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Colorado Mountain College students and faculty featured at Depot Art Center

Audrey Dwyer
Colorado Mountain College students and faculty art show will open this Friday at the Depot Art Center. The show challenged the artist to find meaning and expression within a small space (6-inch-by-6-inch format) using a variety of media.
John F. Russell

— Students and faculty at Colorado Mountain College’s Alpine Campus in Steamboat Springs were tasked with a challenge to look at life in Routt County through a new perspective.

With a limited 6-inch-by-6-inch format, they had to find meaning and expression within confined spaces using a variety of media to depict a place that resonated with each individual.

“Sometimes limitations can really expose creativity,” said Cynthia Zyzda, associate professor of art and humanities at CMC. “The featured pieces have this quiet quality to them that allow you to see all those small things. It sucks you in because you have to study and look closely at each piece.”



This month’s exhibit at the Depot Art Center features the CMC students’ and faculty’s artwork, which focuses on their connection to various places throughout Routt County.

“The featured work really captured the sense of place that we as students focused on,” said Chris Lightner, a student at CMC who will have work in an art exhibit for the first time.



For the First Friday Artwalk, the pieces will be on display from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday with light refreshments served. There also will be an additional educational art talk at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Depot.

Faculty wanted students to become more connected to Routt County, so they hosted trips to Echo Park, Spring Creek and Elk Stone Farm. The creators of this exhibit were to choose one place in the area for their piece. Initially, the drawings were any size the student wanted, but eventually they were scaled down to the 6-inch-by-6-inch format.

“This project got many of the students looking at things in a different way,” Zyzda said. “It changed their perception of what their initial intent or idea for the drawing was. They had to modify and adjust.”

Zyzda said the cohesive exhibit offers a new opportunity for students who have never had work featured in a gallery before.

“Doing this piece really exposed me to other views of the world,” said Caleb Schenck, a freshman in the field journaling class at CMC. “I had never done this before, and I am anxious to see people’s reactions to our art.”

To reach Audrey Dwyer, call 970-871-4229, email adwyer@ExploreSteamboat.com or follow her on Twitter @Audrey_Dwyer1


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