The description of Shannon Castle’s installation, entitled “Seven”, states that she “honors the creative process in various aspects of her daily life…raising young children, building a home, growing a garden, cooking and teaching art. She makes art to process experiences, to explore relationships, to find peace, and to give thanks. She works in her home studio in Hotchkiss, Colorado. Shannon has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis
in Ceramics, a K-12 Art Teacher Licensure, and a Master of Arts degree with a focus on Community Art. She has teaching experience at all levels and has sold her artwork in a variety of venues.
The work in this mixed media installation marks the seven year anniversary of her mother’s unexpected death. The pieces were made in multiples of seven; forty-nine clay wall tiles, ninety-eight crocheted nests, and three hundred and sixty four clay eggs. The themes of loss, protection, balance, love, and renewal are woven into the installation. The individual pieces are small, but each piece is one of many in a series. The size reflects the intimacy of the themes that create the artist’s personal narrative, while the multiples suggest universal stories. The small format supports
her practice of making art in-between the threads of her daily routine. The repetitive nature of making and remaking objects in a series is her visual prayer.”

Hotchkiss High School art teacher Jamie Roeber will present a collection of her work entitled “Wired to the West”. Her exhibit description states that “Art is a process of defining creative possibilities. My art is born from the homestead lifestyle of the
Colorado Rockies, combined with the historical perspectives of the ranching style. Using materials that are from and found on the ranch, I create larger than life sculptures made of chicken wire. This exhibit is my capstone masters project for Regis University.”
An over-sized wire cowboy boot, entitled “Size Matters”, illustrates again how scale can be used in the play of ideas. She writes, “Standing over five feet tall, this boot brings back the meaning that size matters, but deeper than that, it is an iconic
symbol of the cowboy. Spurs are worn not for looks, but for working a horse through long hard days, brush they don’t want to go through, creeks they aren’t in the mood to cross, and hours that become long and demanding. Slick heels wear the cowboy thin. Horses get days off; cowboys don’t. Detail is the key to developing the artistic side of these western pieces. Here horse shoe nails are welded together, then sewn into the chicken wire. The spur is in full motion, the rowel spins and the buckle tightens the spur strap, which is a swather chain.” The humor and specific elements of this piece contribute to it’s popular appeal; it won “Best of Show” at the County Fair.