Fine Arts Center Members for 3 years
Why did you become a member of the Fine Arts Center?
We started when our kids took some classes at Bemis as young children. We love the Fine Arts Center. We know supporting such institutions makes the Pikes Peak region better and more beautiful. But what got us, besides the great gift shop and the wonderful exhibits, were musicals and children’s theater. And now, we are so looking forward to seeing what the amazing Idris Goodwin will do after all this covid stuff is behind us. We know great things await.
When did your interest in the arts begin?
Well, Roger early on loved poetry and books. And in college sometimes instead of studying he’d read stories about Andy Warhol, who fascinates him, even now. And then when he was just starting out and working on the hill in Washington DC, he spent a month’s rent on a Haitian piece of art. He fell in love with the work of this fellow who sold his pieces at Eastern Market. He’d do portraits of people from the top of the nose upward. The Mayor, Kennedy, a lot of Bert & Ernie. At seminary in DC we had a center for religion and the arts and we spent a lot of time in the gallery and the studio. And Roger studied with a poet in residence. The Haitian piece got Roger on the path. Marta grew up in DC, and visited the Smithsonian museums and was surrounded by the arts.
What has been one of your favorite plays, classes or exhibits at the Fine Arts Center and why?
Art: We loved the Haitian exhibit and the lectures from that exhibition (The Art of Haiti: Laos, History, and Memory, 2018). We did like what we saw of Chicanx Artists and we really like Tony Ortega’s stuff.
Theater: We loved Fun Home and Tiny Beautiful Things. An early play we saw was White Christmas and that was terrific. We look forward to being back with you all. And like everyone else we are highly, highly entertained by Scott’s introductions, no matter the play.
Lectures: We loved the recent Day of the Dead day.
What is your favorite work of art at the FAC?
Well, it is hard to beat John Wayne. The whole thing just works. There is also something about Fisherman at Work that we just enjoy. And Bulto, Our Lady of Guadalupe. The colors, the face; all of it.
What else do you like to do for fun in Colorado Springs?
Roger plays a lot of tennis. Marta walks around Bear Creek and the Black Forest with our black lab, Gracie. We like to cook out. And visit Salida and Estes Park. Roger likes novels a lot. Marta is taking her doctorate up at Iliff School of Theology in Denver. Since Marta is a parish minister, she is learning how to do church via video, so we like to say she is becoming a televangelist! (Just kidding).
How have you been keeping busing during the quarantine period?
Roger is still working every day at Penrose Hospital. Marta is keeping her church going, along with her congregants. We are both invested in attending as many Black Life Matters events as we can.