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Again this year, the SPACe Gallery opens its doors for artists of the Clay Continuum III. Opening July 29th
and running through August 23rd, this exhibition marks the third in a continuing series of gallery showings devoted to works
of art in clay produced by professional artists from the region. The official opening reception will be held Saturday, August
2nd from 5-7 p.m. at 132 West Ryus in La Veta, Colorado.
Photos courtesy Spanish Peaks Arts Council
The original concept for the show was the brainchild of three women,
all local clay artists, who met for coffee and conversation at a bakery in 2006. Polly Harris, Nicole Copel, and Lori Hannan
began to plan for a day that would allow visitors to view the diversity of fine clay art being produced regionally, to plan
for permanent space for exhibitions to display the best works in south central Colorado, and discuss their hopes of
establishing an educational center to encourage beginners and seasoned artists alike to experiment with this
three-dimensional art form. And slowly, the dream began to materialize when the SPACe Gallery in La Veta invited the three
artists to mount an exhibition that summer. Well attended and highly praised, the Clay Continuum has now become one of the
most highly anticipated and successful shows of the summer season. Now visitors expect beautiful mountain views, fresh air,
small town ambiance, and an opportunity to experience the energy of a thriving artisan colony. To encourage education in the
clay arts, local gallery and clay studio, Piñon Hill Pottery, offers classes and summer workshops. Since that first Clay
Continuum exhibition in 2006, the number of participating clay artists has more than tripled and the diversity of the art for
viewing and sale has grown. There are wheel-thrown and hand-built pieces, porcelain and stoneware, functional, sculptural and
purely decorative, whimsical and sophisticated—something for everyone's taste representing some of the best clay art being
produced in the south central part of the state. This is a show you won't want to miss.
Photos courtesy Spanish Peaks Arts Council
For over 30 years, the SPACe (Spanish Peaks Art Council) Gallery has been the venue of choice for southern
Colorado artists. Of late, the SPACe Board of Directors has authorized the expansion of the gallery to include more classroom
and exhibition space to encourage outreach beyond the immediate region into Northern New Mexico and beyond. For more
information about the current art scene in the La Veta Valley visit: www.spanishpeaksarts.org or www.pinonhillpottery.com.
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Photo courtesy Spanish Peaks Arts Council |
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