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Beating
the hot summer doldrums is the bane
of every out-of-school kid, not to
mention the sweltering parents.
During the summer of 2006,
Island
Grove Village Apartments and
The
Grove Neighborhood Network offered
some cool alternatives with its
first "Visiting Artist Series."
Held
on five Tuesday afternoons during
June and July, the Series included a
wide array of entertaining and
enlightening Colorado folk artists showing
their skills and sharing their
passion in a relaxed and safe
environment.
Hosted by IGV's highly successful
Kaleidoscope Youth Program,
with a mini-grant from the
Colorado
Council on the Arts, the Series
brought different and divergent
people together with art, music,
dancing, and even a smattering of
cowboy poetry.
"We
at the Colorado Council on the Arts
really want to provide children in
our community with experiences
involving our region's rich cultural
traditions," explained Georgia Wier,
who serves as folklorist for the
City of Greeley Museums and the
Colorado Council on the Arts.
"I'm so glad the youth at Island
Grove Village will have the
opportunity to learn from these
grants."
Artists in the series included:
-
Ronn Miera, a santero who
creates images in paint, wood,
and straw;
-
Danny Many Horses Rael,
international Native American
recording artist and
story-teller;
-
Zeb Dennis, cowboy poet and
working cowboy;
-
George Antuna, Native American
drummer and singer, member of
The Morningstar Drum Group; and
-
Teresa McNeill, Native American
drummer, singer, dancer, and
member of The Morningstar Drum
Group.
"I
just love the kids at Island Grove,"
Many Horses said, recalling his
first time with the
Kaleidoscope Youth Program
in 2005. "They're curious,
they're brave, and they're really
hungry to discover new experiences.
And this year, because the Colorado
Council on the Arts generously
funded this series, kids and parents
from all over Greeley will get a
taste of the many cultures that make
their town such a special place to
live in."
All
of the "Visiting Artist Series"
events were free of charge, open to
the public.
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