By Janet Sellers
A new creative venue is in the historic 1880 building, the original Monument post office. Located at the corner of Second and Washington Streets, El Santo Vaquero is an art gallery with decor, handicrafts, and apparel imbued with Southern and Mexican influences and local Colorado artists and artisans’ works from around the world.
The grand opening will be on June 3, starting at 10 a.m., with new one-of-a-kind items. Artist signings, demos, maker meet and greets, food trucks, and more will be present to introduce the “unique faith-based space honoring the creative spirit in all of us.”
The venue is surrounded by gardens and water features. Christian Kurz, of Italian and Mexican heritage, said she looks to fill the patio and garden with bright flowers reminiscent of Mexico. She has hired an ethnic artisan to create huge wooden wing wall sculptures for the outside of the building near the west wall entrance. It will be fun to take “angel photos” there. Artisans will be creating artwork in the courtyard, and Kurz is looking to have musicians play, too. All the artworks, pottery, decor, and events will be in keeping with unique, joyful, and faith-based themes.
Recently in May for Mother’s Day, Kurz offered complimentary desserts and giveaways, inviting people to bring their mother or “a mother you love” to enjoy and share with everyone “what makes your mother or mother nominee” one of a kind.
At the June Art Hop, founder Kurz will be celebrating the release and author signing of her book The Spiritual Archetypes. The book was initially created as a quiz titled What is your spiritual archetype? She offered correlating guidebooks, and it captivated audiences and has been downloaded over 1 million times worldwide since it was released. Kurtz designed all the artwork for this newest aesthetic creation. The book release and signing on July 20 at 7 p.m. coincides with the July Art Hop at the shop.
Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, and speaker with artworks exhibited in galleries and museums in the Rocky Mountains and on the East and West Coasts. Contact her at: JanetSellers@ocn.me.
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