraged about it, but I feel - hope when I look around and see what people are trying - to do on the music front, what we're trying to do at - [KRCC 91.5 FM], and what bands are trying to form. Plus, - I keep meeting wonderful people attached to galleries - like Rubbish and Smokebrush. - - Which of the arts would you most like to see take off - locally? I love them all. I have actor friends and - artist friends, but my heart lies most with music. In a city - this size, there's no reason why great bands shouldn't be - popping up everywhere. It's like there's some sort of - conservative force holding things back. - - Which of the arts would you choose to excel in? It's my ongoing fantasy to strap on a Telecaster and - rock out like Patti Smith or Chrissie Hynde.
  • Vicky Gregor
    Manitou Springs
    Radio station music director and DJ

    Assess the state of the arts in Colorado. It's easy, sometimes, to get discouraged about it, but I feel hope when I look around and see what people are trying to do on the music front, what we're trying to do at [KRCC 91.5 FM], and what bands are trying to form. Plus, I keep meeting wonderful people attached to galleries like Rubbish and Smokebrush.

    Which of the arts would you most like to see take off locally? I love them all. I have actor friends and artist friends, but my heart lies most with music. In a city this size, there's no reason why great bands shouldn't be popping up everywhere. It's like there's some sort of conservative force holding things back.

    Which of the arts would you choose to excel in? It's my ongoing fantasy to strap on a Telecaster and rock out like Patti Smith or Chrissie Hynde.

click to enlarge Amy Hasenbein - Cheyenne Mountain area Gardener and sales - Describe the state of the arts in Colorado. - Average. They're alive and well in urban pockets, but - pretty nonexistent otherwise. It's improving in baby - steps, though, like in the Women's Play Festival in - Manitou last weekend. - - Which genre is most thriving locally? Theater, - although fine art is taking off, and I think music would, - too, if it had the venues. I'd sure love to see that because - it's getting daunting at age 32 to drive back and forth to - Denver for my musical tastes. - - Which art form do you wish you excelled in? - Painting. More than any other kind of art, that's a - God-given talent you either have or you don't, and I - don't.
  • Amy Hasenbein
    Cheyenne Mountain area
    Gardener and sales

    Describe the state of the arts in Colorado. Average. They're alive and well in urban pockets, but pretty nonexistent otherwise. It's improving in baby steps, though, like in the Women's Play Festival in Manitou last weekend.

    Which genre is most thriving locally? Theater, although fine art is taking off, and I think music would, too, if it had the venues. I'd sure love to see that because it's getting daunting at age 32 to drive back and forth to Denver for my musical tastes.

    Which art form do you wish you excelled in? Painting. More than any other kind of art, that's a God-given talent you either have or you don't, and I don't.

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