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Rocky Mountain TriennialMay-August 2023S p e c i a l E d i t i o n

If you want to beat the heat and look at interesting art from our region, ourcurrent Rocky Mountain Triennial is for you. In 2020, in the middle of COVID, webrought back the Rocky Mountain Biennial, a juried exhibition of contemporaryartists from the Rocky Mountain Region. In 2023, we have the exhibition returningnow, every three years with a look at what artists in our region are thinkingthrough and creating work about. Our juror, Merry Scully, Director of the Robertand Frances Fullerton Museum of Art at California State University, SanBernardino, juried this exhibition from over 239 artists and 750 images to createthe current exhibition that comprises 46 artists and 60 artworks. Kelly Cox & Eric MullisMolly Elkind Jalaina FelkeSara Johnson-Trujillo Welcome to Summer 2023!

This type of juried exhibition is both incredibly gratifying to work on and amajor challenge as well. Until we get the acceptances from the juror, we don'tknow how much artwork we are going to have, how it will fit in the space and forme especially, how to create a cohesive exhibition around artwork from everymedium and subject matter. What I love so much about this exhibition and the Biennial from 2020 is that Iget exposed to local and regional artists whom I do not know, which is likeChristmas Day for a curator. A wealth of new artists and fabulous artwork! Wehope you enjoy the Triennial and all of the disparate artwork that ranges fromglorious abstract paintings to intricate ceramic sculpture, paintings on ourenvironment, class and race, fiber work and artwork on gender and intimacy. This Triennial would not be possible without our exhibition title sponsor EyeCenter of Northern Colorado. Thank you to City of Fort Collins Fort Fund,Colorado Creative Industries/National Endowment for the Arts, Dr. PeterSpringberg, Local IQ and DaVinci Sign Systems for your support of ourexhibitions and programs. Sincerely,Lisa HatchadoorianExecutive DirectorCover Images Doug Haeussner, Lynné Bowman Cravens, Tony Ortega, Marius Lehene, Daralynn Weyna

Juror, Merry Scully Merry Scully is currently the Director ofthe Robert and Frances Fullerton Museumof Art, California State University, SanBernardino. She was previously head ofcuratorial affairs, and curator ofcontemporary art at the New MexicoMuseum of Art, Santa Fe, NM. Previouspositions include curator of theGovernor’s Gallery for Governor Bill andBarbara Richardson of NM; director ofexhibitions and the associate director ofexhibitions and public programs at the SanFrancisco Art Institute; and assistant tothe artistic director Judith F. Baca, andgallery program director for the Social andPublic Art Resource Center in Venice,California.

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Suzanne FarisSteven GrayDoug HaeussnerGwen Hatchette Tony OrtegaEmma AdamsBethany EconomosHeather PattersonKathryn Vinson

Suzanne Faristed laredoJoanne LefrakFort Collins, COAlbuquerque, NMSanta Fe, NMCONGRATULATIONS!To the WinnersRocky Mountain Triennial

Heather Patterson

Heather Patterson's work centers aroundthe human impact on the environment,presenting a compelling documentation ofthe ever-changing elements found in thenatural topography of the landscape.Patterson skillfully recreates discoveredgeographic patterns, expertly layering themto form a captivating series of abstractedterrains. This unique process involves thefusion of diverse imagery, ranging fromcomputer-generated weather systems andtopographic map lines to animal migrationpatterns, cellular structures, networkinggraphs, water movement patterns, lichen onboulders, rock formations, and various othernatural phenomena.Photo Essay by Jill P. Mottheatherpattersonart.com

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In the studio-behind the scenes with our artistsVideo production by MOA Media Team

Bethany Economos

Bethany Economos is a mixed media artist whosecreative journey is intricately intertwined with hersurroundings and the world at large. Drawing uponher background in Fiber Arts, having obtained aBFA from the Tyler School of Art in 2001, her workshowcases a profound influence of hand-embroidered stitching and other surface designtechniques. Bethany's ever-evolving artistic expressionbeautifully reflects her deep connection to theworld around her. Through her mixed media works,she invites viewers to embark on a visualexploration where intricate stitching and thetransformation of ordinary materials reveal thestories of her personal journey and the broaderhuman experience.Photo Essay by Jill P. Mottsomonoce-studio.com

Marius Lehene

“Many of my pieces have to do withthe relationship between spaces thatare familiar to me—American spaces,Indian, and Romanian,” explains MariusLehene. His piece featured in the RockyMountain Triennial exhibit, “Under theWire,” has a sibling piece back at homein his art studio titled, “Public Space.”The two complement each other,piecing together images from twoseparate scenes. Both paintingsfeature a colorful Denver marketplace,bustling with life. Story and photos by Taryn Bradleywww.mariuslehene.nettarynb_photography

On the opposite end is a public space along the railroad tracks in Calcutta—awoman can be seen among the colorful trash littering the area. Much of Lehene’s work revolves around this very concept, bringing together twoplaces, two moments in time, two cultures, and splicing them together in a singlemoment. In some of his other works, Lehene layers two images on top of each other,blurring the lines of what could be perceived as the background and foreground.He brings this concept into his drawing course at Colorado State University. “The visual field is never empty, wherever you look, there is something. The firstthing I do with my Intro to Drawing students is have them look across the roomand start naming things, and those are the “figures,” and then they immediatelyrealize how many things are left out, or deemed to be background, but they arestill there,” he said. “There’s nothing empty, and yet there’s a decision beingmade, a kind of automatic scan. So, I create these images where you get a sensethat there’s that play going on between things being what they are, but also youdeciding what they are. I’m interested in surface meaning, but also thecomplications of perception.”

