On the night of Friday, November 7th, 13 local and regional emerging artists came together to celebrate the opening of Southwest Remix, Blue Rain Gallery Durango’s first inaugural invitational exhibition. The Durango community turned out in full force to see and experience the dynamic showcase. Curated by Blue Rain Gallery Durango’s manager, Bekah Kolbe, the exhibition featured a diverse group of artists from across the Southwest, including Trinidad, CO; Ouray, CO; Phoenix, AZ; and the broader southwestern Colorado region, many of whom call Durango home. The exhibition will be on view throughout the month of November.
Bekah selected the artists based on several criteria: emerging status in the Southwest region without gallery representation (or with less than two years of experience at an established gallery), professional readiness, and a developed creative voice with a refined technique. Artists were asked to create 1–2 new works inspired by the theme “Southwest Remix,” a contemporary twist on a traditional subject, a challenge to Southwest stereotypes, or simply their personal interpretation of the Southwest as it exists in their own creative voice.
Durango is a small city with a budding arts scene, supported in part by Durango Creative District and city-funded initiatives such as the Lodgers’ Tax Arts and Culture Fund, which have helped increase visibility for the region’s professional artists, from muralists to sculptors, painters, actors, writers, and musicians. The visual arts community has been thriving, and 2023 marked an exciting year for Blue Rain Gallery as it joined the Main Avenue businesses. Bekah Kolbe, a curator and gallerist in southwestern Colorado since 2016, joined the Blue Rain team in October 2024, bringing her passion for developing the local arts scene, supporting emerging artists and fostering connections with collectors and artists alike.
This exhibition provides an important opportunity to highlight local talent and build relationships within the arts community, a goal shared by gallery owner Leroy Garcia, who is committed to developing the cultural fabric of the greater Southwest.
Bekah notes, “This exhibition was such an exciting and fun one to curate. Although it was a challenge to figure out the layout for the show with so many varying styles and techniques, I had a burst of inspiration from the excitement of featuring so many emerging artists I’ve been following. It was an absolute joy to see their enthusiasm as they shared their work and engaged with the community. For some of these artists, getting to include this show on their CV is a huge step in their career, and it’s an honor to provide that opportunity. For collectors, this is a great way to acquire artwork by up-and-coming artists and make a huge impact on their lives through acquiring their works for your collection.”
Featured artists include Paige Brevard, Louisa Palmer, Ben Latham, Jared Reed, Nikki Moon, Autumn Hunnicut, Olivia Perea, Ted Moore, Cie Hoover, Mariah Kaminsky, Kathryn Waggener, Nedilynn Brown, and Hailey Fallis.
Come experience Southwest Remix firsthand at Blue Rain Gallery Durango and celebrate the creativity of the Southwest’s emerging artists.
Click here to view all works from the Southwest Remix Invitational Exhibition
