We are welcoming hunters this month with a special exhibit in the main gallery. Local taxidermist, Robert Stephenson, will share his talent, displaying several of his favorite mounts including an elk, a bear, an antelope and a skunk.
Robert Stephenson was born and raised in the Colorado Rockies, hiking, hunting and fishing from a very young age. He has traveled throughout the US, Canada, Africa and New Zealand in pursuit of great hunting adventures. In 2007, he was able to meld his passion for wildlife, his artistic talent and his deep knowledge of animal behavior into the study of quality taxidermy. His innate creativity is evident in the mounts, as well as the design of original bases integrating interesting tree stumps and found objects into natural settings. As a lifelong and avid outdoorsman, Robert has developed a keen eye for the expressions of wildlife. He translates this awareness into his taxidermy work, bringing a very lifelike quality to his mounts.
He and his wife Jodeen opened Safari Adventure Wildlife Art and Taxidermy in Paonia in 2009. They offer global hunting and photography, travel consulting, wildlife inspired artwork and photography, in addition to custom taxidermy services.

Aside from his career in manufacturing and big business RON CLOYD is a potter. He loves pots, and the clay, and the process. Ron began his study of ceramics about 13 years ago. Attending evening classes at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts, he learned basic skills from Gary Andrews. Later progressing to advanced studies, refining his techniques with Terry Shepherd. Cloyd is president of the Junction Clay Arts Guild, and is an active, exhibiting member of Art Space and Open Studios, and maintains a membership in the Potter’s Council of the American Ceramic Society
Cloyd states: “Driven by a primal connection to the classic elements of earth, air, water and fire, I take my inspiration from the spectacular geologic formations and ecosystems surrounding my home in the high desert of Western Colorado. My ceramic pieces blend a combination of color, texture and images that attempt to reflect the timeless energies of erosion and metamorphosis defining the landscape of the Rocky Mountain west.
I am fascinated with clay, and fire, and the entire process of transforming a ball of mud into a finished piece of artwork. I share my home and studio in the western foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains with the most awesome person in the universe, my wife Dixie, without whose support, pushing, creative consultation, and patient love, none of this would be possible.”
Ron’s background includes eight years of classes at the Western Colorado Center for the Arts and attendance at workshops with many well known clay artists, including David Wright, Rodney Mott, Ian Currie, Randy Brodnax, Don Ellis, Doug Gray, William Shinn, Tom and Elaine Coleman, Lana Wilson, Paul Wandless, and Dee Shaad.

AMRO UMRANI brings her real earth paintings to us again in the Churro Gallery. Multi colored soils, hand gathered from several western states are combined with a fixative and applied to a tightly stretched canvas.
In her words, Amro tell us : “An acquaintance had started painting with earth and showed me how she mixed it with acrylic mat medium. I started there and developed my own techniques including washes, scraping, layering…and just having a grand time. All the pigments I use are natural- the earth itself. Sometimes I mix colors with unexpected results.
I enjoy long drives thru beautiful country, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and mostly Ouray and Delta County on ‘Dirt Quests’. I like working on stretched canvas as it’s somewhat pliable and hangs well.
Images come from my imagination and things I see in nature – cloud shapes and rock shapes and the never moving, always changing mountains.
There is something about the texture and flavor of dirt that is particularly nourishing. I can be driving along and see dirt that thrills me- the pinks and lavenders, all the colors.”
Amro will display pottery also, including a couple of large “Pinched Pots” and some smaller colorful pots and bowls.