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Suzanne Faris

Take up space. Embrace unapologeticwholeness. Step into your own power.Suzanne Faris, grand prize winner in the2023 Rocky Mountain Triennial andprofessor of sculpture at Colorado StateUniversity, exemplifies how to do all thisand more with her most recent artisticefforts. Her winning sculpture refuses tomake itself small or to choose betweensoft and hard as it literally takes up spacein the newest exhibit at the Museum ofArt Fort Collins. Faris was generousenough to allow me into her Fort Collinshome studio to share more about herprocess and the meaning behind herlatest work. Story and photos by Marie Tyrrellmarietyrrell.myportfolio.com

Tony Ortega

Tony Ortega, an accomplished visual artist andeducator, is based in Denver, Colorado. His artisticprowess has been showcased in more than 30 soloexhibitions, earning him recognition in esteemedvenues such as the Museum of Contemporary Art inDenver, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, theColorado Springs Fine Art Center, the HarwoodMuseum in Taos, New Mexico, the Redline Art Center inDenver, and the National Hispanic Cultural Center inAlbuquerque, New Mexico. Throughout his distinguished career, Tony hasreceived numerous accolades for his artisticcontributions. He was bestowed with the prestigiousGovernor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1999,and in 1998, he was honored with the Mayor's Awardfor Excellence in the Arts. His remarkable body of workcan be found in esteemed collections, including theDenver Art Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum,and the Museo Estudio Diego Rivera in Mexico City.Photo Essay by Jill P. Motttonyortega.net

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Congratulations! Rocky Mountain Triennial Honorable Mention Winners Kimberly NoelMoe ScanceJames Johnson

Kimberly Lovett Noel

     Kimberly  Noel,  a  renowned  artist  anddedicated  art  educator,  has  left  an  indeliblemark on the Poudre School District and the localcommunity. With a passion for mixed media art,she  has  spent  decades  captivating  audienceswith  her  unique  blend  of  memories,  stories,photographs,  and found  objects. Noel's  artisticjourney has been a testament to her unwaveringcommitment to fostering creativity in others. Noel's artistic style revolves around combiningvarious  mediums  and  materials,  resulting  invisually  striking  and  emotionally  evocativeworks. She skillfully  weaves personal narratives,cherished  memories,  and  carefully  curatedfound objects  into her  art,  allowing  viewers  toconnect with her creations on a deeply personallevel.Photo Essay by Jill P. Mott

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Mixed Media Artist Kimberly Lovett Noel Please subscribe

Discover the Joy of ArtSupporting Regional Artists Every piece of art carries a story, and by acquiring it, we become custodians of thatnarrative. Whether it's a painting, sculpture, photograph, or mixed media creation, eachwork of art offers a glimpse into the artist's inspirations, struggles, and triumphs. Owningart allows us to connect with these stories on a deeply personal level, creating aprofound bond between the artist and the collector. Moreover, these stories becomepart of our own history, sparking conversations and igniting curiosity among friends andvisitors.Click here to view sales catalog

Emma Adams, Fort Collins, COJacquelyn Blackstone, Albuquerque, NMJonah Brock, Manitou Springs, COAustin Caswell, Englewood, COPaula Christenson, Cedar Hills, UTKelly Cox & Eric Mullis, Boise, IDLynné Bowman Cravens, Colorado Springs, COCatherine Cummings, Greeley, COJane Waggoner Deschner, Billings, MTJane Dodge, Denver, COBethany Economos, Fort Collins, COMolly Elkind, Santa Fe, NMNicholas Emery, Nederland, COSuzanne Faris, Fort Collins, CO– Grand PrizeWinnerJalaina Felker, Denver, CODonna Fleetwood, Santa Fe, NMChantel Foretich, Santa Fe NMChristine Golden, Flagstaff, AZNoemi Gonzalez, Fort Collins, COSteven Gray, Park City, UTDoug Haeussner, Denver, COGwen Hatchette, Fort Collins, COMarilynn Jennings, Santa Fe, NMList of Participating Artists James Johnson, Gilbert, AZ– Honorable MentionSara Johnson-Trujillo, Casper, WYSarah Konrad, Laramie, WYted laredo, Albuquerque, NM– 2nd PrizeNick Larsen, Santa Fe, NMJoanne Lefrak, Santa Fe, NM– 3rd PrizeMarius Lehene, Fort Collins, NMMaureen May, Durango, COJaclyn Miller, Arvada, COElizabeth Morisette, Fort Collins, COBen Nathan, Logan, UTKimberly Noel, Fort Collins, CO- Honorable MentionDanielle O’Malley, Helena, MTHeather Oelklaus, Colorado Springs, COTony Ortega, Denver, COHeather Patterson, Johnstown, COMoe Scance, Golden, CO– Honorable MentionCarol Sogard, Salt Lake City, UTBenjamin Timpson, Tempe, AZKathryn Vinson, Loveland, CODaralynn Weyna, Windsor, CONick Zukauskas, Fort Collins, CO

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