Mancos’ second Grand Summer Night of the season started the Memorial Day weekend off with lots of music, art and activity. Marilyn Kroeker and The Sweetwater Band played in the Raven House Gallery, and country-western singer Lynn Lewis sang outside at Colorado Ranch and Home Realty. The niddy noddy lady showed kids how to make felt beads, and several people crowded around game boards at the Painted Turtle Studio. The Millwood Junction Restaurant was packed, and Absolute Bakery and Cafe was filled to the brim for three days. Art and our favorite horse, Avatar, helped out by giving free buggy rides around town to the crowd while they waited to relish a great breakfast.
One couple wanted to move here when they saw a brave young woman having a ride on Will Stone’s cow. I met one enthusiastic woman named Carol. (“Hi, Carol!”) I met her at the Artisans of Mancos.
Since I’ve gotten on the Artisans bandwagon, let me tell you about another artist who makes a colorful showing: His name is Jay Johnson, a big, brawny guy who you’d never think creates beautiful stained glass. You can see his work hanging in the window at the Artisans. What is so interesting about Jay is that he also has 20 chickens, all named and trained to come running when he calls their name. Two young turkeys – Yoda and Pumpkin – have bonded with geese Mary and Margaret, and they all try to cuddle up together. There’s also the two Corgis Cheche and Beebee and the two cats Mary and Muffin. And there’s the most important member of this family, the one who rules the roost, Jay’s wife, Laura. Undoubtedly, she does the bulk of the work as Jay’s feathered friends clamor to sit in his lap. Jay shows his work in 45 stores and galleries. The next time you’re in Mancos, pay a visit to the Artisans.
Across the street from the Artisans on Grand Avenue is Olio Restaurant and Bar, which has a monthly showing of art, and an artists reception at Saturday’s opening. You can read much more about this month’s artist, Brenda Grajeda, in reporter Jacob Klopfenstein’s article in this issue of The Journal.
Zuma Natural Foods, at the light on the corner of U.S. Highway 160 and Main Street, is now serving lunch seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. The food is organic and gluten-free – panini, veggies, fresh salads and soups, homemade cornbread, and cookies. Drop in for delicious sandwich and say hi.
And last but not least, the Mancos School of the West hosts Janice Reich’s class “Gourd Ocean Drum” at the Mancos Artists Studio. Play an ocean drum for wellness and bring in the summer solstice with the meditating sound of waves crashing onto the beach. These sounds are created when rolling a gourd ocean drum side to side and in a circular motion. Students will learn how to construct and decorate an ocean drum out of a large canteen gourd in this one-day class. Cost is $85. For more information, email the school at info@schoolofthewest.org or Janice at reichline@aol.com.
