Stagecoach artist fuses sustainability and cycling lifestyle
Matt Stensland
Steamboat Springs — The edges of the burlap coffee sacks are frayed. Bear claw marks tear into them where a coffee-shop owner slit the bags open with a knife to get at the aromatic beans.
But to Stagecoach resident Megan Morgan, the coffee bags were a blank canvas on which to project her cycling-influenced stencil art.
“I really wanted them to feel retro, fun and not-so-perfect,” Morgan said. “The way our generation is.”
Morgan’s new series of coffee bag art will be on display at Spill the Beans, 1051 13th Street, during First Friday Artwalk today.
Starting at 5 p.m., free coffee and pastries as well as acoustic rock from local musician Jim Walters will be offered.
The 10 to 15 pieces Morgan will display for the next month depict scenes from the cycling lifestyle and history, from old Tour de France legends to her neighbor’s young son pedaling around on a tricycle.
She uses spray paint and pastel pencils for the color and detail of the cyclists, their faces and their bikes.
“We looked around our house and realized our art didn’t reflect our lifestyle,” said Morgan, whose husband is a professional cyclist. Morgan herself also participates in Town Challenge Mountain Bike Series races and wanted art that appealed to the cycling scene in Steamboat.
The pieces project the retro theme with bright colors contrasting on the brown surface and reflect a cozy ambience.
“It instantly makes things feel not so serious,” she said.
There also is an element of sustainability in the reusable materials, something that is important to Spill the Beans owner Tasha Campos.
“One thing I really like about the coffee bags is that products are being made from the materials that come from our industry,” said Campos, who also sells purses made from used coffee bags.
Although Morgan’s bags don’t come from Spill the Beans, she does receive donations from local shops such as Mugshot coffee shop and Storm Mountain Coffee Roasters.
Spill the Beans was a great fit to hang the show.
“Instead of always being in art galleries, cyclists like to hang out in coffee shops,” Morgan said.
First Friday Artwalk
❱❱ Artists’ Gallery of Steamboat
Will feature 28 local artists in an all gallery show, oil, acrylic, watercolor paintings, bronze and mineral sculptures, ceramics, fused glass, photography and fiber. Appetizers and drinks will be provided. 1009 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-4744.
The nature photography of Thomas Mangelsen. 730 Lincoln Ave., 970-871-1822.
❱❱ Jim Steinberg Photography/Portfolio Collection
Celebrate the end of summer with a tribute to flowers. 1016 Oak St., one block up from Lincoln, 970-879-3718.
K. Saari Gallery returns to its old space next to Epilogue Book Co. with a gallery group show. 1025 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-0188.
Local art by nature photographer Don Tudor and Raku stoneware by Brown Cannon also offering full professional archival framing. Visit http://www.dontudorphotography.com. 601 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-7143.
Visit the Steamboat Art Museum Shop for refreshments and a 10 percent discount on the shop’s array of handcrafted items made by Colorado artisans. 807 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-1755.
❱❱ Steamboat Springs Arts Council at the Depot Art Center
Presents “Steamboat Stories” the work of three passionate Steamboat photographers: Nancy Porter, Jay O’Hare and Lizzie Larock. 1001 13th St., 970-879-9008.
❱❱ Steamboat Springs Center for Visual Arts
New work in all mediums from more than 80 artist members. This month’s featured artist is photographer Cyndi Marlowe. 906 Lincoln Ave., 970-846-5970.
Wild Horse Gallery will feature small works for holiday gifting from its gallery artists and a preview of Cate Potyen’s jewelry “Trunk Show,” which is scheduled for 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday. Visit http://www.wildhorsegallery.com. 802 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-5515, 970-879-7660.
Azteca Taqueria will be showing lifelong artist Suzy Patillo’s award winning paintings, drawings, pastels and photography. 116 9th St., behind Lyon Drug Store, 970-870-9980.
Cindy Wither’s watercolor paintings represent local landscapes of four seasons, created while painting outside on location, known as plein air. 131 11th St., 970-879-4925.
Cully Kistler’s goal as an artist is to make the viewer feel something through color, the captured moment or her sense of humor. 509 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-8800.
“The Beauty of Nature” landscapes of Provence and Steamboat by Rebecca Pauvert. Refreshments will be served. 825 Oak St., 970-875-0997
Harwigs will be featuring oil paintings by local artist, Sharon Pace. Sharon’s contemporary works with bright and intense colors reflect her views of the Yampa Valley. 911 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-1919
❱❱ Off The Beaten Path Bookstore
Off the Beaten Path presents local watercolorist Gregory Effinger whose realistic, western-inspired watercolors have been compared to the depth of oil paintings. 68 9th St., 970-879-6830
The Sales Center at The Olympian presents the photography of Teri Wall, a local amateur photographer, executive officer of the Home Builders Association and mother of a son who is a senior in high school. 610 Marketplace Plaza Suite 100, 970-879-8100.
❱❱ Peak Fitness
Visit Yoshi Yonekawa’s collection of large panoramic landscape photography from the Western United States. Light refreshments will be served. 1103 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-4943.
See the unique coffee bag artwork created by local artist Megan Morgan and enjoy live music performed by guitarist Jim Walters. Complimentary pastries and coffee. 1051 13th St., across from Depot Art Center, 970-879 7846.
❱❱ Urbane
Urbane presents the Spacecraft Floating Art Show by Stefan Hoffman with live music provided by DJ Chris Freese. 703 Lincoln Ave., Suite B101, 970-879-9169.
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