Blog page for events, exhibits and newsletter for southern Colorado - San Luis Valley Museum Association

Honorable Carlos F. Lucero award recipient

11/11/2019

Native-born Honorable Carlos F. Lucero was honored by Adams State University as the recipient of the Billy Adams Award during this year's Homecoming!

The Hon. Carlos F. Lucero, circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, was the 49th recipient of the Billy Adams Award, which recognizes those who exhibit dedication to education shown by the University’s founder and namesake.

“I’ve been privileged to have a good life. It all started with education for me,” said Lucero, who grew up in Antonito with his parents, Margaret and Antonio Lucero, and five siblings.

Read the complete article on the Valley Courier website.

#carloslucero #antonitocolorado #billyadams #adamsstateuniversity

Rio Grande Museum November Newsletter

10/29/2019

November, 2019
Rio Grande County Museum will be hosting “HOLIDAY AT THE MUSEUM” with an opening reception on November 16, 2019 from 10am - 4pm. Several artists will be featured for this holiday event. The art show will run through December 21 with special Friday and Saturday refreshments and opportunities to spend some time in the Museum, do some shopping in the gift shop, with the artists and have a chance to see the Museum. It will make a great time to visit to Del Norte to check out the restaurants and gift shops in town as well as spending some time in Monte Vista with their “Christmas Vacation” events and seeing what they have available. South Fork also has some great holiday events coming up as well. Remember Del Norte’s Parade of Lights and Merchants’ Open House on the first Friday of December. Also, on November 16th, stop by the Monte Vista Fire Department for their appreciation chili dinner from 4pm - 7pm.

The artists who will be showing during the Holiday at the Museum are well known San Luis Valley artists. The following are brief biographies of our artists.

Nancy Harris is a mixed media artist from Alamosa. She has a Masters Degree in art history from UC in Santa Barbara, California. She teaches workshop in collage and mixed media. Harris has shown her work in Colorado and New Mexico. Her unique talent is shown in each piece as she makes it a one of a kind. She will be showing her greeting cards as well as framed pieces.

Darwin Thompson will be the only artist showing whose work will not be for sale. He majored in art and taught at all levels in public schools. He owned Design Built Construction Company for 30 years and worked in the San Luis Valley as a general contractor. He enjoys drawing, painting, wood carving and wood working. He has devoted the past ten years to carving mountain men, trappers and Native Americans, not to mention animals, birds and Santas. His display will consist of Santa carvings in both traditional and old world style carved in basswood and painted with acrylics.

Cathy Morin is an award winning glass artist. She has worked in both stained glass and fused glass for over 15 years. Fused or hot glass has evolved over the years from slumping glass into molds to a variety of diverse and innovative methods to create glass art.

Craig Lehmann worked in metal in various forms. He does abstract sculptures by welding metal and bronze castings. He studied biology, archaeology and sculpture and art at Adams State College, now University. He manages Lehman studios and Craig Lehmann Sculpture Studios. He shows in various local art galleries.

Laura Lunsford has always dabbled in the arts, from painting to pottery. By the age of 12, she was designing and sewing her own clothes. In 1994 an article in “Soft Dolls and Animal” featured a doll covered with silk ribbon embroidery with no instructions. At that time, Lunsford was teaching at Michaels and after a few attempts, she figured it out. As skills improved she began submitting ideas to the magazine and she was enlisted to be on the Editorial Advisory Board. Her career in the magazine world was launched and a new magazine called “Just Steampunk was established. She makes dolls, writes for magazines and conducts classes and workshop. Her favorite shirt states “I Still Play With Dolls”. Two of her dolls Pirate Jack and Rosalee were featured on November 2016 cover of SD &A and have been re-created to take part in this particular show.

Mary Susan Eldredge studied art at the University of Minnesota under several great artist teachers. Now, living in the high mountains, she enjoys making landscapes, insects and flowers part of her art work. Her painting style of bold colors and shapes works for her stained glass designs.

Marian Schlagbaum has an eclectic style of art work. She is now doing something with glass with her work. Marian’s free style of art work makes one feel good. High, high heeled shoes are one of her favorite subjects in the various media in which she works. She will also be showing three of the beautiful wooden boxes that her late husband, Roger, did and for which he was known.

John Patterson metal sculpture

John Patterson is known for his sculptures made from farm equipment pieces. Imagination is the key to finding what will work to make his creations. He does sculptures ranging from flowers, insects to tractors and more. He can find beauty in the items many throw away. He works as a farmer and draws from his experiences with equipment and a working knowledge of these items.

Albert Kahan is another one of the artists who will be showing. In the past he has done work with his photography with glass cutting boards. He has now ventured into new and different media. Albert’s work is always a pleasure to see and to own.

