This week's inbox was quite the cultural cache. Here's some news from the scene, starting with activities for today and ending with plans for the upcoming weeks:
• Manitou Springs artist David Gonzales (who we know from his Manitou Springs Public library painting and his holiday window paintings) sent out a video of his "earth friendly wood carving," a really remarkable undertaking in which Gonzales uses chainsaws, dremmels and eco-friendly paint and sealants to form animals out of tree trunks. Trust me, they're so not your average chainsaw bears.
You can also see Gonzales' paintings from 5 to 8 tonight at the opening of Wood, Paint, Clay — See How They Mix! at Commonwheel Artists Co-op.
• Next weekend, local artists Trevor Thomas (who is working with Eric Bransby on the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center's 75th anniversary mural) and Jeff Kouri will hold a "figurative drawing marathon" consisting of two, six-hour days of live model drawings. Held at Colorado College's Packard Hall from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, models will pose for long and short sessions, as well as portraiture sittings.
Contact Thomas or Kouri to reserve a space (costs are $12 for one day, $20 for both) and bring a lunch and your art materials of choice.
Click the poster below for more information:
• Finally, the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region (COPPeR) will launch ARTofficials, a program to boost arts criticism in the region. Officials will receive free tickets to events around town and post their reviews on PeakRadar.com.
To kick it off, COPPeR will host a panel discussion on what makes an art critic and how we can all think critically about the arts. That happens Tuesday, Nov. 1 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center's Deco Lounge. Panelists include local critic and writer Mark Arnest; Adam Lerner, director at Museum of Contemporary Art Denver; and Elissa Auther, associate professor of contemporary art at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. (Note: Auther is a former professor of mine.)
Those interested in going should RSVP to christina@coppercolo.org or 634-2204.