This will be the final event for the year 2019. However, the calendar of events for 2020 will be just as exciting. Rita and I are working on an exhibit for the celebration of the passage of the 19th Amendment which gave women the right to vote.

We are also working with Chuck Harbert and Morgan Williams on a post card exhibit that will show the work by photographer, William H. Martin on “boosterism” in the San Luis Valley in the early 1900s. This will be one of the postcards in the exhibit.

The Old Spanish Trail will also be featured in an exhibit and the quilt show again for Covered Wagon Days.
Thank you for your continued interest and support of the Rio Grande County Museum.
Louise Colville and Rita Trujillo

Harbert and William postcard exhibit

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Lost Trail Ranch

10/23/2019

"Lost Trail Ranch was established in 1877 as a way station and resupply spot along Stony Pass Road from the San Luis Valley to the mining camps of the San Juan Mountains. Located at an elevation of 9,800 feet along the Rio Grande, the way station served travelers until the early 1880s, when traffic declined after the first railroad reached Silverton. The area became a popular summer cattle pasture site before being developed in the early 1920s as a dude ranch. Since then the property has offered guest lodging and outdoor recreation while continuing to be used for summer livestock grazing.

First built in 1872, Stony Pass Road connected Del Norte to Silverton. It started as a pack trail and was gradually improved into a wagon road. It was the main route from the Front Range to the San Juan Mountains until 1882, when the Denver & Rio Grande Railway reached Silverton."

The Getz family—Wetherill descendants—owned and operated the ranch into the early twenty-first century. They built several new rental cabins close to the Forest Service road, and in 2011 they got the historic section of the property—including the barn and two older cabins—listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the barn at Lost Trail Ranch is the oldest log barn in Hinsdale County. The Getzes still live at the ranch, but in the mid-2010s they sold the rental cabin business to a new owner.

Read more about history of the Lost Trail, Lost Trail Station, Stony Pass and the Lost Trail Ranch at Colorado Encyclopedia

Where is the Oldest Town in Colorado?

10/16/2019

As this map shows, before the Mexican-American War southern Colorado was part of Santa Fe de Nuevo México, a territory of Mexico. This included the San Luis Valley. Source: History Colorado

OCT 15, 2017

A History of Settlement in the San Luis Valley

The question has been asked many times: What is the oldest town in Colorado? But history never has a nice, simple answer. Things are always much more complicated than they seem, and usually trying to find an answer just brings up more questions. But that’s fine! That’s part of what history is all about, and what makes it so fascinating and important.

The fact of the matter is that the “oldest town in Colorado” depends on who you ask, and—even more importantly—how you phrase the question. The first problem with this question is: what defines a town? If by “town” you mean “permanent settlement,” then the oldest such place in Colorado is likely one of the many Ancestral Puebloan sites scattered around the state.

“There are sites in Saguache County on the north end of the San Luis Valley that were likely inhabited as far back as the Late Archaic,” said Dr. Nichola Saenz, professor of history at Adams State University. “Ancestral Puebloan sites, like Mesa Verde, in the Four Corners region warrant consideration.”

To read the whole article go to: History Colorado

Creede: The Last Boom Town

10/12/2019

In so many ways, the story of Colorado is the story of mining. And Creede stands as one of the last mining towns of its kind. So many mines and their legacies were abandoned over the years – and nearly lost forever. But a handful of heroes have staked a claim on history by preserving these sites. From mining boom towns to ghost towns – it’s all here. Watch this wonderful story about Creede featuring the backdrop of the Creede Historical Society Museum and the Creede Underground Mining Museum:
(video) Creede: the Last Boom Town produced by Colorado Experience-Rocky Mountain PBS

Nancy Harris Art Exhibit

8/12/2019

Nancy Harris is a mixed media artist from Alamosa who uses paper, paint and found objects to create her original abstract collages.  Harris typically starts with a blank canvas or sheet of watercolor paper and then build up layers of material, such as stained tea bags, acrylic paint and paper. She then used a gel medium for the adhesive.  The resulting collages are colorful, complex, playful and quite beautiful.

What Harris loves about the collage process is the opportunity to work and experiment with both traditional and non-traditional media.  She enjoys the challenge of solving the puzzle that each new piece presents and working out the right arrangement of materials, colors, texture and composition.  Her unique talent is shown in each piece and makes each piece a one of a kind.

Harris has a Masters in Art History from UC Santa Barbara and has taken many art classes, particularly in mixed media collage.  She teaches workshops in collage and mixed media.  Her work has been shown in Colorado and New Mexico.

Harris’ solo art show will open at the Rio Grande County Museum on August 14th with the reception on Saturday, August 17th starting at 1:30pm. For more information, please contact the Rio Grande County Museum at (719)657-2847 or the museum’s Facebook page.

Rio Grande County Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10am through 4pm and Saturday 10am through 3pm except on the day of the reception which are extended to accommodate the guests of the show.

Jack Dempsey 100 years later

7/15/2019

Jack Dempsey's impact on the boxing world is still remembered and felt today 100 years later!

So many articles were written in honor of the 100th anniversary of Jack Dempsey's title win fight. Lots of good reading:

Presentation in Manassa at Jack Dempsey Museum:
https://fightnews.com/wbc-presents-centennial-jack-de…/49290

Round-by-round recap of Dempsey Willard Fight:
https://www.toledoblade.com/…/round-by-…/stories/20190703008

How sportswriters in 1919 described the Dempsey-Willard bout:
https://www.toledoblade.com/…/how-sport…/stories/20190703115

Dempsey vs. Willard: Facts and figures from the historic bout:
https://www.toledoblade.com/…/dempsey-v…/stories/20190630179

Effort to get boxing on on radio (a first):
https://sportstalkflorida.com/feat…/https-wp-me-p81oan-1n0u/

Dempsey Ruled the Ring:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/…/Jack-Dempsey-ruled-ring-1920s…

Jack Sharkey and Jack Dempsey:
https://www.seacoastonline.com/…/olde-epping-nhs-heavyweigh…

Toledo Archives article:
https://mailtribune.com/…/mail…/mail-tribune-100-july-5-1919

Toledo Reenacts Dempsey Fight:
https://www.wtol.com/…/512-11e5d18f-92f6-480a-8288-8d2e86e4…

Dempsey Honored in his Hometown:
https://conejoscountycitizen.com/article/dempsey-honored-in-his-hometown

Manassa Reflects on favorite son - Jack Dempsey
https://pinerivertimes.com/articles/107077-manassa-reflects-on-favorite-son-jack-dempsey

First National Sports Broadcast - Dempsey/Willard Fight
http://presspublications.com/content/first-national-sports-broadcast-toledo%E2%80%99s-dempsey-willard-fight-celebrates-100-years

Results from Toledo, Ohio:
https://fightnews.com/results-from-toledo-ohio/49431

For George Rugg, curating Notre Dame's collection of sports gems has been labor of love
https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/notre-dame/notre-dame-insider/2019/07/09/notre-dames-sports-collection-has-been-lifes-work-curator-george-rugg/1485753001/

Getting off the Canvas:
https://www.news-star.com/news/20190713/getting-off-canvas

Rio Grande County Museum events for July and August

7/3/2019

The calendar of events for July and August at Rio Grande County Museum include a quilt show by the San Luis Valley Quilt Guild, the annual ice cream social with Covered Wagon Days and an art show by San Luis Valley artist, Nancy Harris.

The San Luis Valley Quilt Guild show will open on July 30, 2019 and run through  August 10, 2019.  This will be the Guilds first show in several years and will feature work by all levels of quilters from beginners to artists who have shown their work and winning awards in national shows.  Quilts to be shown will include all sizes of  quilts as well smaller items such as bags and containers.  Ballots will be provided for viewers’ choices.  Cindy Moore, Jeannie Brown, Janet Davis and Janice Watkins are coordinating the event with Rio Grande County Museum.

The annual ice cream social will be on August 3rd after the Covered Wagon Days parade.   It is a time that the public can come and enjoy ice cream, visit with friends and neighbors and tour the museum.  The admission to the museum is waived on Covered Wagon Days, but donations will be accepted.  This is a good opportunity to visit with the staff and volunteers and see what the museum provides with keeping the history of Rio Grande County preserved.

On August 13th an art show with Nancy Harris will start with an opening reception on August 17th.  Nancy’s work has been shown throughout the San Luis Valley and the museum is honored to be able to show her work.  She also instructs classes in art.

For more information, please contact the Rio Grande County Museum at (719)657-2847 or check the museum Facebook page for event information.  The Museum is located at 580 Oak Street in Del Norte.  The Museum regular hours are Tuesday through Friday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. except on special event days.

What does a computer, a piano and a camera have in common?

6/1/2019

From data processing to sound to phonographs to typewriters and calculators, they are forms of communication.  The current exhibit now opening is simply called “Communications”.  It has been arranged in a fashion that these items show how they relate to each other.  It also shows the wide variety of items housed in the museum collection.

Brad Henderson, volunteer who is 16 years old, has had the lead in the assembling and researching the items in the exhibit.  Albert Warren, volunteer, and Louise Colville, Museum director, have assisted in the technical aspect and the arranging of the artifacts.  Many of the items displayed were placed in the exhibit for two purposes, showing the artifact and also having them available to be touched by the visitors.  The items that can be touched will need to have assistance from the museum staff.

An old table top Silverstone record player fills the museum with music of a century ago.  An antique pump organ gives a work out as the music is made.  The almost century and a half square grand piano thrills everyone with the quality of music that it gives.

The stereoscope was the first 3D viewer of its kind.  The person using the viewer can see photos that are printed with two pictures side by side and when looking through the two lenses at the photos, the viewer can get a 3D picture.  This special item is one of the artifacts that can be view with assistance from the museum staff.

A small 1940s typewriter has been used in the school display for several years and each class from the area who visited the museum has had the opportunity to type on it.  Many students have never seen a typewriter of this vintage.

The exhibit will run through July.

For more information, please contact the Rio Grande County Museum at (719)657-2847 or check our Facebook page.  The Museum is located at 580 Oak Street in Del Norte.  The hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 3 pm.

Fort Garland Museum Newsletter - June 1st, 2019

6/1/2019

From Land to Hand: Fiber Arts Festival

22 June Saturday / 9 am - 5 pm
23 June Sunday / 9 am - 1 pm
Join us for two days of all things fiber, from "sheep to shawl." Learn about the tradition of sheep ranching and the new industry of hemp fiber production, and see works by fiber artists of the San Luis Valley. Throughout the day you'll see demonstrations by artists who'll share their skills and their love of the craft, as well as have the opportunity to attend classes to learn technique. At a marketplace, vendors will sell supplies for your own projects and some of the region's most beautiful fiber work. Food carts with a wide selection of cuisine will be on site, along with local musicians playing throughout both days. There will also be a wooly petting zoo, where children can meet the animals that so many fibers come from. It's guaranteed to be a weekend full of all the wonderful things the fiber industry in the San Luis Valley has to offer!

8 June Saturday / 12 pm

New Skills Class: Needle Felted Sheep

Needle felting is a process that entangles fibers to create fabrics and3D objects. In this class, we'll learn to feedle felt a shepe, using only wool and some sharp barbed needle. We'll talk about how to build a solid structure of needle felt, the colors of sheep, and there will be some different breed-specific wools for attendants to use to make a little soft scupture (or an ornament for your Christmas tree) of your favorite breed. Students take home a handmade sheep, a set of felting needles, an a list of resources for further learning. This class is best suited for ages 13 and up.

12 June Wednesday / 6 pm

"Enslavement & Lafayette Head's 1865 Indian Census" with Virginia Sanchez

Please join us for another installment of our Borderlands of Southern Colorado Lecture Series with Virginia Sanchez.

In this talk, Sánchez will discuss the system of legal and illegal trade as a system of survival on the frontier. Legal and illegal trade expeditions created economic opportunities for both cultures. She will introduce some southern Colorado’s traders and their licenses, a recorded trade route from Colorado, and documented trade locations. She will also discuss the types of treatment captive indigenous slaves received as documented by oral histories and historical memories. She introduces Agent Lafayette Head’s 1865 Indian Census, but examines its data from an alternate perspective.

Virginia Sanchez is an independent historian, research, and author, and a member of the Colorado Historical Society, the Colorado Society of Hispanic Genealogy, the Huerfano County Historical Society, and the New Mexico Historical Society. Her work has appeared in journals including Colorado History, the New Mexico Genealogist, and more. In 2008 she was recognized by the Hispanic Annual Salute for her contribution to the Hispanic community in the area of history.

This presentation is sponsored by Colorado State University-Pueblo and the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area.

15 June Saturday / 9 am

New Skills Class: Dying Wool in the Microwave

Acid dyes are used on wool (and all other fibers from animals), silk, and nylon. In this class, we'll learn the basics of using acid dyes, using a microwave to heat-set the dyes. We will completely cover studio safety, choosing and mixing dyes, how to make them wash fast, and how to finish up dyed articles. Everybody will take home samples, written guidelines, and a list of supply sources. Students should wear clothes they don't mind getting dye on, and closed-toed shoes, as well as bring a pair of kitchen-type rubbr gloves. All other minimum safety equipment will be provided. This class is for ages 13 and up (or ages 10 and up with a registered adult.

The Fiber Studio now Open

The Fiber Studio is open for the summer season. Come spin up some lovely threads on our spinning wheels or weave a beautiful scarf on our many looms. For just $10.00 a day you can work on any project you’d like. Spinning wheels and ridged heddle looms are available to rent as well.
Call Kelley at 719-379-3512 for more information.Fort Garland looking for "New Skills" InstructorsDo you have a special skill or talent you would like to share? We are looking for instructors in anything from fiber arts, to flint napping, to cooking and canning - the possibilities are endless! Apply here to teach your class!

Museum Store Spotlight

Photos and Postcards: "With the Spirit of the Wild Horse" by Judy BarnesSee these beautiful photographs and cards in the museum store this month!

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Jack Dempsey Museum

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